Rescue Centers

suki1964

Please please please stay away from the small ads, you are looking at trouble.

As FC has shown most of those ads are from Nigerian scammers. Even if you find a "pup for good home" in your local paper you will in 99.9% of case be supporting puppy farming.

Even taking on a dog given free for "genuine reason for re homing" can be a nightmare as often people wont tell you the truth and you find you have a totally destructive, peeing pooing machine on your hands, or one with a long term chronic illness - and no redress.

The Dogs Trust is a good place to start your search, as is your local warden. Going through a reputable rehoming centre means you have back up and support if things dont go to plan. You also have as healthy a dog as possible as they would have been vet checked before rehoming.

I know once you decide to get a dog you feel you need to get one NOW but take your time and you will be rewarded by the right dog for you

foreign_correspondent

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I am sorry to hear about your loss but well done for deciding to get a resuce dog.
Try your local Dog Warden they will tell you who they take their stray dogs to and they will offer you a pick of them. Any dog picked up from most of these kennels after 7-14 days are offered to various dogs homes and if they won't take them in are mostly put down.

Unless you are confident in assessing the temprement of a dog, and its needs, I would be wary of taking a dog straight from the council pound... rescues generally assess dogs very carefully whereas they are in the pound for such a short time that their assesment is far less certain.

The rescue I got my dog from knows each dogs exercise needs, likes, dislikes and temprement before they are rehomed, and it offers free behaviouralist backup (never needed it personally but its reassuring to know) and wll take the dog back at any time if circumstances change.. most pounds will not take the dog back and certainly cannot offer any back up help and advice.

However, every time you take a dog from a rescue you free up a much needed space for a pound dog, who may be on doggy 'death row' so you help two dogs - the one you home and the one you make a safe rescue space for.

I need a dog that is ok with other dogs as my brother has 3 and we walked mine and theirs together. Also a dog that doesn't need walking for 2 hours a day because I am actually disabled with a walking stick but on the days I can't walk I have back up with my brother and his family and also my son. We live in a terrace house so not a large dog, so maybe a medium/small dog. A dog for children is not necessary but would definitely be considered. We just want a dog who we can love and who hopefully will love us back, and we would love a pup or up to 2 years old. I hope I don't soumd picky

No, you don't sound picky, you sound realistic and sensible... and there are plenty of rescue dogs around who match exactly this criteria!

Do let rescues know what you are looking for, and let them match you with the dogs that fit this criteria.

My little rescue dog, Badger, who is a crossbreed would fit this description exactly, except she was older when I got her (she is the dog in my avatar!) .. but she is mine and you are not having her!!:rotfl:

Sensibly though, you are thinking about temperement and needs rather than looks, which is the right way to go about it (some people get hung up on the 'idea' of a certain breed, despite the fact that the dog does not fit in with ther lifestyle - springers, huskies and collies are examples of this - dogs that are not happy unless walked loads and stimulated a lot.. not the sort of dogs for everyone!)

Good rescues will also be keen to match the right dog to your home and life - and they al want the rehoming to work, so will have ther own criteria - for example, some rescues specify that you must have an enclosed garden, however, ukTigerlilly on here was looking for a 'cat friendly' little dog and only had a communal garden next to her flat, but she found a rescue locally who were happy with this as they were assured that she would make sure the dogs needs re: exercise and toiletting were met. She ended up with Chaya, a little cat friendly staffie girl, who has settled in brilliantly.

Some people think that the rescues restrictions are stupid, but they do make for better matches for new owners and their dogs - if rescues just gave out dogs on demand they would end having a lot of dogs returned, as people are not always realistic in what sort of dog would suit them (however, it is clear that you are, and rescues will appreciate that)

sorry this is probably the longest post in the world! lol

terrierlady

Jack russells are good with children if raised with children but do need to be watched as does every single dog from chihuahua to doberman none are 100% we all feel they are but please remember they are animals,

visit a few rescue centers before you decide and lots of centers like people just to visit and walk the dogs in their care, this may help whilst you grieve sounds like you are a very good owner and will make a good choice.

mrcol1000

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Unless you are confident in assessing the temprement of a dog, and its needs, I would be wary of taking a dog straight from the council pound... rescues generally assess dogs very carefully whereas they are in the pound for such a short time that their assesment is far less certain.


sorry this is probably the longest post in the world! lol

To be fair many councils no longer have dog pounds and so use either commercial kennels or animal shelters or a mix of two. The council will be able to direct you to them.
Not all rescues have the resources to properly vet adopoters and assess the animals. Also animals can sometimes act differently when in a kennel situation to a home situation. To be honest as the above says if you have never had a dog before or have very little experience then I would stick to the bigger animal charties such as RSPCA and Dogs Trust. Unless your lucky to live near a good local animal shelter.
The point I was trying to make is that your local dog warden should be a good starting point to put you in touch with those who can help you rehome a dog.

UKTigerlily

Yep, as FC says I went for a 'No bigger than a Cocker Spaniel/quiet/Cat friendly' Dog & got a Sausage! Ok, Chaya a small Staffordshire Bull Terrier who'd been straying, i've had her almost 3 months, she's not had a single accident, never barks inside, is happy with 1/2hr or 3hrs of walks a day (She couldn't be walked while in season & didn't go up the wall! despite her 40%+ protein diet lol) she's brill with people & small kids & doesn't jump up at them or even lick them (She licks adults but when little kids stroke her she stays still & wags her tail) & she is fine with the Cat!

I never thought i'd find my perfect Dog but the Rescue knew each Dog's personality & temperament & as FC said, their likes & dislikes, and they matched me to her without me even looking at the rest (Which is good as I can't make decisions!)

