Has anyone managed to get a rescue dog lately?

[Boopear]

This is a bit of a rant, but I would really appreciate some advice. This whole endeavour is driving me mad.

I have been trying to get a rescue dog for about the last year - basically since lock down started. Before we go down any rabbit holes, yes, I am WFH for the foreseeable. I even have confirmation from my boss to this effect. I also own my house, with secure garden and excellent access to great walking areas. I do have some criteria which restricts options - I have a cat, I don't have another dog and, tbh, I don't want a dog that requires huge amounts of exercise (a collie for example), a tiny breed or a dog that is likely to be stronger than me (a bull type). I'm also not keen on a old dog (above 7), just because I want to have time to enjoy it before the likelihood of medical issue arises (I appreciate there are exceptions to this). Apart from this, I'm pretty flexi. Oh, and no small kids - just a teenager.

So, while not having a "anything goes" approach, I have still made about 50 applications over the last year, from small local rescues to the national ones. I keep on top of Facebook pages, look at websites daily and basically spend significant amounts of time trying to find suitable dogs. I've spent hours putting together pictures of garden, the house and writing longs spiels trying to persuade the relevant rescue that I am the perfect parent for their dog. And I am getting nowhere. I haven't even got to the "house check" stage. I've even given up with some rescues as they don't even confirm that an application has been received.

What has prompted this post is a litter of Shih Tzu puppies that came onto Many Tears yesterday (17:00), I eMailed straight away and by 8.00 this morning they had been allocated to families. I do appreciate the huge demand (especially for puppies) but how do I get on this mythical listing of people ready to allocate dogs to? Is it all just bad luck or is there something fundamental I am missing? Help me please, oh wise ones, as it is really getting just so disheartening..

We’ve been fostering and dogs, and adoptions are happening constantly during lockdown.

I think the main issue is having a cat. With the rescues we work for, I know unless a dog has come from a house with a cat, they won’t rehome to a household with a cat.

You also sound very picky about the dog you want, which is going to make it even less likely that you are matched to a dog.

Finally, working from home for the foreseeable future, doesn’t mean that you work from home full time, and will not need to leave a dog when you eventually go back to work. So when compared with houses where someone is at home most of the time, they are unlikely to choose your house, as your rescue dog is likely to be left when you stop working from home.

@Floomobal Sorry not a dog owner, but this is something that I always had a question about. Apologies to OP for thread deviation.

I can understand wanting someone who is WFH permanently as dogs can't be left alone for more than 4 hours. But why do they reject even people who have become WFH during the pandemic and unlikely to go back i.e. company has given up all office space. Surely on that basis, if you assume that someone is not going to WFH forever, you should also assume that a Stay at home mum is likely to go back to work (and most eventually do), or that someone in a stereotypically wfh job i.e freelance translator might switch industry or profession to something that requires you to work away from home. The only person who is guaranteed to never ever have to take a job away from home is a retired person. since a dog's lifespan is 10-15 years, i don't think most people can predict what kind of jobs they might get in 10-15 years.

I don't want to criticize the rescues but their rehoming policy seems really restrictive which might be why people end up buying puppies which is a shame.

Are you applying through rescue centres directly? I never had any luck with them due to the fact I work and don’t have a huge garden.

If you can decide on a breed of dog you would like then I would go through a local foster/rehoming person. Like Labrador rescue tends to have a dedicated person in each area, I got two labs through our local lady and they were lovely dogs. The dogs are fostered until they are homed permanently so they are not in kennels etc.

I would keep looking through, I think a lot of lockdown puppies will be looking for new homes very soon when life begins to get back to normal!

@onlychildandhamster I obviously can’t speak for them all, but with the 2 rescues I work for, all the dogs are in foster homes, and kennels aren’t used. Therefore, they're able to take their time to get dogs into the best homes.

With each dog advertised, there are often over 100 applications. So the rescues can be picky. If you don’t need to take a gamble on someone working from home temporarily, then why would you.

