Will we find a rescue dog?

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We were fostering a gorgeous 13yo spaniel who sadly had to be PTS today due to very rapid decline which turned out to be caused by a huge tumour. He had been with us for 4 months. Our 2yo spaniel is sad, the kids (aged 3, 6 and 8) are sad and DH and I are sad. Getting another dog feels like the right thing to do but we can't face a puppy, puppies are a pain!! A quick trawl of 3 or 4 local rescue websites suggests that kids of those ages + existing dog + cat rules us out of pretty much all rescue dogs. We have chickens too (fenced into a run mind you) which probably won't help. DDog is the only dog we've ever had and she came to us as a puppy from a friend's litter (rather than us actively seeking a dog) so limited experience here. Can anyone advise whether we are likely to find anything to suit?

We were actually turned down as we DIDN'T have another dog!! How about a rescue like Black Retriever X that fosters dogs out and so knows how a dog would cope with dog and cat and even chickens?

Rather than look geographically, look by breed. It's slightly harder to find cat friendly dogs but it will just mean you will have to wait a little bit longer, as they tend to be rarer than non cat friendlies.

There are plenty of rescues that will be very happy to rehome a dog with you - most are sensible and will take it on a dog by dog basis.

Examples (this is not an exhaustive list) - Hope Rescue who are an all breed rescue, Wiccaweys (who are collies) EGLR (lurchers) most greyhound rescues will adopt to families (again, be prepared for cat to be cause of delay) etc etc.

I agree that a rescue that fosters its dogs (as EGLR and Hope do) will be in a great position to give lots of accurate information on how a dog will be in a family setting.

Try dogsblog - they compile from smaller rescues from all over the country.

Thanks. I'd like a greyhound but they seem to be a no no with cats. That said, our cat is a stoic old bugger and resisted all attempts to give a shit when DDog barked at him/tried to chase him when she was a puppy. DH wants another spaniel but they don't seem to feature much in rescues. Lots of Akitas (which look gigantic and very hairy), Staffie type dogs and Jack Russells. Will maybe make some calls tomorrow and test the water. There is a dog shaped hole on the sofa 😢

I've got friends with a lurcher, a greyhound and two cats and they seem to get on alright but it has to be managed. Like all new animal interactions.

My dog licks my cat's head until his fur goes stiff and the cat whacks him on the nose when he's had enough :o

Greyhounds aren't a definite no no with cats (especially if you have a confident cat who isn't likely to run) but you do need to a) trust that the rescue is properly cat testing their dogs, and b) wait for a cat safe/workable dog to come into rescue. Looking for rescues that foster, who may have dogs that have actually lived in a home with cats is a safer bet than getting a dog straight from kennels who has only seen cats in that environment.

There are quite a number of dedicated spaniel rescues which are worth looking into. Both the Cocker Spaniel and Springer Spaniel breed clubs run their own welfare schemes. There are also lots of others:

Just Springers
Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue
Springer Rescue Scotland
North West English Springer Spaniel Rescue
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue
Spaniel Aid
Cocker and English Springer Spaniel Rescue
Springer Spaniel Rescue

I can't vouch for any of them but definitely worth investigating if you're after a spaniel.

One of my good friends fosters for Hounds First rescue (sighthounds, another good national rescue) - she has two cats, a little boy of 5 and usually anywhere between 3 and 5 greyhound/lurcher/Salukis (a combo of her own and long/short term foster). Again, cat friendly greys are out there (usual estimate is about 20%) - you just have to be prepared to wait a bit longer for them.

EGLR have a handy search facility on their website allowing you to search by child friendly, cat friendly etc.

Spaniels are not my thing particularly but a quick google shows loads of spaniel rescues - worth having a look at some of them.

So sorry, its hard loosing your dog and i'm sure those 4 months were wonderful for him and your family, its great that you took him in as they can get overlooked at that age.

www.oldies.org.uk/ maybe worth a look as has a search option to view cat/kid friendly. Its to help rehome dogs 7+yrs but not all are old in body & spirit so can need more active homes.

I did a homecheck for a lady with 2 cats and chickens and she went onto adopt 2 greyhounds from a kennel based breed rescue but they are experienced at testing & rehoming with cats and also to families.

