JulesRules
Well-Known Member
Varkie - looks like we have had a very similar experience : -)
Rescue dogs from Romania and other countries?
- Thread starter Archiesmummy
- Start date
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
A friend has recently adopted a dog from Croatia, she arrives with her this weekend. I was less than impressed when my friend told me, and still believe we should be worrying about dogs in rescues over here before bringing them in from abroad. The rescue my friend is dealing with, AAFA, does seem to be one of the better ones, the pup has been in a foster home, is fully vaccinated and passported and spends 48 hours in a holding kennel while Defra check all her documentation.
galaxy
Well-Known Member
I'm seeing dogs coming in from abroad all over the GSP fb page. I think this in mainly because there aren't msny GSPs in rescue in the UK (a good thing!) so people are looking elsewhere. However some of the people getting them are far from experienced at dealing with the behavioural issues they are experiencing... These dogs are dogs no longer wanted by hunters and discarded so totally unfamiliar to family life. Not easy dogs who are properly tested out by a rescue to see what type of home is required... I have also read of people taken dogs in as fosterers on a temporary basis and being lumbered with the dog and the rescues washing their hands.... Shocking.
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I fully appreciate that you made a very careful and considered choice when selecting your dog, but I do struggle with the idea that there wasn't an equally suitable one already here in the UK. There undoubtedly was.....
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
I was told (and I can give you the link if you like) our pounds and rescues are full of Staffys which people dont want, they want cute dogsso are providing these.
When we went looking for our puppy, we tried all the rescue centers locally and beyond ....................... They were full (80%) of staffy types/ lurchers/ pitbull types and rotties and JR. Which no one wants..... more often than not people are looking for a family dog to be with children/ older people/ or have cats or other small furries. That is why our rescue centers are so full, its all the harder to home breeds. Sometimes the only way you can get what you are looking for is to go further a field.
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My personal view is that the only way is to educate people more on how much of a family dog these breeds are
A lot of people seem to have pre-conceived ideas that the breeds are not "suitable" for them without ever finding out more about the breed or indeed about individual dogsmoppett
Well-Known Member
Lévrier;12810650 said:My personal view is that the only way is to educate people more on how much of a family dog these breeds are
Greeat response Lévrier - i agree! I have sighthounds who if introduced correctly to furries are fine!
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Me too
Amy (greyhound x whippet) lived perfectly happy with cats when Cayla had her - not sure I would fully trust her now, 5 years later, but I'm quite sure she would learn very quickly
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
I'm with "Varkie" and others on here............
We're currently in the process of adopting a rescue dog.
Firstly let me explain that our last dog was a rescue, she was from a local charity who at that time hadn't got established - and frankly the follow-up was appalling, in a whole ten years of having our lovely little girl, no-one from the rescue ever followed up to see if she was OK, or not. We were just left to our own devices basically.
She recently had to be PTS, and then we looked around for another dog. Having had (ten years previously) wasted time trailing out to the Blue Cross and filling out all their forms etc, and then they never got back to us, I've just been looking all around my local area and beyond, on-line, for another rescue. It needs to be OK living with a cat, and another dog. That's all. We've got our own place with ten acres of land and aren't away a lot, so one would have thought it was easy to find another dog???? Nope, not so.
There is NOTHING, just nothing that is remotely suitable. We cannot and dare not have anything which might not get on with our existing dog, or maul any of the cats (although appreciate that any dog will go for a cat until they are taught that this isn't acceptable and that things need time).
To cut a very long story short, the ONLY dog we've seen which is remotely suitable is a little dog - from................. Cyprus. She's been brought over here by a charity and has been living with a foster carer. We've seen her in their home living with other dogs, and a cat, plus guinea pigs, so we know that she CAN live with a cat, and currently we're going through the adoption process.
It wasn't that we didn't look hard enough for a dog here in the UK, coz we've been looking hard, every day, on-line, facebook etc etc., for the past three weeks!! One rescue society expected us to trail up to their place (over 2 hrs drive away) just to fill in the form!!! Whereas this could have been done on-line or in the post? And then when they had something suitable we could have travelled up........ but no, they have their policies and that's that!!! And before anyone says it, yes I do realise that they need to be very careful, but 2 hrs journey just to fill a form in BEFORE they'll let you go any further??
