Police and RSPCA raid vet centre

Dobiegirl said:
I completely agree, its just crazy how they are allowed to carry on, openly buying dogs, Kerry CC pound no longer sending them dogs as they have no planning permission and are not fit for purpose yet they are still trading.
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Id love to know how many people donating to them are from Ireland, cause i don't think there is a person here who doesn't know what they are like.
 
equi said:
Id love to know how many people donating to them are from Ireland, cause i don't think there is a person here who doesn't know what they are like.
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No one I know in Kerry will have anything to do with AHAR so many of us have had trouble and threats from the manager there. Their latest post showing a dead dog was disgusting but brought in the euros (or maybe i should say dollars, or sterling)!
 
When did people become so stupid, gullbile and easily led? (Not talking especially of AHAR here, but also these import factories). Has fake news become so prevalent that we can no longer take the time to actually find out if anything is true?

I acknowledge the problems rehoming a British rescue, they do all seem to be staffs and lurchers, which is not what everyone wants. Also the rescue centres complete inablility to admit that a dog being shut alone in a house for 4 hours a day is not better than being in a kennel 23 hours a day. BUT why would a feral dog from the streets somewhere make a good pet? Are all these people taking on these dogs really naive first timers who think a dog who's reactions to life will be more wolf than Fido will be happy in a semi in Dunstable?
 
I`ve always been sceptical about the Romanian rescue trend. However, I`ve unexpectedly ended up with a Romanian dog. He was taken to a shelter as a pup and then brought over here to foster. Another dog in the foster was attacking him so I said I`d take him in until something permanent could be sorted. I`ve ended up keeping him as he is one of the most delightful dogs I`ve ever known. He`s gentle, loving and very eager to please. He was housetrained in two days flat and is dealing well with all the experiences of home life. The one hangover from his past life is that he`s nervous of men. But not all Romanian rescues are feral!
 
Clodagh said:
Also the rescue centres complete inablility to admit that a dog being shut alone in a house for 4 hours a day is not better than being in a kennel 23 hours a day.
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I am going to stick my head above the parapet again.

The kennel environment is extremely stressful for a great many dogs, all that barking is enough to drive anyone nuts, plus the possibility of being housed with an inappropriate dog or dogs. I know the staff do their best but with the best will in the world it is not an ideal environment.

I adopted a 9 year old Jack Russell whose owner had gone into sheltered housing. Ben was sitting staring into the corner and would not eat, and this was after he had been moved to a quieter area. He came home, ate the cats' tea and jumped on the couch like he had always lived here. (the cats ate up a height from then on :) )

My late Kitty, EBTx, had severe kennel stress. She was spinning constantly - out of her mind with distress, and housed a large dog.

and these are only two examples: there are a lot of dogs who do not do well in kennels.

I think a caring home environment is far preferable to this though I do not agree with dogs being left alone for extended periods, they need to be with their family (pack). But, just to play devil's advocate, is there a difference between someone going out to work for a few hours or someone isolating a dog from its pack for 8 hours overnight?

I was fortunate in that I worked 9-5 and my husband worked permanent nights. Technically the dogs (I only had 2 at that time) were never alone. They slept with me at night and with my husband during the day. They were walked before I went to work, when my husband got up at lunch time and again in the evening. But not everyone is lucky enough to have the same working arrangements, this should not preclude them from adopting a dog - provided they make suitable arrangements.

If someone is determined to own a dog and leave it home alone all day then they will buy a dog privately and do just that.
 
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Clodagh said:
No worries at all. I am slightly put out that I cannot find your other contentious post though?
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That is very gracious of you, Clodagh. Thank you.

Try the "just going to have a rant" thread.

I obviously have too much time on my hands, I don't know what I did before I found this forum. It has been a welcome distraction just when I needed it.

Love your comment about the man with the Labrador.
 
skinnydipper said:
I am going to stick my head above the parapet again.

The kennel environment is extremely stressful for a great many dogs, all that barking is enough to drive anyone nuts, plus the possibility of being housed with an inappropriate dog or dogs. I know the staff do their best but with the best will in the world it is not an ideal environment.

I adopted a 9 year old Jack Russell whose owner had gone into sheltered housing. Ben was sitting staring into the corner and would not eat, and this was after he had been moved to a quieter area. He came home, ate the cats' tea and jumped on the couch like he had always lived here. (the cats ate up a height from then on :) )

My late Kitty, EBTx, had severe kennel stress. She was spinning constantly - out of her mind with distress, and housed a large dog.

and these are only two examples: there are a lot of dogs who do not do well in kennels.

