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?

It's near impossible to get a rescue dog if you have children. Also when I was looking there were a lot that stated you shouldn't have visitors to the house, shouldn't be left alone for any amount of time, shouldn't be around other animals etc etc

But let’s be truthful too. The overwhelming majority of dogs in shelters are not ideal family pets who will slot neatly into any home.

I have small children, cats, chickens, ducks and free range rabbits at home. Finding a dog which isn’t going to be upset by or try to murder at least one of these cohabitants is virtually impossible. The vast majority of shelter dogs cannot safely live with children and / or other animals.

It’s not the dogs’ faults, of course, but it also means it’s not unreasonable of me to not bring one of these dogs into my home to eat my other pets.

It is also worth noting that shelters are not overflowing with ethically bred dogs whose owners have abandoned them. Those kinds of dogs do occasionally turn up in shelters, but it is very rare. That indicates that ethically bred puppies are not the reason dogs are ending up in shelters, and solving the problem of shelter dogs isn’t going to be solved by banning people from buying dogs from breeders.

I don't think so. Why do you have this opinion that people should be forced to get a rescue dog in the first instance anyway? I'm not very clear on your motivation now I see you've pushed back on people who don't agree with you.

No, it's not. It's giving an answer which reflects their experience. We actually had two SSPCA rescues when I lived at home, at different times - one was really, really hard work for various reasons, other was an absolute darling in every way. We treated them both the same and knew the same amount about both of them (not much). My sister rescued a dog too, mostly a darling but had a few escaping issues.

Every rescue I went to said we couldn't have a rescue dog as our youngest DC was too young (2 years old). Breeders didn't have a problem with this.

And then when we wanted cats, we couldn't have a rescue cat because we had a dog. So we bought the cats too 🙄

I'm in the process of looking for a puppy.

I'll get one from a breeder, firstly because I have cats and a 9 year old. So I know I'd be refused straight away from a rescue centre. Also this is my first time owning a dog, so I'd like to train it to the way we live. I don't have the experience yet to look after a dog which might have issues.

The main reason to get a certain breed as well is because my daughter is allergic to a lot of dogs, so we are limited to the type we can get.

Both my cats are rescue cats, I will only ever get rescue cats. But I think it is slightly different with a dog which can bite/cause death etc. The risks are higher with a dog than a cat if you don't have the experience and have young children/other animals.

Thanks for all the replies

Some rescues sound really hard work on their rules. I guess it’s such a difficult one to keep everyone safe and happy.

I concede this suggestion would not be popular! And unworkable.

It just makes so so sad to see all these unwanted dogs. And overbred bitches. Wish we had a solution.

Not many are this flexible. Name them, I will guarantee that all their dogs will be rehomed within a month by people wanting to help.

I don't see anything wrong with those restrictions.
Some older dogs have an unknown history, so are best not to be rehomed with children. Younger children might not know how to handle dogs... they might climb over them, tug on ears etc. No rescue wants to risk a dog biting a child.
If you work... then it is not fair on the dog to be left alone for hours. Older dogs might be ok.
Other pets... again, nothing wrong with that. Some dogs are reactive to others so have to be the only dog. Some dogs have a strong prey drive so can't be rehomed with cats. There is the opposite too... some dogs can only be rehomed if you already have a dog.
A decent rescue will say what the individual needs of the dog are. If a particular dog is anxious around kids, has separation anxiety, and is no good around other dogs.... then there is nothing wring with insisting on a kid/pet free home with someone that is there a lot of the time.
The needs of the dog comes first. You are not owed a dog.

This! We really wanted to rescue, ideally a younger dog but it wasnt feasible. The local pet rescue (DSPCA and dogs trust) had no animals that they were happy to rescued by families with young children. I get that they don't know a dogs history in a lot of cases but meant as we had young children we wouldnt be considered suitable. Also to say it was like a police interview and the person we spoke to in the DSPCA was aghast that we would consider rescuing and have the gall to also work and occasionally not be home. Still cant comprehend how us potentially not being home a few hours here and there is better that a dog sitting in a shelter facing never being rehomed and PTS

In the end we decided to just get a puppy. Id love to think in future when the children are older its something we could do but until then or the rescues rethink their criteria, nothings going to change

There's a huge mismatch between the type of breeds most prospective owners want, and the breeds available in shelters. My local shelter is full: Of staffies, terriers and rottweilers. And they recently changed their "can live with children over 12" to "can live with children over 14", for some reason.

So there's no point in your proposed policy - it won't result in more adoptions from shelters.

