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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

To return dog to rescue

45 replies

OutbackQueen · 05/04/2022 12:05

I rehomed a 3 year old rescue terrier cross just over a month ago on the basis that I’d be able to work from home in the afternoons. This arrangement has fallen through due to IT issues and I have to be in the office from 9 until 4.30. My partner (who I don’t live with) has kindly stepped in to look after the dog in the afternoons but also had two large dogs who require a lot of exercise.

I feel it’s asking to much of him to do this on a permanent basis (although he may well say yes) and I really don’t want to feel beholden to him. AIBU to want to rehome the dog due to a change in my circumstances? I obviously feel sad and guilty doing this but am finding it hard to find another option.

OP posts:
Lou98 · 05/04/2022 12:07

Could you hire a dog Walker to come in the afternoons? Or day care, a lot of them do half days and some near me will pick up for you.

Original poster
OutbackQueen · 05/04/2022 12:10

I’d certainly do this but unfortunately I can’t afford it @Lou98.

OP posts:
Lou98 · 05/04/2022 12:17

@OutbackQueen I don't really think you have any other choice then.

It's obviously not ideal returning the dog like you've said but better to return it than for it to be home alone all day

Happenchance · 05/04/2022 12:26

You've not had the dog long so it hasn't had a chance to settle yet. Re-homing it now will be easier on it than re-homing it in 6 months time, e.g. if your partner is no longer able to walk it. I would speak with the rescue. They may be happy for it to continue living with you (provided your partner walks it) until they can find a new home for it, that way it won't have to spend any time in kennels.

There are positives to the fact that you adopted it, even for such a short period of time. You'll be able to give the rescue a better idea of what it's like in a home environment, so that they can better determine what type of home it requires and advise potential adopters what to expect. You can also provide the rescue with photos and videos of it in a home environment, which will hopefully help it get adopted sooner.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 05/04/2022 12:31

This is really upsetting that you've gone about it with such poor planning. How can you own a dog but not afford dog walking? What would you do if he became ill? Of course insurance but we've been in the position where the care exceeded the maximum and we had to pay out thousands. Yes it's not ideal but pets cost a lot of money for all sorts of reasons and to inky be a month in and find you can be there nor can you afford a dog walker seems really irresponsible and something which you should have foreseen.

Hoppinggreen · 05/04/2022 12:55

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

This is really upsetting that you've gone about it with such poor planning. How can you own a dog but not afford dog walking? What would you do if he became ill? Of course insurance but we've been in the position where the care exceeded the maximum and we had to pay out thousands. Yes it's not ideal but pets cost a lot of money for all sorts of reasons and to inky be a month in and find you can be there nor can you afford a dog walker seems really irresponsible and something which you should have foreseen.
I agree, you should never have taken this poor dog However, the best thing now will be to return it
Disgruntledpelicanlady · 05/04/2022 12:58

Our dog walker costs £8 per day for 30 minutes which is plenty if we walk her morning and evening too.
If you can't afford £8 a day while working full time you are not in a position to have a dog.

DoWhatYouLike · 05/04/2022 12:59

This......

This is really upsetting that you've gone about it with such poor planning. How can you own a dog but not afford dog walking? What would you do if he became ill? Of course insurance but we've been in the position where the care exceeded the maximum and we had to pay out thousands. Yes it's not ideal but pets cost a lot of money for all sorts of reasons and to inky be a month in and find you can be there nor can you afford a dog walker seems really irresponsible and something which you should have foreseen.

VERY irresponsible

XelaM · 05/04/2022 23:34

It's not a handbag to just return. Why don't you at least try to make it work

RunningFromInsanity · 05/04/2022 23:45

Paying for a dog walker when ill etc is hardly the same as paying for one 5 days a week, all year.

My dog walker is £20 per hour, so potentially £4000 a year!

Not exactly an amount you would have ‘just in case’ for this reason.

