I thought I would share my experience of giving a forever home to a rescue dog.
In 2012 I bought a pedigree English Setter bitch which I call Misty ( she does have a silly kennel name which I never use). I instantly fell in love with the breed. After a year or so it became clear that she was only really happy when she was in the company of other dogs. I was more than happy to have another dog, but I really didn't want to go through all the 'puppy stuff' again!
On New Years Day 2015 I contacted the English Setter Rescue Association (ESRA) explaining my situation and enquiring if there were any setters that needed re-homing. A reply came by return, they didn't have anything at that moment, but would like to get me registered and checked for when a suitable dog became available. The registration processes was easy, I think as I already had a setter they knew the house etc. would be OK. They sent someone round to check the house and I got the go ahead.
Two weeks after my original enquiry I had an email giving details of 5 dogs that were to be brought over from Spain. All of them were failed gun dogs. All but one of the dogs had been reserved, but one male was available. I had my doubts as I have always had bitches.
I was sent pictures of Charlie ( who was by now with a foster family in Spain). I fell in love and agreed to take him.
Charlie arrived at my house on the 1st of Feb, exactly one month from my first enquiry. ESRA had neutered him, vaccinated, chipped and got him a passport. They then brought him and the other dogs over on the ferry and delivered him to me. On arrival he did a huge poo on the rug...Charlie had arrived!
When we got him he was so badly nourished that he still had his 'puppy coat', he only weighed 14 kilos and his front teeth were rotten.
Since that day none of us have looked back, we even got over the issue of a Spanish speaking dog. Misty and Charlie are inseparable. Charlie is still a bit 'needy' and hates loud noises (he's gun shy which is why he was abandoned). He now has his adult coat and has put on 7 kilos, unfortunately there is nothing we can do about his teeth. He is now, and always will be the final jigsaw piece that completed our family.
I attach some photos for your info. The first one was taken in Spain, the second on the day we got him, the third was taken today
Mandy I
In 2012 I bought a pedigree English Setter bitch which I call Misty ( she does have a silly kennel name which I never use). I instantly fell in love with the breed. After a year or so it became clear that she was only really happy when she was in the company of other dogs. I was more than happy to have another dog, but I really didn't want to go through all the 'puppy stuff' again!
On New Years Day 2015 I contacted the English Setter Rescue Association (ESRA) explaining my situation and enquiring if there were any setters that needed re-homing. A reply came by return, they didn't have anything at that moment, but would like to get me registered and checked for when a suitable dog became available. The registration processes was easy, I think as I already had a setter they knew the house etc. would be OK. They sent someone round to check the house and I got the go ahead.
Two weeks after my original enquiry I had an email giving details of 5 dogs that were to be brought over from Spain. All of them were failed gun dogs. All but one of the dogs had been reserved, but one male was available. I had my doubts as I have always had bitches.
I was sent pictures of Charlie ( who was by now with a foster family in Spain). I fell in love and agreed to take him.
Charlie arrived at my house on the 1st of Feb, exactly one month from my first enquiry. ESRA had neutered him, vaccinated, chipped and got him a passport. They then brought him and the other dogs over on the ferry and delivered him to me. On arrival he did a huge poo on the rug...Charlie had arrived!
When we got him he was so badly nourished that he still had his 'puppy coat', he only weighed 14 kilos and his front teeth were rotten.
Since that day none of us have looked back, we even got over the issue of a Spanish speaking dog. Misty and Charlie are inseparable. Charlie is still a bit 'needy' and hates loud noises (he's gun shy which is why he was abandoned). He now has his adult coat and has put on 7 kilos, unfortunately there is nothing we can do about his teeth. He is now, and always will be the final jigsaw piece that completed our family.
I attach some photos for your info. The first one was taken in Spain, the second on the day we got him, the third was taken today
Mandy I
My rescue dog story is that we got our beautiful German Shepherd, Saxon, last year from the Central German Shepherd Rescue charity.
