Refused to rehome a dog ...aibu to think it's a ridiculous decision?

[brettsndsal]

We are a massive dog family.
Over the years we have had a lurcher,a border collie and a poodle all lived a happy long life.
They are part of the family and spoilt rotten.
Birthday ,Christmas presents,taken to the park daily and walks etc etc
We love them like a child basically.
Our last dog Lucy passed away aged 16 six weeks ago.
She was a rescue dog and had a bad start to life.
Anyway I've applied to rehome a dog through two rehoming places.
Both Declined us because we don't have a garden.

We have never had a Garden but that hasn't affected the dog in anyway.
We love opposite a huge park and 5 mins away from the beach.
They've refused to even do a home check because it's not suitable home for a dog.

We applied for a Jack Russell and another poodle.
Even if we had a garden I wouldn't let the dog out alone.

I'm really upset and I don't understand how a garden makes any difference.
They have lots of dogs in at the minute crying out for a new life.
We couldn't love them anymore if we tried

Aibu to think it's a bit shit?

I know a rescue that might be more flexible, will PM you.

I was just watching Animal Cops Houston - I watch for the heartwarming success stories and get upset at the condition of some of the dogs
What strikes me about the American system is how much 'power' the rescuers have backed up by police presence. What is more to the point of my post is that dogs/cats/horse are available centrally for consideration for potential pet owners to find a suitable pet. There is none of the charity run 'we know best' attitude that seems to prevail in the UK.

We are supposed to be a nation of pet lovers unlike in the USA. Instead of jumping through hoops via the rescues for the 'perfect' home - most dogs would be happy with any suitable home. They are adaptable.

I’m in a country where most people live in flats, and I can say that badly looked after dogs are generally the ones in the countryside precisely because you can leave them outdoors and not come back to a destroyed house.

That’s ridiculous and so sad for the dogs. As you’re in the North East could you try Bryson’s? Pretty sure you don’t need a garden for them. It’s in Gateshead, worth the trip perhaps?

Go to a local rescue or find a dogs seeking homes type page on fb.
It is ridiculous I agree.

@brettsndsal I’ve just started following Deliverance on Facebook. They are a small animal rescue based (I think) in Bishop Auckland and earlier this week they were trying to rehome a 4 year old collie. Might be worth giving them a try.

You could try the rescue we got our Greyhound from if you were happy with that breed. They are happy to rehome to people without gardens and even living in flats if everything else is right. It’s all very sensible, no over the top criteria and we got our dog within about 3 weeks of applying. They match the dog to you, we have 2 DSs and an existing small breed dog and he fitted right in, cannot recommend then enough.

YANBU

We live in a terrace house with 2 terrier breed dogs, very little concrete garden, enough for them to pee but not much else, however we live 5 minutes from a huge field and DH takes them most evenings for a massive run around the fire he and they're out for an hours walk with me and DC every morning.

@colinthecaterpillars

I was also similar lost my girl in February and warned another rescue I got turned down for a dog because I don't have a car .I've not driven in 7 year's me getting my dog to the vets has never been any issue.spent 2k on having a new garden for a dog to.run around in and us to enjoy and years of experience with dogs but the real problem was transport

That's a new one on me - the list gets longer

Still is why I used an overseas rescue to get my dog.
I've owned dogs before, got a house and enclosed garden, a car, I work part time, no children etc etc so the 'ideal owner' but I couldn't be fucked to kiss the rescues arse and pretend my whole life was going to be about the dog.

My dog is fab (I also got a rescue cat a few years later when my other rescue cat died aged 20 and she is fab too).

Look on Facebook, there's loads of rescue places on there, I've used 3 different rescues now and they were all run by wonderful people (British as they are the point of contact) unlike the larger rescues in the uk!

I used to live in a small commuter town, in a flat with a communal garden (the block allowed pets), near lots of parks and a big forest, and I went to the local shelter and they said the same. Can't have a dog from them since I have no private garden.

So I went to a big London shelter and they did a google earth view of my town and said "woah look at all that green space around your town. Of course you can have a dog from us!"

YANBU. I had to practically beg to adopt 2 kittens from cats protection league. Woman and her DH came to my house and scrutinised the surrounding streets. They declared there was a “main road” close by that would be a risk to the kittens and they would need to think it over. The nearest main road is about half a mile away - one of the reasons we bought the house is that there is no nearby traffic and it’s really quiet. This woman was a volunteer but seemed to enjoy the power it gave her - I think this is common with animal charities - people acting like dictators when rehoming. Do-gooders who aren’t actually very nice people.

