No luck trying to get a rescue dog

[talpiog]

Can anyone recommend some dog rescues I can approach / advise me on where I am going wrong?

I have been unsuccessfully applying for rescue dogs for the last few months but getting nowhere - as in not even a response or to home check stage.

My circumstances are as follows:

• currently have one rescue dog Lakeland cross terrier (male, neutered), age 12. Rescued at 10 months. He had a lot of issues originally but we invested in time and training and he is fine now.
• used to have a rescue JRT who died a few months ago. Rescued her at age 3, she was almost 20 when she died.
• one child, yr 6
• I work from home all day, have a terrier proof large garden.
• walk x 3 times a day, I also run so am happy to take a high energy dog if needed as used to run (on lead / canicross not off lead) with my other dogs before they got old.
• broadly happy with any terrier / terrier cross, male or female up to age of 5ish (could go older and indeed have applied for dogs up to 7 so far).
• happy to work with any issues apart from biting due to having a child in house.
• can't take a dog that's currently abroad as need to do a meet with my existing rescue first

I genuinely thought I would have no issue finding a rescue dog to match with. But there must be something in what I'm writing above that is putting off rescues.

I am on websites and Facebook multiple times a day, applying within hours of seeing a new dog arrive. I'm only applying for dogs where it says they can live with other dog and children.

Can anyone help or recommend rescues?

I am based in south east but have been applying to any rescue that says they home across the UK, and would be happy to travel anywhere to meet the potential rescue.

I don't want to list the rescues I've applied to as don't want to make it personal. But it includes every large national rehoming centre.

I can see how people end up going to breeders but I really don't want to do that.

Ok - you need to not go for the big rescues and get to know some smaller ones.

Do your research though!

If you look at Surrey/sussex ones there are lots that will have a less revolving door.

Ideally one where they have the dogs in foster care- because they often live with children/other dogs and it's easier to say if they are suitable.

I foster for Applegarth but there are many small similar ones.

Be wary though and only go for ones that do proper home checks and offer full rescue back up (they will always take the dig back of it doesn't work out or your circumstances change.

The bigger ones tend to have a flat no under 13.

There are good reasons for that. If you don't know a dogs history and it's being rehomed from kennels there is a risk.

Omg please don't go to a breeder! Do you follow Niall Harbison ?
https://www.instagram.com/niall.harbison/profilecard/?igsh=cnAwZmNscTkwMnVu

Balkan Underdogs
https://www.instagram.com/balkanunderdogs?igsh=amkzYXdoMzk3aWQ1

There are literally loads here and abroad!

I know that balkanunderdogs have a base in UK and you can go check them out!

If can work out the links will post more.

Agree with you about terriers, they are great, high energy one would certainly run with you!🐶

Another brilliant one: many tears rescue
https://www.instagram.com/manytearsrescue?igsh=MW5wcXM4ZGR2eWdyMQ==

Depends what rescue you look at !!

I've found the opposite

Some rescues have puppies...whole litters in fact

Would be very grateful if you feel able to share some recommendations..

Where are you based? may have to travel..

@wavingfuriously that wasn't my point. I am aware rescues have puppies but I also know it's very hard to get a rescue dog when you have children.

I did mistake the child's age so 11 is probably better than 6 but it's still hard to adopt with children,

I struggled to find a dog from a rescue good with dogs, cats and teenagers and ended up getting my two dogs from Pets for Homes through separate families. A 5 year old cocker spaniel and a 19 month old pug cross jack russell. Both lovely dogs, no health or behavioural issues and both very much loved, had them almost two years now. It is worth a look! Or smaller rescues, I had a greyhound and lurcher from Kent Greyhound Rescue when my youngest child was 6 months old so some rescues are fine rehoming with children.

I agree some rescues are disorganised and it is worth chasing. I heard back from one month's later saying my application had gone in their junk mail!

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone Absolutely agree with you regarding Pets for homes.

A site where dogs with serious issues are foisted off to novice new owners by feckless old owners.

@talpiog I’d guess your child is the reason.

MANY responsible rescues refuse young children.

Greyhound Rescue might be a goer - but even they might be wary around such a young child.

@talpiog Like you I will only consider certain breed types that I know I can understand and give good life to.
We had RSPCA match us with a young Lurcher ( 16 weeks approx looking at her teeth) when son was 9
I do think they are much warier now around children now.

I got my darling, darling girl from Last Chance in Edenbridge. She was a terrier/collie cross and needed a lot of firm and kind handling to begin with but she grew into an utterly exceptional dog. I was devastated when she died aged 18.

Last chance take in dogs from the Welsh pounds and she was one of those.

I've concluded some rescue groups now are a bit of scam. Lots of pictures of animals and sob stories/ campaigns asking for donations towards vet bills/pet food etc but nobody ever seems to manage to rehome these animals from them. One of them i was keen to contibute to a vet bill but they went very funny with me when i indicated i would want to ring the vet directly and pay over the phone. Funny that!

Im fairly sure many of them are people who enjoy rescuing animals themselves and keeping them but want other people to chip in to the ongoing food and veterinary costs of some quite needy animals. I don't think they intend to rehome these animals at all as they all impose such ridiculous rules around adoptions!

Try again with Many Tears OP. I think they're just overwhelmed.

Perhaps just go along and speak to someone? They're open 7 days a week.

I would say do try Heathlands again especially if the dog you want is still available

They are very old school and don't do email or Facebook messages just one lady's answerphone so I would not be surprised if some things get missed but they are very good genuine people who just love dogs.

Well that will teach me to moan! Just had a phone call back from a rescue. I've now passed the interview and sent a home check video over.

Hopefully I will get to meet a potential match next week!

So excited, I'm so pleased a rescue replied.

Great, if it doesn't work out have sent u private msgs

Paws crossed OP

You sound perfect to adopt a dog...these rescues are always full because they turn down people like you.

Just looking at the small print Heathlands say you have to call between 12-4pm and not on a Wednesday or a Sunday! Don't know if this was why you didn't get a call back?

I guess when you are dealing with very small volunteer run charities easy availability is not a thing (I do understand your frustration though when just trying to do a nice thing)

'Our phone line (01763 244488) is open daily from 12 noon until 4pm, except on Wednesdays and Sundays. Please note that we will be unable to return any messages left outside these days/times'

Also try pine ridge in Ascot if you are anywhere near there!

Yippee
Fingers crossed that it all goes well.

So many people saying rescue a dog from abroad. Every single one I've come across has been seriously messed up. I know 2 very well, have known them 12 and 18 months, with a fabulous, experienced owner and still very nervy and reactive. A friend had one and had to PTS after 3 years after a bite incident.

These dogs are sometimes semi feral street dogs, not like UK rescues of family pet not working out. Like feral cats they still retain their instincts that kept them alive on the streets. I'd be very wary of anything other than a very young puppy.

Am glad things are progressing OP. I agree rescues are very difficult to deal with. Many do a fabulous job with the dogs, but are so busy they don't have time to do the admin side of things. Others are run by mini dictators who would rather see the dogs rot in kennels than rehome them.

Good luck! Hope it goes well.

We tried several rescues years ago, and were rejected out of hand because we had young DC. We ended up with a puppy.

Bloody hell. It does make you wonder wtaf these rescues are doing!
Best of luck with Ian and with the other rescue you heard back from (presuming it wasn't Last Chance).
Look forward to a photo of the two 'pups'!