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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

rehome my pooches

190 replies

twinmummy132 · 02/04/2012 17:31

hello ladies im new to mumsnet a few of my friends are on here and told me this was a good place for advice.my problem is i have two dogs a staffie and a alsation x both lovely gentle dogs the only thing is i have to get rid of them as my flat is too small for me two dogs and two 15 month old babies i am at my wits end trying to find them somewhere to go plus my landlord has said that i cant have them i have tried everywhere i know that takes dogs but most of them are full or not any for at least 6 months i need a soultion asap.please help me many thanx.

OP posts:

Manda91 · 02/04/2012 21:50

Not really got any advice but I'm in the same boat as you!! LL has changed he's mind about us having a dog unless we can pay an extra £50 a month rent and we can't stretch to it :( and we live in a house with a garden! It's so heartbreaking, basically just wanted to say I know how your feeling and good luck with rehoming x

twinmummy132 · 02/04/2012 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 21:53

I thought that is what I was doing

I didn't say you'd like what I had to say.

If it is not complaints about the dogs in the garden, as you yourself hinted at earlier, then what has caused the sudden uturn in the LLs stance on the dogs?

Can you ask him outright, then you might be able to work around it in a way that suits you both.

I've done all the cleanin I'm gonna do for today and I'm waiting on my wine, but I have to wait until the footyball is finished I could go myself, but I can't be arsed.

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 21:55

I'm with D0inMeCleanin. If there's any way of negotiating with the neighbours, that has to be the best option. If they agreed for you to keep one dog, even, could that be an option?

It's a horrible situation, and I feel really sorry for you and your dogs.

We were in a flat with a shared garden when we first got our dog (we were foster carers for her originally) and ran into difficulties with one of our neighbours too. It can be tricky.

By the way, have you thought of contacting Shelter for some advice?

SoftSheen · 02/04/2012 21:57

Twin I would second the suggestion to try Battersea, if you don't have any luck with the other rescues. They do put dogs down if they have serious medical or aggression issues, but not if they have just been there a long time- dogs can stay as long as they need to in order to find a new home. I think that elderly dogs are usually fostered by staff or volunteers. Battersea also take in animals at any time of the day or night, useful to know in an emergency!

It sounds like you are in a really tough situation, good luck and I hope that you find a good solution for you and your dogs.

Original poster

twinmummy132 · 02/04/2012 21:59

thanx goawaybob but i would never consider battesea as i know what its like there im not the cold hearted bitch some ppl r tryin to make me out as my ll did know i had the dogs but like ive said in previous posts it was temporary i had some1 to take them but due to their personal circumstances couldnt mandy 91 i hope u can sort it out aswell as it is heartbreakin

OP posts:

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 22:02

Any council pound that says they will keep the dogs as long as needs be is lying. They don't have the option to do that because they are contracted by the council to pick up and house stray dogs for a period of no less than 7 days. They can keep them longer at their own discresion and expense but are not legally required to do so.

Too many strays one week + not enough space = they have no choice but euthanise some dogs to make space. They simply cannot turn away the strays they are contracted to take in.

Admittedly Battersea is one of the better pounds, but it is none the less, still a pound and not a no kill rescue organisation.

Any dog handed to a pound by it's owner may legally be euthanised on that day. The council gives the pound no money to house such dogs.

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 22:06

Okay, I suggest you have a look at http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/f/freedomproject/freedompetfosterservices09.aspx#.T3oUQY6Q0fo fostering if possible (see link). You may be able to get your dogs cared for for a while until you can find somewhere else you can all live. Also, get in touch with Shelter and explain your situation. Good luck.

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 22:07

Link fail. Here it is: fostering.

Quodlibet · 02/04/2012 22:10

To be fair on the OP, finding a flat/house in London in this day and age, if you are not of unlimited means, is really, really hard - without a dog. With dog/s and twin babies? Virtually impossible.

I bet the OP didn't make a decision to wake up one morning in the world's most expensive city with twin babies and two dogs and in need of a rental - these things happen incrementally. Are we taking the position that only people who know the have a secure tenancy for the next 16 years/own their own home should get dogs? 13 years ago when the OP got the staffy the situation was not nearly so dire. She's stuck between a rock and a hard place but that doesn't mean she's not trying to do her best in a shit situation.

Really it's the fault of a system where tenants rights have been eroded to the point of being non-existent by successive governments who have more interest in the housing market continuing to forever increase in value than whether normal people can manage happy lives with meaningful choices.

topknob · 02/04/2012 22:11

What is the gsd crossed with and how old is he/she???

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 22:12

Well said, Quodlibet.

Might it be an option to move a bit further out, though? Just wondering if that might make things easier?

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 22:12

Other rescues that might be able to help, that I've just been made aware are:

Pat at Mutts In Distress who is on The BigGSD forum I linked to earlier.
Gladys at Pro Dogs Direct in Lewisham
Ira at All Breeds Matter, north London.