Anyway, we're hopefully getting our new little girl.........
To my mind, anyway, a dog deserving a good home is a dog deserving a good home, irrespective of where in the world they are. Yes we would have chosen to adopt a dog from the local area and/or anywhere in the UK, but the dog we wanted just wasn't there when we were looking
TBH a lot of dogs in rescues cannot ever hope to be rehomed due to behavioural difficulties. That is the reality, unfortunately.
We're currently in the process of adopting a rescue dog.
Firstly let me explain that our last dog was a rescue, she was from a local charity who at that time hadn't got established - and frankly the follow-up was appalling, in a whole ten years of having our lovely little girl, no-one from the rescue ever followed up to see if she was OK, or not. We were just left to our own devices basically.
She recently had to be PTS, and then we looked around for another dog. Having had (ten years previously) wasted time trailing out to the Blue Cross and filling out all their forms etc, and then they never got back to us, I've just been looking all around my local area and beyond, on-line, for another rescue. It needs to be OK living with a cat, and another dog. That's all. We've got our own place with ten acres of land and aren't away a lot, so one would have thought it was easy to find another dog???? Nope, not so.
There is NOTHING, just nothing that is remotely suitable. We cannot and dare not have anything which might not get on with our existing dog, or maul any of the cats (although appreciate that any dog will go for a cat until they are taught that this isn't acceptable and that things need time).
To cut a very long story short, the ONLY dog we've seen which is remotely suitable is a little dog - from................. Cyprus. She's been brought over here by a charity and has been living with a foster carer. We've seen her in their home living with other dogs, and a cat, plus guinea pigs, so we know that she CAN live with a cat, and currently we're going through the adoption process.
It wasn't that we didn't look hard enough for a dog here in the UK, coz we've been looking hard, every day, on-line, facebook etc etc., for the past three weeks!! One rescue society expected us to trail up to their place (over 2 hrs drive away) just to fill in the form!!! Whereas this could have been done on-line or in the post? And then when they had something suitable we could have travelled up........ but no, they have their policies and that's that!!! And before anyone says it, yes I do realise that they need to be very careful, but 2 hrs journey just to fill a form in BEFORE they'll let you go any further??
Anyway, we're hopefully getting our new little girl.........
To my mind, anyway, a dog deserving a good home is a dog deserving a good home, irrespective of where in the world they are. Yes we would have chosen to adopt a dog from the local area and/or anywhere in the UK, but the dog we wanted just wasn't there when we were looking
TBH a lot of dogs in rescues cannot ever hope to be rehomed due to behavioural difficulties. That is the reality, unfortunately.
windseywoo
Well-Known Member
I'm on the other side of the fence! Some may have read a post last year I did about losing my dog and my OH wanting another before I was ready.
Well we ended up with two dogs from Romania and to say at the time I wasn't very happy is an understatement. However the OH didn't know they were from Romania until after he'd paid for them and we received a magazine saying how they rescue the dogs from there. I would definitely rather have had a rescue from this country if at all and felt that in a way we had been slightly misled. We have had the dogs for nearly six months but man it feels longer, the one dog has only just started to let the OH near her so I had to do most of the initial handling, the other dog barks constantly at next door because they are always working in their garden (which I appreciate they are allowed to do) with power tools which upsets them, so we've fallen out with them!!! If we let the dogs off together their pack instinct kicks in, they run off together and have nearly got run over twice just in the last week (both times they'd escaped from places considered safe!!!) They've been very difficult to toilet train due to coming from Romania to kennels, have destroyed numerous carpets, curtains and blankets. We had a behaviourist come out to us from the kennels when we were having issues and his first words to the one dog were "oh hello you, I see you've found another home". He'd been to see her in Scotland because she'd attacked the owners other dog over food and they sent her back, yet the kennels never told us that. Now I know we could have had all these problems rehoming from here, but I feel that because they were pack mates and stray dogs in another country they are always going to be slightly wild. If they ever come across an injured animal then to be honest its toast. However if we do go on holiday they have a very nice passport with all they're jabs on.
