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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Getting a rescue. Just been told that we need a 2 metre fence. After we've paid for her. I'm not happy.

27 replies

ihatethecold · 18/10/2014 15:26

We had our home check done and they said we need to make our fence a little higher in some places.
That's fine.
Our sporty big dog has never escaped but that is probably because he feels safe.
Anyway. We have paid for the dog and paid someone to bring her over from Spain where she is in a shelter.

We are really looking forward to meeting our new family member.

Today they emailed us to say the dog is scaling a 1.5 metre fence and we now need a 2 metre fence that bends in at the top!

Our garden is huge. There is no way we can fund that.

I'm annoyed they didn't mention this before.
I don't really know what to think.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 18/10/2014 15:30

I think most rescues would expect 6' fencing ,could you not put a foot of trellis on the top .

mausmaus · 18/10/2014 15:31

don't take the dog, demand a refund and go to your local rescue if you really want to have a pet dog

KatharineClifton · 18/10/2014 16:34

Yy, demand your money back.

Booboostoo · 18/10/2014 16:49

It sounds like they have only just discovered the dog can do this. How long have they had the dog? Has he been professionally assessed? Has he been kept ina kennels or with a family? If they didn't know he is an escape artist what other surprises does this dog come with and what sort of support will you get from the rescue once you have taken him on?

I wouldn't trust a rescue that goes to the bother of importing dogs when there are so many unwanted dogs in the home country.

jammytoast · 18/10/2014 16:55

Why would you be taking a dog from spain? Aren't there enough in the UK already?

Are you sure this isn't a scam?

ArkhamOffett · 18/10/2014 17:04

Quite a lot of rescues in this country take dogs from other countries for rehoming. Doesn't mean they aren't reputable or skimp on assessment.

I agree it sounds like the dog has jumped a fence while in rescue/foster and they are just making sure your garden is secure. Explain the cost, see if they can contribute?

ArkhamOffett · 18/10/2014 17:05

Or partition off a sizeable bit of the garden for the dogs and just heighten the fence in that area for when they are out there without direct supervision.

Original poster
ihatethecold · 18/10/2014 17:19

It's not a scam. Many dogs are brought over here from Europe.
Why does it matter where the dog is coming from, I'm paying the transport costs?
They said they knew of this for the past couple of months, so before we knew about the dog.
We will sort something out, I'm just annoyed that we have only found this out today.

OP posts:
Booboostoo · 18/10/2014 21:16

There are a variety of reasons why it matters where the dog is from.

Re homing the dogs in the UK does nothing to address the problem in the originating country and may even make it worse as the consequences of abandoning the dogs are transferred out of the country.

Transport costs would be better spent on neutering and education in the originating country.

These charities tend to be small, new charities with little experience in re homing. One look at the descriptions of dogs on their websites confirms that they are more interested in presenting tear jerker stories than accurately describing the possible challenges each dog brings with it.

These charities tend not to offer post-re homing support and don't have the facilities to take the dogs back in case things don't work out.

They rely on short term solutions in the originating country until dogs are transported so often they do not have an accurate description of the dog's temperament and there is no opportunity for new families to meet the dog and decide on suitability before re homing.

bakingtins · 18/10/2014 21:22

They also tend not to test for any of the conditions endemic in Mediterranean countries that we don't have here, e.g. Leishmaniasis, erhlichia.

Floralnomad · 18/10/2014 21:23

What are those things baking and are they contagious?

bakingtins · 18/10/2014 21:34

Protozoal diseases, spread mainly by biting flies, we don't have the vectors here but could potentially spread here. More to the point they are difficult to treat and cause long term debilitating health problems to the infected dog. These dogs are being imported under the PETS scheme 21 days after their rabies vaccination which in no way ensures they are rabies free, it is being used to bring in strays and tiny puppies from the continent in a way that it was never intended to do and it will jeopardise the biosecurity of the UK. Obv your decision won't massively affect the trade in imported dogs in itself, but the PP who said we have plenty of strays here and don't need to import them is right. The cost of importing one dog could vaccinate/neuter so many in their home country.

