Romanian rescues anyone?

[disappearingfish]

We lost our old boy early last summer and are ready to take on another rescue.

We have had a home check with a charity that rescues dogs from Romania and have been matched with a 2 year old dog that looks lovely.

Has anyone been through this? I'm slightly nervous about adopting a dog that you don't meet IRL first. Otherwise the organisation seems great.

This has been my experience as both a dog owner and helping run a training club. Even those brought in as puppies tend to really struggle. I’d not take the risk.

I know a few overseas rescues round here. The ones who have come via breed (or general type) charities seem to have been pretty well assessed and have done very well in their new homes. Of the others:
Bolted and never found
Bolted and found some days later
Was a major project to socialise
Very dog aggressive, can't be off-lead and can't be taken to eg pub garden or cafe because of it
Went to a totally unsuitable home, lasted there about 3 weeks (God knows what the charity was thinking)
Very nervous, when I do see her being walked it is at off hours so I'm assuming that's not changed

About a third seem to pan out well enough to be walked off lead round the playing field with a relaxed owner, or on lead in busy-ish places.

Then we get to the issue with health esp things like brucella. I don't think many of the dogs coming in are properly screened.

In your shoes I would want to meet the dog, see it with other dogs, make sure it has a full health check including for parasites and long-term infections and also ensure that there is good follow-up and advice available.

I’ve worked and seen a fair few imported rescues and wouldn’t have one.

Lots of undisclosed health problems (I’ve no idea how some were fit to fly to be honest but that’s another story) unknown history and so many behavioural issues. The last one I saw was so unwell it died after 3 days in its new home, it’s last week must have been horrendous.

It’s incredible stressful for the vast majority to be transported and rehomed in an environment completely alien to them.
Not to mention the risk of imported diseases that could threaten the UK dog population. It’s a practice I think should be banned or at least very heavily regulated.

My nieces have both adopted from Romania and I'd stress that you need to be careful.

You mention you want to know about behaviours etc, the Romanian rescues are mostly run as a business and you have very little comeback if you have issues. UK rescues are more diligent and will tell you about behavioural problems which is why you think you'll get what you want abroad. Do you think that UK dogs have more issues and Romanian ones?

If you're worried about potential behavioural and health issues, then I'm not sure a Romanian rescue is the best idea in all honesty.

This makes me so angry, I really should stop reading.

Im a vet. In the last 4 years I’ve seen four different exotic diseases in multiple imported dogs - diseases that we shouldn’t have in the U.K. and most vets would say the same.

Many vets are seeing dodgy imports, fake certification, microchips not matching passports etc. It really is only a matter of time before one of these imports introduces rabies to the U.K., where we have a massive susceptible wildlife population, unvaccinated pet population and very few people ( including vets) who have seen it in the flesh and are likely to instantly recognise it. This could end up so horrific and it’s preventable if people would just be sensible.

Getting these stray dogs from places like Romania and Greece has always perplexed me. Friends of mine adopted a dog from Cyprus and it was at absolute terror. They ended up giving her back.

We rescued a dog from Bulgaria just over a year ago, and she is incredible. Was about 10 months old when we got her and we have had no issues. She is the friendliest, best adjusted dog you could hope to meet.

@SayingwhatIreallythink same here.

We’ve seen them with multiple undisclosed diseases, injuries, blindness, botched speys and castrations, sepsis, fractures, horrible behavioural issues. How do they pass import regulations? The rescues have no backup to take these dogs back.

We've had multiple behavioural euthanasias of dogs who cannot cope with life. The most notable a huge mountain type dog who had to be sedated through the bars of the kennels it was being held at as it had tried to maul every member of staff that it came into contact with. This was a private kennel as the rescue didn’t have one. The new owner was told it could live with children…

It’s a complete disgrace.

I realise it's a bit 'off-topic' but it's generally far better to donate to a charity in the country that spays and neuters the dogs or cats. Importing dogs for adoption to the UK can never solve the abandoned animal situation in Romania, whereas spay and neuter in the country can.

Romania Animal Rescue is one such charity that stops the problem at source by spaying and neutering as many animals as funds allow.

We've had multiple behavioural euthanasias of dogs who cannot cope with life. The most notable a huge mountain type dog who had to be sedated through the bars of the kennels it was being held at as it had tried to maul every member of staff that it came into contact with.

This is sadly unsurprising - I've noticed that there seems to be an increasing number of "livestock guardians" being re-homed in the UK - it's really concerning. Then the owners (who generally have no idea about breed) then wonder why their dog is territorial in the home, as well as severely dog/stranger reactive on walks.

These dogs are not pets and it's really concerning that so many rescues are trying to home them with families in the UK.

Hey, here's a thought, rescue a dog from this country instead, the shelters are bursting with them!

It want a snide aside at all.

Statistics have shown that 76% of UK residents getting a foreign rescue have been turned down by British rescues.

If you have sucessfully rehomed a UK rescue then you have a choice of thousands of dogs

wasn't!

