dogs being dumped - the credit crunch?? see UPDATE on pg. 5

UKTigerlily

Hawthorn wrote: »

Foreign Correspondant - when the kids go back to school, I'm thinking of doing a little voluntary work to get me out and about again (I've been poorly with MH problems)
How do you go about volunteering for a dog rescue, and what would be expected? Would it mainly be cleaning out kennels/exercising kind of work? I have no formal experience with animals, though I have grown up with dogs and have one now.

With the RSPCA you can specify what area you want, like dog walking, cleaning out the cattery & kennels, Admin etc you don't need any experience! I am hoping to volunteer for RDA once I finish 16 weeks of treatment for MH issues. Just call up any local rescues & tell them what you want to do, most are glad of any help & always need dog walkers! We used to have people come in for a few hours a week to walk ours when I worked with animals. GL!

sad_dog_lady

fighting the urge to go and get another rescue
my local pound is full, i have two special needs dawgs at the moment
and my neighbour is a bastd who reports all barking and took down all his fences to prevent me letting em in my garden

my dawgs bark maybe 6 times a day ... some people are evil, he put his dogs to sleep when he moved house they were 6!! not ill. some people are mad, id love to have anotrher two dawgs but.... need my 200 ft garden back ...sniff.

UKTigerlily

SomeBozo wrote: »

Hello all

I have read (most) of this thread with interest.

We have always had rescue dogs. We currently have 4 ex-racing greyhounds.

I just want to level the field a little bit. Some of the "rescue" homes do make it hard sometimes for familes to re-home a dog.

We had had our 4 for 9 months, lovely caring dogs.

When we went to visit the place, she was not there (despite telling us she would be). Then on our appointment she was rushing to be somewhere else. Then she did not turn up twice for out home check.

Most other people would have give up!

Bozo

Wow 4 in one go? lol must keep you busy & wd for taking on rescues! I agree some make it hard, the RSPCA said a flat out no to me because I have no secure garden! I have no idea why that matters? Dogs can escape gardens & get stolen from them even if they're seen as secure. At least when I take mine out to the shared garden right outside my door she's on a 35ft lead & can run about without the worry she might escape.

My cat was actually born at the RSPCA & it's in their contract that if you ever can't keep the pet you rehome it to them, except the owner before me stuck an advert in the shop window & I took them. I doubt the RSPCA would let me have her! They'd give some feeble excuse like I have no cat flap! Yet my cat is in top health & has qualified for the cat crufts equivalent! (Tho I won't take her!) and she's able to go out whenever she likes!

I agree tho if this kennels had said no, i'm too far from any others so would have had to go to the papers or somewhere to find a dog!

Hawthorn

Thanks Tigerlily. We have a rescue right here in my village, which isn't RSPCA as far as I know - I'll give them a call *gulps*

UKTigerlily

Hawthorn wrote: »

Thanks Tigerlily. We have a rescue right here in my village, which isn't RSPCA as far as I know - I'll give them a call *gulps*

I know it's nerve wracking huh! I know the kennels I got my rescue from aren't RSPCA & they always welcome dog walkers & anything really! The more the merrier! Those poor dogs will really appreciate getting out & about with you & you'll feel good too! I wish I could volunteer for the rescue I got Chaya from but it's about 11 miles away I think & I don't drive, so by bus it takes forever!

And I don't wanna leave Chaya that long! lol but I hope at some point to be able to help even if it's home checks for them!

UKTigerlily

sad_dog_lady wrote: »

fighting the urge to go and get another rescue
my local pound is full, i have two special needs dawgs at the moment
and my neighbour is a bastd who reports all barking and took down all his fences to prevent me letting em in my garden

my dawgs bark maybe 6 times a day ... some people are evil, he put his dogs to sleep when he moved house they were 6!! not ill. some people are mad, id love to have anotrher two dawgs but.... need my 200 ft garden back ...sniff.

Aww can't you put a fence up? Or does it have to be him that decides? You can put what you like on your land afaik? I guess it depends how long the dogs bark for? 6x 1hr is worse than 6x 2 seconds when the post comes but from what you say i'm guessing hardly ever? If the council haven't said about the dogs barking then just ignore the neighbour if you know the dogs rarely do!

foreign_correspondent

Hawthorn wrote: »

Foreign Correspondant - when the kids go back to school, I'm thinking of doing a little voluntary work to get me out and about again (I've been poorly with MH problems)
How do you go about volunteering for a dog rescue, and what would be expected? Would it mainly be cleaning out kennels/exercising kind of work? I have no formal experience with animals, though I have grown up with dogs and have one now.

Hi Hawthorn - thats lovely, dog rescue needs all the volunteers it can get - as for whats involved, well, it completely depends what you would like to do - you could volunteer as a dog walker for your local rescue, or (if like me) you prefer something a bit more varied and less regular (I cannot guarantee when I am available) the sign up wth "rescue helpers unite", where you can volunteer to help transport dogs, do homechecks, or foster!

