what would you do?

fawd1

Well, to cut a long story short, I have been fostering a dog for a charity for a while. Initially it was a friend of mine who volunteers for this charity who knows that I have a dog who asked me to do her a huge favour and foster this dog that was being brought over from Romania, as he already had his passage booked and whos adoptive family had pulled out at the last minute. At the time I was told there was already another family interested in him and he would be with us an absolute maximum of 2 weeks. I would be provided with puppy food, a collar and lead for him and he would be delivered to me on a Sunday.

Anyway, the day before he was supposed to arrive, he arrived at my home (tiny puppy god love him) with no food, collar or lead. Ok, I thought, he'll only be here for a week so it's not a big problem, I can alternate walks with my dog and remembering what my rescue was like it will probably take him 2-3 weeks to actually want to go on a walk. Obviously, being a puppy, he messed everywhere, which wasn't a big problem, needed training in everything etc etc.

However, and here is the issue, he has now been with us for coming up to 6 weeks. He has been house trained, lead trained and all the rest and is now a lovely family pet. In all this time I have been in constant contact with this charity to ask what was happening with the dog as realistically we just can't keep him (much as I really want to because he's lovely). I have constantly been told, yes we're looking into it (whenever someone did bother getting back to me)and then silence.

Eventually, I had to contact the charity for the 3rd time in a week last week to inform them that I simply could not look after him next week as my father is due to have a big operation and whilst my dog can be left for 3-4 hours, this puppy just can't deal with it yet. They replied to my long and detailed email with the sentence "we have someone for him, can you drop him off at XXXX on Tuesday"

I'm not being difficult here, I actually can't drop him anywhere that day as my DH is out all day with the car but I also really hated the attitude. I have invested a lot of time and love into this dog and he's not just a commodity to me or my family. We would like to know where he's going and who to to feel sure it's a good family. He has very much attached himself to us so I feel bad enough giving him away as it is, even more so when I think about handing him over to some random person in a service station. I would at least like to know who he is going to so I can feel personally sure they will give him a good home, as frankly I no longer particularly trust the charity (being the most inefficient people ever).

Another thing that is worrying me is his pet passport. I am almost certain it is forged. It states that his date of birth was in august last year. Now, I adopted a 5 month old puppy previously who was a lot less "puppy looking" if you know what I mean, and by six months certainly his "bits" were obvious, and yet with this dog there is no sign at all, and he is apparently 7 months old?

I don't really know what my question is, I guess I'm just not really sure what to do as I do feel attached to this dog, but unfortunately cant keep him. At the same time though, I feel as though I've earnt the right to have a say in his future, as we are the only family he knows.

Is there anything I can do? What would you guys do? I just don't feel comfortable with handing him over like this.

Sorry for the long post!!

krlyr

I was in a similar situation, though with an adult dog not a pup. In the end I decided I needed to walk away - it was the rescue's responsibility and you will unlikely find yourself able to sway their decisions.

It was heartbreaking but at least you've given this pup a safe place for several weeks and a good start with housebreaking, etc. As tough as it would be, if you can't keep him, my advice would be to now leave it up to the rescue to do their job, and don't get involved again.

meritaten

I would look up the charity and make sure it is 'legitimate'. Charities have a number, and looking up that number and cross referencing it to the name is a good indicator.
I share your concern - a good charity wouldn't be as 'elusive' as this. ok, you are just fostering, but, going on what other charities do, the foster parents are involved in the adoption process.
check out this 'charity' and come back - if they are legitimate we can go from there.

fawd1

I can't find a charity number anywhere on their website. Where else could I look for it?

Valli

You can search for charities on the Charity Commission website

krlyr

Did they definately claim to be a charity? Dog rescues don't have to register to operate - plenty won't meet the income requirements to reach charity status, but obviously if they're claiming to be a registered charity when they're not, that's a bit naughty of them!

hachette

fawd1 wrote: »

I can't find a charity number anywhere on their website. Where else could I look for it?

Try putting their name when you search the register you don't need the registered number. The search is free so you can have many goes. What an awful situation to be in. I am afraid not all charities are what they claim to be.

What charity was it? In these circumstances I would not worry about disclosing their name.

Are you sure you cannot keep him?
All the best x

Francesanne

fawd1 wrote: »

I can't find a charity number anywhere on their website. Where else could I look for it?

Can't your friend who volunteers for the charity and got you to foster able to supply phone number and any help?

elsien

Hate to say it, but your story doesn't completely surprise me. Although you'd expect the new family/fosterer to want as much info from you as possible, it doesn't always work like that. I had a foster for a few months that I really struggled with (too strong for me) and they just couldn't find her another home. When she did finally leave me, I wasn't asked for any info or given any updates at all. I still wonder if she's doing ok, but there comes a point, however much you fall for them, when you just have to let it go for the sake of your own peace of mind. I salved my conscience by doing a write up of everything I could think of to send with her.
My guess would be that your rescue is not a charity ( I assumed mine was, but its not) but is a small one run by a few people who work and fit this in on the side. So if they're busy, lost their admin or volunteer staff, they're probably inundated, rather than completely ignoring you. Which doesn't make it any better for you, and having been there I sympathise.
On a practical note, do they have a facebook page, as that is likely to get you more response. And it is unreasonable of them to expect you to do all the running around, but there are dog transport links who may be able to help, so I'd be putting the onus back onto the organisation to get that side of it sorted.
Did you sign a fostering agreement and what does that say? Mine said I had to give 2 weeks notice if I couldn't keep the dog any longer. Unfortunately as a fosterer the dog isn't yours, so however little faith you have, the bottom line is that you don't get any say in what happens next. You've asked them to find another home, and they've done so.
I get why you've lost faith in them, but I don't think there's much else you can do in the circumstances.

jenhug

I have a feeling I may know which "charity" you mean. A lady I was doing a home check for who needed to re home her cats as she couldn't afford their food, was fostering a puppy from a charity that sends them over from Romania, basically, they want the cash up front and a puppy/dog is delivered direct to the adopter! She is now stuck with a puppy she cannot re home, with seemingly no rescue back up. I have been trying to advise her and pointed in the direction of a reputable rescue that also brings over dogs from other countries but the rescue she is "fostering" for seem very amateur in comparison. I believe they only began in around Oct 13.

Fosterdog

This is the biggest reason why I don't agree with bringing in international dogs. I agree completely that they need help and that they have terrible lives but I'm now hearing stories like this on a weekly basis of homes falling through when the dog is already in the UK and no proper backup. Rescues dealing with UK dogs end up taking them on and its time, money and resources that could be helping dogs already in the UK in just as dire need of the space.

It's also not the first time I've heard of the possibility of fake pet passports with the imports. Add to that the seeming complete lack of proper home checks on new homes a number of these imported dogs end up in unsuitable homes and either end up back in rescue or a barely any better off than they were in another country.