Dog re-homing charities ... a bit OTT ??

CFC

I found the rescues a bit of a pain to deal with and I got my boy through pets4homes

tcr_3

Just got an email from another "dog lady" ... we've started calling them "dog ladies", obviously they only socialise with dogs because their interpersonal skills with humans are so lacking.

Anyway, we'd sent her a rehoming questionnaire, mentioned the garden/field wasn't secure ... and here's part of her reply ... I haven't embellished it at all, haven't changed it one little bit ...

"Our owners never leave our dogs unattended in their gardens, out playing with the kids, or out of sight while on a walk. Never leave our dogs tied up outside a store or anywhere else, unattended. You are giving dog thieves the opportunity to steal our babies. NEVER think it will not happen to YOU. THIS is happening every day all over the country in ALL AREAS ! NEVER leave your doors open where thieves can get in and steal our dog FROM THE GARDEN OR YOUR HOME WHILE YOU ARE IN ANOTHER ROOM. People are even kicking doors down to steal our dogs and breaking into cars to steal them. TAKE HEED."

Mm. I guess that's a no, then ? LOL

Notice how any adoptee would never be ours, it's still theirs ? And "our babies", ye Gods, that's just bizarre. My GF says we should reply and tell her we tie our dogs to a concrete breezeblock all day and if they misbehave we dunk them in a river. I don't think we've laughed so much in ages, kinda eased things a bit.

Bit funny, some dog folk, funny peculiar.

elsien

tcr, that makes me the worst dog owner ever. I think I've done all their no-no's at one time or another. Best start practicing my porkies now for the next time I want to adopt.

Rev wrote: »

And my second favourite was one rescue place that wanted to decide for themselves which of their dogs suited our criteria, then march them all to our house and have us pick one, they would than take them all back and decide if we could actually have it. Apparently that was much less stressful on the dogs than us looking around and seeing if any caught out eye.

You don't by any chance live in Cumbria do you? There's a place there that does something similar except I don't think you get to meet the dog at all till they bring it to your house to live with you. :rotfl:

tabskitten

Good grief!!!
wonders never cease!
Must admit the ones that call their dogs 'babies' worry me a little.......

elsien

Things have definitely changed since I got mutt 10 years ago, going on your account. I met her once at the breed rescue for half an hour as it was several hours drive away. No home check, no references, she hadn't even been spayed, they took my word for everything.
Then again, they said she was " a sweetheart" and she's the most antisocial dog I've ever had, she had mange and assorted other ailments, so perhaps they just wanted to get rid. The words short and straw come to mind. (Although giving me an unspayed dog and trusting me to have it done did seem particularly naive of them.)
I think I'll be lucky to get anyone to give me another dog when pooch passes on to better things.

Fire_Fox

tabskitten wrote: »

My last 3 animals have been from gumtree and they were all being rehomed for genuine reasons (moving country, new job or new child)
In fact many people that need to rehome an animal need to do so in this way as rescues are too clogged up to even consider housing an animal that is not in dire need.

IMO a new child is rarely a 'genuine' reason - when you get a dog you should plan for anything up to twenty years. I appreciate people's circumstances change in unforseen ways, but most people know they are going to have a family at some point. These are exactly the sort of issues rescues are trying to avoid by being super-picky.

tabskitten wrote: »

I found this too,
I spent weeks searching dogs homes, the majority of which ask for a £100 + donation for a (i hate to put it) ''used dog with issues'' (ahem- harsh but you see my point) wheas you can get a cute little brand new puppy for about the same....
It is unrealistic and that is one of the reasons the shelters are overflowing- i know lots of good homes that have been rejected by the local dogs rescue- its become somewhat of a local running joke!!
I got my dog off gumtree at 7 months for £100 as her owner had admittedly taken on too much with her job and trying to have a puppy too. She is a wonderful animal and I cannot imagine life without her!!

"Cute little brand new puppies" grow up to be big "used dogs with issues" if not cared for in a responsible manner. Am sure you know that, Tabskitten, but an awful lot of people who get puppies or kittens tire of them as they grow, that sort of attitude pervades and is why rescues are super-picky.

I've never had a rescue dog only adult rescue cats but all have been absolute darlings, none let go through any fault of their own. I wouldn't even dream of buying a kitten as I know there are cats being PTS every week for want of a home. Instead of 'paying' for Noah I offered to set up a standing order - CP were delighted to have that kind of support and it fitted my budget better. :money:

I'd rather give £100 to a rescue than £100 to an irresponsible owner. Why is it acceptable for that owner to sell her puppy to you when she doesn't need the money, when it isn't acceptable for rescues often running on a shoestring, staffed largely by volunteers to try to cover some of their costs? :huh:

Would it be acceptable for social services to adopt the children in their care as casually as some people seem to want dogs and cats to be by rescues? Would it be acceptable that social services drop their standards if their caseload gets a bit much? :eek: Legally dogs and cats may be possessions, but I certainly have never thought about any of my pets in that way. They can suffer pain and they can suffer mental health problems just as human children can.

