We've been thinking hard about getting a dog for the last year or and we would really like to rehome a child-friendly medium-large rescue dog, but we're not clear whether any organisations would allow us to, as we have to till out forms that say we work full time. Our situation is less stark that this though, because we always have an au pair in the house.
This means that there would always be someone around for large parts of the day (all our au pairs have lounged for most of the day), and a dog would never be left alone for more than 2-3 hours, and that only rarely. After that we would have more responsible kids (Ha! I'm dreaming, obviously) but also what was preivously au pair money would cover a regular dog sitter or day-care when necessary. We would not expect an au pair to walk the dog as part of their duties, though if he/she wanted to of course that would be great. We can manage two walks a day, and a lot more at the weekend when we tend to be out and about (walking anyway or at various parks and grass pitches for kids' matches where there's always an opportunity for another walk).
Any advice from Mumsnetters who know how rehoming organisations would view would be very helpful - we have had a couple of very negative responses to enquiries recently and we find it difficult to explain that an au pair is not a temporary added luxury but an essential member of our family living fully at home like an older sibling. Should I just call them the lodger, or pretend they are foreign relatives who live with us??!
Thanks.