Romanian dog rescues

[Glitters100]

So Mumsnet, I need the help from doggy loving members.

We’re have spent the last 18 months looking into getting a puppy/or a rescue dog if it fits our needs and vice versa.

Once Covid happened we saw prices sky rocket so put plans on hold, but still kept an eye on what dogs are out there.

So we stumbled upon someone selling the type of dog we’re after, it ticked all the right boxes, in size, temperament, child friendly, low prey drive, minimum shedding...And in was in our price range.
After some digging I realised it was a Romanian dog rescue and the dog would be coming over from Romania if we gave the go ahead.

We have turned it down but it’s got me thinking, this page only has good reviews, nothing negative about them online. So people are using them and seem happy with it, and updated pics of their dogs show the dog is happy too.

Could I have your stories If you’ve used them or know someone who has used them- good or bad.

I’m going to be telling my teenagers these replies as they are disappointed that we’re not going for it, but they do grudgingly agree getting a dog from a proper breeder is best, if we can’t find one that needs rehoming.

Hope I don’t get shot down in flames with this post! We are still doing research into dogs so we can be the best owners when we get one.

Romania’s relationship with their street dogs is a very complex one bound up with the horrors they faced under ceausescu’s regime

Unlike say, Cyprus where dogs are a commodity used for hunting and discarded when they’re not up to scratch or the season ends and the hunters no longer want to feed them

It’s a very interesting topic, differing attitudes towards dogs

Very interesting topic and especially interesting how diverse one single group of animal lovers can be in their views and priorities. Borders didn’t even come into it for me.

I rescued a Romanian puppy nearly 2 years ago, we already had a dog but due to working full time wouldn't meet the requirements for a uk rescue. We passed a home check for the rescue and they suggested a dog, we specified we wanted to meet the dog before agreeing an adoption and luckily he was already in the UK so we got to meet him a few times before he came home. That way we could check that the two dogs would be ok.

He did and still has a few hang ups, at 8 months old he had never lived in a house so all noises were a bit scary. Having our older dog has shown him how to be a dog and at home he is awesome. He is still not confident on town walks and there are some people he just doesn't like so his tail goes right down and he will try and hide.

Just like any rescue, it's likely the dog will have a few hang ups unless it's so young that it can be fully socialised.

If you are rescuing from abroad I would check out in charities, review their feedback etc and go into it expecting a rescue dog to need some time and space to adjust.

Ps the rescue I used will often use kennels near Birmingham if they don't have a foster/adopted for them to go to straight away- happy to share info if you want to message me

Quote

You’ll often see many tears mentioned on here, a big, respected shelter that rehome, almost elusively, ex breeding dogs. I find that hugely problematic myself, though of course I’m happy those indigenous mis treated dogs are sent to happier homes, it does rather support puppy farming in a round about way, giving the bastards an easy out once the poor bitches are spent.

The alternative is that they will be killed either by being hit on the head with a shovel or buried alive. Puppy farmers will not spend time or money on rehoming a dog that is now longer making money for them. Nor will they spend money on putting to sleep.
The alternatives
They use are gruesome.

Not everyone wants a badly bred labradoodle, a greyhound or a husky mix which is overwhelmingly what was in shelters when I last looked before I got my Cyprus rescue. These dogs live in appalling conditions in pounds abroad, often never being allowed to leave the cage, barely being fed, shown no love or affection. The lucky ones get taken by a rescue to be rehomed.

Hardly the same as a dog living in a kennel or foster home in the UK is it

Romania, Cyprus and Bulgaria all living together happily. Dogs could teach us humans a thing or two.

😍😍😍 what beautiful dogs!

I'll take one of each @Blondiney.

SO cute.

And those are the dogs missing from rescues IMO. Medium, tan, waggy-tailed mongrels. That used to be all you'd see in the UK growing up. Now it's as as @HartnellAvenue says. Poor crosses, ex-racers, badly socialised bully breeds and unwanted puppy farm dogs.

I like 'dogs of my youth'. I think they make the best family dogs.

Couldn't agree more, Mrs TP x

There is definitely something very special about supermutts, I think they’re the most dog-like of dogs. Of course they would be because certain features will dominate through natural selection?

I love this mutt

Oh how lovely, Ylfa. That looks like an exceptionally contented mutt, especially the love the paw pic x

(Easiest dog I’ve ever had!)

Does anyone know of any good rescues in the North East? A lot of them that I've heard of are down south, and I'd appreciate having the back up of a more local rescue. Thank you.

Best dogs in the world.

😍😍😍 look at that sleepyhead 🐾

@RavensByNight

Does anyone know of any good rescues in the North East? A lot of them that I've heard of are down south, and I'd appreciate having the back up of a more local rescue. Thank you.

I’m in East Anglia but I’ll ask, the organisation I used seems to have coordinators all over Europe. I went with them because they’re just up the road from me and they have great facilities (10 acre deer-fenced woodland so we can exercise safely off lead) and we have the same horse vet who I trust implicitly (obviously or I wouldn’t let her do things to my horse) and I’ve met dogs (Romanian) adopted through them over the years and witnessed them living happily ever after with great families.

