Rescues

[Sea62648]

Hi. Not sure what I am hoping to achieve from this thread. Just need to vent I suppose.

Have been looking for a dog to rescue for months. Not too bothered about breed, just want a youngish one. It seems that any time a suitable dog comes up on a rescue site it's gone within a couple of hours.

Finding it really disheartening - desperately want to rescue a dog instead of buying one as there's so many that need a second chance in life. But starting to think we will never get one because they just go so fast

Have you looked at greyhound charities? They're brilliant pets, and all the rescue charities in my area are still getting dogs in regularly!

The breed specific rescue we got our girl from seems to be getting new dogs all the time.
They foster rather than have kennels so they can rehome to people with kids/cats etc. Or not. It also means they have dogs all over the country.
I found them on Facebook and went from there. Feel free to send me a message if you want details. They are a UK charity rehome UK dogs (if that matters to you)
We found her on their page, had the home checks (virtually) and collected her within a week.

Don't look at their websites, follow rescues on FB. For small rescues like the one I'm involved with, the effort needed to update the website is far greater than a post for the easy to rehome dogs like young dogs without behavioural or medical problems. Still plenty of young dogs that come in though, esp to the lurcher rescues.

Thanks for the replies. I've grown up with small dogs so want a small one for our first dog. Were in Yorkshire so have been looking at charities all around this area. Have only had a quick look at some of their FB pages - will follow them now though!

Keep looking- don’t give up! Agree look at small rescue groups. Think of it this way- your rescue pup is out there, probably going through a bad time about now- and in a few months you’ll be united and a whole new chapter of love will begin for both of you! Our rescues changed our life. Wouldn’t be without a golden oldie rescue now. Don’t give up! I would have suggested looking at rescues abroad also (some great ones here in France) who rehome to the Uk, but brexit has made this route v complicated. Keep looking- don’t give up whatever you do. Eventually you’ll find each other! Xo

Ah. You won't find a small dog where we got ours from.
Facebook is the way to go though. Good luck!

We're having a similar problem only we're looking for an older dog who can live with cats.

There are plenty of charities that rescue dogs from abroad and sadly have a very wide selection of dogs. Brexit has made things more complicated, but the organisations I'm aware of have been able to continue rehoming dogs in the UK.

I second the Facebook searches.

Plus, make friends with the shelters: I kept applying and kept applying, and eventually one called me and said: the dog you went for has gone but you look ideal, we'll keep you on our 'list'. This then happened with another shelter, and in the end they offered me a dog that wasn't ever advertised as such - they pre-approved me, effectively, and then matched me to her. And she's a total, heart-melting babe (with the usual 'she's still a rescue and I have spent a LOT of time training her and working on her issues' caveat).

(Our girl came from abroad in the end: a Crete rescue, a Kokoni crossbreed, from Chimney Farm rescue. They're down south, which meant a 4 hr drive for us to collect her. If you go down the European rescue route, do your research as not all rescue charities are made the same, and some dogs really shouldn't be rehomed in the UK. Chimney Farm are legit and do a lot of work with the dogs prior to bringing them to the UK, and then they go into foster care.)

I think I ended up looking for about 9 months before we got our girl, it took a while.

Rescues are the best though, it's worth the searching, good luck x

@crankyhousewife have you looked at the Oldies website ? not all of them are very old, most over 5, but you can filter for can live with cats

Try the Spaniel Aid Facebook if you're open to a spaniel - they've said they'll be posting some rescues young dogs and puppies over the next few days.

It takes a long time at the moment to find your perfect rescue dog. The popular traits i.e. can live with children/other pets, younger dogs or is just plain cute will potentially get over 100 applications, I've seen puppies get THOUSANDS of applications in a matter of hours. Pity the poor rescues who have to trawl through these applications to match up the right owner - that in itself is a minefield (you'd be surprised how many people will lie on an application just to get a dog).

Finding a rescue dog can take months, or longer, before you find that perfect match.

You're still one of many thousands of people trawling the internet desperate for a rescue dog. Don't give up and buy, just take your time and be patient, there will (sadly) always be dogs and the numbers are steadily going up and up in rescues now people are reverting back to old routines going back into offices or going on holidays abroad, or sadly being evicted or moving into not-dog-friendly accommodation.

Hi all. Just wanted to let you know we have successfully applied for a rescue dog who we visited today and will be bringing home at the weekend he is perfect for us. I feel like all the upset Ive felt over the last however many months has been worth it!!

Hooray! Congratulations, I'm sure you will have a lovely life together.

Fab news, congratulations!