Others are;
Lurcher Link
Greyhound Gap
Greyhound Trust run fairly independently so homing policies vary.

There are a lot of other independent greyhound/lurcher rescues that may cover your area.

Where are you based? There is a lovely 4 year old spayed female spaniel at the dog rescue where I help out lovely girl. She is white and brown.

La Gatta, we are in Cornwall. Which only compounds the problem with finding something suitable as we are so bloody far away from everywhere!! I think I'm going to have to make some calls as I've looked at the links you lovely people have posted and a child under 5 and a cat (and chickens) seems to be a major issue. Perhaps speaking to a local shelter will be more fruitful.

It's not easy. We've tried for a year and either get turned down or just missing dogs. Have now give up and put a deposit on a new pup.

You absolutely will find a dog. I have fostered ( for Black Retriever X) and sent dogs to homes which sound exactly like yours - young kids, cats, chickens et al
Spaniels and spaniel crosses come into Irish pounds on a daily basis and there are rescues like Heathlands,BRX and others who always have this kind if dog ( they work with Irish rescues and transport the dogs)

Def have a look at EGLR - I foster for them and we don't have any hard and fast rules at all about who we will rehome to, its all about matching the dog to the situation. In fact I have cats and chickens (my current foster won't be going to a home with under 5's, so not for you) and several of my lurcher puppy fosters have gone to homes with cats. There are a few other fosterers with cats as well.

When people would be coming a long way for a dog, we can get homechecks done in advance and then people can visit, spend time with the dog, take them out, and then if everyone is happy, take them home in one visit - so don't discount rescues further away

If you're in Cornwall go and speak to Sandra at Russet Greyhound Sanctuary near Cambourne - they deal on behalf of the RGT. We've just adopted from there (three weeks ago and we are all in love with our new addition!). They have 4 cats that they live with on site and cat test. The only real hard and fast rules are that you have a secure back garden. We've got a 6 year old and an 8 year old (children not dogs). PM if you want further details.

Maybe not quite the breed/type you were after but this group rehouse pointers and pointer crosses from Cyprus. They currently have several young dogs up, including puppies. Some of their dogs are fostered in the UK so they should have a clear idea of the sort of home that would suit the dog.

we have a cat friendly greyhound cross (scared of cats ), she was not a rescue as such mind, and grew up with cats as a puppy.

Anyway, some greys or lurchers are ok with cats. Some rescue ones are too

Many Tears have lots of dogs that they will only re-home to a family who already have a dog.

Great, thanks for all the tips. I was directed towards a website which rehomes dogs rescued from a shelter in Spain, lots of them seem to be suitable for cats/children/existing dogs but it seems quite a risk to rescue a dog without being able to meet it first. I'll try the Cambourne place though Flippety, thank you. :)

Hmmm, not sure I'm going to get a greyhound past die-hard-spaniel-fan DH. Whippet possibly though...

Many Tears has a search facility so you can find dogs using your postcode and radius you're comfortable with. I'm slightly uncomfortable as I believe they do "support" puppy farms inasmuch as they take all the broken down, abused ex-breeders, but it's a difficult problem without a good solution and dogs are rehomed at least.

I know the difficulty of adopting from abroad but it's possible if you go with very good rescues. Look at:

Help Pozega Dogs
Balkan Underdogs

Join their FB groups and see what you think. You could also offer to foster for them, they're always looking for UK fosters and you can foster with a view to adoption if it works out. Very good health testing and backup. They are much more flexible/more realistic regarding other pets and younger children. They will also cat test if you ask them. They run neutering programmes alongside adoption so I consider them to be good rescues.

Forgot to mention Griffon Adoption UK

We are about to get our 2nd rescue dog through Spanish Strays UK. Can't speak highly enough about them and we have 2 cats and 3 children.

I guess it depends on lifestyle. DH would have LOVED a spaniel but knew in reality we don't have the time to dedicate to walking and training and general intellectual stimulation. Greyhounds need very little intellectual stimulation as they sleep very a LOT!

Anyway, before the toenail incident of yesterday which means we are now a bit housebound, DH was definitely saying how much he'd come round to the pointiness. He adores her in reality.