Should everyone be forced to show they aren’t able to rescue a dog before they can buy a puppy?

[Coffeealwayshot]

Just that really

I see my local shelter is full again and saying they will need to euthanise if they can’t find homes.

Everyone I know (bar 2 or 3) who has a dog has bought from a breeder.

Im not rude enough to ask people if they considered a rescue. I know some say they were turned down but some that they just wanted a puppy or a specific breed.

So my question is as above?
I get we can’t say no breeding at all but should taking on a rescue be the only option for those who are suitable and reduce the breeding to just cater for those who can’t have a rescue dog?

No.

Honestly look up your local sight hound/greyhound charity. They are wonderful dogs and very happy to chill out!

I don’t disagree with your basic premise, but I’d start the other end.

Ban all breeding of puppies unless a) both parents are fully health checked b) each puppy has a prearranged home and c) no puppy can be sold for more than proven breeding expenses plus £10. While you can buy or sell dogs as a commodity over breeding will happen.

Totally unworkable in practice I suspect, but so is your idea.

So three separate rescues have said no you can’t have any of our dogs but haven’t given you a single explanation for this?

just said no go away no further conversation?

Of course not.

So, how does someone own their first dog?

If you didn't grow up around dogs, you don't have the experience to take on a rescue dog.

Is it a case that if you didn't have a family pet when you were younger, you're never allowed to have a pet as a grown up?

We wanted a dog, signed to with many rescues, never got a sniff of a Dog. It’s suits the shelters to keep sending our “desperate” messages, so they get more donations .. but when it comes to it, they don’t seem too keen to place dogs. I think the large shelters do, but the smaller / local ones don’t.
They set parameters so high, virtually no chance of placing dogs.

My mom is an extremely experienced dog owner and rescue centres won't touch her because she lives by a "main road" it's actually 30mph there but they still class it as a main road her garden is huge and very secure but it backs onto a railway line so again she is out for those reasons she ended up with a Romanian rescue the dogs in the local rescue has most likely been pts because it was "unable to be rehomed"

Ridiculous

Difficult one. My parents were foster carers for various rescue centres and it was a lovely experience watching completely shut down dogs blossom with good food, care and affection.

But when ex-DH and me decided we wanted a family dog, we were turned away time and again by rescue centres. I worked part time so the dog wouldn’t have been left more than 4 hours but DS was only 9 and we had cats and chickens which apparently meant we were unsuitable to rehome. After multiple rejections we bought a puppy and he had 13 wonderful years with us, being completely spoiled and loved.

I completely understand that rescues have to be careful when rehoming but some of their criteria is ridiculous.

Rescues don’t make it easy for people to adopt. And I volunteered for a rescue and my last 2 dogs were rescue dogs. Since my girl died I have been looking on rescue websites and there are so many restrictions - must be an “only” dog, can’t live with children, can’t be left alone for more than x hours.
If I get another dog, I doubt if it will be a rescue - too much red tape, which is a shame as my dogs have a great life

People aren’t actually reading my suggestion and just coming in all defensive

Im not saying ban all puppies I’m saying it should only happen IF a rescue isn’t suitable.

Personally, I don't think it should be easy to adopt. Rescues don't want dogs bouncing back to them. The more reputable rescues make sure the person/family applying for the dog is a perfect match. They are there to provide homes for dogs, not dogs for homes.

Disagreeing with you isn't being 'defensive', it's pointing out potential downsides of your idea.

Yes correct. One made vague comments about I might not wfh forever (I will), but other than that it's just been a no.

A friend has had a great experience with a rescue from Cyprus and I am currently looking at that.

Utter, utter bollocks. We always rescue. Our newest recruit is terrified of DS and skittish beyond belief. He'd never walked on a lead until the day we got him home and hasn't a clue about people or homes. He is much harder work than a puppy. I am worried he is going to be reactive with strange people but we will deal with this. Bollocks!!!!

I don't think it's people being defensive. I think it's people not agreeing with your suggestion

Surely a better approach would be to have to prove yourself to be a not only willing but able owner before being able to adopt or shop?

No.

I think there should be limits on dogs brought over from Romania (often deeply unhappy dogs that go on to live stressful lives until they die) and other countries to encourage adopters to go to UK rescues.

U.K. rescues need to take a better approach to rehoming, some set unnecessarily restrictive conditions on adopting (thinking of that Pissfingers meme that’s funny because it’s kind of true). I know so many people who had decent set ups but were turned down from adoption for petty reasons, all went on to buy a puppy, which are all having lovely lives that a rescue could have had!

I also think that no kill shelters are highly irresponsible. A difficult dog or a biter should be pts, not kept in the vain hope that the perfect person will come along and successfully take them on. Pts isn’t the worst thing to happen to a troubled dog. Keeping one on for long periods of time rotting in a shelter is disturbing.

Comments like ‘oh so we would never be allowed a dog then’ is a bit defensive! Because that’s definitely not what I’m saying is it?

I agree with all you've said, though I'd expand the comment regarding Romania to include all foreign rescues! We don't need more well meaning people bringing more reactive and challenging dogs to the UK.

How would this work?
There are hundreds of recues up and down the UK. How many would have to turn you down before you could get a puppy?

My parents applied for loads before they got their lovely boy. Lots of lengthy forms, phone calls, home checks etc, and heartbreak when they were turned down.

I had a homecheck for a rescue... and was told no dogs were suitable. But then a month later, one might have been.

I just don't get how your idea would work.

No it shouldn’t be “easy” but the restrictions mean that 90% of the population can not take in a dog needing a home.
If you work - no dog
If you have kids - no dog
If you have other pets - no dog.

so breeders carry on breeding, rescues are flooded, and never the twain ….

A ridiculous place to be.

And then add on the extra pressure of importing street dogs and giving them out to unsuitable homes like candy. I give up

I wanted a wolfhound. Any that came into rescue are not going to be suitable for a home with cats and kids.
Decent breeders don’t breed all that frequently and make puppy owners agree to return pup to breeder if they have to give it up. The problem is commercial breeders, clueless breeders and people taking on pets they can’t meet the needs of.

Some rescues are more flexible though

We both work, had 8 year old twins and were allowed to take on a rescue.

What if you just don't want a rescue? Does that mean you aren't allowed a dog then?