Rehoming without being homechecked?

[Bounty]

Very strange question I know, but is there anyway of rehoming a dog without going through extensive homechecks/interviews?

My nan is still reeling from the loss of her dog in October, and it has played a large part in her having a breakdown. She is now agrophobic and will have panic attacks at the thought of meeting anyone new, and sometimes even people she does know already. She'd love to have another dog, but can't/won't deal with puppy training all over again, so would prefer an older, smaller dog. She would love to rehome a dog from a shelter, but is already reducing herself to intense vomitting at the thought of going through the homehecks - and even leaving the house to choose a dog would be a really big issue for her

So, is there any way of skipping the homecheck stage, or if we (the rest of the family; her husband, daughter and husband, two granchildren) approached a shelter and explained the situation, is there any possibility that the property and the rest of the family be homechecked without them needing to speak to her?

I know it sounds bizarre, but I'm not sure where to start looking, or if there is any point even?

 

[ridebumble]

Personally I don't think your Nan would be a suitable candidate for a dog, if she can't go out at all how can she take the dog out? If an emergency happens what about going to the vet?

I really sympathise with your Nan for losing her last dog, but I think trying to settle a rescue dog (potentially with traumatic past) in this stressful environment would be a bad idea



I hope she recovers swiftly

 

[MarleyandDarcy]

I'm not sure....... but how will the dog get walked?
That will be there first and most obvious question I'd of thought.
Or does she live with the rest of the family? In which case you might get round it....... if you went to an independent rescue centre rather than RSPCA...

 

[angela_l_b]

Leaving aside the issue of how she will walk the dog...

When we got our dog we went to a local shelter (not the big ones like RSPCA or Blue Cross) as this were the only place that accepted we work full time but that as both my husband and i can work from home some of the time, our dog isn't actually at home alone very much. The RSPCA and Blue Cross just wouldn't consider us.

Anyway, the local place didn't do a homecheck, they just asked a lot of questions and agreed that we could look after a dog. We were quite happy for a homecheck to take place but they just didn't have the resources to do them in every case. Maybe it's worth looking locally at small shelters rather than the big ones, as they may be more sympathetic. It's not very local for you, but this is the one we used.

http://www.dogrescue.org.uk/bdr

 

[Bounty]

Sorry, should have elaborated!
Nan lives here with us, in an annexe to our own house. We have a smallholding, so all dogs (we have 3 dogs here already, though they are very active - 2 ollies and a collie x springer - and she predominantly wants a house companion) are free to hoon around in a secure 4 acres. Our land backs on to a huge fruit farm, so the dogs are walked around there.

 

[ridebumble]

Well thats a little different then , can't you the family go to a rescue and get a dog for your Nan?
If there is a home visit required then there would be no reason for them to see your Nan is she is in her Granny flat, simply show them your house and the grounds

 

[Gooby]

our local rescue centre where my last 3 dogs have come from do not home check so maybe have a look around your local ones?

 

[MurphysMinder]

Have a look at www.dogpages.org.uk. They have a section on their forum for private homings, which has loads of posts from individuals looking to rehome dogs. If you could find someone fairly local I am sure you could explain your Nans situation. There is also a homes offered thread which you could perhaps post on.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Not quite relevant perhaps after you explained your living arrangements, but to me it sounded as if your Nan did take her old dog out, but after it died she developed agoraphobic and panic attacks or at least that's when it got really bad?
If that's the case, I've heard of lots of cases where owners that would more or less never do certain things for themselves, would still for example take their dog to their vet, because that is not about them it's about the dog. If that makes any sense.

Hope you find a dog for your Nan.

 

[Thistle]

Sounds like you nan would be ideal for a dog whose elderly owners maybe have to go in to a home.

I would contact small local rscues and ask around.

I know the Cinnamon dogs Trust help elderly people to keep their dogs by providing help but I wonder if they know of a dog that needs a home because the owners have become too frail. May be worth asking

 

[Rachelashleigh]

Hi, When i worked in a rescue we used to homecheck everyone. Most rescues should homecheck, but dog pounds do not homecheck, but they are not assessed like a rescue assesses them, they are not neutered, chipped etc unless they have already been done before entering the pound or unless they work alongside dogs trust, then they get the chips either for free or very cheap and they only usually have the first part of the vax and sometimes they only get the parvo jab. Tofind your local pound call your council.

Have you looked at Oldies club?
Hope this helps.

 

[Bounty]

Sorry for the delay in replying!

Angela - Thanks for that info. There seem to be quite a number of small shelters fairly locally, so will try them. We had already discounted the RSPCA, Blue Cross etc because of their reputation for having 100 hoops to jump through before allowing you to take a dog. I can see why they do, but at the same time it is easier to just go and buy a puppy straight out, which doesn't help the cases of the 100's of dogs that need rehoming..... gosh, will stop rambling now!

ridebumble - we had thought about getting us homechecked and not saying anything about Nan at all, but would perhaps seem rather odd that we were looking for an older small breed when we already have 3 very fit, active medium sized dogs? Would have a better chance of finding the right dog if we could be honest about it being a companion for an elderly lady too...

Kwinstanley - will do, thanks

MurphyMinder - had already browsed some of DogPages before you posted that, but thank you for highlighting the private section for me as I hadn't noticed it before you said as I had followed a link straight to the rescue centre pages. This mini dachshund sounds ideal, but just too far away unfortunately

FinnishLapphund - you are spot on. Even if her little doggy couldn't help her snap out of the agrophobia and panic attacks (she is on various tablets and seeing a doctor for weekly reviews) the dog would still have its exercise needs met by coming out with the rest of our dogs. The garden is large and secure, so even if she can't cope with coming outside, the dog would still be allowed out frequently for toilets etc.

Thistle - yes, another "little old lady's" dog would be ideal. We were going to ring around the loal vets to ask if they knew of anything suitable, but I will definitely get in touch with the cinnamon trust on your suggestion, it's a brilliant idea

Rachel - We could get any potential dog neutered/vacc'd/wormed/chipped etc if needs be, that wouldn't put us off at all. Will bear in mind what you say about the pound dogs not being thoroughly assessed though. Off to google the Oldies Club now