There are no rescue dogs out there

[steppemum]

so, steppedog is ill (although he may have months yet) and yesterday dd asked if we would get another dog. Dh and I were stumped. We had never intended to get this one , and I really didn't know the answer (apart form the fact he is still here and I am not ready to say goodbye yet)

So in an idle moment yesterday, out of curiosity I started looked at local rescue dogs. I got dragged into a rabbit hole of all dogs available at the moment in UK, because I was so struck my what I was seeing.

We got steppedog from a local rescue. We were fostering for them, we fostered 3-4 lovely dogs, all suitable for families, albeit with their own needs (eg one was a 1 year old great dane with zero training. She was lovely, gentle, nice dog, but a bouncy great dane is a handful, so anyone taking her on need space and to be prepared to do lots of training) Steppedog was our next foster, and we kept him.

For all the rescue dogs out there now though, the profile looks a bit like this:

Doggie is lovely, he needs a home which is:

1. adult only
2. rural/semi rural as he is nervous of noise
3. only pet in the house
4. house with few visitors and no visiting children.
5. needs someone home all day

then there will be one or two of the following:
he cannot be walked near other dogs; needs to always be on lead; wears a muzzle; resource guards; has seperation anxiety; expensive medical needs.

Now, this is a slight exaggeration, but for every single rescue, if you filter for teenage kids (ie not adult only) and for can live with a cat, the results are zero.

I just think that they are looking for rainbows. How many rural houses with only adults and no other pets, and someone home all day actually exist? They must be very few and far between.

The only dogs who look vaguely possible, are in English run shelters in Bulgaria, you agree to adopt and then they ship them over. I wouldn't touch those with a barge pole.

Is this a result of lockdown?
I was under the impression that lots of lockdown puppies were being rehomed, but no evidence of them in the rescues.
Are they just unrealistic about rehoming these dogs?

be interested to know what others think

Since my mother died, we have been looking for a dog for my step dad. All of the dogs we are seeing at local rescues are biters, cant live with cats or other dogs. We have always had dogs and cats together - have rescued many many animals over the year and step dad in particular has taken on several of the very long staying shelter dogs with great outcomes. It has never been so hard to find another dog to take in. My poor step dad is lonely and another dog would be a real blessing but I am about to give up on rescues. As I said, we are all very experienced animal owners and in the past have never had an issues with adopting.

I don't know where you're based OP - but this is near me - adoptagreyhound.co.uk/pleasechooseme.htm

That's quite a sad list isn't it fairylightsandwaxmelts

and it is hard.

I know that you shouldn't buy from gumtree etc, but if they have a 2 year old dog who is sold as being fine, just 'change of circumstances' and you can't get anything from a rescue, then it is tempting isn't it?

I think when the time comes we will foster again.
maybe for a breed specific rescue if there is one nearby.

If you're anywhere near the Manchester area, try Dogs4Rescue. I can't recommend them highly enough. They have unwanted dogs from all over the world, many are poor broken souls from Romania and Bulgaria. Their dogs all live together, kennel and cage free and the pack (as well as the amazing humans) help to rehabilitate those that need it.

They offer a trial period, if it doesn't work out for any reason you can return the dog, judgement free. They also offer lifetime backup support.

I have three of their 'forrin' beauties. Best thing I ever did.

dogs4rescue.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/www.dogs4rescue.co.uk/

@Wheresmywoolyjumpers

Since my mother died, we have been looking for a dog for my step dad. All of the dogs we are seeing at local rescues are biters, cant live with cats or other dogs. We have always had dogs and cats together - have rescued many many animals over the year and step dad in particular has taken on several of the very long staying shelter dogs with great outcomes. It has never been so hard to find another dog to take in. My poor step dad is lonely and another dog would be a real blessing but I am about to give up on rescues. As I said, we are all very experienced animal owners and in the past have never had an issues with adopting.

Google greyhound rescue. There are kids of them wanting a home they are the gentlest and sweet dogs. They just want a comfy bed and to be warm they are lovely company and surprising don't need lots of walking

I know that you shouldn't buy from gumtree etc, but if they have a 2 year old dog who is sold as being fine, just 'change of circumstances' and you can't get anything from a rescue, then it is tempting isn't it?

But they're not going to tell the truth if the dog has actually bitten someone, is reactive, has been raised to fight other dogs etc.

In my experience of working with dogs, very few are re-homed due to a genuine change in circumstances, and those that are tend to be re-homed properly - either via the original breeder or a rescue. People who have become too unwell to care for their pets generally don't flog them on Gumtree!

Sadly, the vast majority of dogs I meet who have come from an advert online have issues - ranging from human aggression, to resource guarding, to dog-reactivity to separation anxiety. Very very few of them are ideal family pets whose previous owners had a "change in circumstances".

Rescues have been ridiculous for years, I refuse to give money to them for this reason. I was told I couldn't adopt (as in wouldn't consider for any dog because we had a child under 12 (she was 9) and we lived in the city (on 1/4 acre). I was a sahm. We bought ddog from a sheepfarmer who had a litter of collie puppies and only wanted to keep 2 for working

I don't disagree with you fairylightsandwaxmelts
but I can understand why it looks like an attractive option.