I would also question the commitment of someone who has such strict criteria about what dog they’d like. No small breeds, no dogs that require a lot of excerice, no bull breeds (which most rescues are sadly full of) no dog over 7 etc etc etc . Most rescue dogs come with behaviours or issues that need time and patience, and open mindedness. If someone isn’t able to offer this, and one of the 99 other applications for a dog can offer these things, it’s a no brainer.

Many thanks all. On the WFH front, it can be as permanent as I need it to be. This isn't a temporary situation. Luckily I have the sort of job that can be done anywhere and I have confirmation that I have this flexibility. Sounds like I really need to make this clearer on the applications.

And on the type of dog, I do appreciate the pickiness (and I love small breeds, just not the tiny tots!), but my applications don't say this! It just limits the number of dogs I apply for (hence only 50 applications rather than 500). The applications are always for a specific dog that has been advertised as being available - the rescue centres don't come back with alternatives that I then refuse. Hence my question really - is there some other sort of conversation that I should be having with a rescue centre that puts me on some sort of waiting list? I always say that I am happy to consider other dogs (I think that the only thing I say I'd rather not have is a dog with medical concerns), but they never contact me, it is always me responding to adverts.

WFH can be an issue with rescues. The whole point is that you are working so although your are in the home your time with any dog willbe limited.

Rescues are not allowed to home check at the moment , due gto lockdown so if you have not been home checked you do not stand a chance of getting a dog in this lockdown.

Rescues never contacting you is common. They are inundated with enquires so only have time to follow up on concrete homings. They do not have dedicated staff to sit and read through the hundreds of applications they are getting at the moment.

When we have more freedom get involved with your local resuce, offer to walk the dogs, get known, have a home check already in place and then you stand more chance.

@PollyRoulson Many thanks. I guess I was wanting an answer to the "why not me again?" for the applications. I know how big the volumes are at present and that makes a lot of sense. A real shame, but completely understandable.

I follow a lot of the rescues for my Ddog breed (as he’s a rescue) and they are definitely rehoming, but what’s interesting is them at their social media used to be full of ‘dog of the week’ or really selling dogs, but that’s all disappeared and dogs seem to be rehomed very quickly. I can only assume that with lockdown people are looking for rescues.

Perhaps wait for all the ‘lockdown’ rejects to hit the rescues; it’s going to happen!

Oh I know the rescues I follow repeatedly say they are busy and run but volunteers so be patient.

Also I agree with the poster above try breed specific Facebook rescues.

Sorry another thing that has occurred to me where we got our dog from is 2 hours drive away, we wouldn’t have got him now as they won’t rehome unless local. So maybe that’s a problem?

Lots of rescues will only réhome within an hour from Where the dog currently is. This is generally due to a vet being in that area who has been treating the dog so knows him or her.
Lots of rescues also prefer if you already have a dog as many rescues are street dogs and need a 'house' dog to show them the ropes.
You are def restricting your choices though and the rescues will react accordingly.
My new rescue dog will be available to collect some time in the next 4-8 weeks and I have no idea how old she is

Just to answer your question - yes we rescued one of ours during lockdown. Greyhound. Retired racer.

Interestingly the centre has rehomed one this week to a family with a cat.

I rescued another one of my dogs from a local rescue centre - pre lockdown and it drove me nuts that they made you jump through so many hoops, and they were so slow at returning calls etc.

I remember declaring to DH that this is why people just get one from pets4homes.

I know nobody wants a failed rescue but honestly it's ridiculous how hard it was.

I know nobody wants a failed rescue but honestly it's ridiculous how hard it was

I’ve noticed that as have been looking, often they spell out the behavioural issues heavily then make unreasonable demands, like has to have a companion dog, can’t be walked near other people, no visitors to thr home, no car journeys, can’t be left alone ever.

