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Original poster

Rejected for rescue dogs

43 replies

Kepner · 24/10/2023 15:54

I am home 24/7, I live in the countryside, I have no other pets, no children, very few visitors.

I love dogs, as a kid/teenager we had a spaniel, two collies and a (crazy) lurcher. As well as chickens, horses, goats, cats, and any animal I found injured was nursed. Basically I understand and appreciate the responsibility having a dog requires.

I've looked after friends dogs, my ex had two labs and we lived together for three years, during our time together I walked them, fed them, took them to vets appointments etc.

Now is the perfect time for me to finally get my own dog, and I really want a rescue. I've been keeping an eye on the rescue dogs in my local rescue centers (two small independent ones and a Dogs Trust).

So I phoned to register myself as interested - only they've said they won't even consider me. Because I don't have a fully fenced garden.

My garden is 5 acres. It has a stock proof fence but not the 6 feet high fencing they want.

I said I can purchase and erect some fencing to create a secure 'pen' of around half an acre but they all want to tick the box of 'fully secure garden'.

The cost to do this would be thousands and thousands.

No wonder people just buy puppies!

OP posts:
Petrine · 24/10/2023 16:04

I felt the same as you and ended up buying a puppy after getting fed up with the ridiculous requirements at rehoming centres.

Your situation sounds perfect - I don’t see how 5 acres with stock fencing isn’t adequate. Anyway I hope you find a lovely puppy soon.

good luck!

CamperConundrum · 24/10/2023 16:24

We didn't tick the boxes for similar reasons, we have 6 foot fencing on 3 sides, then 5 foot stock fencing in front of an 8ft hedge....

Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:27

Thank you!

It's so disheartening. It's like they can't think flexibly at all, it's all about the criteria.

Either I look at getting a puppy, or have no dog at all.

OP posts:
gotomomo · 24/10/2023 16:29

I ended up with puppy too because of illogical rescue centre rules

SelkieSeal · 24/10/2023 16:30

This was almost exactly our situation for 2 years of searching for a rescue dog. Fences. Fucking fences.

I got a puppy in the end from a very very responsible and conscientious breeder. Best thing I ever did.

But this is MN so obviously you're an unfit dog owner and if you can't afford fences you can't afford a dog and if you really loved dogs and wanted one for the Right Reasons you'd jump through every stupid hoop the mad animal hoarding rescue owners can hold up in front of you...

BarnacleBeasley · 24/10/2023 16:32

I think you should fence off the small area, and then tell them you've got a half-acre fully-fenced garden on your property, which will be true. No need to mention the other four and a half acres.

Iheartmysmart · 24/10/2023 16:36

We ended up getting a puppy years ago because of the batshit rehoming rules. Experienced dog owners but had a cat, chickens in a fully enclosed run and DS was only 9 at the time. Oh and I worked part time meaning the dog would be alone for two hours a day. That made us totally unsuitable apparently.

Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:38

SelkieSeal · 24/10/2023 16:30

This was almost exactly our situation for 2 years of searching for a rescue dog. Fences. Fucking fences.

I got a puppy in the end from a very very responsible and conscientious breeder. Best thing I ever did.

But this is MN so obviously you're an unfit dog owner and if you can't afford fences you can't afford a dog and if you really loved dogs and wanted one for the Right Reasons you'd jump through every stupid hoop the mad animal hoarding rescue owners can hold up in front of you...

Edited

Exactly, unfortunately I don't have a spare £30k to fully fence 5 acres!

I'm happy to hire a dog field, I'm happy to fence off an area, but no.

It seems ridiculous.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 24/10/2023 16:41

Just fence the half acre that you mentioned doing, then you have the secure garden they require? Then apply again and you tick the boxes. I can understand why you’re frustrated, but you can get past it.

LarkRize · 24/10/2023 16:42

We have adopted from Dogs Trust. Most of our place is stock fenced, we said to them we would fence a small area round the house higher, which we did, and that was fine. They are lovely in person, so do have a chat with them and take photos and videos to show your set up.
Their support and follow up is fantastic so worth persevering IME.

lucycapusey · 24/10/2023 16:48

A breed rescue rejected us for not having high enough fences and neighbours having a low gate , RSPCA were delighted with what we had and happy to let us adopt our beautiful boy- was definitely meant to be.
Don't give up at the first rejection.

Moveoverdarlin · 24/10/2023 16:51

Do they check? Is someone going to physically come out and check the five acres? If not, I would just say ‘yes’ to the fence question.

