Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Romanian dog rescue

403 replies

Preciousmemory · 22/02/2025 17:30

I am in an awful situation that I can find no solution to. Please if any one could give me some advice.
i have rescued a Romanian dog which has turned out so badly.
He arrived 10 days ago and has serious problems I am not able to deal with so am asking if anyone can offer me advice.
The rescue have a policy that I must give him back to be rehomed but are not able to find anyone although it is a short time they are describing him on the advert as a dog that loves humans and children and dogs. A huge part of this is not right I have not tested him with a child but as for people he definitely does not like them , only me.
He attacks my husband in the morning, in the evening when he returns home from work and then randomly at any other time. The attacks are getting progressively worse. But yesterday he met my 80 year old tiny dad for the first time which I had also for the first time put a muzzle on him after 7 days of training with it.
The attack was so ferocious on my dad that he was foaming at the mouth leaping as high as his shoulders to grab him but because he was muzzled there was no damage. my dad immediately left. I despair to think what may have happened otherwise. My daughter turned up shortly after the same thing happened. I was thinking he maybe afraid of men but it seems not.
I have constantly tried to work with the Romanian Rescue which could take months for them to find a suitable home, the only option I have from them is to stick this traumatised dog into a kennel which will cause further damage to him, but I am not able to keep him in my home with this level of aggression.
Dog rescues are full up. I have contacted a few that specifically deal with dog aggression. I do not see how this poor dog can just be homed in a normal family environment as this will happen again. He is a large growing powerful dog that could cause serious damage to a person.
Thank you for reading , this is such an anxious problem that I see no solution to.
I am grateful for any advice possible .

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 24/02/2025 13:20

@WiddlinDiddlin - That’s just nuts, and pretty alarming for the veterinary staff.

If these dog sellers were to take back the dogs they sell, there wouldn’t be a need to euthanise - Many Romanian dogs have been behaviourally euthanised- the population of them where we live has diminished noticeably.

At my local vets a sighthound was brought in as a stray- no collar tag and chip outdated - Dog was gentle and when he was put in their kennels he didn’t even fuss.
He was good with the dogs in waiting room, and good with people- people were actually saying “ if he’s not claimed, I’ll take him!”

( This had a happy ending )

Vets don’t euthanise unless there is a need.

If an animal is friendly, they tend to be taken on hence so many tripod pets adopted by staff!

ElatedShark · 24/02/2025 14:35

Why are you importing foreign rescue dogs when there are plenty here that need loving homes? So now money donated to help them will be used dor this poor dog if the company you bought it from doesn't help

oakleaffy · 24/02/2025 16:08

ElatedShark · 24/02/2025 14:35

Why are you importing foreign rescue dogs when there are plenty here that need loving homes? So now money donated to help them will be used dor this poor dog if the company you bought it from doesn't help

OP says no rescues will touch it as it is Romanian and aggressive.

It is really the responsibility of the dog dealer who sold it to OP to take it back.

Devon24 · 24/02/2025 16:33

You have supported dog traffickers op, for what reason? The poor dog is traumatised, and is likely to maim or injure someone seriously, perhaps fatally.

Call the RSPCA for advice or your local dogs home. I would be worried the dog will be passed on and cause serious injury. I would not be concerned about a scam rescue outfit in Romania given the consequences if you simply pass the dog on.

Notaflippinclue · 24/02/2025 16:41

Can ANYONE answer the question - why would you want to import these train wrecks. We have known about this scam for donkeys years!

FiveWhatByFiveWhat · 24/02/2025 16:48

ShodAndShadySenators · 22/02/2025 17:43

He is a large growing powerful dog that could cause serious damage to a person.

He's also extremely aggressive to people who have not tried to harm him in any way. It will only get worse and I would personally take this dog to my vet to be euthanised without any hesitation at all. Human safety should be priority over a dangerous dog.

(I'm another who doesn't understand why, with British animal shelters overflowing with unwanted animals, people feel the need to import more?)

Many people go to them if they are refused from UK rescues. Unfortunately it often ends up with well meaning but unsuitable owners with dogs that are scared, untrained, unhealthy and dangerous.

oakleaffy · 24/02/2025 17:16

FiveWhatByFiveWhat · 24/02/2025 16:48

Many people go to them if they are refused from UK rescues. Unfortunately it often ends up with well meaning but unsuitable owners with dogs that are scared, untrained, unhealthy and dangerous.