Having owned a chocolate Labrador, Minty, for 12 years, we lost him suddenly last September. As my job is that I run a natural dog treat business doing my job and the home felt terrible without a dog's presence and I missed my chief taster. Even going to dog events that I support felt hollow. I appealed to my friends who I met through my work, the central German Shepherd Rescue, Kama's Cave Greyhound Rescue, Lincolnshire Essex and Trent Boxer Rescue to see if they had a child and cat friendly dog. I wasn't bothered about gender, breed or age but I knew I wanted to give a dog that had had a rough start in life, a second chance at a good life and a job as a taster.
Luckily it wasn't long before I got a response that the German Shepherd Rescue had a young male that might fit the bill. I met Saxon and within minutes I was in love. The family loved him too and although we had some issues with the cats, they have worked through it. Saxon is awesome and although I have days when I still miss Minty, we can't imagine life without him.
Emily W
Having owned a chocolate Labrador, Minty, for 12 years, we lost him suddenly last September. As my job is that I run a natural dog treat business doing my job and the home felt terrible without a dog's presence and I missed my chief taster. Even going to dog events that I support felt hollow. I appealed to my friends who I met through my work, the central German Shepherd Rescue, Kama's Cave Greyhound Rescue, Lincolnshire Essex and Trent Boxer Rescue to see if they had a child and cat friendly dog. I wasn't bothered about gender, breed or age but I knew I wanted to give a dog that had had a rough start in life, a second chance at a good life and a job as a taster.
Luckily it wasn't long before I got a response that the German Shepherd Rescue had a young male that might fit the bill. I met Saxon and within minutes I was in love. The family loved him too and although we had some issues with the cats, they have worked through it. Saxon is awesome and although I have days when I still miss Minty, we can't imagine life without him.
Emily W
I ‘rescued' two German Shepherds and long term fostered a GS x Chow (Choc my son called him!) about 2 years old, to be with our young white GS Sasha.
Choc had been in kennels (in Tottenham, but it closed a few years later) for a while, not much history, but a bit boisterous for some, I suspect. Choc lived with us till he was 5, when a friend of mine wanted a lively dog to live with her on their farm, so off he went and lived long, happy and well fed… he liked rounding up the cows…!
Another German Shepherd. Finn, was the Brother to Sasha, and his owner had had a dreadful car accident and was paralysed , so we took him on, we were told he had been taken to Battersea Dogs Home, so we had permission to accept him when we took the paperwork for both of them…… Sasha and Finn died within months of each other at just over 10yrs.
In early 80’s, we rescued another GS, also called Sasha, she had had four homes in her first seven months, the last owner stupidly feeding her the same amount as a tiny dog….. also the teenage boys had badly kicked her.
My late husband heard about her and went to see the ‘owners’ and came home with her. Yes, she chewed everything in site, was happy to sit by the washing machine by the kitchen door, kept away from mens boots, but we would sit with her and our two other dogs without shoes on and slowly she came around…she had a small heart problem, but she survived till 11.5 years… she even liked our two cats...
We moved Dorset after coming back from working in USA after 9/11 with our three year old Bearded collie Pepper, we looked for another dog as the quarantine had changed her a bit…. In August 2004 we rescued (original name Jasper!) from the Margaret Green Rescue centre in Winterbourne Stickland. We remained him Jet, back, fast and beautiful. he was two and a quarter, had been locked in a room every day of his life for up to 12 hours a day, I saw him by chance when I dropped in some shredded paper for their other recuse place for small animals.
He was so happy to be outside, he had been in the rescue place less than 24 hours, we took Pepper to see him, and he sat beside me, with Pepper with my husband. We were able to bring him home two days later. He was amazing, He could unlock doors inwards, he escaped out of the front door within three minutes up the road into the field. We ran and called him back … with food. He took a bit of training and he had a strong aversion to most other dogs which were black, but loved Pepper and got to know many dogs he felt safe with….When Pepper passed away in early 2012, we got Bramble (as above) He let Bramble sleep in the same bed. I have the picture. and was very gentle with her, it was as if he knew she was not well…..Jet died at nearly thirteen in October 2015…….
