Anyone adopted a dog from Romania

[BillThePony]

This is something I am considering along with looking at UK rescues, I just wanted other people's experiences of doing so.

I've not had a dog since I was a child so wouldn't class myself as an experienced owner.

Also what to rescues look for on home checks?

We only have an adult dd who is away at uni, dh works from home 3 days and the dog would come to work with me the other 2.

I have a filthy immigrant Balkan rescue. She’s amazing - a very calm, gentle delight. Issues with selective recall but probably as much to do with my training, as most god-problems are.

Like others, we had issues finding a UK rescue suitable for living with cats and kids and without hugely restrictive criteria. I wanted to rescue not get a puppy.

We used Pozega Dogs. Recommend them highly - some are in UK foster, they provided absolutely loads of info on temperament including many videos of her interacting with dogs, cats and children.

They are involved in lobbying for change to laws over there to address the stray dog problem. They say that actually a lot of dogs are abandoned between one and two years old, when they’re not cute, or if their owners move, or if they turn out not to be good working dogs. Ours was certainly trained and not a street dog.

My little beauty was from Codlea and some of the images I’ve seen are very upsetting. I know not all can be saved as it’s just so overwhelming but when I think where she’s come from I’m just so happy she’s safe and loved. I would totally say rescue from any country. I’m always suggesting people rescue but most go down the puppy route sadly.

I'm glad you've decided not to OP. It makes me really sad that people spend so much time and effort sending stray dogs and cats over here by plane when we have so many of our own in need of adoption. Why on earth would they do that.

Thank god somebody cares! @kijhhk

care by rescuing one of the thousands of dogs already in the country that need a home...

Why not both?

It’s like saying let’s not give overseas aid to people in need.

It isn't even vaguely similar. The primary reason we give overseas aid is to aid political stability

I can’t ignore needs overseas just because we also have problems here.

I volunteer at a rescue. Over the Christmas period we have had two dogs from different homes brought in who were originally from Romania. I think if you want to help the Romanian rescue dogs, then donate (they do brilliant work), but British rescues are already full, without bringing more dogs in from abroad.

I donate too.

We did. Sadly it didn't work out - despite very careful introductions, she started attacking our little old dog, completely unprovoked. She was bigger than him and she'd just fly at him, sometimes even when he was fast asleep on his bed. We returned her to the rescue after two weeks, although in retrospect I wish we'd returned her sooner, and in her next home she seemed fine for several months (as an only dog) and then attacked the family's little boy when he just walked into the room.

It’s not remotely the same as not fining overseas aid. How ridiculous. The fact is rescues are full to bursting over here. Why adopt elsewhere? Just adding to the problem as many of the Romanian dogs brought over end up in uk rescues after not ‘fitting in’ in their homes over here. Plus it’s massively stressful for the animals being shipped here. I honestly don’t understand why you would...

*funding!

I think if you are an animal lover, once you are aware of the plights of animals anywhere in the world, you want to help. Unfortunately, the so called shelters in countries like Romania are woefully behind what we have in the UK. There are several charities that fundraiser to help rescue dogs and they also lobby the governments to stop the awful treatment and torture that goes on. I’d say that the needs of those dogs is more urgent than the needs of dogs in UK shelters where they are very well looked after.

But there are many dogs here in need of good homes that have had/have abusive owners and are in dire need and are in danger of being PTS. Plus quite a few of dogs that come from abroad are placed in Uk homes that end up not working as I pointed out, so they just go back to out uk rescues that are overflowing already.

My parents have. She is the most gentle, sweet and calm dog I've ever met! They struggled to find any UK rescues that would rehome to them as they have other family dogs staying a lot and a lot of grandkids coming in and out, which is real shame as their DDog is absolutely doted on.

I have had 2 Romanian rescue dogs(I rehomed them from the UK)Both were and are gentle souls that I could take anywhere . The UK shelter has a group to keep in touch and very few are not rehomed successfully. It’s as though once they get a good home, they know it. Of course there are sad stories but the same is true for UK dogs. You can’t unsee something once it’s been brought to your attention. The images of these dogs in plastic bags is horrific.

Are the dogs sent from other countries spayed or neutered?

Neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated and micro-chipped.

Please don’t consider it. Another reason not to adopt from abroad is the risk of disease. We are seeing a huge serge in diseases previously not seen in the UK, which are a huge danger to our UK animals,for example babeoisis and heart worm to name but two. My partner works at a vets and says they are seeing lots of these ‘tropical’ diseases being brought over that have no obvious symptoms but that the dogs are carrying. Yes, they are treated for the obvious ones that humans are at risk of catching like rabies but not for ones that other canines can catch.

Here’s an article highlighting the risks:
www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/uk-vets-urge-animal-lovers-1978719

My dogs were tested for all of those things before getting their passports. What about UK dogs that travel abroad with their owners? Should they not be allowed back in?

Thanks @Greenpop21- I was just thinking that money donated over there would be well spent on a neutering program, as well as caring for the dogs, obviously.

UK dogs travelling abroad have not live a life on grotty Romanian streets and are much less likely to pick stuff up. I don’t get your point really. I mean it is a thing that’s happening and diseases are being spread...read the article maybe?