They sell to anyone.

Look at this: {Copied and pasted from an advice site}

''Hi, my 84 year old disabled husband and myself (76) have had a 10 year old Romanian rescue dog in our home for 4 weeks tomorrow. Prior to that he'd been in a foster home for 2 weeks after coming to UK.
**
Neither of us have experience with rescue dogs but we have both had dogs in the past.

I hadn't even realised that they'd be so different until reading about them on here. Miky was very shy and frightened to begin with but soon came to love his dog bed and spends a lot of time sleeping in it. He's been very good with his toileting, holding onto it all night and going in the back garden when he eventually gets up in the morning.

He's very picky with his food and I've tried him on lots of different types but he eventually eats what I give him and is rewarded with a dental chew which he loves. He seems to alternate between not wanting to eat and being so ravenous that he will eat anything.

Yesterday I picked him up and put him on the sofa which he seemed to love but when my husband tried to move him off, very gently, he was bitten. He's a small terrier type and is like Jekkel and Hyde. He has become very loving, wanting me to stroke him and putting up his paw for more but he will show his teeth and snap if he doesn't want to do something. I chastised him for biting and pushed him off the sofa. We didn't allow him back for the rest of the day, then today I let him on the sofa again but managed to move him off without getting bitten when I wanted to sit down.

He usually goes outside to do his business but last night he refused to go and peed in the passage. This morning he wouldn't go outside at all so I put his lead on him, with him skulking reluctantly and took him outside the front door where he did all of his business. I can't understand how changeable he is, one minute he'll happily go out in the back garden to pee etc then he won't go anywhere near the door.

Tonight he didn't want his dinner at first then wolfed it down and wanted seconds. This is normal for him but one minute he was a quiet, withdrawn little dog with his head down and next minute he's having a mad half hour chasing his tail and racing around the house, jumping up at me and looking very animated. He has had a few mad half hours, usually at midnight as we are going to bed!
^^
I just can't work him out and I confess I'm a little afraid that he's going to bite me when I least expect it.

Any advice will be welcome. Sorry this is a bit rambling but that's how he makes me feel!''

No way should an older {edit: inexperienced }couple have been sold a dog like this.

Notaflippinclue · 24/02/2025 17:19

Well these two need their bumps feeling!

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 24/02/2025 17:35

I think we are a source of amusement in Europe for doing this. I'm glad it's been relinquished. Tragic situation.

MumBikini · 24/02/2025 17:47

Notaflippinclue · 24/02/2025 16:41

Can ANYONE answer the question - why would you want to import these train wrecks. We have known about this scam for donkeys years!

We wanted to rescue dogs. The greyhound rescue didn't work out (as I've explained in a previous thread). We tried lots of local rescues but they register you and then you just wait ... And wait ... In fact wood green animal shelter who we registered with over 4 years ago have yet to respond! You don't really want to wait four years!

When I was a kid you could walk into the RSPCA and choose a dog. Now it's soooo hard and time consuming. COVID made it worse.

We found our little Romanian rescue online (advertised by a local charity on their website page). There is a local charity that takes the dogs in from Romania and they advertise them and ensure they go to good homes. There's a support group for after you adopt, and an adopters Facebook group to share your experiences with other families that have adopted. The charge was about £350 but that money was to cover the cost of all the vaccinations the dog had in Romania as well as the cost of spaying, the dog passport and the travel costs. I believe the charity is reputable and our little pup is wonderful and gets on well with our other dog (who we adopted from a UK family that were unable to manage him).

Not all Romanian dogs are bad news and not all charities that support these dogs are fraudsters..

LadyWiddiothethird · 24/02/2025 17:53

MumBikini · 24/02/2025 17:47

We wanted to rescue dogs. The greyhound rescue didn't work out (as I've explained in a previous thread). We tried lots of local rescues but they register you and then you just wait ... And wait ... In fact wood green animal shelter who we registered with over 4 years ago have yet to respond! You don't really want to wait four years!