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:53

Moveoverdarlin · 24/10/2023 16:51

Do they check? Is someone going to physically come out and check the five acres? If not, I would just say ‘yes’ to the fence question.

Yes, they do come and check.

Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:54

LarkRize · 24/10/2023 16:42

We have adopted from Dogs Trust. Most of our place is stock fenced, we said to them we would fence a small area round the house higher, which we did, and that was fine. They are lovely in person, so do have a chat with them and take photos and videos to show your set up.
Their support and follow up is fantastic so worth persevering IME.

Dogs Trust was one of the ones that said no unfortunately!

OP posts:
Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:55

Moveoverdarlin · 24/10/2023 16:51

Do they check? Is someone going to physically come out and check the five acres? If not, I would just say ‘yes’ to the fence question.

They do check, either a video call or in person.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:58

Honeyroar · 24/10/2023 16:41

Just fence the half acre that you mentioned doing, then you have the secure garden they require? Then apply again and you tick the boxes. I can understand why you’re frustrated, but you can get past it.

It's because the section can't be fenced from the house - I can fence an area of the land away from the house (like a big dog run) with no issue but not (for various reasons too boring to go into) it's not possible to fence 6 feet fencing around the house itself.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 24/10/2023 17:00

You sound like a wonderful dog owner to me. I have known so many people be rejected for a rescue, for the most bizarre reasons. A lovely neighbour of ours applied for three different rescues, rejected with a different reason each time, so… they bought a puppy. Good luck OP Flowers

SelkieSeal · 24/10/2023 17:14

Kepner · 24/10/2023 16:58

It's because the section can't be fenced from the house - I can fence an area of the land away from the house (like a big dog run) with no issue but not (for various reasons too boring to go into) it's not possible to fence 6 feet fencing around the house itself.

Show quote history

Oh this is actually the exact same issue we had! 30 acres of stock proof fields, but a vague farmyard/garden area round the house that's just not possible to fence.

Nope. Over a dozen rescues couldn't see past that.

My dog puts on a very brave face about her terribly unsuitable home with its inappropriate garden and awful acres of space for running around, as you can see...

Rejected for rescue dogs
Floralnomad · 24/10/2023 17:19

Just fence a small bit by the house and show them / tell them that is the garden . I can understand their POV as many of the dogs you see coming up lost are rescues .

Original poster
Kepner · 24/10/2023 17:21

SelkieSeal · 24/10/2023 17:14

Oh this is actually the exact same issue we had! 30 acres of stock proof fields, but a vague farmyard/garden area round the house that's just not possible to fence.

Nope. Over a dozen rescues couldn't see past that.

My dog puts on a very brave face about her terribly unsuitable home with its inappropriate garden and awful acres of space for running around, as you can see...

Show quote history

Ah amazing - gorgeous dog, desperately unhappy obviously! Did you get them as a puppy in the end?

Honestly I don't understand their logic. So many descriptions for rescue dogs state 'rural home would be ideal' but I don't know many rural homes with 6 feet fencing, it's all stock proof/chicken wire combo.

OP posts:
EdithStourton · 24/10/2023 17:21

I honestly wonder about rescues sometimes. We've had four puppies since being rejected by several 20-odd years ago. Three of those puppies came from breeders whose properties lacked 'secure fencing' - one was a farm, one a cottage down a lane with a 3' gate and the other a smallholding.

MiddleagedBeachbum · 24/10/2023 17:26

This is why our second dog, to also live with 2 cats was purchased and not rescued, we couldn’t get one through a rescue despite the other 3 all being rescues.

Betteroutdoors · 24/10/2023 17:29

What sort of dog are you after? If you'd consider one then Kelpie Rescue might be worth a chat, they also have Huntaways. I'm biased as I have a lab huntaway cross, they can be intense dogs and not for the faint hearted but your set up might well be perfect for one. Lots of brain work and structure and some time put into helping them learn how to settle but they are lovely affectionate dogs

disappearingfish · 24/10/2023 17:32

I just posted on another thread. Search for overseas rescue Facebook groups. They seem to be a lot more pragmatic!

Octobernights45673 · 25/10/2023 19:56

I have the correct fencing but I also have a cat. So the number of dogs available for me went from 256 to 5 when I ticked that box on a well know rescue site. ( and 1 of those 5 said " must be only pet" ) The other 4 had major behavioural issues I didn't feel experienced enough to deal with. So I got a puppy instead.