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?

@sequin2000 I came to say the same thing !

I tried for nearly 10 years on and off to rescue a dog, my children were too young (primary) and the dogs that could be rehomed with children were gone in hours.

I ended up getting a puppy, 3 years ago.

Dogs end up in rescue for all sorts of reasons. Some are there because their owner could no longer take care of them due to health reasons. I nearly had to give my up dog, as I was offered supported accommodation and you are not allowed pets.
And dogs like greyhounds, end up in rescue as a by product of the racing industry.

@LadyMonicaBaddingham - yes this. Think it’s easier to adopt a child than a dog!

Rescues have puppies sometimes

Yep, my dog was a rescue puppy.

Most rescues are full because they don’t actually want to give the dogs up for rescue, because the dogs are what makes them the money.

The likes of dogs trust harp on about how they “never put a healthy dog down,” while at the same time asking for people to sponsor said dogs because they will never be rehomed. Well, if a dog is so far gone in terms of not being able to be rehomed then it is not a healthy dog and should be put down.

There are worse fates than a dog being put to sleep. Maybe if they actually did euthanise those that can never be rehomed we wouldn’t have such an issue with rescues.

Because let’s be honest, most of the dogs in the big rescues especially aren’t exactly suitable family pets. I went to Battersea once and they were pretty much all staffies and the like.

The whole problem stems from people picking unsuitable dogs that don’t suit their lifestyle. They underestimate how well they can train a dog, pick working breeds (or cute neurotic curly things) they can’t manage, leave them all day and then dump them when they realise they aren’t experienced enough.
They also underestimate the power of genetics and seem shocked when dogs do what they are bred to and people can’t handle it. Even worse some of them get a dog because it’s the done thing and don’t stop to think actually should I have a dog at all because my lifestyle won’t allow for it.

Some breeds have almost no dogs in rescue. This proves to me that if breeders cared about their breed and strived to only rehome a puppy to someone knowledgable and protected their lines even as adults the dog rescue would pretty much not exist! If breeders made sure people had the time, finances, experience and knowledge for that particular breed then I believe less of them would end up in a situation with a dog they can’t manage.

So no, forcing someone to take a rescue dog wouldn’t work because forcing a dog into a family that isn’t suitable for them will end up with the cycle going on and on forever.

Im all for rescuing dogs. I’ve fostered, trained rescued all of my life (pre having toddlers) However I hate placing rescue dogs with children and I wouldn’t take one into my own family. I don’t blame rescues for being ‘difficult’…who wants to take a punt on someone else’s child? Also there’s nothing more stressful and sad than placing a dog that doesn’t work and watching it come back sadder and with more issues than before it went.

I agree with you. Maybe not the specific concept but definitely the principle. It's obviously coming from a place of frustration at how many dogs are left languishing in kennels and rescue centres. Dogs are commodities nowadays and anyone who thinks differently isn't paying attention to the trends in specific breeds being rehomed every few years. It's like a cycle of what's fashionable at the time. It was staffies, then huskies, then cockerpoos etc.

I'd actually go one step further and ban all breeding except for working dogs, guide dogs, police dogs etc. I don't see why we have a god given right to own whatever we want regardless of the consequences. If that means eventually fewer and fewer pet dogs then so be it. Better to have less than so many without homes. My 15 year old rescue is my best pal!

We were two years waiting for a dog with a rescue. Puppies just came and went and then we’d get phone calls offering us lurchers or Jack Russells. We have kids and cats and there’s animals all around us. When we got our dog (not in a rescue shelter) I wanted to hit all the people who asked why I wouldn’t rescue a dog instead

I always adopted from rescues for over twenty years. But since I had my children I adopt puppies which offer access to their parents.

I am not risking my children.

I also expect it's vanishingly few people who really tried to rescue. There'll be plenty who tried two or three on a random day, seeing nothing suitable or being rejected a couple of times before saying "it's hopeless, let's have a puppy."

People spend longer choosing their next living room paint colour than waiting for the perfect dog to come into a rescue, or looking further afield. I'm sure my comment will trigger people who insist they spent months or years looking, or they were rejected a million times or got ignored every day for six months but in my opinion most people just aren't patient. They're happy to shop, not adopt.

There are certain bigger breeds I would only own if I had them from puppies and properly socialized them. For others breeds, absolutely. I have a rescue pug (not looking for a pug, just happened to be the best match when I was ready for a dog) and I definitely thing people wanting pugs should rescue first, not buy puppies until breeders start introducing some new genetic material into the lines.