Goawaybob · 02/04/2012 22:12

Im sorry to say this but i really dont agree with no euthanaise policies. I had the misfortune of expressing an interest in a dog at the dogs trust once, but was not allowed to even consider him as he was one of their "dangerous dogs". He was dangerous, a rotweiller that i later that day found out, purely by chance, was a total nut job and would have been way beyond my capabilities, but they never even gave us the opportunity to find out about him. To cut a long story short, we went to battersea and got our rottie who turned to be a lovely dog. But we lost him after only a couple years to bone cancer. We also subsequently had dd so were looking for a family dog. Went back to dogs trust - i was devestated that TWO YEARS LATER this dog that i saw was still there, skin and bone, circling its kennel showing obvious signs of psychological distress. If i could have put that poor dog to sleep myself i would have, i cried for days, poor poor dog. My DP had to frogmarch me from the place to prevent me from causing a scene. The dog was unhomable and should have been euthanaised for its own good.

Noone likes euthanasing healthy dogs, but there are too many to be able to provide for and there is no alternative. So very sad, but unavoidable.

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 22:16

They never gave you the opportunity to find out about him because he was not suitable, due to his temprement not his breed.

There are homes available for dogs like that, unfortunately, there are not enough homes available because there are just too many dogs in rescues.

Rehoming your dogs should always be the absolute, last resort.

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 22:17

That's a horrible story, Goawaybob. :(

ThatGhastlyWoman · 02/04/2012 22:19

(I think she knows it wasn't the breed that was the issue, D0oin: she got a rottie after that.)

Heswall · 02/04/2012 22:19

Well there are puppies, older dogs etc for ale on my bloody facebook page .... people who have set up Fleabay type pages, whilst I've been shouting out the screen what I think of family pets up for sale like a pair of curtains, it does seem to be working for some people, maybe try that OP

Original poster

twinmummy132 · 02/04/2012 22:23

thank u very much for that comment quodlibet very much apprciated.
@topknob she is 13 not to sure what her dad was but her mum was an alsation she is very small though about the size of a collie

OP posts:

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 22:24

I meant that Dogs Trust didn't exclude him on grounds of breed alone. Not Bob

And for the love of all things good and holy do not under any circumstances advertise your dogs on FB. Jesus. Battersea would be a better option than that. OP might aswell just hand her pooches over to dog fighters and be done with it

Facebook, Freecycle, Gumtree etc. are all crawling with dog fighters, dog 'dealers' ( who will rehome your dog for free and then sell it on to the first muppet willing to pay) and puppy farmers all looking for free to good home dogs to abuse or profit from.

Goawaybob · 02/04/2012 22:24

Yes it was to do with his temprement not his breed, he was a mentalist - as i said i subsequently, and totally coincidentally found out his background from a friend of the friend of the previous owner. He would not have been the dog for me, i could never have coped, but they did not know this - we hadn't filled in questionaire etc, for all they knew we could have been expert dog trainers. We weren't, but they didn't take the time to find out. We had owned rotties before and i am an ex vet nurse.

I think me and Doinmecleaning are on the same side though so i dont want to get into an argument, i just don't always agree with no kill policies, for that reason. I still think about that dog and it still leaves a lump in my throat

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/04/2012 22:34

I understand where you're coming from Bob, it is heart breaking to see dogs struggle in kennels but there are homes to be found for problematic dogs, there are just not enough. I couldn't hand on heart say that I could agree on giving up on them if there's still a chance for them.

Goawaybob · 02/04/2012 22:48

But the thing is, there are just too many and then dogs that weren't problematic become problematic - sadly, i don't have the answers. Dog licence though, we need to bring back dog licence.

Goawaybob · 02/04/2012 22:48

oh and thanks for the hug, i lurves you too - hic

Scuttlebutter · 02/04/2012 22:58

OP, nobody has spoken to you like scum. You have had a great deal of very constructive advice, as well as a realistic assessment of your dog's chances if they are able to find a rescue place. Your 13 year old Staffie will almost certainly be put down if they go to Battersea - they are having to kill much younger, healthy dogs every day.

To be blunt - your 13 year old is not going to be with you for more than a couple of years more, tops. You have two options, you can try to find a place for your dogs which will almost certainly result in them being PTS after spending a stressful and miserable time in kennels, if they go to a pound. If you surrender a dog to a pound, they can be PTS there and then - there is no seven day window. With your dog's ages that seems the most likely outcome. There is a vanishingly tiny chance of them going to a specialist rescue like the Oldies Club - they are currently overwhelmed and have a waiting list. If they can get on to a waiting list, would your LL be happy with that?

Or you can try very, very hard to keep them for the short remaining time of their natural life in your flat, which given that your tenancy doesn't specifically exclude pets seems more feasible.

Again, can you discuss this with the LL? Is it possible to undertake to not have any more pets after this one passes away? Why has your LL suddenly decided that your pets are not welcome? Could you offer a higher deposit/professional cleaning after your tenancy ends/specialist pet insurance for tenants?

Please try talking to Shelter - they may be able to intercede on behalf of you with your LL. Do you have any other Advice centres/drop ins near you who could take up your case? Local Councillor? Are you on the waiting list for social housing?

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