I want a dog/s :( cant get approval in re-homing centres

Tulip09

Hiya, sorry long post - just whining as at a loss of what to do now

We have looked for a forever dog/dogs for the past 2 years on & off. We couldn't decide on a set breed so decided that we should let a dog/dogs choose us really and we would see who wanted to live with us. We are looking to give a home to 1/2 small - medium size dogs ideally. We have had older dogs before but would prefer younger dogs this time - about 1/2/3 ish previously we had dogs who were over 10.

Now the problem we seem to have we are in rented accommodation. The landlord has written a letter stating we have a secure tenancy for as long as we want it and we can have no more than 3 dogs. He himself had 3 labs in the house. The house has been designed with an indoor utility room for the dogs with a dog door/ walls dog proofed & under floor heating (only room in the house) and an outdoor house/kennel area in the garden (a child's wooden shed house turned into a kennel - but complete with cushions/ windows removed etc)

The garden does not have a six foot fence enclosed fence around it we are not able to put one as there is woods/trees in the way down 3 sides. We have a 3 foot one (on road side) & trees but they have said that is not good enough. We live in the country, so miles of fields and very few neighbours.

We are positioned on a road - well the side of the house is if a dog ran out the front door they would just have to run down 3 stairs and they would be on a side path of the road about 3 ft away down a 2ft drop. I cant do anything to change this as it is public access at the side for the hill walkers and there is a small stone wall. The back of the house leads on to a 1/2 acre garden, surrounded by trees then 3/4 miles of fields.

One centre has also said the fact i have ill health is also a concern (i'm not dying, i have daily seizures and there is many years in me yet), but there is 5 people in my household, 2 of which are home 24 hours a day.

I have 3 children - 1 of which is under 12! I see loads of people with younger children & dogs :mad:

I don't know how to prove that we can look after a dog? They say they will contact us if a suitable dog needs re-homed but in 2 years we have not received one phone call. We have visited 3 different centres now regularly and had a similar response in all of them.

It is really annoying & upsetting me when there is loads of dogs wanting forever homes. I don't want to pay for a couple of puppy's! I don't particular want a puppy at all. Is there some hidden pet re-homing agency that would have negative stuff on us or something? We are at a loss of what to do now. We have had 3 dogs pts before due to old age and illness - would that count against us? Each time it was recommended by the vets due to our dogs being in pain we had the appropriate insurance, had got treatment asap and thought we were doing the right things by our pets, regular treatment/med's/ daily walking/ healthy diets etc but they were a bit pampered - run of the house/furniture/proper beds/ duvets (but do all babies not get that?)

Sorry told you it was a long post/rant.

chelle230

your house sounds wonderful for a couple of dogs, and I agree it's silly that these rehoming centres want over and beyond what is possible at times.
you can offer a loving, comfortable home with people there all the time.
I understand you don't want to buy a dog, however there are other dogs out there for rehome without going through a centre.

I have rehomed a 2 year old chihuahua, and while I did pay for her, she was in desperate need of a home as her owner could no longer keep her, she was house trained and spayed, been here now for 2 years.
my mum got a then 2 year old german shepherd 2 years ago for nothing, although she gave the lady £10 as a gesture to get her son something (the lady insisted she wanted no money at all).

have a look in newspapers, preloved, pet forums, etc. there are plenty of dogs out there in the stage before going into a centre, needing a loving home for whatever reason.

Tulip09

Thanks for replying i am just annoyed/upset/frustrated just now with the whole process. Our last 3 dogs have all been 'gifted' or taken because the current owners couldn't/wouldn't look after them This house is fantastic for dogs, the beds are lonely without all the wrinkles & dog hair :rotfl: and we have unchewed skirting boards for the first time in years. It is very frustrating and i really don't know how they decide when i look at some people who have got new pets successfully from re-homing thorough centres.

misterbisto

I do feel for you but there are certain guidelines and you may be the best person in the world but the guidelines are there for the safety of the dogs. I know you must be frustrated. I don't think your ill health should matter and I know of 'foster carers' who have health issues that have dogs. I think your biggest issue is the security of the garden. Without seeing your garden it hard to advise you but perhaps you should ask them to suggest or recommend ideas. Its such a shame because there is such a huge need for fosters and having your dogs pts because they are suffering only shows that you care. If all else fails have you considered dog sitting...

chelle230

I know what you mean about some people who rehome through a centre, they look that the garden is secure, and get told what they want to hear about how long the dog is left for, and there you can can have a dog!
my garden can't be secured at the front (my driveway runs alongside the house into the back garden), and has a low fence at the back, the chi can't jump that high anyway, but my other can and never has got out.
I just watch everytime they go out to make sure they don't go past me to the front!

Tulip09

We were actually dog sitting the other week for a nearly 1 year old GSD that has got to be one of the liveliest dogs we have had the pleasure to look after. I think i must have walked in excess of 40 miles throughout the week as well as waded through the frozen river bed to get his toys that he decided the water was to cold for him but looking after him has just renewed the kids whining for their own dogs and they didn't want to give him back. With a bit of luck his parents will go on holiday again soon

I understand that it is in the best interests of the dog but i cant lower the level of my garden if i could i would) and i cant put a 6ft fence up. The road in question is actually used by about 6/8 tractors a day - its the only road through the 'village' and not busy. (LOL i should find a way to try and weave the current 2/3ft trees together)

bethie

have you tried another local centre, or just that one? different centres and shelters have different rules.

Kimberley

I don't like the free advertising sites such as Gumtree or Preloved etc but in your case you may not have a choice if you really do want a dog because it seems that the rescues are adamant that they don't want to rehome a dog to you because of your garden. If you do go through the free advertising sites then please beware that you will not know the dogs life history and the seller or the person giving a dog away will not tell you if they have problems if they are desperate to get rid of it. You take the dog at your own risk. The other routes you can take is to either buy a puppy, which you don't want to do or as a last resort if you are 100% adamant you want a dog then why not try renting another home that has a secure garden.

Tulip09

We have tried 3 different ones, 2 gave us home visits and said they would get back to us but they don't think the house is suitable. The other looked up the information we gave before we even got to see the dogs and said we wouldn't be suitable due to health/child under 12 etc. I think we are going to just advertise in the papers now and look online as chelle230 has suggested. I am not going to be giving someone £500 -£600 ish per dog!:eek:

The right babies are out for us somewhere, i think it is a case of looking further afield now

System

we went to a local centre that takes in the strays and found a lovely 10 month old x breed, there were no checks and within 15 mins of arriving we were taking him home. i found an advert for this place in my local admag as its also a boarding kennel. it might be worth finding out where strays are taken to because its not always the rspca/dogs trust.
my mum got her springer puppy via the preloved site although i would be careful as i think there are some dodgy sellers out there.

chelle230

my mum got her gsd from a pet forum, so I'd recommend there first, not all, but most are animal lovers and will have done their best for their pets, most have very genuine reasons for parting with their pets.
try www.rfuk.co.uk (I know it's reptiles, but I used to be a member asnd still have a lot of contact with some members, and they do have a domestic pets section, and a rehoming section)
also www.petforums.co.uk