A Query, Rescue dogs looking for new homes

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Dobiegirl

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Why is it that there are thousands of rescue dogs looking for homes yet a newspaper article publishing an article about a starving neglected dog receives hundreds of offers to of a home.


What does this say about the gp and should rescues fabricate stories in order for their dogs to get a chance of a home.
 
This forum is a prime example of this sort of 'trend'.

As soon as a sob story is published, people want the 'glory' (for want of a better word) of 'rescuing' said animal. Harsh, but unfortunately true IMO.
 
Agree with you, it is hard to understand. However people who respond to an emotive story might not be the best home. Those who make a considered decision and approach a rescue to take on a dog are probably more reliable. But for the poor dog it is a lottery, all such a waste and so sad.
 
I think the general public are simply not aware of what goes on just down the road from them, thanks to slick marketeering.

Rescue a dog from Rom...someothercountry for £400 who was probably happy enough with his Stig of the Dump lifestyle...before he was transported hundreds of miles over land and sea in a van and expected to instantly become a perfect pet dog in a surburban home, where he is now traumatised with the sounds of pots and pans, and wants to bolt at every given chance (but hey, doesn't it give ya a rosy glow?!)

......or pop down to your local pound and pay £40 for a dog who has seven days to live (no sob story, just unwanted or stray), before the needle goes in.
 
It's always been that way. A good newspaper story or better still, tv program tugs heartstrings or appeals to people as the animal is a kind of celebrity. :rolleyes:

Even if well-intended, such people are responding to sentiment at best and it's not the best way of assuring a good home. :(
 
FionaM12 said:
It's always been that way. A good newspaper story or better still, tv program tugs heartstrings or appeals to people as the animal is a kind of celebrity. :rolleyes:

Even if well-intended, such people are responding to sentiment at best and it's not the best way of assuring a good home. :(
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Yep, its worked for the RSPCA in the past but im not sure it does anymore as people are turning on them in their droves.
A sad story does pull at the heart strings, and makes people want to make that particular animals life better or possibly give money to help it, which I guess is good for rescue as they get needed funds, but I would expect them not to pick and choose for the sake of that (sadly they/some do)
 
Moomin1 said:
The story is not the problem Dobiegirl, it's the people who jump on the story for glory that are.:rolleyes:
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It depends really as some just do it the glory of the story lol, otherwise they would not bother wasting the flash on the camera.
I thinks that's what DG means, people just want to help I guess, they see something in a horrendous state and want to be its saviour (and that's what the story is getting at),some rescues/RSPCA will use as a marketing ploy to get funds/look like heroes, but I guess that's the name of the game sadly.
 
A lovely local dog charity had a hard to home JRT. :( The Sun featured him in a story, which got lots of interest and people came forward, but the charity felt none of them were suitable.

A few months later, a good home was found for him through the usual channels.

I suppose there was no harm in trying the national newspaper approach, and no harm was done because the charity are very careful to match rescue dogs to suitable new owners. :)
 
That is indeed correct Cayla what I was thinking, people on this forum and other sites are all saying the same thing as regards the RSPCA unless its high profile the RSPCA dont want to know. Meanwhile hardworking rescues visit the pounds and try to help save as many lives as possible.

As regards the people who apply to rehome the publicised cruelty cases Im sure some are genuine and loving homes are found for them, no rescue wants a dog to bounce so vet each offer carefully, weeding out the fame seekers. It just intrigues me that there are genuine homes out there but they dont feel the need to adopt until they see a publicised case which pulls at their heart strings.
 
CAYLA said:
It depends really as some just do it the glory of the story lol, otherwise they would not bother wasting the flash on the camera.
I thinks that's what DG means, people just want to help I guess, they see something in a horrendous state and want to be its saviour (and that's what the story is getting at),some rescues/RSPCA will use as a marketing ploy to get funds/look like heroes, but I guess that's the name of the game sadly.
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Surely the fact that cruelty and neglect is being put in the public eye is not a bad thing?! I struggle to understand that people don't realise that.

Most large welfare organisations advertise using examples of the work they do. How is that bad? They need money to help what they do. How about the likes of Red Cross etc who show painful footage of starving children in third world countries? The only difference is that people cannot 'adopt' those children in most instances.

