Is it right to rescue.?

Arizahn said:
I am rehoming one of my dogs currently. She is of middle years, fit, healthy, no issues, but we are slowly falling apart physically ourselves and in the long term she will not be able to get enough exercise. Therefore we will either have to rehome or PTS.

But she will not be sent to a rescue or pound or foster care - she will be advertised via reputable rescues and kept until a suitable home is found. If a home cannot be found then we will PTS if needed. We will not send this dog into the system. Kennels and temporary homes would unsettle her, she would end up a mess. She is perfect currently, and will make a lovely family pet for someone. If we do not find a home within twelve months, then we will PTS.

To be frank, I am inclined to PTS rather than rehome. We are all she has ever known. I do not trust the human race at all. But husband is very emotionally invested and wants to try to rehome if possible. I feel that we should shuffle on as long as we can and then buy her a whole salmon to enjoy, take her for one last trip to the river, and PTS. I may still do this. We will have to see how things go.

I am not able to have another pet but if I were, then I would not take on a rescue unless direct from its previous home, and only then if I knew that it was a genuinely decent animal without dangerous issues. We have owned several rescues and have done our share of dealing with the ones that bite, thank you. Not sure what Dogs Trust are like, but do know that some of our local rescues and pounds give out seriously ill and occasionally actually dangerous animals.

And I actually hate the CPL. They are currently devoting ££££££s to rehoming an entire feral cat colony, but refused to take on ONE spayed female cat because she was not friendly enough. She was not friendly, as her previous owner mishandled her. She has since become very friendly, but the CPL can go whistle.

I do not have any issues with PTS - as someone with a degenerative health issue, I would actually prefer to have the option for myself as well. Yes, a mass cull of rescue animals would not go amiss. They have no quality of life in kennels. Many will be there for their entire lives. Barking/yowling and being ignored. But imo the charities make a lot of money out of housing them, so this is unlikely to happen.

To hell with it. Dog has been ours since a pup. We promised a home for life. I will push on and walk her myself until I am no longer able to, and then do the responsible thing by her. I will not like it, but at least I will not lie awake at night wondering if she is happy or safe. I now need to inform the people involved that we are not rehoming after all. Do not speak to me of dog walkers for hire. I am still gibbering over that debacle.

Am off the fence and standing by my principles. As who can tell if her new home would be for life? They could fall ill too, or suffer redundancy, etc. Maybe we all need to stop rescuing. Yes, step in and stop cruelty/neglect, quit breeding, but actually if we have a pet then for life should include PTS when you can no longer care for it. Not because it is no longer cute, etc, but if you actually physically cannot provide for it, then PTS. You have no way to protect that animal once you give it away.

I think the whole TV appeals through the 80s and 90s about rescue animals have brainwashed us as a culture into fearing PTS.
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I just wanted to send you a humongous hug xxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Big hug from me too I had my dog PTS because she had a nervous breakdown, you would have thought she was a fit healthy and happy girl until there was a loud noise when she became a gibbbering, self mutilating wreck. So I took her for a long walk in the spring sunshine played ball with her galloping about in the sun and took her and PTS straight there from the field we were playing in. Broke my heart but it was for her own good, I know someone may think they would have been able to do something but she spent large amounts of time sedated as she was terrified by fireworks, shoots and the hoover and any other loud sound you can think o.f So my beautiful Golden girl went to sleep and was relieved of that suffering. Same with my naughty but very young pony, he will never leave me alive if I cant do the best by him he will be shot, no question and again no doubt someone will think it a dreadful thing to do but he isnt safe near children and is a child size pony, so I will not pass the risk of someone deciding to use him as a kids pony, PTS is the only way for him. My horse of a lifetime I have had since a baby and she is approaching her twenties again if I cant look after her to the very high standards I have she will be PTS the only one I would and could sell would be her daughter who is more than capable of being someones horse of a lifetime and is a little superstar if a bit onward bound
 
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I tend to buy puppies from breeders rathen than rescue, but I think that's a valid question Goldenstar.

I think the biggest problem is with buying direct from the crappy dealer/puppy farmer. That just feeds the bad practices. I am astounded at how many people still buy from puppy farms either because they don't know any better under experience teaches them or because they feel sorry for the pups (not on here but more on Mumsnet where there are less animal savy people). I imagine if I saw the pups I would be in tears, but I think the trick is to avoid them, report them to the authorities and not feed their business with money in the hopes they will give up.

Over here there are still a lot of people who 'save' horses from the meatman. My vet (for Christ's sake!) just bought a 2.5 yo filly from the meat market so that she could grown up with her 2.5 yo son and they could learn together (equine vet btw). If someone posted such a story here we would think she was a troll!

Rehoming from rescue centres is slightly different because the dealers are not profiting directly but as long as people can breed and forget about the animals the problem will continue. IMO all pets should be microchipped and should always revert to the responsibility of the breeder if the owner does not want them (i.e. breeder should pay kennel fees/livery, re-training fees, re-homing fees) - that would stop people from breeding although I am not sure how practical it would be to carry out.
 
You see lots of people do take rescues who will never be good riding horses but they keep horses as pets , while I may think that's barking I accept that's it's not wrong if you look after the horse well and I have to tell you many do look after them well god knows what they get out of there huge expensive lawn mowers I don't know .
But just I can't see the point of taking on a large animal just to look after it does not mean its not a valid thing for someone else to do.
Being a welfare officer shook my ideas of what was right and wrong .
 
Who takes a rescue that has issues and can never be ridden ? I get the impression from some posters that they think these people are bleeding hearts with no idea.
Of course, that can be true, but equally, I think every yard I have ever been on, had one or several, horses that had fallen on hard times.

Some of these were abandoned by former liveries, some were bought from markets and some found their way by word of mouth.

I have always been enormously impressed by experienced, professional YO's (and racehorse trainers) who give a bit back to the horseworld.
 
I have a rescue pony who has issues and can never be ridden. he's on loan to me from a reputable charity.
The reasons I wanted to do this were:
1) I needed a companion for my riding pony
2) I don't have time to ride two.
3) If there comes a time when I can no longer care for this pony, the charity will take him back.
I hope he will be with me for many years, he is only 9 and could live another 25 years and I'd be happy if those years were spent here with me. He's enormous fun and makes me smile every day, even when I'm feeling very low; just for that he earns his keep.
 
I have over the past few years rescued a number of horses which were in terrible trouble, and I will endeavour with all my of will never to do so again. I did it because there was no other option for them, and all the horses are now safe, well, and in good homes. I am glad I had the opportunity to help these horses, but the emotional and financial costs were huge. I see more and more horses needing help, what will happen to them?

Years ago horses were very expensive to purchase and keep, therefore mostly the prerogative of the wealthy. Nowadays it is much easier for just about anyone to have a horse, is this a good thing? I don't think it is.
 
The situation with dogs and horses is not inconsistent at all. The message is buy from responsible breeder or rehome from a legitimate rescue. Don't buy from bin end breeders or backyard rescues. And don't kid yourself that buying a poor animal is rescuing.

No one is suggesting there is anything wrong with rehoming a horse that is healthy and useful from say bransby or whw.
 
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
 
cobgoblin said:
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
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Not always the case. The SSPCA 'sells' the horse to you - you sign a transfer of ownership and it becomes yours. That's how I got my boy. He is 100% mine, my name on his passport, from a legitimate rescue organisation. But I don't look on it as 'rescuing' - I look upon it as he was a nice stamp of horse that would need retraining but had a nice temperament and good movement, that was well within my budget.
 
But has a rescue got to bed one by a charity why can't a group do people get together to solve an issue.
One of mine is such a horse the lady I got him from was part of a group of people who dealt with a fairly large issue themselves why is that not right .
I would never take a horse from a charity as I will never have a horse where the PTS desision is not mine and mine alone .
 
Yes if I knew I would do it right I would pull the trigger I adore my animals but the quality of life is the paramount consideration I would be very very upset if I thought anyone would lift a harsh hand to mine. Or they wouldnt get the good food and medical care they get now so if that couldnt be guaranteed I would pull the trigger or at least make sure I was there when they did
 
cobgoblin said:
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
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I'm not hard assed enough to think it's ok for poorly bred horses to be neglected or abandoned.
There's worse things than the bullet.
 
Horsesforever1 said:
I've recently been thinking about all the unwanted horses and ponies there are. British horse magaizne has an article about overbreeding etc. Tom Price is said to own about 2500 animals and there are also others with lots of horses. Is it right that welfare organisations should be picking up the pieces? Why should the general horse owning public be asked to rehome these unwanted animals? The responsibility lies with the owner and breeder, not with anyone else.
I do wonder if WHW Redwings etc etc are really helping the situation. They are helping individual horses without doubt, but if the owners had to keep the animals they have bred and cant sell, and keep them to a decent standard of welfare, surely that would be better in stopping further indescriminate breeding as it would hit them in their pocket where it hurts.
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I think it's completely right to rescue a horse from an organisation where no money has been passed to the breeder/owner. Having a rescue pony myself he is the best pony, real quality but unfortunate that he ended up in the wrong hands (and not by the breeder) when he was young.

If the breeder/owner is given no monetary reward then I cannot see how rescuing it is perpetuating the cycle. Leaving it and insisting the owner 'sort' the problem only leads to the animals suffering....
 
To tackle over breeding I feel strict identification laws similar to cattle NEED to be implemented. Then if a field of horses without identification is located or the identification is not registered (i.e chip) then they are pts on site (as I believe cattle are now) or seized (if financial support to do so) this must be policed by the legal authority (i.e animal health department of local council). This I feel alone would have an impact as the owners and breeders would be traceable. Then once traceability has been established you can look at setting a fee for breeding i.e £10 per foal born etc??
 
At the moment council animal control officers can seize stray or loose animals.
If these are dogs there is a standard fee for their return or they can be sold after seven days - maybe this should be applied to equines too.
 
cobgoblin said:
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
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I've always stayed with all my animals until the last minute when PTS, but no I am not a vet so I am not about to go round giving intravenous lethal injections.

If it counts though when I saw a kitten run over by a car, the owner of which saw what happened, came out of her car and then promptly drove off leaving the kitten squashed and bleeding from every orifice I did euthanise the animal with my own two hands using a diaper - hard-assed enough for you?
 
cobgoblin said:
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
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I have an RSPCA pony and ownership is passed to you after 6 months. The pony is an absolute gem, turns heads anywhere he goes etc. ridden by my children too off lead! Couldn't have asked for more in a pony. And by rehoming from the RSPCA it frees them up to accept another horse into their care. A horse which would otherwise continue to suffer where it is.... :(
 
I don't think a cull would be done by lethal injection. More likely to be captive bolt and more similar to the foot and mouth or BSE scenes.
 
so what is wrong with a cull? We have a population of horses and ponies that as grown to extent they sell in some cases about the same as a monthly horse mag. We have a population of poor badly bred animals that a child could buy with thier weekly pocket money. We have to stop the indiscrimate breeding but how i have no idea. But also we have to look at stopping the suffering that just seems to be getting worse. not 1 or 2 animals but herds at a time. so cull them if you want to use the word cull. but at end of day by far worse can happen to horse than being slaughtered/culled/PTS. I have seen the worse man can do to horses in regrads to neglect and suffering and death would have been a relief to those poor souls before we(large rescue charity) stepped in. bit of rant sorry but very passionate about how things are at mo :(
 
FrankieCob said:
And what happens in my instance? Good job, can easily afford the horses etc. Then I had an accident and fractured my spine, all of a sudden I'm living on £85 a week and having to pay £50 a week towards my rent out of that. I couldnt go back to work, I couldnt walk! I had to rely on other people to look after my horses and use what money I had saved to pay for them. I was lucky, at that point I had 2 horses living out, I'd previously had as many as 5. I was also very lucky to have good friends who took over their care as for the first 2 months at least, I was smacked out of my tiny little mind on heavy duty painkillers. I couldnt have made a decision about anything, never mind what to do with the horses! By the time the money ran out (I couldnt work for nearly 9 months and then only part time) I was at least aware enough to be able to sort the situation myself even if I did without food and heating till I was back on my feet
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Yes, but you took them on when you were in happier circumstances (sorry to hear about your accident). I was talking about people who don't have the money to care for a horse properly to start with, not responsible owners who find themselves in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own.
 
cobgoblin said:
What a hard-assed bunch you are . I wonder if you'd be so keen on culling if you had to pull the trigger! But here's another thought for you, I would never re-home from a charity because the horse would never belong to me. That thought alone would always make me stand a little way away with my affection and commitment to the animal.
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I could stand and pull that trigger - because I would KNOW FOR SURE that that animal will never have to suffer at the hands of people who just don't care about it's welfare, maybe starving to death or being hit by a car while wandering around a housing estate, or just as bad it could end up with do gooders being kept 3 feet deep in it's own filth in a garden shed....

I believe if we didn't have such a big tabboo about horsemeat in this country the situation may not have got as dire as it has. I will probably get totally lynched for this but if owners of these bin end ponies were able to get a return for then PROVIDED they were delivered to the slaughterhouse in good condition, we wouldn't have ponies abandoned and fly grazed all over the place, dare I say that the meat could easily go to the pet food trade or even be used in cheap ready meals provided that it was HONESTLY labelled as horse meat?? Horse meat is lean and nutritious so why not? and these hill ponies are not medicated in any way....

These poor ponies would be much better off PTS in the long run and even now that option is becoming tabboo in itself, I find that very worrying. Mine will all be PTS at home when the time comes.

I would support a cull, but what about an amesty too?? Maybe if people could have an option to have free destruction and disposal of any old, infirm, tempermentally unsuitable, or badly put together equines with no job or no hope of being sound enough to do one in the future were able to have them humanely destroyed for a very small cost, would that not be a way forward too??

The licensing of stallions is a total joke with some breed societies too - surely stallions should have some sort of performance record?? To be able to licence and breed from a 2 year old unproven colt is ridiculous!!

I don't think the problem will ever go away as usual it's the good, responsible breeders that will think to cut back, leave mares barren and geld the majority of their colts, but the bin end dealers will carry on as normal, churning out hundreds of unwanted equines.. I think if this £100 horse licence ever came in, it would be the final nail in the coffin for me as a horse owner and mine would be PTS on a fine sunny day.
 
40 years ago (nearly) my parents bought a 12 year old ride and drive gelding for my sister and me. He cost 180 pounds. His equivalent went through York sales recently, for less than we paid for him then. Back then we had a local horse abbatoir, which also dealt with fallen stock. This abbatoir did a fantastic job, paying for dead weight for unwanted animals. The abbatoir closed, as did many others following the introduction of new rules. It closed as the firm could not afford to upgrade the facility. Itis now a pet crematorium, which still provides an escellent service to pet owners, it now costs for the owners to have their animals euthenased. If there were the opportunity for breeders of less useful animals to sell to small local abbatoirs, then the current crisis would be considerably reduced.
 
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