To think that "rescuing" an imported dog is a bad idea?

[pepsicolagirl]

So last lockdown (ahem, and the one before) we had the company of our dog to motivate us to get moving everyday. She was an old girl who sadly had to be put to sleep in September due to old age and early stage heart failure.

Since then I have been looking for a new dog to join our family. I feel very strongly that I'm just a better version of myself when I have a dog around and we can offer a nice family home with years of dog ownership experience and a nice big secure garden. I work from home (did so pre lockdown) so no issue there

But OMG the prices of dogs at the moment!!!
Now, I understand that cheap dogs are not a good idea because of people buying them on a whim but even though I KNOW I can afford the day to day costs of feeding and properly caring for a pup I can in no way justify upwards of 1500 to buy one and I am absolutely gutted about it.

I have been looking at rescues too, it would be nice to have a young puppy but I am absolutely aware of the amount of work involved and I would be happy to open our home to a rescue but there are none out there suitable for a home with 6yrs+ children so that's not an option.

The other thing I'm seeing all over the place are dogs/puppies which have been rescued in places like Romania and then sold in the UK.
Now, the prices are lower and many accept kids 6+ but why does it feel like such a bad idea to me!?
If you've got one of these dogs I would love to hear from you as to why I'm wrong in feeling like this about them?

I have to say my Spanish rescue is mint - and would never ever have got such a dog through the UK rescues (and I looked hard for years) Rare as hens teeth in the UK because we have a reasonable record on dog welfare and rescue centres

@dogscanteatonions - that's terrible. That poor dog stuck in a centre for no reason. If I were you, I'd stalk them on social media. Keep posting photos of your garden saying "Was hoping to give a home to [dog's name] but was turned down. Am sure he would have loved our garden and long family walks. Still at xx rescue centre 1 year later."

I have a Spanish rescue, adopted pre-Covid. He has been hard work in some respects (terrified of men, other dogs, his own shadow), but no more than you would expect for a dog who was a stray and who has suffered god knows what abuse. He is an absolute delight now thanks to patience and training, and I am so glad I gave a chance to a dog who would undoubtedly would have been put to death in his home country were it not for the small charity who rescued him. As an experienced dog owner yourself, what are your concerns exactly? You can have behavioural issues with any dog after all...

@Canwecancel2020

I know of many successfully rescued overseas dogs, but very many unfortunately not. This may be similar to uk rescues but there is generally more aftercare here (for example dogs trust provide post rescue behaviourist services I believe).

I do agree that the drive towards imported rescues is somewhat driven by the overly restrictive rules from some uk rescue charities.

I have known very many with extreme behavioural issues and many with parasitic diseases we don’t currently have in the uk (some treatable, some chronic, some which can make humans ill).

On a purely ethical/utilitarian decision, charity money would be better spent on neutering/welfare programmes in the country of origin and I’m not convinced that animal welfare as a whole will be well served if exotic diseases are brought in to this country and become endemic here - causing suffering in animals and a risk to human health also.

I would not do it.

the purely ethical utilitarian decision of neutering and welfare in that country of origin doesnt actually give people a pet dog though does it, and ultimately, the people who rescue, do it primarily because they want a dog and they want to rescue rather than buy. Otherwise of course, theyd just send the charity some money and be done with it. Not the same though is it.

We have had a Romanian rescue for 3 years, after trying the local shelters to no avail (we both worked and had a child under 10). She wasn't a street dog though - she had clearly lived with a family and she definitely knew what the fridge and the sofa were from the moment she walked through the door. She was also completely housetrained and has slept well in her bed downstairs since day one.

However she has no commands at all and her recall, although pretty good, isn't 100% reliable. She barks at other dogs, not being aggressive, but wanting to play and will dash over to them from 100 yards given half a chance (we obviously try not to let this happen but we do sometimes get taken by surprise when we are out in the woods) - but when she gets to them, she has no idea how to play or what to do. She also has no idea about toys and if you were to throw her a ball she would look at you as if you were mad!