To be honest I think it’s just there are very few uk rescue dogs available for adoption. I think that’s likely good news as it means uk dog owners are getting their dogs neutered and being responsible. As for the rescues supposedly being «flooded» with lock down puppies - I don’t think that’s happened, at least not yet. There are just very very few dogs available for adoption in the uk and the criteria to adopt is extremely strict. It’s the same for cats.

That’s why it’s so expensive to buy dogs and cats - there’s a shortage. I tried to adopt a rescue dog from abroad but was refused as I have 2 daughters. I do know neighbours who have adopted dogs from abroad though and they’ve turned out well so I wouldn’t write that off op.

@steppemum

I don't disagree with you fairylightsandwaxmelts but I can understand why it looks like an attractive option.

Oh, I don't disagree.

Unfortunately this is what causes problems, though. People buy online, get duped and want their money back!

“As for the rescues supposedly being «flooded» with lock down puppies - I don’t think that’s happened, at least not yet.”

Hmm... bear in mind though, the first lot of lockdown puppies are now 2 years old and were socialised with owners at home full time, no visitors, no puppy classes, many couldn’t get their vaccinations done so weren’t even out and about seeing normal things (what normal things were happening anyway) and not meeting other dogs.

It’s likely some of the dogs being advertised as needing quiet rural locations without other dogs and can’t be left alone are those lockdown “puppies” now.

Then decent breeders postponed their breeding plans and a lot of dodgy ones bred as quickly as they could to cash in, so lots of popular breeds and crosses where the breeder wouldn’t be taking them back and a high price tag that can then be recouped at least partly by selling them on instead of using a rescue.

To be fair though @tabulahrasa Mumsnet has been insisting that the rescues are ‘about’ to be ‘flooded’ with lockdown puppies any day now for nearly two years and I don’t see it happening. I don’t doubt some are re selling, but I don’t think they are going into rescue.

My breed specific rescue has taken in 19 dogs since 1st January.

Right, so you think @Saucery is wrong when she describes trying to get a dog from a breed specific rescue?

Is there any dog that is 'issue' free ?

You could buy a puppy and it will not be housetrained, lead trained, have little recall, may not be well socialised, will be mouthy and push boundaries, chew stuff, may get travel sick, won't like being left alone, and will need a lot of time and energy. This is seen as perfectly normal and expected puppy behaviour.
You could get an older rescue with the same traits, and it will be seen as having 'issues' simply because the humans in its life didn't put any effort in early on or weren't able to provide for its needs, so bought a high energy dog and expected it to be a easy going house dog, which isn't the dogs fault. Dogs rarely get to pick their perfect owner !

I feel so lucky we were able to get our lovely rescue dog just before the pandemic. It really is a case of right place, right time and knowing the right people. I happened to be looking at facebook when the post with ddog appeared. I also wasn't at work the following day so went in person to the rescue and took her there and then. If I had been indecisive, the next person to visit would have got her. I was also friends with one of their volunteers which probably swung it for me.

Dogs4 rescue are amazing but i think they only foster and rehome in
Manchester.

@Swisscheeseleaves

Dogs4 rescue are amazing but i think they only foster and rehome in Manchester.

That's why I said, 'If you are in the Manchester area...'

They are amazing I agree, they should be an example to all rescues.

I have noticed on these boards there is a fairly high frequency of posts from owners who have dogs who are walked on lead and are nervous/reactive when approached by other dogs.

I guess if they end up in a rescue, they would need a rural area (no recall/socialisation skills), no kids (again socialisation issues) or cats (ditto).

It's really sad. One of our pups is rehomed and I have worked really hard with him to help him relax around other dogs and people. He had a really shit start in life but has absolutely blossomed in the two years with us.

I have noticed on these boards there is a fairly high frequency of posts from owners who have dogs who are walked on lead and are nervous/reactive when approached by other dogs.

That's because if you have a well-trained, well-socialised dog with good recall, you have no reason to post asking for advice :)

@VelmaandShaggy

Rubbish. You've looked for one day. Dogs trust RSPCA loads of small dog rescues will have suitable dogs for child homes, non rural etc.

It's not rubbish at all and how ignorant of you to say. Similar position except I've been looking and applying for over a year. I'm done - I'm having to go down the puppy route because of this exact problem. And all because my garden has some steps in it and is fairly small. Doesn't seem to matter that I live at the foot of a National park - truth is, there is always someone in front of me in the queue who has a big garden and can be with the dog 24/7

Have you looked on Dogsblog ? I apologise in advance for the hour of your life you will spend looking at all the lovely dogs needing homes

What about the delightful Squid ?

www.dogsblog.com/squid-2/

@Youmeanyouvelostyourkey

We adopted 2 greyhounds from the greyhound trust. Lovely dogs, fine with our kids 6 and 10. We had to have a garden with 6ft fences but otherwise no issues.

That's where we got ours from

@JayAlfredPrufrock

My breed specific rescue has taken in 19 dogs since 1st January.

That's very sad jayalfred, that's less than a fortnight! Poor dogs.

Just to say, I have just got back from the vet.

My dog with 'end stage kidney disease' (according to his blood and scan) has just done a 5 km walk, tail up sniffing and exploring and is the picture of health, eating and poohing for England, and has put weight back on in the last 10 days.

The vet has said that they think he was born with pretty much disfunctional kidneys and his body has learnt to cope, so with special kidney food, and a few meds to balance out other things, they are now cautiously saying he may live for years yet

so while I am enjoying this discussion, I am very much hoping that we will NOT be adopting for months and months yet.