Rehoming rescue dogs - my story.....

Sally_A

This seems to hit a raw nerve with a lot of people, me included, so I'm going to give my top tips for getting a rescue pooch...my thoughts are purely my own experience.

Dog No 1, was collected as a pup from a farm, I was 9, it was a collie/spaniel x, I was terrified as it went through teething, and kept trying to nibble my feet. We gradually got on brilliantly, 8 years forward, the dog was in my dads Nissan Sunny 120a when I had L plates on, the dog would yelp to get out of the car whilst I was practising my driving skills around the racecourse roads. After I passed, I would take the dog for a walk in my car....all around the public walkways by Castle Combe.

Dog No 2, had just bought our new home, went to darts, came home with a girl pup lab x, left behind by would be takers , I was only 23 at the time, but we had her spayed, I worked full time , but took her over to my parents home on the days I couldn't get back each lunch time for at least a 30 minute walk. Had child when dog was approx 6/7 years old, was walking dog as normal until the day before I gave birth....7 days in hospital due to anaemia and jaundice in baby.....went home, dog jumped up and dragged down the leg of baby's romper suit - no malice at all, just wanted to see - to the shock of the health visitor, baby and dog would often share the settee for a snooze, dogs head on babys nappy. I had so many stitches/anaema, but there was no chance of suffocation, as I was always nearby and both dog and babe fast asleep and dreaming. (I know a lot of you won't agree with that one!). Did dog number 2 ever snap at daughter??? - yes - daughter was tail pulling and generally winding up at around the age of 2, the dog could have ripped into her, but she did not, I nipped it in the bud after looking through the crack in the front room door. (A lot of you now say I put my daughter at risk - possibly I did, but the dog knew from day 1 that this was a new addition to the pack, no stable/lconfident pet would harm one of their own). Daughter got a telling off. Sadly she died of a growth/haemmorage at the age of 12+ - dog not daughter. That would have been late 1996ish. She died at home, I'm still guilt ridden that I was not there, despite a vet visit a few days before saying she was OK.

Dog No 3 - Jumbo (1997 - daughter was aged 6), well what a complete ugly bogger this boy was, aged 12+, half a tail, could fart for England. His pen at the dogs home was right by reception, we took him out one week and got on fine, 2nd week, he sort of recognised me, so we went for walkies again....several weeks later and they were waiting for me to be the weekend volunteer walker for this mutt: I remember a very wet field, and a Civil War re-enactment at the American Museum, he went totally ape when a musket was fired....me being a softy said I'll take him for the weekend when Bath Uni do their annual firework display, as I knew the bangs would totally freak him out - signed a form - took him home; they sort of never asked for him back :rotfl:He passed away at 17 after a stroke.He was evidently put up the home because he chased livestock and the local farmer was going to shoot him - what a lie - this dog did not give two hoots about livestock, it was because he had a squitty rear end if he was strssed. Was he vicuous??? No, he bit my dad - because he was faffing around about giving him a bath, doing all the bath time threats , if he'd rolled in fox poo, I'd just say "bath" and he'd put up with it. For the last 8 months of his life he had a growth on his front "knee" that would not stop bleeding/seeping, I bathed it, dressed - the vet said I did a fabby job. His stroke was so subtle, I noticed he was twitching a bit on the sofa one night, and that was the end, bless him, he still tried to come out and scrounge leftovers the same night - I blubbed big time for Jumbo .

Dogs 4 & 5 Jumbo was PTS in April, come about July I was twitchy for a dog, so went back up the dogs home, started walking a brother/sister combo Collie/Lab X (must be rehomed together), and then one week in approx October (2003)when they still hadn't been rehomed, a mate who also did voluntary dog walking was there before me about to take them out - "Oh no" she said "Here's Sally, I'll let her take them out as she wants to rehome them" Well they had me by the nadgers then. We were 3rd owners I think, previous owners had a spouse die, so gave them up back to the dog's home where they had gotten them from. Negotiated a BOGOF, ie female £99 male £1, took them home; kennel maid was in a state, asked if I wanted to sick proof the back of my car "No, they jumped in, they must love car journeys". (Dog's home found this hard to believe, I found it hard to believe that no dog loves a car ride!), so far the girl was sadly PTS on 10/6/09 due to a lier tumour, her brother is just about hanging on here at age 16.

