Page 8 | To not understand why people adopt feral dogs from Eastern Europe?

Elmore · 2022-08-17T21:59:50+00:00

I don’t get it, there’s thousands of dogs in the U.K. that need homes, so why go to the effort (and expense) of importing these wild street dogs?

RestingMurderousFace · 18/08/2022 11:45

phlebasconsidered · 18/08/2022 11:30

Here's my vicious feral Rommie girl. Look how badly she has attacked the junk mail.

Clearly a demon dog, a danger to society. 😂

Branleuse · 18/08/2022 11:54

I actually have a dog thats a uk rescue as well as my spanish girl. For what its worth, we didnt have any real back up with her. We had more support with the spanish one.

Mangogogogo · 18/08/2022 11:57

EhUpDuck · 17/08/2022 23:27

Because for several months I have tried:

The Blue Cross, the RSPCA, the Dogs’ Trust, Battersea, and multiple smaller local rescues, with 0 restrictions (I have applied to adopt dogs over 200 miles from me) beyond having a young child. I wfh full time, have always had dogs since a child, all of them rescues and have significant dog training experience in the family (dad works for hearing dogs). I would take any age dog, any size, any breed. Every rescue bar one said no dogs to suit me, none likely in the future. There was one shar pei in North Yorkshire on the blue cross site I got through an initial stage for and then was rejected without any direct contact with me (and she’s still live on their site, homeless). I don’t want a puppy. I was actually really upset at the thought of either having no dog for 7+ years til my child can fit in the ‘sensible secondary age child’ category that seems blanket or being forced to get a puppy that I went overseas again. I’ve had an elderly Romanian rescue and now waiting on one from Hungary (who lives with toddlers currently, I have video evidence for anyone concerned for my child and any hint of aggression and the dog will be returned, which I have told the rescue). I always hated when people moaned about UK rescues but it is genuinely completely impossible to get a rescue dog in the UK atm if you have a child younger than a teenager. Search ‘can live with any age children’ on any of those sites; you will get 0 dogs returned. It’s too much.

we Adopted our eldest doggo when my daughter was 1, we only had a small yard, already had a cat and both worked (although opposite shifts but they didn’t ask!) from the dogs trust! Not a single issue with the whole process!

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 11:57

The one I know off takes the dogs from the streets to kennels they have made where they have a place to sleep and can get fed. They then spend time there to see what they are like. They go to the vets and get a passport etc. Then they would go to a foster home in the UK first before being adopted.

Not many feral ones come to the charity I know. They seem to go on to have nice lives, they may need more time to settle though.

Seems to be the poor treatment of these animals in their home county (Romania in this case) that really makes people feel they are in more need.

Unforgettablefire · 18/08/2022 11:58

Muminabun · 17/08/2022 23:08

A lot of ex street dogs are really well socialised with kids, dogs and cats so they can be more in demand. Uk rescue dogs often need adult only homes with no other pets which can make it difficult for families to adopt them and those with another dog or cat.

This is true. I've seen street dogs and cats and even ducks asleep together, it's as if because street animals are all in the same boat they all accept each other.

Ski4130 · 18/08/2022 11:59

We've already got a dog and 3 children (17, 15 and 12) so according to our local shelter we're unsuitable for all the dogs they have there at the moment, and I've been looking on their website since before lockdown. I get the whole 'adopt don't shop' thing, but there are an awful lot of hurdles put in your way when you try to!

Unforgettablefire · 18/08/2022 12:03

In answer to your question op saving a life is saving a life. Doesn't matter where it is but the rescue animals here have a much better life than the street animals abroad, they're often poisoned or shot at the end of the holiday seasons and die awful deaths.

Unforgettablefire · 18/08/2022 12:05

ShadowsShadowsShadows · 18/08/2022 00:04

This is our aggressive street dog from Northern Macedonia. She's a terror.

There were strict quarantine and medical testing criteria before her passport was generated including a final vet check and sign off before she could travel. The majority of imported dogs are subject to these tests and quarantines which prevent diseases being brought into the UK.

What a beautiful animal 😍

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 12:10

You just need to find the right fit for these dogs.

A family I know with one child, they had one from Romania. But she was so anxious and traumatised, she wasn't a "pet" dog in the typical sense. So she spent much of her time in the garden just laying by herself, wouldn't accept being walked or petted (not aggressive but would just shut down and tremble).

They took her on knowing that, the child was a pre-teen and they had other pets so this wasn't an issue of the child wanting to play with them and the dog hating it. They just made sure this dog was comfortable and had everything they needed, left them alone most of the time and lived around them. Made sure she had food and blankets and all medical stuff done of course.

One time the dog was spooked outside by something, and came inside to the kitchen to lay down close to one member of the family for comfort. No touching, but close. That was a massive milestone. It showed that this dog did in fact feel some form of safety with them.

She passed away and they were all very sad. She may not have been a typical dog pet, but she found a good fit with a family who gave her the space she needed, and she had access to warmth and shelter and food and comfort, and to some degree learned to trust this family would keep her safe.

Unforgettablefire · 18/08/2022 12:15

99redballoonsgobyy · 18/08/2022 00:50

As daft as it sounds it's probably much easier to adopt a rescue dog from abroad than it is from the UK! Have you seen how difficult it is to get a dog from the dogs home in the UK hardly anybody must meet the criteria. No children even visiting children, no other pets, you must not work as you need to be with the dog 24/7. home visits etc it's absolutely ridiculous. friends of mine were after a rescue dog a couple in their 50s who's previous dog had died. they found the process at the local dogs home so stressful and intrusive and didn't meet the criteria as they had an adult cat and both worked part time. they gave up in the end and had to get a puppy even though the didn't want a puppy and would have preferred a rescue dog. So a poor rescue dog in need missed out on a lovely home. This couple absolutely adore their dog.