I'm sure the right Dog is out there, my advice is take your time & trust the Rescue!

eira

So sorry about your loss.I admit that I haven't yet had the courage to get another dog-I cry just looking at pictures.

if you get a pound dog you will be doing a great deal of good as these dogs are quite literally on Death Row but---Some pounds are terrible places that will haunt you for years/ little is known about the dogs-there are ways of assessing temprament but you have to know a lot about dogs and visit more than once.there is also the guilt factor that you know you are literally saving a life.

However there are organisations that rescue dogs from pounds.assess their temperament and re-home them. One such organisation is Rain Rescue-staffed by volunteers (a friend of mine works with them).There is also a charity called Doris Banham?? that does the same work. So you can rescue a pound dog and have one which is assessed for temperament and health as well.Just Google in the names -they operate in your area.

a Kidwelly/Carmarthen base rescue Many Tears rescues breeding dogs from puppy farms

Good luck

hethmar

I am a volunteer with a group who rescue death row dogs from a pound near Manchester.

Most of the dogs are strays and as such we cant let them go to private homes until they have been assessed, neutered and chipped. This normally happens after we have transported them to approved rescues but sometimes when we cant find places we pay for the dogs to go into boarding kennels and they are assessed there.

Have a look on dogpages forum for a number of different rescues - they are shown by areas.

Is Barnsley too far for you? I know a very nice chap there with a rescue home?

I just realised you only lost your dog this morning - Im sorry - you must be feeling very low at the moment. I guess one way to get through the pain is to consider the rehoming of another needy dog and I wish you good luck.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

hethmar wrote: »

I am a volunteer with a group who rescue death row dogs from a pound near Manchester.

Most of the dogs are strays and as such we cant let them go to private homes until they have been assessed, neutered and chipped. This normally happens after we have transported them to approved rescues but sometimes when we cant find places we pay for the dogs to go into boarding kennels and they are assessed there.

Have a look on dogpages forum for a number of different rescues - they are shown by areas.

Is Barnsley too far for you? I know a very nice chap there with a rescue home?

I just realised you only lost your dog this morning - Im sorry - you must be feeling very low at the moment. I guess one way to get through the pain is to consider the rehoming of another needy dog and I wish you good luck.

Thanks for your post, we actually lost at 4.30am Sunday 1 March We miss her terrible I would do anything to have her back but I cant so we have to move forward witha different dog with it's own unique personality We have made a slight step forward I had to phone the vet today to cancel an appointment she had for Thursday so I asked them who they would recommend and they have given me a few different places one being Bleakholt?? The lady I spoke to said she has just rescued 2 dogs. We originally paid quite alot of money 14 years ago and she did have very good papers but I genuinely didn't know how many rescue centres there are out there, thank goodness for the internet and advertising. I don't have an excessive amount of money plus I think we need to slow down on breeding dogs until we have a need to. I found out a couple of days ago that a relative of mine who has a jack russel girl is planning on breeding her. I just cannot beleive it, they have absolutely no idea what they are doing, their motivation will be money only and that fact that their daughter is in her first year of vetenary school. I just feel they are totally irressponsible.

Oh and Barnsley is not really too far for me so any adresses or phone numbers i would love and I have looked on dogspages quite a lot

foreign_correspondent

Keep us posted with how you get on - I am sure Hethmar will soon be back with more info! Do let the rescues know the sort of ecercise levels you can deal with, and that you need it to get along with other dogs and see what they have!

Financially, bear in mind that rescues do ask for a donation/adoption fee (generally between £100 and £150) but that the dog will generally be speyed (which round here costs about £125), vaccinated (£35) and microchipped (£15)... so overall its a very good deal, seeing as the cost for those proceedures adds up to more than the adoption fee! ... and they will also have often cared for and fed the dog for weeks or months, and had them checked over for any other health issues. (Also rescues are self funding, and get no government money to do the great work they do!)

Good luck (and I am sorry to hear your relative is thinking of breeding their dog - can you mention to them that you are looking for a rescue, rather than paying money to a breeder... and your very sound reasons for doing so?)

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Keep us posted with how you get on - I am sure Hethmar will soon be back with more info! Do let the rescues know the sort of ecercise levels you can deal with, and that you need it to get along with other dogs and see what they have!

Financially, bear in mind that rescues do ask for a donation/adoption fee (generally between £100 and £150) but that the dog will generally be speyed (which round here costs about £125), vaccinated (£35) and microchipped (£15)... so overall its a very good deal, seeing as the cost for those proceedures adds up to more than the adoption fee! ... and they will also have often cared for and fed the dog for weeks or months, and had them checked over for any other health issues. (Also rescues are self funding, and get no government money to do the great work they do!)

Good luck (and I am sorry to hear your relative is thinking of breeding their dog - can you mention to them that you are looking for a rescue, rather than paying money to a breeder... and your very sound reasons for doing so?)

Thanks I will keep posting. I don't feel the cost of approx £150 is very expensive not when you consider that a puppy farmed Lhasa Apsos will sell for approx £300 - £500 depending on who is selling and lets face it puppy farms should be out lawed. Regarding my relative unfortunately they will do what they want to do regrdless as they are driven by money money money, but if i do hear of anything worrying I will report them to the RSPCA, relative or not I wouldn't hesitate. I have been really taken aback by the number of Jack Russel dogs in rescue I can see the staffis due to people not understanding the breed but not the Jack Russels. Years ago a relative had a stafforshire with children who used to crawl all over her and try and ride of her back, they were babies, but the dog never moved and inch, or growled or bared its teeth, she just laid there and took it. She was called Judy.