please can I have a mini moan about the difficulty of rehoming a rescue dog

[rescueremedy1104]

We have a dog. His buddy was pts a year ago. We'd like another one.

We have children

I work part time

We have a secure garden

Own our own house

We have money to support an older dog with medical issues

And yet we have Devils own job to rescue a dog. I'd really like a greyhound.

We have been in touch with the local centre. 21 dogs. Not one suitable for us . I have been in touch with our dog trainer - knows of a lady who has one in foster that could be suitable. Sent her a along message last week, was going to receive a call weds/thurs then I had a message saying how busy they are. Ok I understand, but surely if you have one ready for adoption then you free up a space for a new dog in need.

I know rescues have to be careful. I know that we should be patient but bloody hell I'm on the brink of buying a cute pup from Facebook or a 'change in circumstances' dog from gumtree not really. Not in a million years

.

This is a rant. I know I have to be patient. I will be patient. I know how hard rescue centres work. I just would like another wet nose and waggy tail in my life.

Where are you in the UK? Always recommended on here are EGLR and Lurcher Link (I think those are the correct names).

Look at smaller rescues, they are usually more flexible than larger, esp re. younger children.

Join all FB groups run by the rescues that you like the look of. FB groups usually a lot more active and up-to-date than websites, due to lack of manpower to update sites. Also, more popular family dogs will almost never get as far as websites, so FB groups even more essential to join.

Look at rescues who work abroad. Often they will foster dogs in UK. If they are good rescues, you will see that they spend time working with dogs in rescues abroad, often they will have some in UK foster homes, so they can be assessed with other dogs/cats/children etc.

Be patient! I know you have been but they're all run by volunteers so they don't get round to answering emails, phones etc. Again, that's why FB groups are good, you can usually post/message and get an answer more quickly.

We foster homeless rescue dogs (got one at the moment) we do our best to be available for visits from prospective homes, but we are busy too.

Lots of rescues are totally hopeless at the general logistics though, and mainly run by batty old women. Just keep persevering. And try a website called 'Oldies'.

Black X retriever rescue have some oldies at the moment, they definitely re home to families with children, all sorts of dogs, labs etc.

Thanks so much everyone. Just got back from long walk with current dog and emailed link to Whittingham Kennels.

We're near Farnborough, Hants.

Thankyou for not berating me!

Another vote for Black Retriever X m.facebook.com/BlackRetrieverXRescue/albums/1056867157668271/

Cyder and Jasper are both 18 months old and looking for individual homes. Summer is great too!

EGLR can homecheck countrywide, and would def rehome to you.

They are really good at getting back to you - the dogs are all on the website, more day to day updates on FB, and their dogs are all in foster so they know them well.

Thanks all. I have deliberately name changed so I can be honest.

I emailed the Waltham abbey greyhound place this morning.

I saw a fb thread for our local towns dog page. The lady with the dog in foster was commenting on it. I sent a polite pm asking if she had any dog that might be suitable for us....

.... Then

At lunchtime I had an email from our dog trainer about a dog she thinks might be suitable for us. She has been out to work with an owner but the owners circumstances now means she needs to rehome. The owner had given permission for dog trainer to pass her details to me.

I trust the dog trainer completely. Knows us, the kids and existing dog.

So I have a number of a lady locally looking to rehome her lab

I've never had a lab or anything like that. As a breed they're popular found here. Labs are nice aren't they? Greedy? Eager to please?

Eeek.... I'm going to get in touch with her now.

No rush! Millions of dogs in the world. Some labs are saintly guide dog types. Some are bullish louts who'd haul you face first down the street. Some are so greedy they'd eat stones. Most are lovely. Just go easy, you sound so keen.

Labs are popular everywhere to be honest. But not really any different to other dogs - still need training and to be properly socialised.

It is Labs we foster, we are on our 9th now. They've all been fine but have also all had their problems to be honest. They do tend to the greediness but this food focus also makes them more trainable. But you then need to watch their weight of course.

Great that you've been contacted by someone you trust about it. Not all rescues are careful where they rehome and their dogs bounce around. Doesn't happen so much with the charity we work for but current foster has bounced once so needs some careful assessment to get him to the right sort of home.

