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Original poster

Anxiety over adopting a Romanian dog at 6 months old

52 replies

ScrumpyBetty · 26/11/2015 13:17

Hi, we decided a while ago that we wanted to adopt a rescue dog. A friend put us in touch with a mutual friend of hers who helps a Romanian dog rescue charity. This friend recommended a dog to us, and I fell in love after watching videos and seeing pictures of her. We agreed to take her on, and we've had a successful home check done and paid the money for her to be transported here next month.

Trouble is, I'm now in the 'what have I done' phase- I've been reading around, and the implications of taking on a 6 month puppy, who has never lived in a house or received any training before- are sinking in! From the videos, she seems sociable with dogs and humans, really playful and sweet natured- but the trouble is we've never met her, and it's a huge commitment to take her on without knowing her at all!

Yes I know I should have thought of all of this before I agreed to take her. I got caught up in the excitement/ love I felt for her. I'm really torn- part of me would like to take her, and hope for the best. Another part of me would like to wait and contact some local rescues so that we can meet the dog first before we take it on.

Any advice/ stories of rehousing Romanian dogs welcome!

I will add that even if I don't decide to take her on, I won't ask for the money back that I have paid towards her, the charity can keep it as a donation for their hard work.

OP posts:
honeyroar · 27/11/2015 13:34

They would be better off looked after and rehomed over there Pootles, but they wouldn't be, that's the problem. And no it doesn't solve the problem in general, but it sure did solve the problem for the little happy dog thats sitting in front of the fire on a settee rather than in a freezing cold cage dying slowly in Romania. It's not so black and white if you actually get involved and see the conditions they're in.. I know there are instances of other rescues from Romania that have had problem dogs, there are bound to be. I know of many dogs from uk rescues that haven't been what the rescues have described and there hasn't been back up. The rescue my lab came from never did any home checks, didn't neuter and didn't follow up to check. The Romanian rescue did. My vet said he has Seen some dogs that haven't had the right injections etc. He said my Romanian dog's passport was the most up to date and had more injections than any he's seen. The rescue I'm involved with raises funds every month to neuter, flea, worm and do all the injections for each dog before it comes. All the adopter pays is travel, which was £130 in my case, same as what I paid for my uk rescue dogs. The dogs come over in an air conditioned van with comfy beds in cages and a trained dog handler travelling with them and two drivers. It takes 48 hours. They go to a kennels in the uk for two days to rest before they're rehomed, where DEFRA can go and check individual paperwork if they want.

Miloarmadillo1 · 27/11/2015 13:45

I'd be equally worried about disease risk. The PETS travel scheme was never intended for importing dogs from countries where rabies is endemic. 55% of rabies cases in the EU are in Romania. These dogs are brought in 3 weeks after a rabies vaccine when the incubation period can be 6 months, and they are not tested for leishmania, babesia, erhlichia etc.

darwin · 27/11/2015 16:26

We recently adopted a Romanian puppy. So far everything has gone well, he is a dream and we adore him. His start to life was dreadful and he is now warm, safe and secure. Our previous dog was a UK rescue, and I volunteer at a local shelter for dogs. But it just felt right to get this dog, and the money we donated for him will go towards neutering other animals, and helping other dogs over there.

JohnCusacksWife · 28/11/2015 13:09

Here's my little Romie Smile

Anxiety over adopting a Romanian dog at 6 months old
Anxiety over adopting a Romanian dog at 6 months old
Original poster
ScrumpyBetty · 28/11/2015 13:46

Beautiful john heart melts! Funny- the girl we are adopting looks quite similar!

We have decided to go ahead with our Rommie dog adoption! I am quite excited now. The only problem is she can't come over on the transport run until the end of Dec or even January, and I worry about her sleeping outside over there in the cold....and snow! She has a kennel at the shelter...but all the dogs are outside. Poor things. I wish I could help them all.

OP posts:
Purplepixiedust · 28/11/2015 14:32

Our girl is from Romania too. We didn't set out to get a dog from overseas but looked for a rescue dog and she was the one for us. Good on you OP. You have lots of time to read up and prepare. I have seen many success stories.

darwin · 28/11/2015 16:47

Good luck 😊

honeyroar · 28/11/2015 18:30

Good luck Scrumpybetty. I remember having a dither before Nell came, and that feeling of helplessness while I waited the last few weeks until she arrived (in my case it was summer and they were battling extreme heat and flies).

Do let us see a pic when she arrives, and if I can help at all give me a shout.

Booboostwo · 28/11/2015 19:19

Best of luck!

ownerofagingerfurball · 28/11/2015 20:15

I have a romanian rescue. She was transported over by a charity aged 1 and I've had her a year now.

She has a outgoing and lively personality and genuinely loves life. She took a few weeks to toilet train, but other than that settled in as if she'd always been here. I expected fear/nerves...she didn't have any!

She is a bit possessive with food - if there are other dogs around whilst we are eating she will guard the table to prevent anyone getting 'her' scraps. She isn't possessive towards humans over food though, just dogs.

The rescue were great with support - a lot of rommies hate the rain, mine did, but now she realises that a warm towel/bed is waiting at home she will tolerate it. She used to refuse to go out if the ground was wet.