Scuttlebutter · 18/10/2014 23:39

The request itself isn't unreasonable BUT they should have let you know much, much sooner. For that reason alone, if it was me, I'd walk away at that point. You should not be rewarding rescues that mess around with people like that, and as other posters have pointed out there is absolutely no shortage of beautiful dogs at risk of PTS needing adoption in this country.

Can I also add that in many cases dogs that are imported from E Europe, Romania, Bulgaria etc don't have full rescue back up and I regularly see cases where the rescues break down and then these dogs end up being the problem of rescues in the UK. Many of the dogs in E Europe particularly have experienced massive traumas and/or have lived entirely as street dogs - and there is rarely thorough behavioural assessment. Unless you are a highly experienced owner who's prepared for this, it's not a route I'd recommend.

OneDayWhenIGrowUp · 19/10/2014 00:13

Out of interest OP, what made you choose this route for rehoming a new dog?

I agree with the criticisms already posted about the whole concept of importing dogs for rehoming. I am aware of a case where a dog was imported from Greece in this kind of situation, was found to have both ehrlicia and leishmaniasis, after becoming ill and sadly passing away within months of coming to the UK. The amount that was spent on that one poor dog could have neutered hundreds of Greek strays, no exaggeration.

Aside from the whole ethical issue over importing rescue dogs in the first place, in this situation moving the goalposts after you've paid them money seems pretty unacceptable. I'd be walking away and asking for a refund. They originally deemed your home suitable and took your money, now they're saying it's not suitable. Also, I'd be concerned about the behavioural issues involved in a dog routinely clearing 1.5m fences, especially when you already have your existing dog to think about. If you had that information from the start you might not have decided this was the dog for you.

KatharineClifton · 19/10/2014 17:37

Ex-pats abandoning dogs and coming back to the UK is endemic in Spain. We have a responsibility to these dogs. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/4992188/Britons-abandon-dogs-as-they-quit-Spain.html

Original poster
ihatethecold · 19/10/2014 18:53

Ok bap I've had a long convo with the shelter.
The reason the dog was escaping was because she was in with 45 other dogs and she was looking for peace and quiet.
They have apologised to giving me the wrong info.
We have said we are happy to proceed. She is a lovely dog and has also been with a foster family who have kids and other dogs.

OP posts:
Original poster
ihatethecold · 19/10/2014 18:53

So. Not bap Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
ihatethecold · 19/10/2014 18:57

We didn't purposefully get a dog from Spain. That is just where the dog lives.
We were going to get one from a charity in Hungary.
They have a very good track record of successfully re homing their dogs. (The breed is quite specific)

I know quite a few people who have adopted through this charity.
Our dog just happens to be with a different charity.
But the same type of dog.

OP posts:
Owllady · 19/10/2014 19:44

Well I'm pleased my dig was rescued from Eire, whether people agree with that or not
Good luck with your new doggy :/

Original poster
ihatethecold · 19/10/2014 19:51

Thanks.
We already have a great dog and I'm really looking forward to our new addition.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 20/10/2014 08:13

Are you getting a Podenco? Just wondered with you saying about a breed specific Spanish rescue.

Original poster
ihatethecold · 20/10/2014 08:54

No. We already have a Hungarian vizsla.
That's why we were looking to get a rescue from Hungary.
Our new dog is another Pointer. It's just chance that she is in Spain.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 20/10/2014 10:29

Ah, Pointers are lovely. Enjoy your new dog.

bakingtins · 20/10/2014 15:48

owllady Eire is not the same - no rabies for a start, and no vector borne diseases we don't have in the UK. Plus fewer issues about transporting the dog here as it's only a short ferry crossing.

SpicyBear · 20/10/2014 16:23

I would just say, please don't assume that what you have been told is the only reason she is escaping. It might be, but it could also be other reasons or have developed into a habit during her time in the shelter.

Speak to any Doglost coordinator and they can tell you that a lot of imported dogs go missing on transport runs or in the early weeks of being in their new home. I would attach a long line to a harness and keep hold of her every time she goes out for a good while until she is settled and bonded and you are confident she won't try to escape.