To keep rescue dog against the odds?

[Bobbeldibop]

Hi, I have posted about our 2 rescue dogs before regarding cat chasing issues.

Our home situation is as follows: DH works extremely long US hours which is why we are looking to relocate from Europe to America in the next 2 months or so. I'm a sahm mum with a toddler (not in nursery). We have a large dog and 2 cats already.

We found 2 starving dogs where we normally walk our own dog and took them in about 6 months ago thinking we'd be able to rehome them eventually. We were extremely lucky to have found a new home for the elderly rescue who will be leaving us in a few days time.

The other rescue ( I'll call him Lenny) is a large dog, approximately 1 year old, mad about chasing our cats (we don't allow this of course and due to our unique house layout currently, he can be kept away from our cats entirely and spends all day with my husband and other rescue in the home office which is shut off from the main house). He is being advertised for adoption via a reputable charity on no less than 31 Facebook groups specialising in rehoming rescues across Europe. For the past 5 months or so... So far nobody has shown any interest unfortunately.

My dilemma is currently that we will have to move country soon and do not want to leave Lenny in a sanctuary or kennel situation as we love him (there isn't a free space anyway in the entire country, I've called them all. Not UK). At the same time I really don't want 2 large dogs, one of which totally focused on chasing cats as he is a hunting dog, as well as 2 cats in what's going to be a different home situation where Lenny can't be shut away from the cats all day with my husband. I don't think I have the mental energy to train him properly.

I understand I probably haven't given all of my life circumstances so perhaps it is difficult to comment, but does anyone see any way out of this dilemma?

I don't think it would be fair on anyone if you kept Lenny. He needs to go to an experienced cat free home.

I agree with you but nobody wants him. He's been with us nearly 6 months and we have been very proactive throughout. I would love him to get the attention he needs and deserves.

Then he needs to be given to a rescue, not kept in a home that can't meet his needs.

Facebook groups and pages, local media etc - go beyond the adoption organisations.

Unfortunately all the rescues I have contacted have a waiting list and cannot accept any more rescues.

He's on 32 or so Facebook groups. I haven't tried newspapers, that might be worth a try.

Honestly, I would make this work (I know not everyone would). Rescues are much the same here in U.K. bursting at the seams. I took on a stray cat 10 years ago & it was a nightmare for 2 years. My dog chased her all day & I must’ve said no 100 times per day. When he was good, he got lots of positive praise & now he just ignores her & they’re currently snuggled together on the sofa.

He’s reliant on you & loves you. 6 months is no time at all. I would keep him & persevere.

What a awful situation. Is their no way you could take him and separate him from the cats, stair gates? And then try to rehome him when you've moved, I know very stressful for all included.

@StarDolphins @Ohdearwhatnow4 this is what dh and I are going back and forth about every day. The madness involved in having 2 large dogs, 2 scared cats and one crazy toddler seems so daunting. We'd for sure have to separate off areas. Our poor sweet cats have been living in fear for the past 6 months and one of te doesn't come downstairs or outside anymore. They both used to be in the garden all the time prior to us taking in the additional 2 dogs. I'm just heartbroken for our cats. But also for Lenny...

I'll discuss the option of using perhaps 'old fashioned' media like newspaper or dedicated dog magazines to advertise for Lenny.

Surely your priority has to be the two scared cats who were there first?

Have you tried rescues up and down the country?

I live in America. Shelters are crowded here too but not to the point where you wouldn’t be able to surrender him. If you are moving here in two months just bring him with you and assss from there. It’s not ideal of course to put him through the upheaval of a move and all of the travel etc. but from what you’re saying you literally have no other option.

I appreciate you don't want him to go to rescue kennels but that may be the only option although lots of U.K. rescue charities rehome dogs direct from homes. Have you actually approached a reputable charity about this or just been doing DIY on Facebook? I own a rescue dog but I would never ever rehome from some randomer on Facebook I would only go via a proper charity

A large, adolescent untrained dog of no particular breed with a cat chasing issue probably isn't going to be top of most peoples choices. My dog is all those things and I rescued him and still love him but I was very naive. Is he photogenic? Have you got some very cute pictures and videos? Honestly that does sway people. Shouldn't but it does.

Can either dpet have some sort of outdoor area weather permitting for some of the day? We have Lurchers and dcats and it wasn't easy for the older ddog who used to hunt. She cottoned on quickly poor dcat was off limits... Sharp reprimand with everyone using the same command...
Proof...
During the day dcats have lots of high escape perches..
And all the ddogs are scared of the small black dcat with the hiss of a demon...

Yes, have called them all in our country which isn't the UK. I've called the UK and another German charity and they say I can't ask them to advertise my rescue dog as a private person. So im with a reputable charity in the country I currently live in.

Of course our cats are our priority. At the same time we can't just dump Lenny. We have unfortunately learnt the hard lesson not to pick up any more stray dogs. There are too many of the. Unfortunately.

That's a wonderful photo. Thank you for sharing. I mean we dis train our own dog not to chase our 2 cats who were there way before him. We are in a life situation at the moment where we haven't got the energy for another dog. Especially a bouncy puppy. It's been a long 6 months...

This is the last resort. I'm worried my husband will then hope we keep him. He has totally fallen for Lenny but logically knows it's not the best idea for us.

Well, if the only other option is literally to abandon him then I'm not sure what other choice you have. You chose to take this dog in off the streets so I think you need to (in nicest way) suck it up for a while and then re-home him from the US.

If you’ve put in 6 months with him, you’re probably past the worst and you should just keep him. Also, don’t know if you do this already, but in the US there will be lots of options for doggy day care if you can afford it. If he went out for at least part of the day it would give you and the cats a breathing space.

Yes we are with a reputable charity in the country we live in and all Facebook communication about Lenny goes via that charity. Being on so many groups makes me feel really hopeless. So so many dogs that need homes.

I liked the idea of a PP who suggested we go via other media. Like posting an advert on a UK dog magazine. That might have less competition. Although I would have to research if magazines like that even do advertising for adoptions.

Many US shelters have bad PTS policies. I would not put him through the trauma of an international move only to send him to a shelter.