Lots of them struggle with kibble and set meal times as they're used to eating little and often. I left food down 24/7 at first, and had to soak the kibble. Then gradually introduced hard kibble, and breakfast and dinner times.

Mine was an accidental adoption. I didn't intend to adopt from romania specifically, or indeed a dog at all at that immediate time... I had a very young (3 month old) baby + a preschooler when pup arrived, but I felt SO strongly that pup was meant to be mine.

So with hindsight a random dog from abroad may not have been the most sensible choice at that time in my life but I got very lucky!

JohnCusacksWife · 28/11/2015 20:19

Scrumpy, so glad you've decided to go ahead. If it works out half as well for you as it has for us then you won't regret it. Post a pic once your girl is here!

Dogzeyes · 28/11/2015 21:15

I (accidentally) adopted a Romanian dog (long story) Honestly the first 3 months or so was really really hard. 6 months in and he has settled and honestly I wouldn't be without him. We still have challenges but it's honestly (without being cringe) one of the most rewarding things I have ever done and so for that reason alone I would recommend it.

Anxiety over adopting a Romanian dog at 6 months old
SmellTheGlove · 29/11/2015 06:54

To the people with lovely dogs from abroad would you mind sharing the names of the rescue centres? PM me I'd you'd prefer! I have spent months scouring rescue centres websites and to be honest the most suitable dogs seem to be from Romania/Cyprus. Lots are in foster here though which I think is helpful to give a better idea of their personality and any issues. Thank you!

JohnCusacksWife · 29/11/2015 09:38

Smell, our boy came from Amicii Dog Rescue. They have a web page but their Facebook site is more up to date and easier to navigate. They also use dogsblog which is where I first saw our boy. Run be v knowledgable helpful people who def have the dogs' best interests at heart.

CakeUpWall · 29/11/2015 10:08

If you are in or near Somerset, the local charity is SOS Romanian Rescues South West. I know a lady who fosters the dogs, with her own family dog, before they move to their new home.

honeyroar · 29/11/2015 15:29

Ours came from 1 Dog at a Time Rescue UK they mainly operate via Facebook. They also have an adopter and fosterers page that is full of pictures of adopted dogs in their new homes and backup if need be. If anyone wants to be added to that group let me know. They cover most of the country, up to Leicster, but dogs have gone as far as Scotland.

BagelSuffragette · 30/11/2015 00:01

Balkan Underdogs
Help Pozega Dogs
Silver Fox Dog Rescue (small dogs esp)
Desperate Greekies
Friends of the Strays of Greece

All have websites but FB groups usually more up to date and easier to contact Smile

SmellTheGlove · 30/11/2015 12:48

Thank you! Just started the process of possibly adopting lovely dog from Romania - in Uk foster. Just waiting for homecheck. She sounds really lovely so fingers crossed she might be the one!

OliviaDunham · 30/11/2015 13:01

Sorry but I don't agree with this, while I feel for the dogs abroad and their plight, we have thousands of dogs here in rescue centres crying out for homes - why can't we help them first? Dogs are getting euthanised because they can't be homed.

JohnCusacksWife · 30/11/2015 13:08

Olivia, we looked for a dog in our local rescue centres. They were either staffies or greyhounds which are not the dogs for us. Or they wouldn't rehome to a family with kids under 12. The rescue we got our boy from thankfully had a slightly more flexible policy and judges each application on its merits instead of having a blanket ban due to younger children. We also wanted a mixed breed mutt, not a pedigree, and it proved surprisingly hard to find one from rescues in our area.

horseygeorgie · 30/11/2015 13:30

A friend of mine has a rescue dog from Romania. She is a very sweet little thing and has adapted perfectly. She had a rough start in life (legs bound with wire and hung from a tree to die) but is honestly lovely. Can be a bit wary with men and nervy until she knows you. I would in all honesty be very very careful having ANY rescue dog with a young child. My dogs are kept separate all the time if we are at home with a stairgate. They interact with DD (4) under close supervision when I can have 100% of my attention on them. They are very lovely and easy going, and they adore her, but it only takes 1 bad move off the child.

OliviaDunham · 30/11/2015 13:46

There's generally a reason in a dogs history for not rehoming with children. Rehoming a traumatised foreign stray is a significant risk IMO. There is no knowledge of history and and the effects from how they previously lived can trigger many years later.

JohnCusacksWife · 30/11/2015 14:02

Done properly I don't believe there's anymore risk rehoming a foreign stray than a UK stray. Our last dog was a UK stray with absolutely no history. Our current dog is a Romanian stray with absolutely no history. No difference whatsoever. Both are/were wonderful dogs who have brought a huge amount to our family.

OliviaDunham · 30/11/2015 14:11

There's a risk to the UK dog that's left in the shelter because a foreign dog was brought in though.

honeyroar · 01/12/2015 00:30

I get your point Olivia, I already have two UK rescue dogs as well as the Romanian. But that is the point for me, UK dogs can be uthanised, Romanian ones are left to die in th cold and the snow, now and again they give them liquid paraffin to kill them (which isn't quick or painless). It's hard to turn your cheek when you know about it (I feel similar seeing the Chinese dogs packedpainfully in crates). I have as much history about my Romanian dog as my second uk one. All I know is my uk dog had 4 homes in his first year of life. He could have issues too...