I have sponsored a few dogs over the years. None were languishing in kennels. They are all in homes.... sometimes called permanent foster homes. They usually have health conditions that cost a lot in meds or specific treatments. Sponsor money pays for that, so the person fostering them is not out of pocket.

Rescue =/= in kennels. Lots of rescues do not have kennels or even their own premises, and have an army of foster families for the dogs. They are already in a home environment.

Most people who have kids can’t rescue if kids are young plus I know two people who had young kids that tried to rescue from people rehousing their dogs and the kids got bitten in the face
sometimes it’s not safe to rescue
I’m not saying that’s always the case but I’d be worried about taking an older dog instead of a puppy in fact we rescued an older puppy cockapoo and she had aggression issues
and then when we had young kids we bought a puppy whose grown up with them and is soft as anything
I dont know if it’s pot luck
but I’d never get another rescue over a puppy whilst kids were young , but perhaps my personal experience has made my view.

Most rescues are full because they don’t actually want to give the dogs up for rescue, because the dogs are what makes them the money.

Maybe the big chains, bur the ones I foster for - absolutely not. IME, most people applying for a rescue are woefully naive about what they will get. It’s not about patience. It’s about them not being suitable to own any dog, let alone a rescue. They know that. That’s why they give up with a rescue and it’s why a good breeder says no to them and they end up with a puppy farm dog.

They are inexperienced, un-prepared, and in some cases would be a genuine risk when it came to owning a rescue dog.

I’ve had people apply for puppies I was fostering who worked 4 days a week away from home and had no plans in place for who would look after the puppy. People with children applying for dogs with a bite history. People with dogs applying for sprockers that had to be only dogs. People who live in a flat apply for a Goldie. People with no garden applying for a Springer. People with no dog experience applying for a reactive cockerpoo.

Maybe some people aren’t patient and some rescues aren’t perfect, but nearly every person who has been rejected from adopting (when I’ve been involved in the matching process) shouldn’t have a goldfish, let alone a dog.

Can you clarify "working dogs" please? Does that include gundogs, herding dogs, Livestock Protection Dogs? Or are you one of those people who don't care if purebred dogs die out and believe that everyone should want a rescue mongrel?

Assessed by who? The government department for re-homing dogs?

I appreciate it would be nice for more people to adopt rescue dogs but I can’t see how your suggestion could actually be implemented.

100% agree. I think you should only be able to buy if you prove you can’t rescue. I also think to buy, you should go through a strict regulated process whereby you have to prove your commitment to the dog for its whole life ‘til death do us part’. Nothing but death would separate me from my dog. Too many people ‘getting rid’ of their dog FAR too easily - shifts changed, ‘sudden allergy’, new baby, relationship breakdown & many other things. I wouldn’t allow it. Take responsibility for the poor dog you’ve taken on.

I think most people would be suitable for a rescue dog. Yes, there might be a wait. A LOT of rescues come from death of owner & all the other reasons I mentioned above, most are not damaged overseas rescues despite what people think. Yes, if you’re looking on Many Tears but lots are totally suitable.

Yes I mean herding dogs, livestock protection dogs, dogs needed for specific roles within farming etc. If you can prove you need a specific breed for working purposes then there wouldn't be an issue.

And no, your passive aggressive question aside I don't believe all pedigree dogs need to die out but "Tracy" down the street doesn't need a cavapoo, little "Vinnie" doesn't specifically need a staffy and "John and Linda" don't need a pointer they don't have the knowledge or time to train and walk multiple times a day.

No, and I say that as someone who homechecks for a rescue and only has ex-shelter animals at home. Not everyone can provide the right home for a rescue dog, but might be more than equipped to give a tiny puppy everything they need. I’d rather reject someone straight off the bat than go against my gut and let them have a rescue dog who will be returned within the month because they can’t cope with it.

Rescues are not able to give you any guarantees about a dogs health, history or behaviour so YABVU.

People just aren't always suitable as owners unfortunately.

Was that comment supposed to sound clever?

And breeders are?! There are now many more back street breeders/puppy farms than reputable & it’s a massive risk. I know of 4 dogs recently within my friends group that have died (or are about to). I is 3, 2 are 4 years old & the other nearly 6. All from breeders.