Linda W
Choc had been in kennels (in Tottenham, but it closed a few years later) for a while, not much history, but a bit boisterous for some, I suspect. Choc lived with us till he was 5, when a friend of mine wanted a lively dog to live with her on their farm, so off he went and lived long, happy and well fed… he liked rounding up the cows…!
Another German Shepherd. Finn, was the Brother to Sasha, and his owner had had a dreadful car accident and was paralysed , so we took him on, we were told he had been taken to Battersea Dogs Home, so we had permission to accept him when we took the paperwork for both of them…… Sasha and Finn died within months of each other at just over 10yrs.
In early 80’s, we rescued another GS, also called Sasha, she had had four homes in her first seven months, the last owner stupidly feeding her the same amount as a tiny dog….. also the teenage boys had badly kicked her.
My late husband heard about her and went to see the ‘owners’ and came home with her. Yes, she chewed everything in site, was happy to sit by the washing machine by the kitchen door, kept away from mens boots, but we would sit with her and our two other dogs without shoes on and slowly she came around…she had a small heart problem, but she survived till 11.5 years… she even liked our two cats...
We moved Dorset after coming back from working in USA after 9/11 with our three year old Bearded collie Pepper, we looked for another dog as the quarantine had changed her a bit…. In August 2004 we rescued (original name Jasper!) from the Margaret Green Rescue centre in Winterbourne Stickland. We remained him Jet, back, fast and beautiful. he was two and a quarter, had been locked in a room every day of his life for up to 12 hours a day, I saw him by chance when I dropped in some shredded paper for their other recuse place for small animals.
He was so happy to be outside, he had been in the rescue place less than 24 hours, we took Pepper to see him, and he sat beside me, with Pepper with my husband. We were able to bring him home two days later. He was amazing, He could unlock doors inwards, he escaped out of the front door within three minutes up the road into the field. We ran and called him back … with food. He took a bit of training and he had a strong aversion to most other dogs which were black, but loved Pepper and got to know many dogs he felt safe with….When Pepper passed away in early 2012, we got Bramble (as above) He let Bramble sleep in the same bed. I have the picture. and was very gentle with her, it was as if he knew she was not well…..Jet died at nearly thirteen in October 2015…….
Linda W
We found Benny (Benson) at Woodgreen in Huntingdon in January of 2015. We had been looking for a dog to join our family for couple of months and were not having much luck finding a suitable dog. We visited the Woodgreen centre early January and after reviewing the available dogs discussed our plans with the staff were disappointed to find none would be suited to us. But the great staff member said she'd review which dogs had just arrived that week and told us about Benny. He was in quarantine due to bilateral ear infections but she had a photo of a beautiful black fluff ball of a labradoodle! We had to reserve him immediately just from the photo! It took 2weeks for him to be released for us to meet him and though rather bouncy we fell in love straight away. It took 3 weeks to complete the adoption process and we visited him twice during this time, before we brought him home on 31st Jan 2016!
Since then he's attended training classes with us and is such a loving addition to our family. He loves to cuddle up in the sofa and his behaviour has improved greatly. We take him on long off lead walks in the local lakes and meadows reserve where he gets to socialise with lots of other dogs. He sleeps with our son and copes well when we have to leave him alone. We have kept his coat trimmed short so he looks more lab than doodle and is very lean and healthy. So we're glad he was given up as we feel he was meant to be with us!
We love you Benny!!
Louise D
Since then he's attended training classes with us and is such a loving addition to our family. He loves to cuddle up in the sofa and his behaviour has improved greatly. We take him on long off lead walks in the local lakes and meadows reserve where he gets to socialise with lots of other dogs. He sleeps with our son and copes well when we have to leave him alone. We have kept his coat trimmed short so he looks more lab than doodle and is very lean and healthy. So we're glad he was given up as we feel he was meant to be with us!