Thankyou. Loads to think about. Had answers back from everyone today. Maybe they're all reading this thread!

So many lovely dogs needing good homes. Definitely feeling more positive today.

I was turned down by several rescues as I had no other adult in the home despite them admiring I ticked rest of boxes so can understand your frustration

Despite me happy to explain how I would mange a dog with fact I'm in a wheelchair

Mind two breeders then point blanked turned me down without even agreeing to meet as well as could not see how I mange a puppy
Luckily a third one was at least willing to meet me and discuss .He is now 16 months and fantastic natured

Labradors are quite different to greyhounds so really depends what your looking for in a dog, certainly likely to need more exercise/mental stimulation & not sleep as much as a greyhound. I have a lurcher & greyhounds if you want to know any more about them.

Afraid you do have to be patient with rescues, some are literally just 1 person running kennels or doing other full-time job and not all have a big volunteer base to call on for help. Usually its within same week though.

Apart from those mentioned above
www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/Branches/
the branches do vary in how they operate & homing policies and some also home outside of their local area. With any rescue its a good idea to find out how assess the dogs & what post adoption support is on offer as they aren't all of a good standard.

www.accoladehounds.com/ specialize in those that may not meet others homing criteria due to kids, work etc

www.grwe.com/ not exactly sure where their homing boundaries run

www.greyhoundgap.org.uk/ home nationally tend to have more lurchers than greyhounds in.

www.oldies.org.uk/ oldies club

Thankyou. I've never heard of accolade hounds. I've certainly never seen any rescue considering full time workers. How lovely. Btw we don't work full time, but just think those guys sound really realistic. So refreshing.

I did have a lurcher before and she was gorgeous. I'm really confident I know sight hounds iykwim.

Well that was all short lived.

Lab was beautiful and bouncy, but likely to go to a different owner via rescue centre. Fair enough.

Emailed rescue centre lady that I spoke to on Monday about a couple of potential dogs but heard nothing back. We'd discussed meeting a a particular dog. I emailed back immediately to say yes please to Sunday but then heard nothing back. Do I keep Sunday free? Assume it's going ahead?

I'm bordering on stalking.

Rescue centre in Essex was really helpful but I thought we'd be ok finding something more local so was honest and said we wouldn't plan to visit at the moment.

Anyway, that's where we're at now. Loads of dogs in rescue and an empty bed in our house.

Hmmph.

Have you tried Greyhound Gap ?

Have you tried here: www.hershamhounds.org.uk/

They are fairly local to you. We went there once to walk their greyhounds for them once and they seemed very nice.

I second a recommendation for Greyhound GAP. They are brilliant.

Thanks all. I've emailed accolade hounds as mentioned above. I'm trying to give fair chance for responses before trying somewhere else.

It's honestly like dating. Don't want to seem to keen, but also want them to know we're genuine. This feels like this has gone on for ages.

I can imagine that many of these places just don't have the time or resources to respond quickly. I think I'm used to living in 2016 where things get moving quickly. Send a message to be ignored and forgotten about has left me feeling a bit snubbed.

Also I'm wondering how good they'd be in the event of needing their back up in the future.

There are many, many greyhounds in need of homes in Ireland. I have a wonderful friend called Mary Fox who runs The Orchard Greyhound Sanctuary in Co. Offally, she has rehomed greyhounds in the UK and throughout Europe. What Mary doesn't know about greyhounds is not worth knowing - she has even recently had a book published called "Understanding Greyhounds" which you can buy on Amazon. She knows her hounds so well, they live in her house, and is amazing at pairing the right hound with the right family. She is a truly wonderful person dedicated to greyhound welfare, who would be happy to help you, even if you don't rehome directly from her. Anyway, here is a link to her website. She is active on email and Facebook and will respond to you very quickly :)

www.orchardgreyhoundsanctuary.com

Thankyou. Love the sound of Mary (and her house!)

That website has given me such a warm feeling. Gorgeous.

Ahh

Greyhounds and lurchers are the best

😍