But she is the most lovely, good-natured, chilled out little thing who loves nothing more than to curl up on your feet or next to you on the sofa and snooze the day away.

I foster rescue dogs for a charity. They say that they never have any problems finding homes for the dogs that they get from overseas, it's the ones from the UK that have had homes and been given to a rescue centre because they have issues or bad habits, that are the hardest to re-home.

@Notadramallama

I foster rescue dogs for a charity. They say that they never have any problems finding homes for the dogs that they get from overseas, it's the ones from the UK that have had homes and been given to a rescue centre because they have issues or bad habits, that are the hardest to re-home.

im not surprised. I saw pages and pages of ex breeders on UK pages, that had been dumped after no good for breeding anymore. Things like "terrified of men", used to living in a dark shed. Not toilet trained as kept in a pen. Must have another dog to show it the ropes. Also dogs that MUST NOT BE HOMED WITH CHILDREN, or NO CATS, NO CHILDREN UNDER 12.

In the UK, rescue centres tend to be full of 18mth old dogs that are uncontrollable, bouncy and bitey because no training has happened and theyve gone mad, badly socialised etc. Of course you do get lucky sometimes too, but fact is, if you look further afield, you just have much more to choose from

I would be a little bit wary of getting a grown up dog “imported” from wherever... have you seen how many adults dogs are being stolen during walks and from homes in front of their owners to be sold straight away??? Hundreds!

So your new pet may not be coming from Romania but from a heartbroken family 10 miles away.

... obviously, there will be genuine charities finding homes for dogs in real need but do your research well.

@KarmaNoMore

I would be a little bit wary of getting a grown up dog “imported” from wherever... have you seen how many adults dogs are being stolen during walks and from homes in front of their owners to be sold straight away??? Hundreds!

So your new pet may not be coming from Romania but from a heartbroken family 10 miles away.

In that case you'd find out as soon as you take the dog to the vet to be registered because they would scan the microchip.

I meet someone with a Romanian rescue dog frequently when I’m walking my dog. The dog was fairly young when they took it on (6 months.) It has grown into a lovely dog. They decided to take on a second dog from the same rescue and that dog didn’t manage 24 hours in their house. Extreme aggression. I wouldn’t take the risk if I had children in the house.

My vet has never scanned my dogs’ chips.

On a purely ethical/utilitarian decision, charity money would be better spent on neutering/welfare programmes in the country of origin

A lot of charity money goes go towards neutering programmes - www.k-9angels.org/ - regularly runs fundraising campaigns for this. However in many countries, neutering is still not widespread and this is behind a lot of the puppies who get brought into the UK to be rehomed.

They are not without challenge some of them they can be successfully assimilated into the home no differently to a rescue dog had it been sourced in the UK. The rescues might not have the same level of scrutiny and criteria that UK rescues do but they do still want responsible ownership from people who can meet the needs of the dog.

We have a Bosnian rescue he was a street dog he is fantastic with our children, never had an accident in the house unless he’s been ill, isn’t nervous and shows no sign of trauma
But healthwise he’s been an issue since day one we’ve had lots of intestinal problems, expensive vet bills and over Christmas he got very stressed due to his gastro issues and destroyed our cooker by pulling the knobs off which thankfully we have fixed. You expect animals like this to be works in progress you don’t expect them to potentially build your house up by fiddling with the gas cooker.

If you follow for any length of time these rescues you see so many success stories, there is a lot of information out there online that you can review for yourself to help prepare you for taking on one of these animals.

The alternative is to hang fire for all these Lockdown puppies to become available as people tire of them or return to work

I recommend Street Hearts BG run by a fabulous and truly dedicated British couple. They will provide lifelong support and guidance for all their dogs and personally bring them to the UK. I cannot praise these wonderful people highly enough - if you would like further information, please do PM me.