The fact that these stories then bring all and sundry to attempt to 'rehome' them is a completely separate issue to that of putting the story out there - it doesn't mean that the organisation/charity in question will automatically rehome to those people. They should choose wisely and rehome to those that are suitable.
 
Dobiegirl said:
That is indeed correct Cayla what I was thinking, people on this forum and other sites are all saying the same thing as regards the RSPCA unless its high profile the RSPCA dont want to know. Meanwhile hardworking rescues visit the pounds and try to help save as many lives as possible.

As regards the people who apply to rehome the publicised cruelty cases Im sure some are genuine and loving homes are found for them, no rescue wants a dog to bounce so vet each offer carefully, weeding out the fame seekers. It just intrigues me that there are genuine homes out there but they dont feel the need to adopt until they see a publicised case which pulls at their heart strings.
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Really?!! Really?!! Are you actually saying that the RSPCA only EVER intervene when it is a high profile case?

http://www.rspca.org.uk/media/news/story/-/article/Cruelty_stats_April13

I also suppose that you can find high profile media coverage of the 130,695 animals rescued in 2012?

I suppose of course, this is all fabricated! :rolleyes:

Finally, 'hardworking rescues' that go out and 'rescue' dogs from pounds..what else do they actually do?!! What about every other species? Do they go out and prosecute dog fighters/cock fighters/people who burn animals alive etc etc?
 
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Moomin1 said:
Surely the fact that cruelty and neglect being put in the public eye is not a bad thing?! I struggle to understand that.

Most large welfare organisations advertise using examples of the work they do. How is that bad? They need money to help what they do.

The fact that these stories then bring all and sundry to attempt to 'rehome' them is a completely separate issue to that of putting the story out there - it doesn't mean that the organisation/charity in question will automatically rehome to those people. They should choose wisely and rehome to those that are suitable.
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I agree the rescue/charities do need that publicity and the funds such an article/story can bring and to bring to light the job they do (if indeed they did the job), but not at their own picking and choosing is my point.

We all go slightly on and off topic, that's the good part:D

Indeed, the rescue should go on the those the right home.
 
Well im waiting for a particular story to come out and should wait in anticipation;) (I hope im not let down) yeah sorry I have to say they do pick and chose sadly.

But as the main topic, I get the point that say one starved lurcher hits the paper and 20 people enquire when there are 20 lurchers sitting in a lurcher rescue who would fit the bill other than they where not starved:(
 
CAYLA said:
I agree the rescue/charities do need that publicity and the funds such an article/story can bring and to bring to light the job they do (if indeed they did the job), but not at their own picking and choosing is my point.

We all go slightly on and off topic, that's the good part:D

Indeed, the rescue should go on the those the right home.
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Agree Cayla - but of course EVERY media outlet will pick and choose what the public will find 'juicy', just like the celeb mags etc etc. Statistics should be the key here. Not biased media coverage.

Also, on the other hand, the likes of any charity or rescue are not going to try and raise funds without portraying the worst of the work that they carry out, are they?
 
Moomin1 said:
Really?!! Really?!! Are you actually saying that the RSPCA only EVER intervene when it is a high profile case?

http://www.rspca.org.uk/media/news/story/-/article/Cruelty_stats_April13

I also suppose that you can find high profile media coverage of the 130,695 animals rescued in 2012?

I suppose of course, this is all fabricated! :rolleyes:

Finally, 'hardworking rescues' that go out and 'rescue' dogs from pounds..what else do they actually do?!! What about every other species? Do they go out and prosecute dog fighters/cock fighters/people who burn animals alive etc etc?
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For a start most rescues do not have the luxury of funds that the RSPCA have, the RSPCA have pts so many dogs which come under the RSPCAs remit of rescue.

As regards other species if you are talking about wildlife people like Secretworld do this on a budget and do not have the funds to prosecute, the RSPCA will use the info from them to prosecute and use the publicity to generate more money for them not the rescue who are left paying the vets bill.

Cant believe you are asking what else hardworking rescues do apart from saving dogs from pounds, I will tell you as you obviously dont know, they rescue ex breeding bitches from puppy farmers, they take in old ugly dogs, they take in dogs when their owner becomes homeless, they take in Staffies, they take in sick dogs that need a lot of vet care all this without the money of the RSPCA, I think that is enough dont you:rolleyes:
 
Yep. Pretty much the same as the RSPCA then. Only difference being, RSPCA are the only ones who have the funds to prosecute aswell.
 