What I'm trying to say is, yes I would prefer to rehome from here and I feel that rehoming from another country is only encouraging the people bringing them over; however we're stuck with them now as got too attached to them so here's hoping they will be sorted eventually. People shouldn't think its an easier way to get a dog.
Well we ended up with two dogs from Romania and to say at the time I wasn't very happy is an understatement. However the OH didn't know they were from Romania until after he'd paid for them and we received a magazine saying how they rescue the dogs from there. I would definitely rather have had a rescue from this country if at all and felt that in a way we had been slightly misled. We have had the dogs for nearly six months but man it feels longer, the one dog has only just started to let the OH near her so I had to do most of the initial handling, the other dog barks constantly at next door because they are always working in their garden (which I appreciate they are allowed to do) with power tools which upsets them, so we've fallen out with them!!! If we let the dogs off together their pack instinct kicks in, they run off together and have nearly got run over twice just in the last week (both times they'd escaped from places considered safe!!!) They've been very difficult to toilet train due to coming from Romania to kennels, have destroyed numerous carpets, curtains and blankets. We had a behaviourist come out to us from the kennels when we were having issues and his first words to the one dog were "oh hello you, I see you've found another home". He'd been to see her in Scotland because she'd attacked the owners other dog over food and they sent her back, yet the kennels never told us that. Now I know we could have had all these problems rehoming from here, but I feel that because they were pack mates and stray dogs in another country they are always going to be slightly wild. If they ever come across an injured animal then to be honest its toast. However if we do go on holiday they have a very nice passport with all they're jabs on.
What I'm trying to say is, yes I would prefer to rehome from here and I feel that rehoming from another country is only encouraging the people bringing them over; however we're stuck with them now as got too attached to them so here's hoping they will be sorted eventually. People shouldn't think its an easier way to get a dog.
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
Windseywoo I more often hear stories like yours. Very sad these dogs ending up in rescues who are not set up to deal with any issues the dogs may have "once saved" we as a rescue do not take foreign dogs we deal with far to many local dogs in need (we have ended up with them though) through people discarding of them when issues come to head semi feral) mostly. I honestly believe it's like the designer fad! It sounds better to say you have a "Romanian" rescue than a bog standard British discard. I'm sure it sounds impressive in the park. I find it hard to believe in the length and breadth of this country a rescue dog cannot be found suitable for need. Or like yourself people are not made aware the dogs where imported. Rather selfish and as CC said hero status comes with bringing them in but once in the rest is simply not so exciting as it involves dealing with distraught new owners and dogs in serious psychological distress if they are lucky enough not to end up in our wilderness when they escape. I respect those rescues far more who spay/castrate/ treat /save and educate within the country of issue (and plenty do) and not by shipping out on mass. Or assess more thoroughly to see weather these dogs are fit both mind and body to transport in this manner with little to no after support in most cases. The answer in the long term is not shipping them out for sure as already mentioned it's creating a little enterprise of its own.
windseywoo
Well-Known Member
Hi Cayla. I agree with you completely and I think its only because we've had rescue dogs (well found) that have had issues, that we haven't sent them back and to be fair at one stage it was almost me or the dogs. Our dogs don't look foreign and ok if someone asks we'll say, but in no way being proud of the fact (unless they're running off and we say they don't understand us!! They do.) As said bringing them over, is just creating a market for something that should be controlled in their country of origin.
echoncarrie
Active Member
I have 2 Romanian boys. Both from kill 'shelters'. I also have 4 UK rescues. Mine are absolutely DELIGHTFUL. They have been through such a rough time (my first used to wet himself with pure fear). But they have learned to trust again, they run loose on my yard, and are absolutely no problem. I can see what people are saying. But these cost less than your designer cockapoodle, they NEEDED a home and by chance I came across them. No other charity would entertain me anyway, with 5 dogs already.. But I do have a large house with 20 acres..
