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

[Elmore]

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?

What reasons did they give when they refused you?

Think there are possibly good and bad charities. The one we have adopted our two from have provided support as required and did do a good home check. They really want to match the dog to the best owner. Our first rescue came in from Bosnia where he was dumped by the side of the road with his litter mates when he was a couple of weeks old. We have kept in touch with the lady who hand reared them all before they came over. Our other rescue is a Spanish street dog, he was incredibly nervous and we got him on a foster basis to see how he settled. Lots of support from the charity.
To say that we are virtue signalling is pretty insulting tbh. We love dogs and for some reason didn't fit with the RSPCA criteria despite WFH in a rural location, grown up kids etc. - didn't even qualify for a home check. Plus we want a Border Collie not a staffy/ Jack Russell which seem to be quite common in the UK shelters

But I’m still on the FB group for our rescue, 8 years down the line. I never post but I do read the odd thing. They’re all insanely dog-centred people (too much even for me) who still support the rescue. I’m just not seeing this stereotype you’re selling.

Saying that, the rescue in question only sent dogs to experienced owners who had been interviewed, pays a fortune for veterinary care (on its accounts) and is very responsible. Maybe some of these (Romanian??) “rescues” are just puppy farms in disguise? I haven’t come across them, but you should never ever take a dog from anywhere who doesn’t perform a home check.

To say that we are virtue signalling is pretty insulting tbh

Yes it’s a very easy bath to sling. About lots of things. But of course people support certain things. Quietly a lot of the time. I wouldn’t want to live in a world where charitable endeavours and volunteering weren’t a thing.

Barb^ (not bath) 😁

I'm not selling anything. I've detailed my experience as have other people. There are many international rescues (sounds like Thunderbirds). The dogs I have spoken here about were not puppies. Others might have been, I can't say.

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

I know loads of owners who do this! Lots of the terraces around here just have a small concrete yard (or no yard at all) and the dogs are all absolutely fine. They get walked daily and popped out for toilet breaks as needed.

Adult dogs don't need to go out every 4 hours either - mine has a garden and toilets there, but he can happily hold it for 6-8 hours without asking to go out.

Well like anything, if there are rogue operators or problematic areas that needs addressing but just saying “international dog rescue is a problem” is like saying “probate solicitors are a problem” or “music schools are a problem”. Nonsensical and will just alienate a lot of dog lovers who have contrary experiences.

In my experience a lot of Facebook mummies take on these dogs and virtue signal about it on their socials so I agree they can be a status symbol for some

People who post too much on FB about anything at all, are generally best avoided.

I co-run a Romanian dog rescue, we're all volunteers (with full time jobs elsewhere) and we also fund raise to feed homeless dogs and for spay and neuter campaigns there.
The dogs are from a variety of settings - abandoned pets who end up in packs in the forests, negotiated released dogs from kill shelters, shepherd dogs left behind by shepherds, chained yard dogs and dogs who have been found roadside thrown from cars. Generally speaking, they're not feral but have been let down by their owners.
We have dedicated fosters in Romania who take care of the dogs once they have been moved from danger, vets who provide all treatment, vaccinations, tests, worming, de-flea etc and then they are assessed and prepped for travel if they have an adopter. Many of our dogs go to our UK fosters until a home is found.
The dogs are cat tested, child tested pre- travel (our Romanian fosters have both) and we are in daily contact with them. All live within homes there or alongside the foster's home in outside kennels.
Travel is via an air conditioned fully regulated van and each dog comes over with passport and medical records. A home check will have been undertaken and that includes a visit, ID, questionnaire, interview and contract. All adopters are fully informed at each step of proceedings and given instructions on safety and settling in. Each adopter has an individual chat room with access to two team members for as long as they need. Dogs can be returned with no time limit but we also offer the services of a behaviourist who is experienced in overseas dogs. We request and encourage regular updates and feedback from adopters and put them in a group to exchange experiences and share their stories,progress and photos.
Each of us have years of experience of Romanian dogs especially the large indigenous shepherd breeds and put our own money into the rescue as well. Adoption fees cover travel and prep and every penny goes back to the original rescuer in Romania. This rolling scheme will then save another dog in its place.
We have very few 'bounce backs' but they are absorbed by our fosters or us if need be. None of our dogs ever end up in UK shelters. We dual-register microchips too to help with traceability of our adopted dogs.
It's not the organisations here or in Romania who treat the dogs neglectfully and 'euthanise' by terrible means; it's the government funded shelters which do this. Hence why we get the dogs out and find them homes.
Many of the dogs are familiar pet breeds - bichons, poms, dachshunds etc as well as labs and also the rarer giant breeds... plus a variety of mixes of course.
Why do local people come to us and not the UK dog rescues? Not sure but we assess each adopter individually and will turn people down although we try not to and will offer a more suitable dog if need be. It's far easier and cheaper to keep our dogs safely with a Romanian foster than to transport them over and offload them onto the wrong adopter. Many other rescues I'm aware of operate similarly - we all support each other as the goal is saving dogs, not money, kudos or anything else.

Thanks for all you do @Sommersby

That aligns with my experience of a rescue in another European country.

Sorry you’re getting smeared here.

It's mad.

I knew a couple who had to send their adopted mutt back to Romania because it was too feral. What did they fucking expect??

I work in a kennels that has both holiday boarding and rescues.

More staff are bitten by doodle types on holiday than the Roma dogs on the rescue side.

This old girl was classed as feral, she'd spent a few years on the streets and was then caught and dumped in a shelter in Romania for two years. She'd never lived in a house before and it took her an entire year before she felt safe enough to venture upstairs. She is without doubt the sweetest, most gentle dog I've ever had the pleasure to know.

Most ferals tend to be similar. They go out of their way to avoid trouble and fights, it's how they've managed to keep themselves alive when life was tough.

But you're not going to get a responsible shelter to give you a bouncy dog with toddlers. And they're not going to rehome powerful dogs to first time owners. They need someone who is alert all the time and can who can be the pack leader. (Man or woman - it's immaterial.)

tell me you know nothing at sll about dog behaviour without telling me. Pack leader theory has been debunked and is widely regarded as bullshit nowadays. Anyone peddling that shite is to be given a very wide berth

YANBU.

My friend adopted a 'dog' from Romania. It turned out to be part Coyote.

I'm a very experienced dog owner like many, I live in the country, am always around and my dogs are never left. I have a very dog savvy 11 year old and 1 cat who is very capable of sorting any dog out. My dogs get proper training and exercise in a home very used to working dogs. I wanted to adopt a spaniel rather than buy a pup for my next working dog. My only stipulation was under 5. Couldn't find a single rescue that would rehome to us. I bought a pup.

🙄

🙈😩

There are no coyotes in Romania.

I made my post to say that I'd found the thread interesting, and it had made me think a little more about international dog rescues. I have absolutely no interest in adopting a dog myself, so never looked into it. No need to be nasty, especially when I specifically said that it had opened my mind.

Maybe it's a golden Jackal.

It's an evil little fucker at any rate.

How is that possible when coyotes don't exist anywhere outside of North America?

Yes i agree op. I know of three different families who have one of these and each dog has issues despite having lots of time spent on them, puppy training classes etc. not aggressive to people as such but more constant barking, nervousness, separation anxiety and trashing the house etc