Friend's bad experiences looking for dog

peter021072

My friend is looking for a small dog after her last one passed away last year from cancer.  She's a good owner, who chooses health insurance and will be in all day with the dog. Since she lives in a flat no rescue agencies will offer her a dog, so she is restricted to buying from private sellers. The Kennel club registered dogs are out of her price range.

Last week she was asked for a deposit from a seller, but her bank couldn't recognise the sellers account number, and eventually said it could be a scam. 

This week she set her heart on a border terrier cross, and the seller offered her first chance on a pup which he claimed was socialised, vaccinated, wormed and health checked (as far as I know this paperwork was shown). He was asking £750.  After arriving at the house address, there was only the one pup and supposedly his Mother in a cage, and both dogs looked in good condition. However, there was an overwhelming smell of urine, not only from the dogs fur, but all over the house. Nothing at all in the house (toys, food) showed any dogs really lived there permanently.  The only other person than the seller at the house was an older man.  The advert on pets4homes said he was a licensed breeder and he provided a license number from the council.  She declined the offer, and is suspicious if all the paperwork is genuine.  She will check with the council on Tuesday if the number is genuine. 

Is there anything else she could have done?  It seems incredible she can't find a dog despite there being a surplus of dogs bought and abandoned after the pandemic measures had been lifted.

Katiehound

I wonder if rescues from abroad are quite as choosy.
The price of a dog here is £465 which covers micro chipping, transport costs etc.
 I think it would be in your friend's interest to contact this rescue (or similar charity) and ask if they would consider her and explain her situation. Nothing ventured nothing gained! They have small dogs.

https://www.lastchancerescueromania.com/dogs-for-adoption

Avoid at all costs online sites, Gumtree, & similar. I would suggest that the puppy she saw was either from a puppy farm or even imported illegally. These chancers are cashing in (literally) on people's wish for a dog and the shortage of puppies. better no dog than one from such a source.

theoretica

What area is your friend in?  Battersea on their website say they will rehome dogs to flats - though of course they may just not have any suitable animals in.

peter021072

She lives in North Hertfordshire, I'll pass on the suggestions.

The Rumanian one says

"adopters MUST have easy access to a secure, private  garden.  Which makes flats inappropriate."

MovingForwards

Get her to look for breed specific rehoming centres and work her way through them until she finds one which fits all her circumstances. Then go on the waiting list.

Maybe she could offer to foster initially as there's never enough space in these centres, often 'failed fosters' occur and the animal never leaves as they both become bonded.

I've just done a search, there's a JRT centre who covers Herts. There will be other small dog centres.

elsien

I’ve rehomed a bull terrier into a flat from a rescue centre. It depends on the flat and the dog - I was looking at 2 dogs, one they said was too big and bouncy, the other was fine. I also didn’t have a garden at the time. If she can convince them she’ll be able to offer adequate exercise then it’s not automatically a deal breaker. 

Romanian street dogs are different because they’re not used to being indoors and can be escape artists. 

Different rescues have different rules and the one person bands can have some funny rules, but has she actually spoken to them to sell herself a bit better? 

She”ll also probably find one more quickly  if she’s willing and able to take on a dog that might have one or two issues.

Gorsebush

I recommend DASH Dogs in Greece. They have a huge number of dogs of all ages and types. They do all the paperwork. When I enquired last year the cost was £475 if I remember correctly, that was all-in. Staff there take your needs and facilities in account and make suggestions as to which dogs would be suitable. 

sheramber

This rescue will rehome a suitable dog to a ground or first floor flat

https://rrauk.com/adoptfoster/

It is not true that no rescue will rehome to a flat. it may not be as straightforward but It is just a case of finding one that will.

peter021072

What does

'We cannot accept applications from people living in house shares' mean?

She shares the flat with someone, but they are effectively living together..  

elsien

HMO or one of those several people sharing set ups. If she’s half of a couple then that’s not going to apply. 

MalMonroe

Battersea and RSPCA will consider rehoming dogs to flats. Both say that they consider each case carefully and on an individual basis. Both charities simply want to ensure that the right dog goes to the right owner and will even rehome dogs if there is no garden.

Of course there will still be a fee but obviously not as high as those charged by private sellers.