Doormouse
Well-Known Member
I have a Cyprus rescue. He is an 18 month old min pin x and he is a star. I wanted a rescue dog and I hunted high and low in the UK but every time I found a dog that might be even half suitable I was immediately turned down because my daughter is only 3. I live on a farm, miles from a road, have owned dogs all my life and already have a cat and an elderly terrier. I would have considered myself a good home for a dog, but according to the UK rescues, I was completely unsuitable.
I rescued a dog from Cyprus, they were delighted to allow me to have him, he is everything I could have wanted, gentle with the elderly terrier, loves the cat, adores my daughter and in return we all adore him.
I would have gladly rescued an English dog but I don't fit the criteria despite being able to offer a good home. Maybe if the UK rescues took each case individually instead of a blanket set of rules they might have more success re homing the dogs.
I rescued a dog from Cyprus, they were delighted to allow me to have him, he is everything I could have wanted, gentle with the elderly terrier, loves the cat, adores my daughter and in return we all adore him.
I would have gladly rescued an English dog but I don't fit the criteria despite being able to offer a good home. Maybe if the UK rescues took each case individually instead of a blanket set of rules they might have more success re homing the dogs.
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
Lévrier;12810650 said:My personal view is that the only way is to educate people more on how much of a family dog these breeds are
They might make a good dog but for me personally I do not like the look of them, and would never consider one for our circumstances.
JulesRules
Well-Known Member
I think there are a number of issues here, only one of which is origin of the dog.
I think suitability for re homing is a far bigger issue. I agree that foreign dogs that are not suitable for re homing should not be brought here, and maybe tighter regulation is needed. However, I also disagree with charities that "never put a healthy dog to sleep". I think it would be better to put to sleep those not suitable for re homing and concentrate on those that are - wherever they are from.
As I mentioned before breeding should also be more tightly regulated as over breeding is the cause of many of these problems.
And Cayla, while I have total respect for the work you do I totally disagree about a dog from abroad being more "fashionable ". I think it is much more about a supply of suitable dogs in this country, some of which may be added to by the large rescues being over cautious in their re homing polices.
I think suitability for re homing is a far bigger issue. I agree that foreign dogs that are not suitable for re homing should not be brought here, and maybe tighter regulation is needed. However, I also disagree with charities that "never put a healthy dog to sleep". I think it would be better to put to sleep those not suitable for re homing and concentrate on those that are - wherever they are from.
As I mentioned before breeding should also be more tightly regulated as over breeding is the cause of many of these problems.
And Cayla, while I have total respect for the work you do I totally disagree about a dog from abroad being more "fashionable ". I think it is much more about a supply of suitable dogs in this country, some of which may be added to by the large rescues being over cautious in their re homing polices.
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Not sure what breed you are referring to, as you mentioned a number of breeds in your OP - and that was what I was meaning in my reply
Dobiegirl
Well-Known Member
The dogs I see coming in from Romania are Collie xs, lurcher types,GSD xs and Lab xs, these dogs you can find all day long in an English rescue so why bring in a dog of the same type from abroad?
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
Lévrier;12811355 said:
I don't like the staffy or pitbull type, they do not appeal to us nor do a few other breeds.
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
Erm no you can't always! we were looking for months for a GSD/NI type - the only GSD puppies we saw were already spoken for the others were not suitable for cats. Its bloody hard finding a GSD in our area which will go with cats. We saw NO Labradors in the 5 centers we tried. All we saw were staff - lurcher -huskies( not to go with cats ) bull terriers and JR.
No labradors -red setters- wolf hounds - collies etc etc. So you have to go elsewhere to find them
Dobiegirl
Well-Known Member
The rescue I foster for has had quite an influx of Collies & Labs, have had GSDs in the past, where possible they are passed on to Breed rescues, if you want a specific breed I would suggest breed rescues, some of these dogs as with all rescues are not on their web sites. If I wanted another Dobermann I wouldn't be looking at mixed rescue sites but breed rescue.
I dont think Ive ever seen a Wolf Hound in a rescue, red Setters hardly ever but again breed rescue would be my first choice.
I dont think Ive ever seen a Wolf Hound in a rescue, red Setters hardly ever but again breed rescue would be my first choice.