When I was a kid you could walk into the RSPCA and choose a dog. Now it's soooo hard and time consuming. COVID made it worse.

We found our little Romanian rescue online (advertised by a local charity on their website page). There is a local charity that takes the dogs in from Romania and they advertise them and ensure they go to good homes. There's a support group for after you adopt, and an adopters Facebook group to share your experiences with other families that have adopted. The charge was about £350 but that money was to cover the cost of all the vaccinations the dog had in Romania as well as the cost of spaying, the dog passport and the travel costs. I believe the charity is reputable and our little pup is wonderful and gets on well with our other dog (who we adopted from a UK family that were unable to manage him).

Not all Romanian dogs are bad news and not all charities that support these dogs are fraudsters..

Edited

This 100%.I wanted a puppy and could not find a rescue puppy anywhere!

My Romanian rescue was 20weeks when I got him,neutered,chipped and vaccinated.I had seen photos of him for several weeks prior to getting him.There is no chance I would have taken a dog from a profit making business! I paid £200 for him which was more than was asked for.

Ridiculous to suggest all the dogs from Romania come from unscrupulous dog dealers!

Preciousmemory · 24/02/2025 18:40

I hope i have the best news 🙏
my husband had another attack this morning which resulted in me having just a very minor injury pulling him off him. The rescue have stepped up and found a foster who is aware of all of the aggression and will take him on to assess him and see if behaviour therapy will help. If it will not then fate will happen but he has a chance to redeem himself in the right care which I am ashamed to say was not us. I am having a chat with him tonight about the situation and will be dropping him to his new foster tomorrow who has the experience that I do not have with aggression to be able to tell if he will be able to be rehomed. Going with him will be a letter of all the things he loves and also his fears to help them work with him. In foster he will be assessed and they have the time to work on him to make sure he is able to be rehomed and also take the time to find his right match. I could not wish for more than this because he really didn’t have any other chances at this point and he does not deserve that as it was not his fault the fears he was burdened with .
We had a name for him but tonight we have named him Lucky. I hope that he will be lucky and someone will be able to give him the perfect life that we failed to do

OP posts:
Preciousmemory · 24/02/2025 18:51

Devon24 · 24/02/2025 16:33

You have supported dog traffickers op, for what reason? The poor dog is traumatised, and is likely to maim or injure someone seriously, perhaps fatally.

Call the RSPCA for advice or your local dogs home. I would be worried the dog will be passed on and cause serious injury. I would not be concerned about a scam rescue outfit in Romania given the consequences if you simply pass the dog on.

The rescue is in UK but importing from Romania which I was not aware of until now. I thought I was doing the right thing as in helping a dog that needed rescuing but it turned out terrible.
I called the RSPCA Dog Trust . Battersea and then over 60 other rescues. It has been an eye opener to find out there is no help available here because we are over run and rescues are full up with waiting lists and none want to take on an aggressive dog even with the offer of a good donation . I have had to learn a lot in the last two weeks that I will try to help others with to not find themselves in the situation that I am in. Many oversea rescues work out wonderful but it comes with failure to. As I guess everything in life does

OP posts:
Preciousmemory · 24/02/2025 18:57

oakleaffy · 24/02/2025 13:20

@WiddlinDiddlin - That’s just nuts, and pretty alarming for the veterinary staff.

If these dog sellers were to take back the dogs they sell, there wouldn’t be a need to euthanise - Many Romanian dogs have been behaviourally euthanised- the population of them where we live has diminished noticeably.

At my local vets a sighthound was brought in as a stray- no collar tag and chip outdated - Dog was gentle and when he was put in their kennels he didn’t even fuss.
He was good with the dogs in waiting room, and good with people- people were actually saying “ if he’s not claimed, I’ll take him!”

( This had a happy ending )

Vets don’t euthanise unless there is a need.

If an animal is friendly, they tend to be taken on hence so many tripod pets adopted by staff!

WiddlinDiddlin
thank you for so much good advice

OP posts:
Preciousmemory · 24/02/2025 19:01

And Oakleaffy 😊 as well as everyone else it has helped me greatly

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 24/02/2025 19:46

I am glad they've seen sense and found someone. Fingers x Lucky finds someone who can help him!