We love you Benny!!
Louise D
I have rehomed two rescue dogs and purchased two dogs. My first dog was a rescue dog, a male Irish setter, my current dog is a rescue Whipplington Hound (whippet bedlington bloodhound terrier cross) bitch. The purchased dogs were both Irish Setters, one a dog and one a bitch. Both were purchased from KCC breeders.
In terms of lovability the only difference was that the purchased male setter was a bully towards the bitch. Which given his breed type was a surprise, also bought the bitch to give him company when the older dog died. Wrong decision as it turned out.
Personality. All different because they are different dogs so no advantage or disadvantage bought versus rescue.
Health. The rescue dogs have had slightly more trips to the vet, especially my little lurcher but this has been due to injuries when off rabbiting. Presumably other breeds bought or rescue as less accident prone.
Behaviour. I honestly don't think apart from issues of recall there has been much of a difference. The rescue dogs were both adults when they came to live with me and needed work on recall but otherwise the behaviour has been unique to each dog.
Hope that helps anyone considering rehoming. I will rehome next time and not buy.
Katrina
In terms of lovability the only difference was that the purchased male setter was a bully towards the bitch. Which given his breed type was a surprise, also bought the bitch to give him company when the older dog died. Wrong decision as it turned out.
Personality. All different because they are different dogs so no advantage or disadvantage bought versus rescue.
Health. The rescue dogs have had slightly more trips to the vet, especially my little lurcher but this has been due to injuries when off rabbiting. Presumably other breeds bought or rescue as less accident prone.
Behaviour. I honestly don't think apart from issues of recall there has been much of a difference. The rescue dogs were both adults when they came to live with me and needed work on recall but otherwise the behaviour has been unique to each dog.
Hope that helps anyone considering rehoming. I will rehome next time and not buy.
Katrina
I would like to tell you about our Ginger a 5 year old boxer x rescue dog that we have had for about year and a half now.
2 years ago last February 10th we lost our 5 year old dear flatcoat retreiver Erin to the terrible illness Alabama rot from Christchurch Dorset, leaving us and her mum Holly an 8 year old lost and grieving, Holly was lost without her not wanting to eat and she also got very ill for 3 months.
After a long 6 months of thinking long and hard we decided, in Erin's memory we would find a dog that really needed a good home and love, so we contacted waggy tails dog rescue, we instantly fell in love with Ginger, and luckly she liked us also she just melted in my arms, she was very under weight and almost certainly beaten and left abandoned tied to a fence where she was found and then taken to a pound where waggy tails took her to rehomed her here in Dorset.
She had such sad eyes and we had to be very patient with her and understanding that she was extremely nervous of new people she did not know, and sticks and long objects, to walk her down the road would take a long time as she was scared of everything, that's where Holly came to the rescue she became her confidence showing Ginger that people where not all bad and she could have nice cuddles and treats, they have become inseparable and the best of friends,
Ginger has also had to under go 4 major operations on her legs as she snapped both her hind ligiments and had to have both her front leg operated on for elbow dysplasia but on top of all this pain and a terrible start in life, she is very happy dog and very loyal and we wouldn't swap her for the world and we are so please to have be able to give her a good home a pain free life and most of all to feel loved and I am sure Erin would be pleased to. :)
Tracy G
2 years ago last February 10th we lost our 5 year old dear flatcoat retreiver Erin to the terrible illness Alabama rot from Christchurch Dorset, leaving us and her mum Holly an 8 year old lost and grieving, Holly was lost without her not wanting to eat and she also got very ill for 3 months.
After a long 6 months of thinking long and hard we decided, in Erin's memory we would find a dog that really needed a good home and love, so we contacted waggy tails dog rescue, we instantly fell in love with Ginger, and luckly she liked us also she just melted in my arms, she was very under weight and almost certainly beaten and left abandoned tied to a fence where she was found and then taken to a pound where waggy tails took her to rehomed her here in Dorset.
