I never thought I would say this, but there is quite a good article in the DM!

minimoneysaver

Yes, I'm another one turned away because I work four hours! Madness. I can't get over how single minded the RSPCA can be. Instead, I'm now on the search for a puppy, when what I really wanted to do was give a dog a good home.

hethmar

Where do you live mini?

aloise

Same for cats. I have 2 cats and want a third as my oldest has just died, she was 20 yrs old. I have one of 12 who was a stray and another of 6 yrs who was bought (rescued )from a shop. I don't want a kitten as we are pensioners and we want to give an older cat a good home. Were the rspca grateful. O no. I have never had my cats given all the innoculations they demand and in 40 years have never had a cat go down with, cat flu cat luckemia or any of the other ailments. Neither do i use collers on my cats since one was hurt by one yrs ago. So no innoculation and no collers, so no elderly cat, which after a while when they can't rehome her they will have put down. And the cat protection are no different. My cats are fed on the best food and all insured and very much loved.

Fire_Fox

There are many smaller independent rescues which will look at each potential home on it's own merit so don't give up if the big charities are narrow minded. I had the same negative response from my local branch of RSPCA to the idea of homing an adult cat with a health condition to a flat, however CP were happy to homecheck and Noah and I are very happy. :j For cats there are loads of smaller rescues represented on Purrsinourhearts forums.

foreign_correspondent

minimoneysaver wrote: »

Yes, I'm another one turned away because I work four hours! Madness. I can't get over how single minded the RSPCA can be. Instead, I'm now on the search for a puppy, when what I really wanted to do was give a dog a good home.

The RSPCA are not the only rescue! Four hours is not excessive for the right dog if it gets enough exercise and stimulation the rest of the time - if that is the case, please have a look at other local, independant rescues!

ANGLICANPAT

Rescues do get it wrong sometimes, but I think a lot of you who have been refused, are being a bit hard on them . Their homecheckers give up hours of their time,and spend endless tanks of fuel a year trudging around the country -so you can hardly say they dont really want to find homes for animals. They just want to find the right homes .Quite a large number of animals come back as returns, some in days, some weeks, some actually a year or two later -- and it is really upsetting for them going back a second time into a rescue after a home situation . You should see some of them sitting subdued in a corner , head hung , miserable as hell wondering what happened . Rescues analyse the reasons adoptions dont work out , and the same reasons tend to crop up over and over. Obviously rescues have these 'failures' in the back of their minds when forming their 'rules' , and apply the latter hoping it will minimize returns in the future.
Certainly where dogs are going to be left for an 8 hr working day without either a dog flap to the garden or someone to let them out for a wee, its not fair for most animals, but there can be odd exceptions.
Dont want to sound patronizing, but only home checkers will be familiar with the constant stream of half thought through arrangements, (and down right lies sometimes), that lots of prospective owners will give you -(honestly you wouldnt credit it till youve done this work ) and as a checker, for the animals future welfare, you have the responsibility to decide whats true, and read between the lines of what people say .Its these drongos that spoil it in a way for all the genuine adopters that will without doubt keep to all promises made. If everyone was honest and had only the animals wellfare in mind, we wouldnt be so suspicious . Case in point - a few years ago, we were rehoming a dog, to a 9-5 working couple . Eight hours they told us, but they never go out in the evenings and their neighbours adult son would pop in at noon to let dog out for a wee .
As the check progressed, it turns out they live an hours journey from work, so thats now a 10hr day. Next stop the neighbours - it turns out that the adult son is 19 and about to go away to university 2mths later.His parents know nothing about his dog promises . Chatting on to my couple , it becomes obvious from things they let slip, that they DO like to eat out a couple of nights a week. I comment I dislike eating out at weekends because of poor service , and it transpires then , that they too prefer weekday evenings

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and they feel the same about avoiding the cinema at weekends --- but of course they cant go Fridays anyway because of salsa class !
Now youre the good guys on here, and Im sure some of you may well have been turned down unecessarily , but you can see how tough it is to make sure dogs are going to be ok. and anxiety seperation is one of the BIG reasons they come back - theyre barking, howling, wetting, chewing, too boistrous , get neurotic , and many people cant cope. So, if checkers get it wrong occasionally by underestimating your commitment to being able to 'do it right' , please cut us some slack . If you really feel youve been failed wrongly, get hold of the rescue boss, gently put your case again,point out the provisions you have in place, and see if something cant be worked out between you. No rescue wants to lose a good home. As someone said, lots of rescues are flexible-- but some may need a bit more persuading of your committment than others.

cyberbob

minimoneysaver wrote: »

Yes, I'm another one turned away because I work four hours! Madness. .

Why is it madness to insure a potential owner can give the dog the attention it deserves? Rescues make these decisions on experience on the amount of animals that bounce back. You may think you can give a good home to an animal but these organisations are experienced about what works best.

As far as i;m concerned leaving a dog four hours is too much. I would never have a dog unless someone was home all day (which we are).

Having a dog isn't a right

hethmar

Re Pat's story of the salsa dancing, 10 hour working day couple.

I remember one of the RDR checkers went to see a family - they seemed ideal, all smiley and happy, loved dogs, waited so long to get one, would take it for walks and insure it .................all the stuff you want to hear basically. Then as she was leaving one of the kids said to the mother, "Oh I hope dad lets us keep this one and doesnt take it back like last time". Hmm, turns out dad wasnt keen on a dog who they had rehomed and had unceremoniously dumped him back at another rescue when he wet himself in the kitchen.

Had another mature couple, desperate for a pretty little youngster - comfortably off, nice house, "lifetime of dog owning" - poor little pup lasted less than 24 hours with them because he weed in the conservatory. He was only 4 months old, poor little devil.

So it really is so hard for checkers.

foreign_correspondent

My mum's neighbours have a dog and are out all day, working... they are young professionals, and so you would expect they would be educated, intelligent people. They have a nice big garden, and the dog has access to it all the time... so far, so good? however, they never take the dog out - apparently they are too tired after working all day..the poor thing is not happy.

The irony is that the bloke heads off to the gym several times a week after work - why not take the bl00dy dog out for a run?? My mum would take their dog out, but she could not manage it along with her loopy lurcher - she is almost 70, but her dog gets a good walk every day... I think the bottom line is, where there is a will there is a way - but rescues first and foremost have a responsibility to the dogs in their care.

Let's not forget, rescues get NO government funding, they are set up by generally caring and motivated people, run by volunteers, and they raise their own funds... huge amounts of time, energy and effort often go into finding a foster home or space in kennels for one dog, transporting it, getting it healthy, happy and ready to rehome... I think after rescues have done all the graft, and volunteers have spent their time, money and often miles and miles of petrol getting a dog safe and healthy, they are entirely within their rights to pick the homes that they feel are best for their particular dogs.