The dog would have or will find a "lovely home" just because one person's circumstances aren't suitable it doesn't mean someone suitable won't come along.
There's always a reason some dogs aren't placed with certain people, that's to protect the dog, other animals in the home or the people in the home.

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 12:16

With unsuitable homes, no gardens

But do all dogs need a garden to be content? If it's a small-medium dog, you can take them for two long walks and they will be fine without constant access to a garden.

Unforgettablefire · 18/08/2022 12:20

Loving the photos of these dogs thank you!

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 12:23

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 12:16

With unsuitable homes, no gardens

But do all dogs need a garden to be content? If it's a small-medium dog, you can take them for two long walks and they will be fine without constant access to a garden.

There aren't many people, but I accept you might be one, that are prepared to take the dog out for a walk every 4 hours through the day and last thing at night and first thing in the morning for the rest of its life. Could be 15 years. People think they're prepared to do that but it's a huge commitment. And what happens if its poorly or when it gets older and maybe needs to go out more. No disrespect to an owner, they could very well be a fantastic, caring owner but it's a big ask.

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 12:30

There aren't many people, but I accept you might be one, that are prepared to take the dog out for a walk every 4 hours through the day and last thing at night

My grandparents did this even though they had a garden because they didn't want the dog using the garden as a toilet.

They didn't need to take them for a whole walk every 4 hours, just out to the verge in front of the home, walk up and down the path to let the dog do business, dispose of any poo. Last thing at night, they'd do it in their pyjamas.

CloudCatz · 18/08/2022 12:31

So dog would get walk in morning, walk in evening, and just taken out to the front of the house at any other time needing wee etc.

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 12:35

If you have that facility. And the dog cooperates! Lol.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 12:59

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 07:51

You honestly think the reason people adopt from abroad is just because it’s a status symbol?

Some of them, yes.

I miss the MN “confused” emoticon.

Do you think they’re branded? Or do you think we endlessly tell everyone we meet where she was born?

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 13:02

ChuckItBucket · 18/08/2022 07:47

Meanwhile thousands of healthy, nice - natured dogs in rescue centres and stray kennels are put to sleep every year. And why? Because it's now a status symbol to say you got your dog from abroad.

this might be the dumbest statement on this thread so far. You honestly think the reason people adopt from abroad is just because it’s a status symbol?

I adopted from abroad because I wanted a mongrel dog. I didn’t apply to any UK rescue centres first and now I have two lovely dogs.

That is truly batshit. I doubt I’ve ever told the story if my middle dog’s origins more than five or six times in 8 years of having her, normally to dog people, once on this thread. If anything I keep it quiet for fear of misconceptions.

Why would it even be a status symbol? Do some posters think they’re all aggressive bull breeds? Mine is a small dainty dog.

worriedatthistime · 18/08/2022 13:06

I would imagine and hope that it is safer getting a rescue dog from abroad through a rescue as in they will fullfill quarantine and vaccinations rather than from a puppy farm who have illegally brought in dogs
That said i don't know how well these charities are regulated and I hope well as yes we do not need rabies etc being brought in to the country
I get having rules on dogs and adoption but many rescues here do not consider the bigger picture all the time
Not housing with children though is prob much to do with safety as no one can guarantee how a dog may behave with a certain child

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 13:08

Jennybeans401 · 18/08/2022 07:53

We've considered it recently because we can't adopt a dog in the UK. Every time we check the different shelters we find that the dogs are not suitable for families with children. Our local shelter has so many dogs that cannot be removed for this reason that they said they cannot take on more dogs.

The U.K. rescues have arrived at a position of very black and white decision making, sadly and are extremely risk averse.

So they assume all children are feral lunatics with bad dog etiquette, and won’t take account of the fact that your children might be quiet and well behaved and have been raised around dogs. OFC some dogs are just too snappy and predictable to be near small people at all but policy has crept beyond that.

Ditto if you say WFH with one day a fortnight in the office and will hire a sitter for that day, the policy is to disbelieve you or not mark you down as “always home” which is the threshold.

And so it goes on…

Orangello · 18/08/2022 13:13

Are some too cautious? I'm sure so. But none of them went into the job not wanting the animals to have a good outcome.

Yes, they are refusing hundreds of applications and let the dogs stay in the shelter just in case one of those adoptions maybe doesn't work out. Exactly what people are saying here. So if they want a dog but their family for variety of reasons is considered 'too risky', they will go to a breeder or adopt from abroad.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 13:13

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 07:59

People like saying they got the dog from a foreign rescue because the conditions for dogs are awful. It makes them feel proud about rescuing them and they enjoy the kudos they get from people like the posters on here. They don't get the same buzz rescuing from a clean, well-maintained British rehoming kennel.

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Complete bollocks.

I have had rescues from the UK and abroad and I don’t see much difference. Life in a rescue is a shit life. I only ever say if asked “s/he is a rescue” (usually while I’m training the initial bounce out of them) and it’s only in conversation with really doggy people who ask that I ever expand on that.

Where are you getting you weird ideas from?

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 13:16

Do you think they’re branded?
No.

Or do you think we endlessly tell everyone we meet where she was born?
Not endlessly.

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 13:19

Why would it even be a status symbol?

I already answered this.

MarshaMelrose · 18/08/2022 13:22

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 13:13

Complete bollocks.

I have had rescues from the UK and abroad and I don’t see much difference. Life in a rescue is a shit life. I only ever say if asked “s/he is a rescue” (usually while I’m training the initial bounce out of them) and it’s only in conversation with really doggy people who ask that I ever expand on that.

Where are you getting you weird ideas from?

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It's not complete bollocks. It's not a weird idea. You are not the entire overseas rescue society!