She had such sad eyes and we had to be very patient with her and understanding that she was extremely nervous of new people she did not know, and sticks and long objects, to walk her down the road would take a long time as she was scared of everything, that's where Holly came to the rescue she became her confidence showing Ginger that people where not all bad and she could have nice cuddles and treats, they have become inseparable and the best of friends,
Ginger has also had to under go 4 major operations on her legs as she snapped both her hind ligiments and had to have both her front leg operated on for elbow dysplasia but on top of all this pain and a terrible start in life, she is very happy dog and very loyal and we wouldn't swap her for the world and we are so please to have be able to give her a good home a pain free life and most of all to feel loved and I am sure Erin would be pleased to. :)
Tracy G
We rescued Millie as a 3 year old staffie/unknown cross about 7 years ago and she has transformed our lives! We'd drawn up a list of what we thought we wanted in a rescue dog before we started looking (male, under 1 year old etc) but when we came across Millie on www.dogsblog.com that list went straight out of the window as she looked like a dog who really needed rescuing and that touched our hearts.
Millie was in a bad way when we got her. She's been abused in her former life and wasn’t coping coped well in kennels (where she had been for 6 months) as she found the environment stressful. She needed a home. The kennels who had her www.tarrs.org.uk are an independent charity we stumbled across via dogsblog.com, set up by a dog warden and survive on donations - the owner rescues dogs she comes across in the course of her day job and finds them loving homes.
When we got Millie she was very skinny and you could see all of her ribs/backbone. In fact in the first few weeks before she started to put weight back on several people had a pop at us in the street for not feeding our dog properly until we explained her situation. Now Millie is a healthy and happy mature dog who turned us from a 'couple' into a 'family'. She's incredibly affectionate and charms every person she meets. And I really think Millie knows she's been rescued as she dotes on us as much as we do her and really seems to appreciate her home and all the security and comfort it brings.
Despite being 3 years old when we got her, Millie put pay to the saying ‘you can't teach an old dog new tricks' and she finished the top of her obedience classes. She's also never been destructive and is totally clean in the house and again, that's one of the plus sides of not having a puppy, the rescue centre can give you a clear indication of the personality traits of the dog you are considering so you can see how they will fit with your lives.
We can't imagine our life without Millie. I think you can often spot rescue dogs as the devotion in their eyes when they look at their owners shows how much they appreciate being given another chance. You'll never regret it.
Melissa B
Millie was in a bad way when we got her. She's been abused in her former life and wasn’t coping coped well in kennels (where she had been for 6 months) as she found the environment stressful. She needed a home. The kennels who had her www.tarrs.org.uk are an independent charity we stumbled across via dogsblog.com, set up by a dog warden and survive on donations - the owner rescues dogs she comes across in the course of her day job and finds them loving homes.
When we got Millie she was very skinny and you could see all of her ribs/backbone. In fact in the first few weeks before she started to put weight back on several people had a pop at us in the street for not feeding our dog properly until we explained her situation. Now Millie is a healthy and happy mature dog who turned us from a 'couple' into a 'family'. She's incredibly affectionate and charms every person she meets. And I really think Millie knows she's been rescued as she dotes on us as much as we do her and really seems to appreciate her home and all the security and comfort it brings.
Despite being 3 years old when we got her, Millie put pay to the saying ‘you can't teach an old dog new tricks' and she finished the top of her obedience classes. She's also never been destructive and is totally clean in the house and again, that's one of the plus sides of not having a puppy, the rescue centre can give you a clear indication of the personality traits of the dog you are considering so you can see how they will fit with your lives.
We can't imagine our life without Millie. I think you can often spot rescue dogs as the devotion in their eyes when they look at their owners shows how much they appreciate being given another chance. You'll never regret it.
Melissa B
I am lucky to have 2 whippets (1 is a lurcher) both rescues. Gem is a brindle & is nearly 5. She's not a rescue as such, just unwanted but we have given her a good home for the past 41/2 years. She's a delight - a complete wimp!
