I know the wait will be worth it, but I'm getting so impatient!

[GinGeum]

We're on the hunt for a rescue dog. Have been for bloody ages now.

We're on the waiting list for a withdrawn guide dog, and I'm constantly on Facebook rescue pages. I found a lovely boy on Black Retriever X rescue, but sadly he went to another home. Another dog has come up on that page who is so unbelievably perfect - she is all I can think about. Now they've said they've had over 100 applicants for her.

I'm so pleased there is such a high number of people wanting to rescue, but I feel like we're never going to get a second dog!

Please tell me it will happen one day...

It will happen, but the reality is that the 'perfect' dogs do get hundreds of applicants.
There are also many hundreds of dogs looking for homes. Don't be discouraged!

I know what you mean Bubble. I will keep waiting!

When I say perfect, I mean perfect for us in that it ticks all the boxes of able to live with another dog and cat, wants a rural setting, that kind of thing. We don't mind behavioural issues (hence applying for a failed guide dog!).

Are there any other recommended rescue sites I can look at that I might not know of?

I have heard good things about this site and have had to sit on my hands a few times (DH doesn't want a pointer ).

Are you after a particular breed or type GinGeum or is anything fine as long it meets your other requirements?

Thanks wolf I'll have a look.

No, no particular breed really Cornflake - we obviously have breeds we like (lab, golden retriever, spaniels, that sort of thing) but aren't overly fussy. Our current dog is a lab/terrier cross and he's great. We're more looking at each dog's characteristics rather than whether they tick a certain breed box. I think that's why I thought we might not be waiting this long!

There are lots of rescues about that are breed/type specific so it's worth having a look at some of those if you haven't already.

I can't vouch for any of these rescues but they might be good to keep an eye on:

Irish Retriever Rescue
Golden Retriever Club regional rescue contacts
Southern Golden Retriever Rescue
Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England
Labrador Rescue North West
Labradors in Need
Labrador Rescue South East & Central
Labrador Lifeline Trust
Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland
Labrador Rescue Trust
Springer Spaniel Rescue UK
Cocker and English Springer Spaniel Rescue
English Springer Spaniel Rescue North West
Just Springers Rescue
English Springer Spaniel Welfare
Springer Rescue for Scotland
Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue
Cocker Spaniel Club rescue contacts
Perthshire Gundog Rescue

Dogsblog is useful as well, you can search for dogs available for rehoming by criteria.

That's great Cornflake, thank you

Quick update if anybody is interested - I've been asked to have a chat to the foster owner of the perfect rescue dog I applied for recently! Exciting!

My boy came from Cyprus pointers as per Thewolfs link. They're an amazing charity, doing wonderful work with some horribly mistreated dogs.

Ours is just the perfect dog despite his terrible start in life. If you're up for an energetic and very intelligent breed I'd highly recommend a cyprus hound

Oops. Missed your update. Good luck!

Thank you Haint!

Had a chat to the foster lady this evening. She sounds lovely, as does the dog. I don't envy her having to give the dog up. I think there are two of us in the running, so hopefully we are in with a good chance!

I saw that dog on BRX but only after applications had closed with 100 in the running! Good luck!

She looks lovely doesn't she wolf? I will be so sad to not get her now we are so close to. DP told me not to get my hopes up, and that's exactly what I've done!

We got three of our dogs from Rescue Remedies: rescueremediesdogrescue.co.uk/index.php?sid=043d4a0efd34f802b6ec5116830991f7

They're amazing and will suggest a suitable dog if you ask them. They're entirely volunteer-run.

I saw one on BRX back in January I think, a gorgeous puppy. I applied but never heard back. I think that as my pup was the same age as the BRX pup it may have been a problem.
I am starting to look in earnest now my pup is a year old and loves canine company.

I could have posted this 2 weeks ago and boom! I'm now being run ragged by my new rescue pup! I did find you had to constantly look for updates on websites as things move so quickly. I was lucky to have notifications from local rescue on facebook and spotted my pup within 3 minutes of it being posted and got my application in within 15 minutes! It was all a bit intense and nerve racking but worth it.

Wow, that's a quick turnaround monkey!

I haven't heard anything about this dog since I spoke to the foster mum on Monday, and I may have sent an email asking for an update. I've probably been black listed for being a nuisance!

I just want to know either way

Fingers crossed for you Gin. I have been emailing a few breed specific terrier adoption people and it's amazing how few people ever bother to get back to me. Even when I am expressing interest in a puppy in a litter. Maybe there is something off in my email tone . I would say we make an almost perfect Doggy home.

I've been finding it surprisingly difficult to find a suitable rescue. We're looking for a young second dog (preferably a border terrier but that seems impossible, so something similar) but we need it to be ok with young children, cats and dogs. So many I see are for adult only or older children homes or can't go with a cat. Then as you say the ones that do come up that would be a good fit get snapped up!

I feel like we are an ideal home, I think that's what's frustrating! We don't have children, I am home all the time, we live rurally and have lots of private fields for dogs to charge about in. Big garden. Quiet home. Dog training school a 10 minute walk away. We have a cat but he is feisty so not an issue. And we have another dog for a companion.

We are on the list for a withdrawn guide dog, and when we had the home visit for that, the lady said she didn't think we would have to wait long because we would be suitable for lots of different personalities in dogs. Huff!

If we aren't successful with this lovely girl I'm waiting to hear about, I think I am going to wait a while before applying for another. She just seems so perfect, I feel like I will compare other dogs to her if I start applying for others straight away.

Yup cat and primary school children were a no no for most of the rescue dogs we looked at. We weren't specifically looking for a puppy but figured with our situation it would be our best chance and just got lucky and in there quickly.

Good luck it will happen when you least expect it and you'll suddenly find yourself doing a supermarket sweep round pets at home in a blind panic!

Guess what! Had an email this morning - as long as home check goes okay, she is ours!!

Great news!

That's brilliant news.

I'm looking for a young rescue dog and can't find any. I'd like a lab if possible.

Do I just register? I've been spending hours searching websites without much joy.

Freed if you're looking for a lab, I'd definitely recommend registering for a withdrawn guide dog - they are around 18 months-2years when they 'fail' the training generally.

Go to this website and find your nearest rehoming officer. Then email them an application. (I couldn't do the form on my phone, so they sent me a paper copy)

With Black Retriever X rescue, they have so many different dogs coming and going, they don't 'hold' people's info. You just apply directly each time you see a dog suitable for you - so you have to keep an eye on their Facebook page for new dogs.

I'd really recommend them though. They've been so thorough with the application process, and really get to know the dogs before rehoming them, so you know what you're letting yourself in for!