Anyhow, what I really wanted to say, is that the majority of the dogs at a rescue centre have a previous history, not all bad, please do not think they are all stray feral vicious wotsits; most are there because of a change in lifestyle by the owners, some totally unexpected and some so shortsighted when they took on pup in the first place it makes me mad. But they are not all rabid strays, which a lot of people perceive to be the case so re put off a rescue dog.

Wow - what a long post - sorry, but just thought I'd let you all know why I am pro rescue centres as opposed to breeders.

notakid

Oh lovely thread.

I'll add my experiences.

First Tibs the cat. Got from The Cat Protection League. Was with us 15 years when I noticed she looked a little peaky. I phoned the local vet (she had never been always been very healthy!) she died just before the appointment.:( I never spent a penny on vet bills or insurance unlike all the others.

Daughter started moaning for a Dog. Went round Brum Dog home but not sure so off to Dogs Trust. A beautiful looking two tone terrier had just arrived and we had first dibs but we had also seen this grumpy sad looking 8 year old black lab. When we met him he nearly had the keepers arm off 'cos he was so strong and desperate to get at us. He barked all the time. Knocked over my son in his excitement and attacked another dog whilst walking him.

Other people were queuing up to take the terrier and we discussed it and decided on the mad lab. Buddy was the most wonderful family dog. The family who owned him had rescued him four years before but now had a family and didn't have the time for him. I think they did love him because she wrote a detailed description which was so true! He was naughty, he didn't like other dogs and would become deaf if off the lead. When he was very old my parents were looking after him as we were on holiday and my niece jumped on his hindlegs, he caught her face with his teeth in reaction! :eek: The H/V said he needed to be put down but the Dr (pictures of 2 labs on his desk) said the mark was made my a dog showing its teeth and it catching the cheek not a dog bite. He wasn't always an angel. But he loved us and we loved him. I made sure I was with him at the end, his back legs went. I made sure the vet came to the house and I held his head in my arms and he gave me a final lick before the injection.

My cats, I went to a car boot sale and the local cat rescue was there. I noticed they had some persians and said I'd had one when I was a teenager but he had died of feline flu. Breed into him.)
Again my daughter talked me into seeing them. I even posted on here about my worries as husband didn't really like cats. The cats were owned my a poor lady who had had a stroke and her son was supposed to be looking after them. They really are the most loving beautiful creatures and I sometimes think of the previous owner and hope she isn't missing them too much. By the way, my husband worships the ground that the cats walk on, can you believe it?

After Buddy died the house was so empty. And on gumtree I saw Jasper. Again it was a young family who had no time anymore. He is a beautiful dog and loves my Daughter the most. Infact I think the rest of us could go to hell in a handcart. His previous owners admitted as much, he loved the husband. I admit I think we got him too soon and my heart and my husbands is still with Buddy. But as a dog he is wonderful and it is lovely to go to the park and not have to yell at over Dog owners" My Dogs not Friendly!"

So those are my stories!

jason1231972

I don't have a dog at present, but have only ever had rescues in the past (bar one who wasn't an official rescue, but was procured locally from someone who knew someone who knew someone who was giving away what turned out to be the best dog I've ever known )

I've had largely positive experiences, too, and would only ever consider a rescue if I ever got another dog.

One of my earlier experiences was negative, though. I was kind of duped by the dogs home (which was managed by what is supposed to be a well-respected national organisation), and was kind of naive/inexperienced. I wanted to home a SBT b-tch who I'd taken a shine to, and was told by staff that she's a lovely girl who needs some TLC since her owner had died of cancer. They said she was used to living in a house, and so on.