The post adoption support is fab but way way way before that the home check was exceptionally and reassuringly thorough and very much a two way street plus their actual matchmaking of me and my dog was 👌. I’ve had follow up walks with the homechecker (who is becoming a friend) and her other assorted foster dogs and there’s also a lovely FB group for adopters, it’s like joining a massive virtual family.

I Foster in the uk so obviously tend to only see where it doesnt work out!
I dont really have a comment on the ethical side of bringing dogs over. Its obviously all dependent on the rescue as ive met some poor uk rescues with the same issues. This is my main concerns

1. not evaluating homes enough. This has lead to homes that shouldnt have been passed at all or not being able to match the home to the dog. Eg. Puppies with people who work full time, new owners who arent looking for a challenge being given big dogs etc.

2. poor appraisal of the dog. There is sometimes such little info given. The dogs are often advertised as easy dogs. Good with cats children etc when this hasnt been tested or is unlikely based on their history. It seems odd that so many appear to be good with cats/dog/children dogs if the dog hasnt been in foster, has grown on the streets and kept in kennels etc. My current foster fail was fostered in the uk to check his suitablity for the resident cat. He was only in foster (after travelling for days to the uk) for 72 hours before being deemed cat friendly.

There is also little thinking around things like breeds. Ive also fostered dogs that whilst obviously not a "pure breed" but are clearly terriers but placed with small fuzzies, or collie types without collie homes

3. lack of support after. Lots of the charities role is only up to placement hence my rescue has become involved. Lots of people get one or two lines only about the dog.

My permanent (foster fail!) Dog is a real classic example. The family (who were lovely) hadnt been warned what having a dog who had never been in a house before might be like. He was placed with a family that works full time, and wanted a nice easy dog to fit in with their busy life. Understandably they didnt have the time to commit to working with a dog that needed so much work. A uk rescue might have given them a cavalier, he is clearly a collie type thus they got a dog that needed lots of stimulation. The rescue then never answered their calls

My advice would be to check that

• the charity properly vets homes (so they understand your needs but also to show they are thinking about what happens to the dog in the uk)

-has a good uk presence including after care. Check with people that have used them that this support materialised

-has a good knowledge of their dogs (preferably has dogs in home fosters). Avoid if 90% of dogs are listed without any issues noted.

• matches the person to the dog. Avoid if its just a heres a picture of a puppy and you can apply for it.

The Romanian rescue I adopted my puppy from often posts things like this on Facebook - I have rescue backup locally to me. Always make sure any foreign rescue you deal with provides this.

"Let’s talk about Rescue Back Up....
Or... RBU.

RBU is what rescues provide for the animals they save... for life.
A safety net. If ever they need them the rescue is there.
Rbu comes into effect if ever you can’t or don’t want to keep your adopted animal.
If your circumstances change.. CONTACT THEM.
No matter what the situation is, no matter how long has passed, the rescue will ALWAYS want to hear from you.
You may think it’s embarrassing or hard or maybe think they’ll judge you... they won’t.
All they’ll want is to keep that animal safe.
When you contact the rescue, they will take the animal back under their care.
You DO NOT privately rehome that animal.
You DO NOT euthanise the animal.
You DO NOT sell the animal.
You ONLY take it to an alternative rescue if the original rescue are aware.. and can’t or won’t help you (very very unlikely).
If you’ve ever cared about that animal you USE that animals RBU if ever you or they need it.
Thankyou.
Please share."

Hello can I ask the name of the rescue you used? I am currently starting the research process to see if this option is right for my family.

@Cocomonty

Hello can I ask the name of the rescue you used? I am currently starting the research process to see if this option is right for my family.

We used a rescue called Pads for Pooches - our experience was very positive and our dog has been a delight and a blessing. In the back up group it quickly became clear that on our transport a dog was bought over that the family couldn’t cope with and the volunteers were amazing and moved the dog straight into a foster where it was later rehomed. I think the aftercare, as someone said upthread, is really important to check out because obviously often the rescues themselves aren’t 100% sure of a dog’s background so you never whether or not you will need help.

Yes it's a great idea to bring more dogs into the country when there are so many already going to shelters.

There aren't 'so many already going to shelters' in the UK.

The dogs in UK shelters that have the potential to be family pets get rehomed quickly - but most UK shelters will not rehome where there are children in the house. The ones that are left available generally have significant issues.

I signed up with 3 UK shelters and never got anything other than a standardised response from any of them .

I now have a dog that was in a Portuguese shelter, and she is great - gentle and playful and good with people and other dogs. I paid £300 which included spaying, vaccinations, microchip, passport and transport, it's difficult to see where there can much of a profit.

In our daily walks I have got to know regulars with dogs from Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Italy and Hungary - all fantastic pets.