I think a caring home environment is far preferable to this though I do not agree with dogs being left alone for extended periods, they need to be with their family (pack). But, just to play devil's advocate, is there a difference between someone going out to work for a few hours or someone isolating a dog from its pack for 8 hours overnight?

I was fortunate in that I worked 9-5 and my husband worked permanent nights. Technically the dogs (I only had 2 at that time) were never alone. They slept with me at night and with my husband during the day. They were walked before I went to work, when my husband got up at lunch time and again in the evening. But not everyone is lucky enough to have the same working arrangements, this should not preclude them from adopting a dog - provided they make suitable arrangements.

If someone is determined to own a dog and leave it home alone all day then they will buy a dog privately and do just that.
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Your dogs would not have been alone, even if they had not slept with you/your OH, they were together! :D Which is by far the best way to keep dogs, imo.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Your dogs would not have been alone, even if they had not slept with you/your OH, they were together! :D Which is by far the best way to keep dogs, imo.
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This highlights another problem I have - only one dog at the moment! Only joking, getting another dog at the moment would not be appropriate but like you I think they benefit from the company of another dog.
 
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skinnydipper said:
This highlights another problem I have - only one dog at the moment! Only joking, getting another dog at the moment would not be appropriate but like you I think they benefit from the company of another dog.
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That is an interesting discussion on its own. I have always had German shepherds and Border collies. The collies live for work and the GSDs live to be with me. I haven't had a single dog for many years but actually think my dogs would all prefer to be only dogs. The only time they really benefit from being together is if I have to leave them alone for any length of time, and even then they don't often play or choose to stay together in the house.
 
WorkingGSD said:
That is an interesting discussion on its own. I have always had German shepherds and Border collies. The collies live for work and the GSDs live to be with me. I haven't had a single dog for many years but actually think my dogs would all prefer to be only dogs. The only time they really benefit from being together is if I have to leave them alone for any length of time, and even then they don't often play or choose to stay together in the house.
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I have pondered this. I think it depends on the personality of the dog and possibly the breed. You have more experience than me in breed specific traits, mine were an eclectic mix.

I have had a dog who I felt may have been happy to be an "only" dog but she also fitted in well with the others. I haven't had one that kept itself apart or appeared unhappy.

I was lucky in that they all got on well together and all enjoyed being part of a pack, it brought out the best in them. There were a couple whose confidence improved. Some liked to play together and some liked to sleep together, with an odd cat in the bed too. They did have space for solitude if they wished and some took advantage of that at times. My two lurchers were inseparable, sleeping and playing together. I had an extremely close bond with my previous GSD but he was also a team player. Perhaps working lines are more self sufficient, mine have all been pets.

Sully definitely benefitted from joining a happy, stable pack. I had 5 dogs when I got him. They educated him in ways that I couldn't. He learned about safe doggy interaction and to play with other dogs, tug with Kitty (she won every time) and running with the lurchers. He also learnt self control as he had to wait his turn when I threw the ball.

I am used to having a multi dog household and I miss that. When I was down to 3 I didn't get another because 2 were elderly and it would have been unfair.

Sully has adapted well to being an only dog, in fact I think he prefers to have all the attention, but perhaps he is missing the canine company and play - if only he could talk. He looked for Chloe when I came home from the vets without her, he adored her.

Although the other dogs were no trouble on a walk, I did monitor everyone and did not appreciate how much easier it is to supervise just one. If there is a silver lining, its having only one dog to clean after a muddy walk.
 
skinnydipper said:
Although the other dogs were no trouble on a walk, I did monitor everyone and did not appreciate how much easier it is to supervise just one. If there is a silver lining, its having only one dog to clean after a muddy walk.
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Yes now that I have only one small, short haired dog (a beagle) I definitely do NOT miss washing multiple very large very hairy dogs (golden retrievers)

My beagle is happy enough on his own during the day, we’ve had cameras on him and apart from occasionaly barking at the postman or tipping the bin to check for food he spends 99% of his day asleep on the sofa.
 
I think having an older, well behaved/trained adult definitely helps teach a young pup good manners when they first come home and also losing a single dog and having no dog in the house can be unbearable when your life revolves around your animal, so for those reasons alone I think I will always have two. The ideal for me is getting a pup when my current dog starts slowing down. The flip side is that dogs will often act differently when in a pack and can turn a deaf ear to their owner if the other dogs are more alluring than recalling or listening to the human!

Less mud and hair around the house and car is a definite advantage of a single dog.
 
Unfortunately, with his reactivity, Sully would not be a good example for a pup or young dog and I would not want his behaviour to be emulated. It did cross my mind to try and rehome a mature steady bitch but decided against it, his health and behaviour need my attention. I cannot imagine life without a dog.
 
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