Mocha
Well-Known Member
I agree.
I don't know why people complain about rescue centre policy - its simple, if you don't agree, get a rescue dog from somewhere else, the pounds are full of them, there are hundreds of dogs and puppies advertised here free to good homes every day.
The ISPCA here generally as a rule, will not take dogs in unless they have come from a welfare/cruelty background - they are trying to prevent the future of the animals welfare from being compromised again. Many of the dogs will have behavioural issues as a result of their poor treatment, and simply wold not cope, or could be destructive if keep in an unsuitable environment.
I work for a private vet clinic, we are not a charity but we never turn away a stray or welfare case, many people surrender dogs to us as the ISPCA will not take them, and the only other option is the pound.
We try and rehome these dogs and cats, but we do not have the resources to do homechecks or any of that sort of thing and neither would the pound, the only other alternative. We don't charge a fee, as we are simply just trying to place unwanted dogs in suitbale homes.
So many people lie, so many people have unreasonable expectations, and a large number of people actually bring the dogs back after a period of time. No matter how nice they seem at the time, you cannot trust them.
For example;
Very nice genuine man rehomed a 6month old border terrier. He did all the right things, came back with the dog regularly, had her spayed, vaccinated, kept her in good health. She was a happy well adjusted dog with no problems. 8 months later, he came to us in tears and surrendered her on the basis that his work schedule had changed, and he could not leave her at home with his elderly father all day. He paid a large donation because he felt guilty. We rehomed the dog within a day.
About a month later he came back to us, looking to rehome another dog, he said his father missed the company, and he wanted an older dog, quieter etc that could be left at home with him. We refused to rehome a dog to him.
A week later, he arrived into the clinic with two dogs, which he have 'rescued' down the country from a 'small rescue' (ie; one that would operate in a similar manner to us, presumably, no homechecks etc) the dogs were neutered and vaccinated and he was told the had suitable temperaments for his 'needs' He paid a fee for them. A westie and another older mongrel. They were both quite old, and not in good health, overweight, dental issues that needed treatment, the westie had skin issues etc etc
A week later he was back, the westie had bitten his father and he wanted to surrender it to us! We put the dog down.
Welfare guidelines try to prevent this, had the dog been placed in a suitable home, the outcome could have been different.
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Just last week, a man surrendered a JRT to us that he rehomed last year as a puppy (from us) it was over a year now, we took the dog back. He was here for a few days, and he had a number of behaviour problems, he humped everything and everybody, was seriously aggressive with other dogs, marked everywhere and wasn't housetrained. He would come in from the yard and soil in his kennel almost immediately. Had he been neutered, he probably would not have had most of those issues. He will now be extremely difficult to rehome as most of it learned behaviour.
Welfare guidelines prevent this, and many other common factors which result in these dogs being abandonned. We get it all the time, he's wrecking my house, my girlfriend says he has to go. My neighbours are complaining and I'll be evicted. I'm moving. I got a new job and he can't stay home alone. He got out and attacked my neighbours dog. The list goes on and on. None of these people hold themselves responsible and come back again and again looking for dogs that 'fit their lifestyle'.
Respectable rescue operations are only doing what they can to prevent these dogs from going through the revolving door of welfare.
We do cost price work for some local small animal rescue operations who do not have the same rules and guidelines as bigger operations as the ISPCA.
They do all the 'right' things in respect to rehoming the dogs, in a similar way as the ISPCA... however... We receive a large number of dogs that have come straight from a puppy farm. Most of the dogs are bitches between the age of 6 and 10, who have serious behavioural and welfare issues, absolutely no socialisation, nervous aggression, they come in filthy with mange, raw hairless paws from standing in their own filth all day or being exposed to harsh disinfectants. They have suffered years of this abuse.
The rescue have admitted to the fact that they are given these dogs at a secret meeting place by the proprietor of the puppy farm... but they don't tell people looking to rehome them this... why? Oh if word got out, the guy who gives them the dogs would never contact them again for fear of prosecution.They'll never 'save' another dog.
Its a disgusting practice, they are fueling the trade by providing an outlet for these animals. They are not saving them, just freeing up space for more dogs to be treated in this manner.