I made my enquiries and was allowed to take her home the same day. Alarm bells should have rung, but in my inexperience, I thought nothing of it, and took her home.

Well, b-tch was an appropriate term. She was extremely destructive around the house, and would chew anything and everything if I left her alone. I don't mean if I left her alone for a couple of hours, but literally if I left her alone to go to the toilet, etc. Despite her being around 2 years old, she'd also blatantly do her toileting business right in front of my eyes indoors (no 'accident'), which I thought was strange, because she was marketed as a house trained dog.

With much regret, I had to take her back. Oh, I cried like a baby, but I just didn't have the experience to deal with such a difficult dog, especially since I'd been left under a very different impression of her nature and personality by the dogs' home.

When I took her back, I was informed on the sly by a different member of staff that they weren't surprised by her return, as she was an ex-stray, having been plucked off the streets a while back, and undergone a series of homings and re-homings. Nobody could cope with her - probably because she had been 'sold' to the wrong type of person, under the guise that she was a house pet who'd fell on hard times. As far as I'm aware, the 'owner dying of cancer' spiel was absolute baloney. Had she been 'sold' as a difficult ex-stray, there could have been someone out there who knew what they were taking on, and could home her appropriately!

She'll be long-dead now as this was many years ago, but I often wonder what happened to the poor soul, and whether or not the dogs' home finally came clean about her history.

Sagz_2

I've got rescue dogs 31 & 32 with me now

I've had tiny JRT's to Great Danes and from 4 weeks to 18 years at adoption. I've probably had more dogs than most as I'm a sucker for an oldie and have come to believe in the quality not the quantity of time I got to share with them.

I've never had a 'proper' dog, and as I don't want to breed or show can't see the need to ever get one.

They have taught me so much about dogs and about myself, and I have loved every one of them.

Person_one

What's a 'proper' dog Sagz? :rotfl:

Kinski

Jason I had a very similar thing happen to me with my first dog, unfortunately i also had to take the dog back as a first time dog owner I just couldn't cope. I went on to get a pup from a breeder ( sorry sally ), Ailsa was my heart dog and will always be the love of my life, she was killed by another dog when she was 8. My family went behind my back and got me a pup from the same breeder, Arran is now 5 and as stupid as they come :rotfl:.
Arran was 10 months when I saw on a dog site an 9 year old sheltie in rescue in Wales, I made inquiries about her and all of a sudden I found myself being driven down to Wales to get her. I had Abby for just over three years before she died last year of kidney failure, I adored that fat wee iok. My daughter got married last year and I decided to wait til after the wedding to look for another sheltie, there were none up here in rescue and I went on to puppy love to moan about it. One of the girls on puppy love told me about a Bichon that was in foster here, she was an ex puppy farm girl and had never lived in a home before. I filled in the on line form, got a call from many tears that night, I got a call from the foster mum and she came with the Bichon to meet us. All the time this was going on I had no intention of taking her on as I didn't want a Bichon, three hours later the foster mum left and somehow the dog was still here, a few hours later she came back for the donation and I somehow ended up with a wee scabby Bichon. My daughter who is asthmatic and visits me nearly every day asked what would happen if she had an asthmatic attack, I said the dog would go back to rescue, my daughter asked the same question a couple of days later and she was told tough she's going nowhere and that's how Ellie came into my life and I have no regrets, my son on the other hand does as she goes for him every time she sees him which is every day as he lives with us.

Sally_A

Aaah but Kinski, Edinburgh to Wales shows a gert dolllop of commitment.

I didn't start this thread to be holier than thou, just to highlight that a lot of people are scared to get rescue dogs due to unknown previous history. The dogs homes could help here, they tend to go shy and hide behind data protection when it comes to sharing the facts.......Hello, are we here to help the animals or the previous owners??? This is a classic example of where Data Protection goes against the animal as insufficient detail is made public.