This is our Bosnian street dog
He has absolutely no Recall, no clue about toys or how to play but apart from inadvertently blowing our house up he’s been a star

We spoke to some of these rescue charities about rehoming a puppy, but apparently the demand is outstripping supply massively and were told that realistically they wouldn't be able to find us a dog within the next year. We're buying a puppy from a local family whose bitch got pregnant before they could spay her instead. Would rather have rescued, but around here at least, dogs are being rehomed faster than ever, even with the stringent requirements from uk rescues which is great really.

The amount of dogs under a year being rehomed from the first lockdown in classified pages is so sad though. Although once again, they're finding homes in seconds of the adverts being posted. I just hope all these rehomed dogs are getting good homes.

Lots of reasons why people support this, as PPs have said.

I have had a few rescue dogs which has included foreign rescues - including a very young one.
They are no different to our dogs here really. You’ll get all sorts of temperaments. With ANY rescue there is an element of the unknown and work can be needed to gain their trust and affections. This is the same with any animal which may have suffered some mistreatment and neglect.

It is important to remember that not all rescues have suffered neglect and not all need this work, one of mine was simply found as a pup in a field and was fostered immediately with a family and then we rehomed him. So he’s never known anything but a loving family environment.

Others are in the rescues due to owners being too poor or unwell to look after them. Not every dog comes with an upsetting history. So there isn’t always behaviour to correct.

I am part of a wider foreign adopted dogs group and there is rarely talk of issues post adoption (above the usual niggles of a new dog / puppy).

@Figgygal

I’m sure it was accidental!

It is important to remember that not all rescues have suffered neglect and not all need this work, one of mine was simply found as a pup in a field and was fostered immediately with a family and then we rehomed him. So he’s never known anything but a loving family environment.

I agree. Many of the available dogs are gorgeous puppies that are well cared for and receive basic training while waiting to be rehomed. Sadly, some people have never heard of neutering and even if they are aware, it's just way beyond their means financially.

Another one with a friend who moved heaven and earth to make it work with a Rumanian rescue dog but in the end had to rehouse it - the charity really dragged their feet in helping it was awful

Of course not all charities are equal, but neither are breeders. Have you heard of puppy farms? But if you do your research, ask the right questions, and are committed to your dog (rescue or otherwise - all dogs need training), you will very likely have a great addition to your family. We would never buy a dog when there are so many in need of homes. And we have a very happy home albeit one with more dogs than people (and that may be why)!

We have a Bosnian rescue dog and here’s what I’ve learned ...

• all dogs require work and have their own personalities you have to adapt to, whether you have them from a puppy or as a rescue
• do as much research as possible into the rescue. I spent months looking, doing background research etc. Speak to people who have rescued dogs from there before.
• a good rescue will ask you to provide lots of information about your home, family, lifestyle, experience etc. We were interviewed in person and on the phone and also had a home check.
• a good rescue will also have access to lifetime support, dog behaviourist support etc and will say that if it doesn’t work out they will take the dog back into foster and rehome them elsewhere

He’s a great dog and a massive PITA (as with any dog) - he eats stuff he shouldn’t, farts like you wouldn’t believe, and isn’t to be trusted off lead. But he’s cuddly, funny, super friendly and lovely natured. No traumas, no health problems, no behavioural issues.

It’s all in the research IMO and choosing your rescue very carefully.

My
Friend adopted a pup from Romania last October. Cost her about £400

My mom has just adopted from overseas she was told by local rescues that they wouldn't rehome a dog with them because they lived on a "main road" (its a 30mph zone heavily policed) she has had dogs in that house for approx 35 years ONE dog has escaped in that time (my nans) and she had a second front door installed after that time there has literally not been any other incidents they also said the train line at the back was an issue too but again that section of the garden is double fenced and no dogs are allowed up the top she has never been without a dog for an extended period before so she got one from overseas the rescue still has dogs in need of good homes shame they missed out on a great one