Maybe going off on a tangent here Moomin, as you do know a lot about the organisation, a point from another thread where a poster claims that an RSPCA kennel near her will not release a husky to a mushing home and the organisation as a whole is not keen on dogs working? Is this true and if so, why on earth would the organisation be opposed to dogs doing the jobs they were originally intended to do? So many dogs, especially working breeds, become much more happy and settled (my own included) when they are given an 'occupation' (within reason, I am sure bull baiting would not be on the list!!!)
I just found it ironic as the reason so many huskies wind up in rescue is because they are not allowed to or their owners cannot be bothered doing with them, the things that they are so strongly genetically inclined to do....pulling and running over long distances...it's what they are 'for'.

Working homes and pet homes are not mutually exclusive, I train my dog every day for sport and he is lying here snoozing at my feet.
 
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CaveCanem said:
......or pop down to your local pound and pay £40 for a dog who has seven days to live (no sob story, just unwanted or stray), before the needle goes in.
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This might sound really naive but I thought rescues in the UK only put down dogs they cant rehome due to severe behavioural problems or old age?
 
Rescues and council pounds are two different things in most council areas.

Here, the councils take stray or unwanted pets (surrenders or dogs picked up roaming by dog warden) and they can have as little as seven days in which to be reclaimed or sold before PTS.
Dogs which are aggressive, or are of certain breeds, don't fare very well.

The pounds are council run facilities where roaming or unwanted dogs are housed, not dog rescues and they do not have limitless resources. It's not the fault of the council or the council staff (and I know plenty of dog wardens who hate some of their job) that dogs die, it's the fault of those who let their animals stray or dump/surrender them.

Lots of councils publicise the dogs they have in on their website, work with rescues, let volunteers come in and take pics and share them or allow rescues to take away dogs they think they have a high chance of rehoming. Any member of the public can come in and buy/rehome an unwanted/surrendered dog.

But basically, in a lot of council areas, if you drop your dog off at the pound thinking he will get a nice home in the country within days, he will have an equally good chance of being dead within the week.

A local rescue updates Facebook with council pound dog pictures every week and it is always a mad scramble to get dogs out, every week. Lots of young dogs and pups, lots of 'trendy' breeds. And the next week, the kennels are full again.
 
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As CaveCanem says the council pounds have to hold a stray for 7 days and then space may be needed for the next stray to come in. Many pounds do try to find homes but many people seem afraid to adopt from pounds - ok you have no history but you have more idea than with a street dog from Eastern Europe.
It doesn't help when some, shall I call them, commercial rescues are bring in dogs by the van load when their local dog warden is having to pts dogs every week.
 
The line between rescue and pound can often be a bit blurred as well - for example, Battersea is technically a council pound. Our local council pound has a no-kill policy and basically operates as a rescue.
 
s4sugar said:
As CaveCanem says the council pounds have to hold a stray for 7 days and then space may be needed for the next stray to come in. Many pounds do try to find homes but many people seem afraid to adopt from pounds - ok you have no history but you have more idea than with a street dog from Eastern Europe.
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If concerned about taking on an unknown quantity then can opt to get an assessed dog (either to adopt or foster) through a rescue that takes on pound dogs as that free's up a space to save another. My foster was picked up as a stray in a poor state she's a great dog and is sad that many like her end up pts.
 
Tbh I'm shocked! I'm going to look up and see my local councils policy on putting strays and unwanteds to sleep. Mainly because if they do have a PTS policy - they aren't doing nearly enough to publicise the dogs dogs they have that urgently need homes!
 
Moppet all it takes is someone with a camera phone and a Facebook account to drop in once a week for half an hour if they are not doing so already, it could make all the difference.

Template is usually along the lines of:

These are some of the dogs currently in *** Pound who are waiting to be reclaimed or rehomed. For more info please contact the pound directly on ****. Opening times ****. Please note these dogs are not in our centre/in my home.

Akita, female, 9 months old. Unwanted pet
Red Setter, Female. Stray

Etc etc etc.
 
Moppet, What do you expect the pound to do? They may have a dozen dogs or more a day coming in and they have to find space for new intakes for 7 days. With no homes and no space their choices are limited.
The council does pay for the dogs for this statutory period but many pounds keep dogs as long as possible on their own time.

Don't blame the clean up crew - blame the ones who dump the dogs.
 
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