I have volunteered on occasional transport runs - the transport is vital, as a rescue, in say Edinburgh may offer a place to a dog about to be put to sleep in Sheffield, but that is dependant on the dog being able to get there - generally a chain of people with a car and an hour or two free organise themselves to relay the dog! Its an odd thing to do, but it is interesting and quite rewarding!

I would also like to do homechecks - as again, getting a dog out of a rescue and into a home is dependant on someone being able to do this bit of the process!

You can contact your local dog rescue direct, or as I said go to https://www.rescuehelpersunite.com and register with the website where you will also be able to look at the forums and lists of the rescues locally too.

They are a friendly bunch - if you do register be sure to introduce yourself in the new members introductons section!

foreign_correspondent

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

let's hope falling sales slow down the breeders a bit - if it isnt profitable you can be sure they will not carry on and lose money.

Phenomenal amount of dogs landing in rescues at the moment, and the influx of christmas puppies is still to come.:(

... spoke too soon just spotted this article from Sky news...

"A Labrador puppy was the first to be handed into a rehoming centre this festive season.

Theo, a 10-week-old pup, was handed in on Christmas Day to the West Calder Rehoming centre in West Lothian, Scotland.

Trust bosses say it is "unusual" for a dog to be handed in on Christmas Day itself.

"It is tragic that dogs are still being bought as Christmas gifts then abandoned so quickly," said Susan Tonner, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust, West Calder.

"People give such little thought to the time and effort that is needed in looking after a dog.

"Puppies in particular are very time consuming and need a lot of attention in their first few months."

The Trust say Theo's owners had bought him as a present to themselves but could not look after him.

As he is so young, members of the centre staff will take him home with them over the Christmas period so he doesn't get too scared.

"Christmas is the worst possible environment into which to bring a new animal," Ms Tonner added.

"New pets need a gentle introduction to the family, to be allowed peace and quiet, and gentle handling."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081226/tuk-christmas-hell-for-dumped-puppy-45dbed5.html


ETA - sadly some breeders don't see Christmas as an unwise time to sell pups, but they see it as an opportunity to make money - just have a look at this ad... "EXCELENT BEAGLE FOR X-MASS GIFT - This little BOY is absolutely adorable. Will make a very good Christmas Gift or what ever you please."

They also seem to be labouring under the illusion that a full grown beagle will weigh between 4 and 6 pounds!!?!

They claim that beagles are "Very Cute lap dogs" rather than the reality - lovely but demanding, stubborn, high energy dogs.

They also appear to be confused as to whether the pup in question is male or female. !!!!!!?

Idiots.

http://www.dogsandpuppies.co.uk/category/beagle/region/w-uk-yorkshire-and-humber-west-yorkshire-halifax/EXCELENTBEAGLEFORXMASSGIFT-2709890.html

mutley_muppet

SomeBozo wrote: »

Hello all

I have read (most) of this thread with interest.

We have always had rescue dogs. We currently have 4 ex-racing greyhounds.

I just want to level the field a little bit. Some of the "rescue" homes do make it hard sometimes for familes to re-home a dog.

We had had our 4 for 9 months, lovely caring dogs.

When we went to visit the place, she was not there (despite telling us she would be). Then on our appointment she was rushing to be somewhere else. Then she did not turn up twice for out home check.

Most other people would have give up!

Bozo

I'm glad you didn't give up Bozo, but I expect the poor woman was trying to do the jobs of five people and probably unpaid too!

I do a bit of animal rescue voluntary work, but i know of a lovely lady near me who does greyhound rescue who has a house full of unwanted dogs and is constantly juggling home checking, vet trips, transporting dogs on death row, trying to find kennel places, answering the phone, feeding, walking & cleaning!

Plus all the emotional strain of having to say no to callous owners who want rid of their ex-racers today and threaten to kill them if a space isnt made! :rolleyes:

Its a never ending, horrible job for anyone.

Glad you adopted 4 greyhounds anyway. I have a greyhound and a lurcher & they are both such sweet boys... so laid back & easy to look after and so loving!

MM x

Hawthorn

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Hi Hawthorn - thats lovely, dog rescue needs all the volunteers it can get - as for whats involved, well, it completely depends what you would like to do - you could volunteer as a dog walker for your local rescue, or (if like me) you prefer something a bit more varied and less regular (I cannot guarantee when I am available) the sign up wth "rescue helpers unite", where you can volunteer to help transport dogs, do homechecks, or foster!
!

I don't drive, so transporting would be out of the question (unless hub is off work, anyway)
I would be looking at exercising - either walking or playtime, and cleaning up. I don't mind mucking out or bathing animals. Except for cats. I still have the scars from the last time I bathed a cat :rotfl:
Fostering, I'd LOVE to do.....but I have a Bully myself, and four children. I don't think we're the ideal foster home as it's never quiet here. Rolo has grown up with it, and as such is used to it. I can only imagine how a poor rescue dog would fare

I'll go and sign up with that site now - thanks for the recommendation. I'll give the local rescue a call tomorrow, and see where that leads :cool: