Concerns about a rescue centre

TelH

TelH

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OH and I have 3 dogs already but we have been looking for another one, we found the website of a fairly local rescue centre and they had a little terrier like what we are looking for.

So we went this afternoon to look at the dog. But I was really concerned about the state of the place, it was like a grooming parlour but really dirty and the floor was all wet and when they opened the door the smell just hit you. And we weren't allowed to see where the dogs were kept, they just went through a door and brought them out. The dog we looked at had matted hair on his back end, he appears to have no problem with being handled so I was thinking why haven't they taken the time to tidy the little chap up.

Anyway, we are going to take this little one, he should come home in a couple of days. But I have been in rescue places in the past and never seen anything like this one before. I am wondering what sort of checks these places have to go through and wondering how the heck this place would pass. I googled them a bit more when we got back, I won't say their name but they are a reg charity and I didn't find anything bad about them online. But I am wondering if they should be reported and if so who to. Something about the place just didnt feel right to me
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What does he 'come' with in terms of shots, health provisions made for him?

If they haven't provided this, have they made you sign something saying that you will get these things done within a certain time frame?

Have you had to sign any sort of contract at all?

Have they asked you for any sort of adoption fee or sponsorship money?

Did they do a home check or quiz you about his potential living conditions?

Smelliness, poor grooming and not letting you see where the dogs are kept would set alarm bells ringing for me, I'm afraid.
 
They say he will be vax and chipped before he goes. We had no home check, they mentioned doing one but then decided OH can just go in to pick him up. We took our 3 dogs in to have a look at him today, there were no disagreements between them and the new one which was good. There's no contract, we just had to give our name, address and phone number, pay a deposit which we did get a receipt for, and then pay the balance of the adoption fee when he is collected. I think a visit to the vet pretty soon will be in order anyway to get him a general health check. But I just found this place a little worrying and didn't know what to do about it.
 
I am sorry but I have no idea who to report it to but there would be no harm in calling someone (perhaps someone can advise) to ask them to go in and do an unnanounced spot check.

I certainly wouldn't take a puppy from someone who wouldn't let me see the living quarters, and a rescue even less so.

I know you have obviously fallen for him but I wouldn't support somewhere like that. The fact that they are just trusting you to be who you say you are and live the way you told them you do is a wee bit worrying (not saying you would lie!!!)
Is he neutered or are they expecting him to be neutered?

Did the adoption fee prompt a sudden intake of breath or does it seem reasonable?
 
As far as I am aware there is nothing to stop anyone setting up as a rescue - there certainly isn't in the horse world. The fact that they have a charity number places limits on what they can do with regards to funding, trading etc but places no requirements on them for animal care.

I would call the RSPCA and ask their advice - if nothing else it will flag up the problem to them.
 
Where's Cayla when you need her? I'm sure she could offer you some advice as to who to contact about this rescue centre, does sound a bit dodgy, but as Hopalongandhen says anyone can set up as a rescue
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He is not neutered, they never even mentioned it, but I will get him done anyway. They said he was picked up by the dog warden in another town and thats how they got him but I am wary of believing anything they said. I looked at other adoption places for their cost and this one is on the high side but not the highest I found. I found it worrying too that they are just trusting what we say, I mean we did give genuine address etc but we could have said anything. I don't really want to support a place like that but now we have seen him I just figured its one less dog who will have to spend Christmas in a place like that.
 
Why don't you contact the local council to check out the authenticity of the 'dog warden' story and then - if it is true - you can express your concerns to them and put in a formal complaint re them placing animals in such poor conditions. Once formal complaints are put in then councils have to investigate and follow their own complaints system.

The problem with the RSPCA off their own backs is that they never seem to DO anything - but with a Council breathing down their necks it may be that they do. They certainly like to be SEEN to be doing something......
 
They could be traiding .....this means they would take on dog free to home, they then get them and basically sell them out, this is common and they will call themselves rescues.
The following need to be contacted to inspect the premises.

Environmental health
Local authority
RSPCA, I know these useles but they do need to be made aware so they can be inspected.

please do so, there could be animals in there needing medical treatment, or they could be in a state, it's not uncommon for rescues to struggle and not ask for help and the animals be in horrific condition, dying or dead, it happened on a rescue forum I go on recently and we where all shocked as we had no clue.

If you want to PM me.....I am discrete, I may be aware of have heard of the rescue , obs my mam has a big rescue......the only reason we would say, u cannot see the dogs, is if the particular dog was not suitable so no need but some of ours are in foster homes and some in our indoor kennel area which people are welcome to see, kennel dogs can smell a little wiffey
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but a bath sharp sorts that(but not stinking rotten
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, but they should be in good bodily condition, if these dogs where indoors, sounds like they are crated....which is no big issue, but to smell of urine, suggests they are pishing possibly in the crate, so no out door access
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As suggested the local authority/environmental health will be on them [****] hot........my mam has been inspected by both, me too for my business.....they are pretty thorough.
Make sure u describe the room and it's whereabouts on the property, so they cannot hide it or avoid letting local authority in.

Do they offer a return policy.......maybe this is why they don't use contracts.
Don't like how they don't neuter
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Some rescues don't home check....I find that biazarre, I want to see where our dogs go to see the environment is suitable.
 
I used to walk dogs for a rescue centre I was a bit iffy about - the kennels were very ramshackle and the whole place stank, and the dogs were fed not only on donated dog food, but also bread, sausage rolls etc that they would get stale from as local bakery. They did ask questions about potential homes, but didn't do home checks, and they did make people sign an adoption contract but I don't know what was on the contract. I just didn't like the feel of the place, it seemed quite odd and unprofessional, so I stopped volunteering there very quickly.
 
Thanks for replies, new little chap is home, he had 2nd part of vax yesterday and has been chipped, his coat has been sorted out too. He is having a few weeks to get settled then he is going to get booked in to have his bits chopped. I informed people of my concerns so leaving it up to them now.
 
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