Pip made the journey from Co. Kerry in the Emerald isle to us here in Kent over a year ago now. My niece lives in Co. Kerry & , like me, is a softie for animals. Pip was found wandering around the town for a few weeks; nobody claimed her &, to cut a long story short, she made the journey to us & we haven't looked back. She's bonkers, lovable, loyal & great fun. even Gem tolerates her now!!
Elizabeth N
Pip made the journey from Co. Kerry in the Emerald isle to us here in Kent over a year ago now. My niece lives in Co. Kerry & , like me, is a softie for animals. Pip was found wandering around the town for a few weeks; nobody claimed her &, to cut a long story short, she made the journey to us & we haven't looked back. She's bonkers, lovable, loyal & great fun. even Gem tolerates her now!!
Elizabeth N
Just thought I would let you know of our rescue centre story from another perspective...
5 years ago we moved house to a large, almost isolated farm house with 1.5 acres of fenced in garden and paddock. We are on a quiet road, if 20 cars pass us it must be rush hour and my nearest neighbour is 100 yards away. it is almost always peaceful and quiet.
So after a year living here and much nagging I persuaded my ‘anti’ dog husband to get a dog. We are in our 40’s, have no small children at home, a comfortable income and I’m at home all day as a ‘kept woman’ or housewife as they used to say. Perfect people to adopt a rescue centre dog.
I’ve always had a dog in my life until I left home and my family still have dogs, but my husband is allergic to dogs so took medication when we visited family and as a compromise for me said he would build the new addition to our family a heated kennel on the patio and it could come in during the day whilst he is at work and a short time in the evening if he took his medication on his way home.
Given what my husband build our hens it wouldn’t be just a kennel. The hens have a 5* luxury pad which even has windows which they peep out of each morning.
So we set off to find a rescue dog. We were looking to take a bigger dog that had been in kennels a long time or was difficult to place that no one wanted, not fussy about the type. It would want for nothing and have the best of everything. We were honest about everything and where the dog or dogs would be kept.
Each centre, every time single time said a firm ‘NO’. We were not suitable. Dogs had to live in the house with access outside.
We were really upset as we have sponsored dogs trust and RSPCA for years, donated to many independent dog rescue centres and I support the BUAV. I wrote to the rescue centres and all I got back was a long mail basically setting out the terms and conditions.
They would much rather have the dog in a noisy, smelly, distressing, kennel environment, which in some cases only has a small, 8ft x 5ft outside run.
There is no grass to run about on when the dog pleases or endless toys from their own toy box and tasty, stinky goodies to enjoy. No rabbits or rats to chase, no holidays by the sea and don’t forget the weekly big walks on the Yorkshire moors.
The rescue centres need to rethink their policies and assess each case on a case by case base as they are stopping people like us giving a rescue dog a happy home.
It angers me no end to watch these programmes on TV where an elderly couple get a dog they physically can’t hold onto and they can be pulled over, I saw this first hand last year when they were dragged on to the road in front of my car, this happened twice and then in a car park whilst I was at the coast on a day out. The suitability of the right dog and owner never seems to come in to it on TV, big active dog for the person with mobility problems or family that wants a cute spaniel. Having had a spaniel in my youth they are non stop and kids soon get tired of walking the dog and cleaning up poo.
We gave up on our rescue centre searching in the end and eventually we turned to the internet to buy our dog. We did our research and bought a non allergy pup we could keep in the house. It was from an advert and probably a puppy farm, although it was a registered kennel club breeder.
When we arrived it was not the cute image of loving family home we had from the photos, more the thing you see in RSPCA footage, We paid and went.
Our pup was poorly at first with an ear infection and runny eyes, but after immediate treatment from the vet and almost 4 years later she is our world, spoilt rotten and loved so much i can’t bear to be away from her for more than a day.