Original poster
OutbackQueen · 06/04/2022 07:55

Thank you @RunningFromInsanity. I wonder how people on a low income afford dogs - are they all irresponsible? Very middle-class attitudes here 😒

OP posts:
wetotter · 06/04/2022 08:12

@OutbackQueen

Thank you *@RunningFromInsanity*. I wonder how people on a low income afford dogs - are they all irresponsible? Very middle-class attitudes here 😒
You forego having a dog until you can afford it. Because bottom line is, and always will be, that some ways of living aren't compatible with the basic needs of a dog. Yes you can leave them for a longer time once in a blue moon and they'll cope, but it's no way to live

Or use family during longer days (living near retired parents has its advantages as well it's cares)

Or use something like 'Borrow my Doggy'

harriethoyle · 06/04/2022 08:18

@OutbackQueen

Thank you *@RunningFromInsanity*. I wonder how people on a low income afford dogs - are they all irresponsible? Very middle-class attitudes here 😒
A dog is not a disposable commodity to be cut out when your circumstances change. Don't have another dog in the future. You are clearly not suited to it.
Haus1234 · 06/04/2022 08:18

@RunningFromInsanity

Paying for a dog walker when ill etc is hardly the same as paying for one 5 days a week, all year.

My dog walker is £20 per hour, so potentially £4000 a year!

Not exactly an amount you would have ‘just in case’ for this reason.

PPs don’t mean what would you do if you became ill and had to pay for dog walking, they mean what if the dog became ill and needed expensive vet care. That could also cost £1000s without insurance and actually yes if you don’t have it spare or have insurance you would be an irresponsible owner!
harriethoyle · 06/04/2022 08:19

Absolutely @Haus1234. I've just paid off my late girls vet bill after her final illness. £1000+ AFTER the insurance contribution.

HoldingTheDoor · 06/04/2022 08:24

I'm not middle class but having a dog is a privilege not a right. You need to have a back up plan should circumstances change. Dogs can't be left alone for most of the day so they do need dog daycare, a dog walker, someone else at home or for them to go to a family member. If you can't have an alternate plan then you shouldn't have got a dog.

It's depressing to see how little planning and consideration people put in place when they get a dog, hence all the lockdown puppies being returned/sold because they didn't consider the long term cost and responsibility.

And people wonder why rescues are so bloody fussy. This is why.

Sittininafield · 06/04/2022 08:24

Not being able to afford a dog walker is not the same as not being able to afford vets bills 🙄. Not fair to blame the op for that - costs are going up faster than any of us expected. And even with an hour of dog walking that’s a miserable life for a dog. IMO if you leave a dog alone all day everyday except for 30 minutes with dog walker then you shouldn’t have a dog either.

Plzhelpifyoucan · 06/04/2022 08:25

Please return the dog and don’t get another one, they aren’t a commodity you return on a whim.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 06/04/2022 08:26

Blimey @RunningFromInsanity where are you that your dog walker charges £20 an hour? I assume that's for solo walks at that price?

I charge a tenner Grin

Sittininafield · 06/04/2022 08:28

OP, ignore all the horrible comments, I don’t think they read your op properly.

InkySquid · 06/04/2022 08:29

And people wonder why rescues are so bloody fussy. This is why

But in this case they're not getting it right. I find it infuriating that we looked for a rescue for a couple of years without success yet some people manage to get a rescue but want to return it after a month because of a change of circumstances!

HoldingTheDoor · 06/04/2022 08:32

IMO if you leave a dog alone all day everyday except for 30 minutes with dog walker then you shouldn’t have a dog either.

I agree. I'd want the walker in at least twice though that's not ideal either, Dog walkers can be useful though as an occasional backup or if they offer longer sessions(two hours+) which many here around do.

Frazzled2207 · 06/04/2022 08:33

Sorry op I think you were irresponsible to get a dog until
A. You knew for sure that the wfh arrangement was possible i.e. from having done it and
B. You were in a position to afford doggy daycare, emergency vet bills etc

If you can’t afford a dog Walker what happens if dog gets poorly? Insurance will help but not with everything.

I think it’s best that the dog gets rehomed now

We have been wanting a dog for years but still not had one due to wanting personal and financial circumstances to be right

clpsmum · 06/04/2022 08:36

@DoWhatYouLike

This......

This is really upsetting that you've gone about it with such poor planning. How can you own a dog but not afford dog walking? What would you do if he became ill? Of course insurance but we've been in the position where the care exceeded the maximum and we had to pay out thousands. Yes it's not ideal but pets cost a lot of money for all sorts of reasons and to inky be a month in and find you can be there nor can you afford a dog walker seems really irresponsible and something which you should have foreseen.

VERY irresponsible

This
HoldingTheDoor · 06/04/2022 08:38

OP, ignore all the horrible comments, I don’t think they read your op properly.

I certainly did read it properly. Dogs are not disposable and should not be treated as an item that can be returned on a whim because their owners didn't fully consider their needs. That said better to return it after a month than wait until it's fully settled in the home. That's even more traumatic.