Them these poor dogs stay in kennels for so so long. No one wants a failed rescue, but to be never able to leave your home without the dog, never have visits, and never take it in the car, it’s like they think some dogs are past saving.

I hope you can give a lovely dog a home soon.

Thanks all again. One quick question for @IndieTara as I am confused All the dogs I apply for have their age on the advert. How do you a rescue dog that won't be ready for 4-8 weeks (presume is in foster?) and don't know how old they are? How are you applying for these dogs?

And on a general level - the cat thing is the main delimiter TBH. Everything else is a bit of a moot point. Dog's Trust "can live with cats" listing hasn't moved above 3 UK wide in a week - and, yes, 2 of those I would need to live within an hour of the centre. I know it not only restricts the options, but also means many more people are applying for the same dog. But, again, I only apply for ones which should be doable - just wanted some feedback on why applications constantly failing. Thanks loads.

[quote Boopear]@PollyRoulson Many thanks. I guess I was wanting an answer to the "why not me again?" for the applications. I know how big the volumes are at present and that makes a lot of sense. A real shame, but completely understandable.[/quote]
It is hard but do not take it personally.

They are not turning you down or refusing you, they are just offering to someone else. Sometimes they may have not even read your application but found a suitable new home before they got to yours.

Hang on in there the right dog will be out there for you.

Often there are many euphemisms in a description of a rescue dog.

“doesn’t like to be home alone” = barks for hours and destroys the entire house

“Would prefer to be in a cat-free home” = the cat will be eaten

“Must be only dog” = fights

“adult home” = has bitten

“Needs a little more lead training” = will pull your arm out of your socket

“Likes a quiet life” = on last legs

Often the descriptions are cute and funny, but a lot of these dogs are not lovely, well-trained family pets (otherwise they’d still be in their home) and need experienced handling.

Have you registered on DogsBlog? They collate dogs from lots of smaller rescues. Smaller rescues and breed specific rescues tend to foster dogs so they are better at knowing how good a dog will be with a cat for example.

Good luck - hope you find your canine companion soon

Oh what about applying for ex guide dog?

Ex guide dogs are the holy grail. The lists are currently closed. And in normal times there is more chance of winning the Euromillions than getting a failed guide dog. “Failure” often includes health issues, the cost of which will be the adopter’s responsibility.

I did manage to get one (just before covid). I went in person the day after the dog went on the rescue Facebook page and I also fortunately knew one of their home checkers personally so she would vouch for me. There was no thinking time as they had several other applications so I took the dog there and then. I've noticed since then that the 'ideal' dogs from that rescue have been adopted by volunteers who were already fostering them.

My in laws also managed to get one as well - one of the dogs from abroad rescues. First one didn't work out but second attempt did. It took a few months and they built up good communication with the rescue place.

@Boopear my dog is in Romania hence the vagueness due to not knowing travelling dates yet, by the time she gets here I will have an idea of her age

Adopted a gorgeous rescue pup from Bosnia as getting a dog from a U.K. shelter was proving almost impossible. Was a bit of a gamble, but then rescues are and we were prepared for hard work, however we lucked out and she has been a dream. There are plenty of decent international rescues out there and once we got accepted by a couple we had our pick of literally hundreds of poor abandoned souls...

Lots of people now rescue from abroad as, for better or for worse, their criteria isn’t as strict. I’ve been chastised on here before for recommending adopting a foreign dog, but it can be successful if you do your research and you are willing to make a long-term commitment to training them from scratch.

The other way to get a foot in with a local rescue is by signing up to foster pups in the short term whilst they try to find a suitable home. Often, foster parents decide they can’t part with their new addition and the rescue is happy to allow the foster placement to become a more permanent arrangement. We’ve recently signed up to become a foster family as I’d really like a rescue dog but want to be sure of the right fit. This way, I can be certain whether or not we’re ready to take on another dog and also whether that particular dog is right for us. It’s a good way to test the water.