Rescue applications rejected - where am I going wrong?

[Dogdesperate]

We have been looking for a Dog to join our loving family for a few Months now. We lost our DDog earlier in the Year so are experienced owners, my DH WFH and I'm part time (one day!) we have a large 3 bedroom house in a quiet leafy area of Surrey with a medium fenced in Garden.
Have found a lot of Dogs we've liked on the Dogs Trust Website but every single application has been rejected. We do have 2 primary school aged Children, could that be a factor? (would like to think not )
I just don't understand why we keep being rejected, my applications are detailed and honest, loving and hopeful! I did call to discuss but the Centre simply said they have lots of applicants for every single dog. Would really like to Rescue instead of just going to buy a Puppy! Just can't figure out where I'm going wrong.

Many tears they had 150 dogs last week alot of them puppies

Looking to adopt a cat here (not a kitten) - 2 adults in the house, no kids, enclosed garden, live in a cul-de-sac (not near main road). I'm happy to adopt a black cat (harder to rehome apparently), yet nothing yet. I thought the rescue places were overwhelmed but that doesn't seem to be the case at all - as soon as one becomes available for rehoming it's gone!

I think (as a general rule) Many Tears want you to have an existing dog in the home unfortunately, so it's a bit of a vicious circle.

Click the 6 to 12 months box! Already toilet trained and teething over with!

I was going to suggest trying smaller, local rescues too. I think they are a bit more flexible.

All the rescues though will be acting in the best interests of the dog or cat, and a lot of the time, they don't consider homes with small children suitable. Which is a bummer for you as you have already had a dog (are you telling them this? am sure you are).

I wouldn't buy a puppy! The shelters are full to bursting. Maybe consider an older dog who's been used to being around children? I think that might increase your options?

A puppy would be fun, but they wreck your house and they grow quickly.

So get two! 😃

@margotrose not gor puppies and some other dogs they are happy to rehomed on their own x

Not true. Lots of very good breeders rehome to families but they want to know that the family understands the work involved.

Many people who buy dogs for ‘jobs’ have young children. The KC allow children in competition rings from 6 years old IIRC. I have judged agility pairs where one of them is a child.

OP consider a responsibly and well bred puppy if the rescue route isn’t working this time. Avoid Many Tears. There is a thread here if you search.

@Treesinmygarden I am telling them, Yes My last girl was my 3rd - all our dogs have been treasured and lived until 13+

We have a rescue. When we adopted her they were looking for a home with no children and no other pets. They also didn't want her to be left alone much, so liked the fact that I work part time and my DH works part of the week from home.

Look at smaller rescues, DT and RSPCA are very restrictful, smaller foster based rescues tend to know the dogs better.
What area and any particular breed and I could recommend.

Try Many Tears.

https://www.manytearsrescue.org/displaymtarr_dog.php?id=39493

It could be your preference for young puppies that's keeping your chances slim.

If you can get involved with a local rescue you can often get first pick of the dogs that come in. Also it is good for the rescue to see you and interact with you more and you will get a better match.

I agree it is not a matter of being refused more just not being the one accepted.

Odds will always be against you with a big rescue like the Dogs Trust.

Have you tried the breed specific rescues?

Puppies and children make a great combination.
Its great for a young child to grow up with a puppy.
Plus it’s easier to have all the sleepless nights and cleaning up pee and poo all at the same time

Dogs and children are a great combination - but puppies jump, they bite, they chew and destroy things and they take up a huge amount of time and patience.

My puppy had me in tears a lot - there is no way I'd have been able to deal with one if I had a small child.

We adopted our lovely Kokoni from a Cyprus rescue charity. They have puppies and older dogs and will vet you for the dog. You have access to support afterwards for any issues that may arise. Charity is called STAR Stronger together animal rescue. Search for them on Facebook.

@Dogdesperate we had a similar experience. We have no children, flexible working (so dog never alone more than a couple of hours), big garden, right in the south downs for plenty of walking. We still couldn't get a dog from a rescue, even before covid. Apparently, you have to reserve online which is rubbish as you need to see the dog to know whether it speaks to you (if you know what I mean?)

We had all but given up when we heard about a friend of a friend of a friend who was moving abroad, so we ended up with a lovely (if untrained) labrador.

I can see why so many people get rescues from abroad now.

I would try as many different homes as possible, and maybe try fostering too as there are bound to be some that end up staying with fosterers.

Puppies can easily get a hundred or more applications, all from fabulous homes, so they will usually go through the applications for the ones that work and then start from whoever applied first. It does take some time to get to the top of the pile!

I have definitely seen pups listed on the Dogs Trust website for dogs who can live with kids from 5 years, they’re usually only online for a day before they’re reserved.

Dogs that can go to young children will have a lot of applications. A friend who works at a big rescue was telling me recently, dogs that can be left for a few hours and can go to homes with young children get literally hundreds of applications. Look at smaller local rescues, especially ones tht use foster placements rather than kennels or breed specific.
I’ve generally found the smaller ones to be much more open minded to trying to work with you. Although they do tend to have “easier dogs” as they will send difficult dogs to battersea/dogs trust etc

Just seen you are only applying for puppies, yes that will be limiting too!

Most vets are very against adopting from abroad.

Look at other rescue centres