We rescued a young dog from a charity in Bulgaria in March this year. We had a telephone interview before being approved and we saw lots of videos of her before she arrived.
The was traumatised from the 2 day journey overland to the UK and was nervous about everything, even traffic noises. With patience and understanding she is now the best dog and loving companion for our dog that was here already. She walks off lead and is incredibly affectionate.

Most rescue dogs from wherever they come from can have had traumatic situations and will need a lot of work from their new owner. I would recommend rescue everytime now.

That’s great, and I have seen a lot of lovely foreign rescues. I have also seen a huge number of difficult-to-handle rescues, in homes which aren’t ideally placed to have untested dogs ( small kids , other pets, work long hours). UK dogs don’t carry the risk that they may bring in disease - we now insist in testing all imports for brucella due to risks to staff, following advice from referral centres which do the same.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjhrPDQpJ2BAxWLREEAHSBjD0MQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2Fbrucella-canis-symptoms-rescue-dogs-uk-b2145133.html&usg=AOvVaw3Co5PbWB7snHnnIE9wRA2H&opi=89978449

Positive experience from me
I rescued a Romanian dog from a reputable rescue.
She was 2.5 when we got her and she is now 5
All I can say is she is just beautiful and fitted into our family perfectly
She has a lovely temperament with all people and animals, great with kids and walks lovely

Her only 2 downfalls are she will take food off a plate if left unattended and she sometimes bolts out the door (can get her back with swinging some ham around)

Of course not everyone will have the same experience but a good reputable rescue will be honest about the dog after doing assessments

If the above is your criteria - which is very sensible criteria - then you are taking a huge risk to rehome an unseen dog.

You are taking the word of someone assessing the dog who will have no qualifications, probably only seen the dog in a kennel situation with other dogs that this dog is suitable for your situation that they have not seen.

People turn to foreign rescues as they are turned down by UK. I was offered an imported pup after 2 years of applying and being turned down for UK rescues (up until now all our dogs and cats have been rescues but things have changed). We didn’t go ahead as I had reservations. Was told blank slate etc (not true). That pup was rehomed by a very experienced and knowledgeable trainer friend. At 3 she is not able to lead a normal life. She has severe anxiety issues and just exists really. She’s very loved but will never be ‘normal’ let alone be able to take part in the dog activities we enjoy. She is one of many in the same situation I know.

I always said if I couldn’t rescue I’d buy the best I could. So that’s what we did.

My friends and I (3 of us) all have Rommies. 1st two were only puppies and the 3rd was 2yo

All are well adjusted, lovely dogs but mine doesn't like men. Fab with everyone else and fine once he knows the man. But not strangers

All 3 are wonderful with kids, easy to train etc and mine only ever had one accident in the house.

Vet nurse here , couldn't agree more with this , what this vet says is the main concern amongst my colleagues re these rescues.
Behavioural issues are something else, some of the cases we see will never be able to function as a dog should in a normal domestic setting , it is beyond me how anyone would consider homing an animal that they had never met , that they knew nothing of its background and history.
Some of the poor dogs we see are so desperately sad and frightened ,some i would say are beyond help and euthanasia would be a happy escape for them.
I really believe the focus should be on neutering these dogs and leaving them to live the only life they have ever known in the country they were born in.
We have had brucellosis cases in our practice - read what it can do to humans although rare , as the vet says surely it is only a matter of time until rabies gets here.
Some of the rescue details attached to the dogs we see are particularly vague and dodgy sounding.
I would rather live without a dog than take on an overseas rescue.

I’ve adopted two lovely Rommie girls and I would definitely adopt another from a trusted charity (many of which are wholly genuine people who cannot bear how dreadfully dogs are treated in Romania - the kill shelters catch as many dogs as they can, even pets as the state pays them money per dog caught, they kill dogs when the shelters get full by using a shovel, slamming them against walls, injecting them with petrol and many don’t provide food to the shelter dogs at all which are skin and bones and end up fighting because they are starving - this is done by desperate volunteers who pull as many dogs out as they can), but do your due diligence).

They’re bright and full of character. However for many of them you have to be willing to understand they are different in breeding, life experience and trauma. They need gentle handling and understanding (many are scared of men) and you will need to do your research. Not for someone who just wants an ‘easy family pet’ but if you are interested in rescue, dog psychology etc it is I can say it is the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done. I am looking at getting a third soon as our old Ro girl passed of cancer at 18.

Oh and my dog was incredibly shut down when we got her, she just hid from
everything. A bit of time and love and she is a changed dog who travels to many places, is devoted, well-behaved and loves her life. I would never agree that euthanasia is the answer to trauma, how desperately sad! They just need love and understanding. Many of us are willing to give them that.

If you want a feel for what it’s like, the broadcaster Rory Cellan-Jones is documenting their adoption of their Romanian rescue dog Sophie and it is lovely to see…https://instagram.com/rorycellan?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==