We eventually got “approved” and when we went to collect them, the woman’s house was an absolute tip and the mother and 8 kittens were all cooped up in a tiny room with no window - it absolutely stank. My two kitties now live a great life and are spoiled rotten!! 🐈‍⬛🐈

Try the FB page "You know you're from Darlo when". I've seen people on there desperate to rehome cats and dogs when shelters are full. Maybe some of the other local groups too? Fingers crossed.

I'm in Ireland and its the same here.

When our previous dog died I applied to my local small but very busy rescue organisation to adopt another one. I'd known the people who run it for years (family friends) and I'd always supported their work. They didn't tell me outright that I couldn't have a dog, just kept making excuses until eventually the penny dropped! Apparently they didn't like the fact that we worked - although my job was 10 minutes away and I came home for lunch most days, worked flexi hours, and DC were still in school so often at home.

I ended up buying a puppy who is now 12, the happiest dog you can imagine. We also took in an older dog that someone we knew slightly was 'getting rid of' she's about 14 now and much loved also.

It seems that the one question they don't ask themselves is, will this dog be loved, cared for and treated as one of the family? Their thinking seems to be very rigid. Don't know how they'll cope with all the "extra" lockdown dogs that they're now getting.

Dog rescue Cyprus ( Dali dogs) I rescued from here last year. Best thing I ever did. They have a massive stray problem out there so there's always lots needing homes. The hoops you have to jump through to rescue a dog here in the UK are so ridiculous.

I agree with PP that there are definitely some rescues that wouldn’t rule you out just because you don’t have a garden. I would try and find a dog that is in a foster home so that you have a clearer idea of how the dog will cope without a garden, i.e., the fosterer will be able to tell you how often and how the dog utilises their garden.

Some things to consider though. After adoption, lots of rescue dogs need time to decompress before being walked, overwise you risk overwhelming them. How will you manage that initial settling in period?

Some dogs won’t toilet in a new environment, especially whilst on a lead, until they feel more relaxed. How will you manage if your new rescue is too overwhelmed to toilet whilst on a lead?

How will you manage if your dog has gastrointestinal issues? It’s common for rescue dogs to have gastrointestinal issues due to the stress of being adopted. Being constantly manhandled (from the dog’s perspective) so that you can quickly get it’s lead on and get it out of the house could just add to it’s stress.

I have been struggling to get a dog for weeks. I lost my husband almost a year ago, and 6 weeks ago, I lost our dog - we always had dogs, and she was the last dog we shared together. I so need a dog to fill that gap, but the shelters don't have many, and the only ones available are ones that have serious issues, or are over in Northern Ireland or something. I am an experienced owner, but having failed so many times to get a dog, I'm now doing something I swore I never would, and am buying a puppy from a reputable breeder.

I was refused a kitten because I was working full time. Bought one, splashed on a breed I wanted.

That’s ridiculous. Clearly, you have had well loved and cared for dogs in the past. There are so many dog needing new loving homes. I can’t believe you’ve been refused.

@Technonan… I support a charity called Second Chance Golden Retriever Rescue. They have wonderful dogs (not all are retrievers). Look them up.

Yes, totally ridiculous!

For all those saying rescues are strict, if you’ve seen what they’ve seen, you’d be strict to. Some of the dogs they take in have been through dreadful things at the hands of humans, often more than once. They have a responsibility to try to make the homing a success. They don’t know you and that you if you don’t have a garden, that you will actually take the dog out a few times each day for toileting for example. People on here are quick to speak badly of them, I’d suggest walking a mile in their shoes before you do. They are doing their best.

Agree Liam, its such a hard thing for charities swamped in dogs, they have an awful time, they have a duty of care to the dogs they are rehoming.

Of course charities have a duty of care, but that doesn't mean their approach is always right. Due to circumstances outside their control my parents had to rehome their dog a few years ago. Where they live (not UK) there is an agency that acts as a matchmaker, and tries to match dogs with their new owners (while the dog continues to live 'at home' until a new owner is found). In the end my parents decided to go for a couple who live in a flat, but one that is right opposite the forest. They still get regular updates from the new owners, and the dog is the happiest it has ever been. It goes for at least 3 hour-long walks every day, has loads of doggie friends, etc. I understand this is not always feasible for charities, but a personalised approach surely leads to better outcomes than blanket rules?

Maybe try other rescue places and see if you can talk to an actual person instead of filling in those awful tick-box forms. No garden but opposite a park and 5 mins from a beach is vastly different from no garden and miles from any green space.