As I type she is on high alert, on her bed by the front patio doors, she occasionally wakes from her slumber to bark at joggers and horse riders then moves to another of her many beds to either be in the sun or the shade or just watching for the post man by the front door. She leads a charmed life.
We still support the charities, but it has left a bitter taste in our mouths and as such are not as supportive as we once were.
I hope that gives you another side to the rehoming story which is not often mentioned but as I’ve talked to others I’ve found out its not so uncommon.
Well I guess it must be about time for my coffee break with a small side of gravy bone for my sleepy assistant.
Julie B
5 years ago we moved house to a large, almost isolated farm house with 1.5 acres of fenced in garden and paddock. We are on a quiet road, if 20 cars pass us it must be rush hour and my nearest neighbour is 100 yards away. it is almost always peaceful and quiet.
So after a year living here and much nagging I persuaded my ‘anti’ dog husband to get a dog. We are in our 40’s, have no small children at home, a comfortable income and I’m at home all day as a ‘kept woman’ or housewife as they used to say. Perfect people to adopt a rescue centre dog.
I’ve always had a dog in my life until I left home and my family still have dogs, but my husband is allergic to dogs so took medication when we visited family and as a compromise for me said he would build the new addition to our family a heated kennel on the patio and it could come in during the day whilst he is at work and a short time in the evening if he took his medication on his way home.
Given what my husband build our hens it wouldn’t be just a kennel. The hens have a 5* luxury pad which even has windows which they peep out of each morning.
So we set off to find a rescue dog. We were looking to take a bigger dog that had been in kennels a long time or was difficult to place that no one wanted, not fussy about the type. It would want for nothing and have the best of everything. We were honest about everything and where the dog or dogs would be kept.
Each centre, every time single time said a firm ‘NO’. We were not suitable. Dogs had to live in the house with access outside.
We were really upset as we have sponsored dogs trust and RSPCA for years, donated to many independent dog rescue centres and I support the BUAV. I wrote to the rescue centres and all I got back was a long mail basically setting out the terms and conditions.
They would much rather have the dog in a noisy, smelly, distressing, kennel environment, which in some cases only has a small, 8ft x 5ft outside run.
There is no grass to run about on when the dog pleases or endless toys from their own toy box and tasty, stinky goodies to enjoy. No rabbits or rats to chase, no holidays by the sea and don’t forget the weekly big walks on the Yorkshire moors.
The rescue centres need to rethink their policies and assess each case on a case by case base as they are stopping people like us giving a rescue dog a happy home.
It angers me no end to watch these programmes on TV where an elderly couple get a dog they physically can’t hold onto and they can be pulled over, I saw this first hand last year when they were dragged on to the road in front of my car, this happened twice and then in a car park whilst I was at the coast on a day out. The suitability of the right dog and owner never seems to come in to it on TV, big active dog for the person with mobility problems or family that wants a cute spaniel. Having had a spaniel in my youth they are non stop and kids soon get tired of walking the dog and cleaning up poo.
We gave up on our rescue centre searching in the end and eventually we turned to the internet to buy our dog. We did our research and bought a non allergy pup we could keep in the house. It was from an advert and probably a puppy farm, although it was a registered kennel club breeder.
When we arrived it was not the cute image of loving family home we had from the photos, more the thing you see in RSPCA footage, We paid and went.
Our pup was poorly at first with an ear infection and runny eyes, but after immediate treatment from the vet and almost 4 years later she is our world, spoilt rotten and loved so much i can’t bear to be away from her for more than a day.
As I type she is on high alert, on her bed by the front patio doors, she occasionally wakes from her slumber to bark at joggers and horse riders then moves to another of her many beds to either be in the sun or the shade or just watching for the post man by the front door. She leads a charmed life.
We still support the charities, but it has left a bitter taste in our mouths and as such are not as supportive as we once were.
I hope that gives you another side to the rehoming story which is not often mentioned but as I’ve talked to others I’ve found out its not so uncommon.
Well I guess it must be about time for my coffee break with a small side of gravy bone for my sleepy assistant.
Julie B