Preciousmemory · 24/02/2025 19:54

WiddlinDiddlin · 24/02/2025 19:46

I am glad they've seen sense and found someone. Fingers x Lucky finds someone who can help him!

I want to believe he has landed on his lovely paws. I will keep a track of him and be willing him along. I will be a distant memory
where does your knowledge & experience come from Widdlinn it is very much appreciated

OP posts:
phlebasconsidered · 24/02/2025 20:04

I got my Rommie through a local rescue that also rescues in the UK. They go to Romania once a year to save dogs under 6 months from the kill shelters. They are also much more welcoming to fostering and adoption than most uk rescues.

The RSPCA, Wood Green and others would not consider us a rescue adopters because we work all day. Despite the fact that we have a large secure garden, dog flaps, in laws that are here all day and love the dogs. That's why we looked elsewhere.

And I am glad we did. Our rescue is so loving, such a personality, so happy, and our other dogs love her. We are lucky that our local rescue goes there and gets these dogs. They acclimatise them, make sure they are fit, and socialise them.

She was nervous initially, and she has a high prey drive so can't be off lead (think furry whippet) but she loves a walk, and loves sleep more! As a result I now own one of the most loving, clever and kind dogs I've ever owned. She'd have been killed otherwise and I don't regret it for a minute. Even my very old labrador (16!) adores her.

WiddlinDiddlin · 24/02/2025 20:05

About 25 years of dog training/behaviour study, professional body membership, externally verified exams/assessments, running classes, doing home visits and then since becoming too disabled to do the physical stuff, remote online work. I've been to a loooooooot of conferences and seminars and workshops.. and still do, did my Fear Free Certification last week (hurrah, paid for by the company I subcontract to perks).

So constantly learning, endless discussion and debate with other dog professionals and a lot of time volunteering with various rescues over the years too.

I don't do things like housework or holidays though... it's just wall to wall dog!

Hopefully once all this is sorted, you can find the right dog for you (if you're not thoroughly put off rescue forever more and I would not blame you if you were!), in time of course!

Ylvamoon · 24/02/2025 20:09

Please Please Please do not hand this dog back to the rescue.

I know it seems like the obvious and best option. But from your description this dog has some serious issues and is not fit as a pet.

Handing it back is like you said another fee ... and then another. It will be many months if not years of utter misery before this dog reaches the end of the road.

The kindest thing is to take this dog to the vet, get him assessed so you have some paperwork and then pts.

Blackbird84 · 24/02/2025 20:18

This dog is a time bomb. Sadly the 'rescue' seem to see him as a blank cheque.

LoveMySushi · 24/02/2025 20:28

Ylvamoon · 24/02/2025 20:09

Please Please Please do not hand this dog back to the rescue.

I know it seems like the obvious and best option. But from your description this dog has some serious issues and is not fit as a pet.

Handing it back is like you said another fee ... and then another. It will be many months if not years of utter misery before this dog reaches the end of the road.

The kindest thing is to take this dog to the vet, get him assessed so you have some paperwork and then pts.

This is absolutely ridiculous. If its a proper rescue then they have trained people who can assess the dog properly and maybe socialise him to be rehomed again.
OP its really good, that you decided the dog is not a good fit for you and you did everything you could to give him another chance. Some dogs just require someone really experienced to adjust them to live in a family. Its sometimes impossible to tell how the behaviour will ve in a family when all the dog knows is a kennel. Some dogs adjust very well and some are more difficult.

You cant just put a dog to sleep because you cant handle him. Hes been with the OP for a few days only. Theres a very good chance the dog can be trained and rehomed still.

Notaflippinclue · 24/02/2025 20:34

Don't send him back to them - what if it consequently does real damage to someone you are just putting it on some kind of treadmill with the hope it doesn't get triggered in another unsuspecting family.

julia08 · 24/02/2025 20:45

Gosh I’m not sure this is a happy ending, rather a terrifying cliff-hanger. Madness to even consider rehoming a repeatedly aggressive large dog. It only takes one lapse…

SnoozingFox · 24/02/2025 20:55

So once this dog has been "assessed", the rescue will just sell it on to some other well-meaning person, another £500 in the bank.

Swipe left for the next trending thread