Having homed 2, a brother/sister combo last time, I'd have no qualms at all about homing two, but I'd probably be a no-no as our garden is impossible to secure.

Anyhow, I know Ben (aged 16)is nearing his end of life:(, and as I always say..."I'm not going to get another dog, it's too upsetting", but just in case I get picked on by a mutt, I'd probably prefer to take on 2 at age 5yrs +, especially if they are home together for 5 hours per day, due to my work commitments.

Kaelea

I spent little over a year trying to get a rescue dog, RSPCA and Dogs Trust both said "disabled, rented accom. not a a chance"

I have menieres disease, some weeks/days I can hear others I can't, I emailed a rescue explaining about my hearing and asked if they could help, "yes ring them" *rolls eyes*

I found a german shepherd rescue willing to let me have a dog, basing it on the fact I had my previous dog over 14 years, had 14 years of vet records to go on, vaccinations - minor ops etc. I paid them £300 for a 4 year old spayed/vaccinated/micochipped/flea treated dog, what the actually brought to me was a 8-10yr old obese flea ridden/un microchipped/unvaccinated/ still intact girl with CDRM, none of which was known to me untill I took her to the vets and questioned her wonky legs which I had been told just needed building up .. I had a winge on FB, the rescue found out and came and took her back .. no sign of my £300, I hadn't actually asked for her to go back, I would of found a way to keep her going till the end of her days

later there was an almighty row on FB about a dog, fosterer wanted to put her down, rescue saying no but we can't take her we have no space, so I said oh !!!!!! I'll take her for a couple of days till you sort something, I had that dog 5 months, I didn't want it 5 months I was left paying for the dogs vets bills, which I couldnt afford, at one point I had a choice pay for the foster dog and not have the money for my own dogs meds or vice versa, I sold my ipad to pay for them both knowing I'll never be able to replace it *sigh* I'm hundreds of pounds out of pocket and at this point I still didn't have a dog

This February after I recovered financially I bought a lovely pup from Preloved, I'll never go to a rescue again ... so shoot me :rotfl:

notakid

but none of that is the Dogs fault is it?

No snarling brutes ready to tear your arms off? This thread was created because rescues are seen as lesser, "not a proper Dog".

I agree some rescues are too precious, but, then again they are mopping up the messes created by people making animals dependent on them but not seeing it thru. As I said my Dog Buddy was "rescued" and returned 4 years later when the family had a young family.

Sadly I think its all too common.

I do think if you are an animal lover you should question adding to the problem by breeding. A visit to any animal shelter should cure you of that.

gettingready

I'll never go to a rescue again ... so shoot me

I am next in line to be shot as I would never even attemp any rescue for dog or cat.

Tried several for both never got anywhere.

For a dog - "work, 1 floor flat, no own garden"

For a cat - "work, 1 floor flat, no own garden AND having a dog"

I have a dog and 4 (sometimes 6) cats, all bough via Gumtre actually - Zara at 4 months, cats at 6-8 weeks...

Stands ready to be shot

Kaelea

notakid wrote: »

but none of that is the Dogs fault is it?

Did I say it was?

No snarling brutes ready to tear your arms off? This thread was created because rescues are seen as lesser, "not a proper Dog".

your right the rescue wasn't a snarling brute, but it was being palmed off as healthy where as it would of cost me hundreds of pounds a month to keep


I agree some rescues are too precious, but, then again they are mopping up the messes created by people making animals dependent on them but not seeing it thru. As I said my Dog Buddy was "rescued" and returned 4 years later when the family had a young family.

All my previous dogs have been rescued and been bloomin hard work, but I've never given up on them . Can I have a medal that all the do gooders on this thread think they deserve?

Sadly I think its all too common.

which is not of my doing I can only help one dog at a time, rescues refused that .. their loss

I do think if you are an animal lover you should question adding to the problem by breeding. A visit to any animal shelter should cure you of that.

I've never bred a dog in my life, no intentions of doing so either, my pup will be spayed as soon as she is old enough