I don’t give a shit about any rescue dogs. With the best will in the world you don’t know what that dog’s been through. I would always and have always gone for a puppy from a reputable breeder and NOTHING anyone can say or do would convince me otherwise. You just don’t know what you’re getting with a rescue dog

I/we. (Partner & I) Were turned down, didn't qualify (?) to re-home a dog or puppy from four rescue centers
(First house)
Too close to a road
something about garden walls (I can't remember )
Too close to a train line.
Partner out out of house more than four hours a day
Second house
Too close to road
We bought three dogs all terriers
Wanted to try again with a rescue dog
Rehoming team-
"Terriers are 'singular' pets "
So it wasn't for the want of trying
I see your point but think it would be difficult to action it
Edited due to missing , wanting to try again ....

We applied to a rescue centre and were turned down on assessment because we live too near to a main road, 150 meters to be precise. We also live 50 meters the opposite way to a large park.

No. I've had a rescue dog in the past. I chose to buy one this time round, spent ages searching reputable breeders etc.

Would be better to make it illegal to breed without a licence. I know far too many people who breed dogs as a way to make some extra money.

Two kids and a cat, spent 2 years trying to find a rescue but just couldn’t. Dog after dog that had to be “the only pet”, “no children”, “not suitable for rehoming with cats” etc. I’ve had rescue dogs my whole life and this was the first time I kept getting refused. Ended up getting a puppy 🤷‍♀️

This!
No more back yard breeders... no excuse for "oops" puppies. Breeding should be licensed and regulated. I bet the people with oops pups don't declare their earnings.

Sounds nice but totally unworkable.

Don’t you think if some arbitrary rule was to be introduced, it should be one step previous to this - and people should be vetted before taking on a puppy, so that they don’t end up at a rescue shelter?

I'm on my third dog. Two puppies and a rescue. The rescue was 25 yrs ago.
Very small local place, we turned up, pointed at a dog and the guy let us walk him for half an hour. Signed a form, payed 30 pounds and was told to take him home and feed him scrambled egg!
Dog definitely had issues but not aggressive and he made it to 16 yrs old.
Ex wanted a puppy so two years into the rescue we got one. Runt of the litter with money knocked off. Also lived to 16.
No questions asked/home checks with either dogs.
Bloody good dogs.
Current dog is 2 and came from a social media post as a puppy. Two visits and lots of questions asked. We are still in touch with the breeder and a few of the other litter owners.
I did originally put my details in online to 5 rescues. All immediate nos. We both work full time- opposite shifts - so dog would only be alone for an hour a day. Dd was just under 15 which a couple of rescues ruled out. A couple would only rehome a certain distance, or required quite a few weekly visits.
All three dogs from different circumstances, all three dogs treated the same.
I appreciate rescues have to do their best by the dogs but I believe a lot of dogs are going not rescued because of the strict guidelines.

I’ve often wondered if there are better ways puppy farming could be handled, as this seems to be a massive problem (I’ve read somewhere that some rescues, maybe in US, are almost a front for selling worn out breeding dogs and bitches).

In plenty of cases there are obvious red flags that many vets should be able to spot in new puppies. Maybe the owners need some sort of fine so prospective buyers will be more careful about where they buy from? Apparently it’s too difficult for local authorities to find and close down the farms themselves, but something must be done.

no because loads of people would end up with dogs they don’t want or have the same attachment for and it would just perpetuate the problem

Decent breeders do vet potential owners.
Sometimes, I think when someone says they ended up buying a puppy because they could not rescue, they mean they went on Gumtree and bought from a back yard breeder.

I have looked at what the local rescue home expects from prospective owners.
Most want a massive garden with a 6 ft fence.
This is urban living, we don't have a lot of private gardens.
That's not to say people who live in a flat shouldn't own a dog imo. But the kennels disagree 🤷🏻‍♀️
OP you have said that not all dogs have gone to rescue places traumatised. Just by being in kennels a lot of dogs become traumatised.
The ones who come with background history, it really is the say so of the person who is surrendering the dog telling the staff this info. Could be absolute bollocks.
Just because a dog hasn't been 'triggered' whilst at the kennels doesn't mean it is unreactive in every situation.
Having said all that I think more regulation is needed regarding back street breeders and I hate the KC with a passion.

Such a ridiculous thread, especially if you've ever tried to adopt a dog.

All the rescues near me are full of staffies and neurotic collies with bite histories who can't be homed with men/women/children/dogs/cats.