Sorry for the rant, hope you know it is not all aimed at you, Tabskitten, just using your post as a starting point.

tabskitten

Fire_Fox wrote: »

IMO a new child is rarely a 'genuine' reason - when you get a dog you should plan for anything up to twenty years. I appreciate people's circumstances change in unforseen ways, but most people know they are going to have a family at some point. These are exactly the sort of issues rescues are trying to avoid by being super-picky.



"Cute little brand new puppies" grow up to be big "used dogs with issues" if not cared for in a responsible manner. Am sure you know that, Tabskitten, but an awful lot of people who get puppies or kittens tire of them as they grow, that sort of attitude pervades and is why rescues are super-picky.

I've never had a rescue dog only adult rescue cats but all have been absolute darlings, none let go through any fault of their own. I wouldn't even dream of buying a kitten as I know there are cats being PTS every week for want of a home. Instead of 'paying' for Noah I offered to set up a standing order - CP were delighted to have that kind of support and it fitted my budget better. :money:

I'd rather give £100 to a rescue than £100 to an irresponsible owner. Why is it acceptable for that owner to sell her puppy to you when she doesn't need the money, when it isn't acceptable for rescues often running on a shoestring, staffed largely by volunteers to try to cover some of their costs? :huh:

Would it be acceptable for social services to adopt the children in their care as casually as some people seem to want dogs and cats to be by rescues? Would it be acceptable that social services drop their standards if their caseload gets a bit much? :eek: Legally dogs and cats may be possessions, but I certainly have never thought about any of my pets in that way. They can suffer pain and they can suffer mental health problems just as human children can.

Sorry for the rant, hope you know it is not all aimed at you, Tabskitten, just using your post as a starting point.

Er believe me sweetie you are barking up the wrong tree!!
Ihave rescued 3 dogs and 4 cats and 2 rabbit in my adult life and work as a volunteer for Bleakholt animal sanctuary.
MY ENTIRE POINT is that even from MY reasoning as an avid rescue supporter i can see why joe public would not bother with a rescue dog which will no doubt have 'issues' and much more besides when they can get a cutsie new puppy for the same (if not less) price.
I am not saying i think it is right or that I would do it I am saying that realistically I can understand why people do.
I also KNOW from being on the inside of a rescue that it doesn't cost as much as many of them claim it does to rehab dogs and they pay the managers well!!

foreign_correspondent

tcr wrote: »

"Our owners never leave our dogs unattended in their gardens, out playing with the kids, or out of sight while on a walk. Never leave our dogs tied up outside a store or anywhere else, unattended. You are giving dog thieves the opportunity to steal our babies. NEVER think it will not happen to YOU. THIS is happening every day all over the country in ALL AREAS ! NEVER leave your doors open where thieves can get in and steal our dog FROM THE GARDEN OR YOUR HOME WHILE YOU ARE IN ANOTHER ROOM. People are even kicking doors down to steal our dogs and breaking into cars to steal them. TAKE HEED."

Tabskitten, I hadn't heard of Bleakholt, but I just looked at the website and the frst piece of informaiton I saw was:

During the night of Thursday 18th February thieves broke into the dog kennels at Bleakholt and stole a greyhound called Milo. Milo had only been with us for a fortnight and had endeared himself to everyone who met him or cared for him.

tcr - dog theft does sadly seem to be relatively common, sadly. You may laugh at the ladies response, but it is probably grounded in some very real and noteworthy concerns. Please do consider that many, many people involved in rescue at all levels are volunteers, not paid staff...

tabskitten

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Tabskitten, I hadn't heard of Bleakholt, but I just looked at the website and the frst piece of informaiton I saw was:



tcr - dog theft does sadly seem to be relatively common, sadly. You may laugh at the ladies response, but it is probably grounded in some very real and noteworthy concerns. Please do consider that many, many people involved in rescue at all levels are volunteers, not paid staff...

Yes and he was lovely.
Think that they had a horse stolen a few years back too.......

tabskitten

However, in all time I have helped in dog charities this is rare case of theft- certainly not regular happening from what i have seen and with a greyhound reasons for theft are more obvious......


Some of the dogs have been there in those cages for such a long time and they have had people offer them homes that in my opinion would be better than the cell they are in. but have been rejected for what seems to me petty reasons.