Rescue dogs

[ld7675]

We lost our collie cross a few weeks ago and are looking for another dog now. We're looking on the rescue sites at the moment and it seems to be soooo hard to find a suitable dog, despite there being hundreds needing homes! We've applied for some just now but I really don't like the bidding for a dog approach with potentially hundreds of other applicants all applying based on just a photo of a dog, would much rather be checked and registered with an organisation and then be able to view dogs with the family to see which ones we take to the best.

Has anyone else felt like this about rescue dogs? Any tips at all? Or organisations that are really good to work with? Don't really want to have to search for breeders etc as it feels morally wrong but the whole rescue thing is more tricky than I anticipated. Our last dog was from a local farm and it was so easy in comparison.

[Chopstick17]

Op you adopted a rescue on the same day as me. it was overwhelming to start with as she is our first dog but I can honestly say she has changed my life. She is so good and I am so happy that we can give her a new, happy life with lots of walks and love. I hope yours has worked out so well.

[MidLifeCrisis007]

I've just come across this little lady....

OMG what a cutey. Can someone please adopt her.... and soon....

www.manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=16477

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

Ahhh thats great to hear. She sounds chilled out.

[ld7675]

Hi thanks again for your kind words. After the homecheck we arranged to meet the dog at the centre and it was much better than we thought, just took the dog for a walk on our own so she could be herself away from the kennels, she was fab and we felt we got to know her a bit. We had the chance to take others for a walk but she'd been so good with the children and us that when my husband asked about other dogs the children went "really?" so it was a done deal. The lovely lady at the kennels said that the dogs got unsettled when people viewed them so they do the checks first. Mind put at rest.

So the latest addition to the household is a gorgeous husky collie cross, she's settling in now, a bit cautious in the house but we think that will come in time. She loves the garden and had a nap out there earlier on while we were in and out. Is happier in the kitchen than anywhere else but I guess she's adjusting to home life little by little. Thanks again everyobe for your advice xx

[CMOTDibbler]

OP, I saw Lyla today who is a border collie/bearded collie/greyhound cross, and thought of you

[LimeJellyHead]

I always found Dogs Trust to be amazing. You can go along and visit the dogs and tell them which ones you want to spend some one-on-one time with. You can also talk to them about what kind of pal you are looking for and they will help guide you. I can't fault them.

[ld7675]

Thank you for all your very helpful comments. We passed the homecheck and are going to look at dogs at the weekend. Taking it from there now.

if this time it's not for us, will look at the options suggested here. Many thanks again x

[candybar007]

Do you have a Blue Cross centre near you? Sister got the first one from them then went back a year later to find a second one and they were brilliant. You meet the dog then they do the home visit and in her case they made time for the two dogs to meet in their centre to make sure they got on which they did like a house on fire.

[slinkysaluki]

I have a collie lurcher shes fantastic. Also have an elderly greyhound. Would recommend rescues that foster as the dogs temperament etc can be assessed by the fosterer as the dog is in their home

[slinkysaluki]

Have a look at Dogs blog, you can put in the breed you are interested in and it brings up all rescue dogs for that breed with the rescues details. Hope you find a new companion, sorry for your loss

[ld7675]

We're being homechecked tomorrow. I've read the small print now which isn't very clear but it looks like you then arrange a visit to see how you and the dog get on. Have lots of questions to ask tomorrow anyway. Hopefully we'll be a bit clearer then. They have dogs in foster care rather than kennels so I suppose they assess whether you're suitable as browsing isn't possible. I've had a look at raystede and dogs trust and will contact them if it's a no go with this charity. I had no idea how many dog sanctuaries even existed before now it's awful how many rejected dogs there are out there.

[TrionicLettuce]

There's a Dogs Trust centre in West Sussex that might be worth a look, they've certainly got several BC type dogs in at the moment. The dogs will be in the centre rather than foster homes but DT are generally very good at matching up potential owners with dogs and do offer backup post adoption.

[samsam123]

we got our rescue from Cyprus - ok i know there are hundreds already in this country needing a home but i fell for him and he is perfect -cyprus dog rescue

[Scuttlebutter]

There are several collie specialist rescues, especially as collies are dogs who often require experienced homes or homes who are willing to put in a bit of work - collies are sensitive and intelligent and need homes that understand and can work with them to keep them mentally occupied.

Try Wiccaways who specialise in BC. Collies regularly come up in all breed rescues - for instance, 12 month old Hoover is lovely and is with Paws Rescue

it's worth narrowing your search to a few specialist rescues, getting on the phone to them, sorting out a homecheck if possible (lots of rescues allow you to do this before matching with a specific dog) and showing you are serious about a dog. Bluntly, rescues simply don't have the time or the manpower (usually it's womanpower actually) to go chasing you if you've previously indicated an interest in a particular type of dog. FB pages are very useful to follow and Hoover for instance featured earlier has his own thread on a forum with pics and updates from his foster home.

Good luck with your search.

[traviata]

op, collie cross at Raystede

[traviata]

When we were looking for a rescue dog, we went to Raystede rescue kennels. They do an interview, then you say whether you like the look of any dogs that they have, and then they try you out together. I really liked the Raystede staff. They were relaxed and friendly, and wanted things to work out. They advised us as inexperienced dog-owners not to take on a lovely young dog with behaviour problems. They were not uptight and sniffy like staff in other rescue kennels.

In the end we got a gorgeous dog from Sussex Pet Rescue, who use a 'foster first' approach.

I suppose the problem is that these small charities can't spare the resources to check out every potential adopter, and then just 'keep you in mind' . Surely they do not expect you to commit to taking a dog just from the photo? I think they just have to start the process somewhere, and need to hear which dog has caught your eye in order to evaluate your family against what that dog needs.

[minsmum]

We have a wonderful rescue called Glendee, they have a Facebook page. The person who runs it is married to a dog trainer. They spend a lot of time with the dogs preparing them for their future homes. I would highly recommend them

[BagelGoesWalking]

Sorry, meant to add Holbrook Animal Rescue who are in Sussex.

[BagelGoesWalking]

Have a look at:
Silver Fox Dog Rescue
Hope Rescue
Four Paws Rescue
Balkan Underdogs
Zante Strays
Heathlands Animal Sanctuary
Pro Dogs Direct
Black Retriever X

Join FB groups run by any relevant rescues, much more up to date than websites, you get a feel for the rescue. They should homecheck, discuss the dog with you, offer backup to rehome the dog if circumstances drastically change for you, offer help with behaviourists and have lots of activity on their FB group from people who have adopted from them.

[Newes]

And no, you absolutely can't take a dog you haven't met. Preferably more than once. What sort of amateurs are they?

[Newes]

It is! 😊
Hope your search is successful.

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

Oh I don't like the sound of that, so you can't meet the Dog before you decide?

[ld7675]

Newes I agree, it seems as if you're bidding blind. We've applied for a local organisation which fosters rather than keeps the dogs in kennels, they ask you to list 3 which is weird as you have no idea of the dogs' temperament which is more important than how they photograph surely? We've had a fairly prompt email which says they're going to homecheck us, hopefully this will get us "in" with them but I'm not comfortable to agreeing to take a dog that hasn't me us or more importantly the children. Watch this space I think, will also follow some of the links suggested by the lovely posters here. Isn't mumsnet fab?!?!

[ld7675]

Thanks StuffandBother, we're in West Sussex, shame a bit far to travel for us I'm afraid x

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

I got my girl from a local rescue, I made an appointment to meet her, then another with the family, they then came out the next week to do the home check, we'd already filled all the paperwork out. As soon as we'd had the home check, we could arrange to pick her up.