Thriller
Well-Known Member
This a million times over. The money they waste bringing one dog here could help make 10 others have a better life in romania. But at the end of the day when there is too many dogs and not enough homes what is one to do? I'm probably a little harsh about it but honestly if its been in kennels over 6 months with no interest it should be pts. Kennels are not a place any dog should live for long term, they are not suited to it and i say this with experience. They survive but its not right.
allyp
Member
Having worked in rescue for many years I have every breed and type be available for rehoming. Some breeds are unusual and you will probably have to put name on a waiting list. If you are looking for the perfect dog that's good with everything then there are loads over here - they tend to go quickly and often don't make it on to websites. It may take a little time and effort but there is a rescue dog over here waiting for, you don't need to import
I have friends who volunteer for foreign rescues and I understand given the awful circumstances some are kept and killed why they do what they do but! I would rather put money into education, neutering and humane pts.
The dogs trust survey gave a figure of over 7000 dogs pts by councils last year. This does not include dogs pts by rescues (and not all only pts due to welfare or behaviour) or taken by owner to vet to be put down as they don't want it any more.
In short if you want a dog, well done for getting a rescue dog but do please consider a uk dog first. Oh and staffies are brilliant! But I appreciate everyone has different tastes, I can't see me ever having a Labrador - although working with so many different dogs I do tend to consider the individual personality rather than the breed now I feel so maybe if the right one came along...
I have friends who volunteer for foreign rescues and I understand given the awful circumstances some are kept and killed why they do what they do but! I would rather put money into education, neutering and humane pts.
The dogs trust survey gave a figure of over 7000 dogs pts by councils last year. This does not include dogs pts by rescues (and not all only pts due to welfare or behaviour) or taken by owner to vet to be put down as they don't want it any more.
In short if you want a dog, well done for getting a rescue dog but do please consider a uk dog first. Oh and staffies are brilliant! But I appreciate everyone has different tastes, I can't see me ever having a Labrador - although working with so many different dogs I do tend to consider the individual personality rather than the breed now I feel so maybe if the right one came along...
JulesRules
Well-Known Member
Just to clarify, when I said suitable dogs I was not talking about breed I was talking about temperament and also size. I could find no small to medium dog in a UK rescue that was child friendly AND suitable to live with cats, so we resorted to a Spanish dog.
rachel3
New User
Disagree saw very few Collies lurcher type dogs in the rescue homes We went to they were filled with the staffy types and none fitted into the character for our family. we did not know where ours came from before choosing. The problem is world wide The only way we can solve our problem here the UK is Spaying not forcing family's wishing to adopt to have a breed they don't want.
MotherOfChickens
MotherDucker
I've given up judging people based on where they rescue or what they rescue tbh (and I won't have another rescue dog, so am the lowest of the low). The Cypriot dogs I've seen over here have all been lovely wee things and all have sensible owners-a dog in need is a dog in need.
puppystitch
Well-Known Member
I have a foreign rescue - unintentionally! My husband and I were at the 'talking about logistics' stage of getting a dog but hadn't visited any rescues. It was always going to be a rescue as we've both had them before. In the meantime, a friend of ours was fostering a 'foreign' dog which we met and subsequently looked after for a short time. She was absolutely the opposite of the kind of dog we thought we would get but on her short stay with us she fitted in perfectly and we agreed to rehome her. The rescue she comes from actually imports very few dogs, only those they know will be easily rehomed - mostly they help to support shelters abroad. I'm a bit on the fence about it all as our little dog is brilliant and has been no trouble whatsoever, but I can also see the argument for supporting UK dogs first and foremost.
The nub of it is, they are all dogs in need and as animal lovers that is hard to ignore regardless of borders. I don't really care where our dog came from, what I care about is that she fits in perfectly with our life and is now a happy, confident, well-mannered dog where once she was homeless and poorly treated. It was just a case of right-place, right-time for her. I actually rarely tell people that ours is a rescue from abroad precisely because I want to avoid this discussion!
The nub of it is, they are all dogs in need and as animal lovers that is hard to ignore regardless of borders. I don't really care where our dog came from, what I care about is that she fits in perfectly with our life and is now a happy, confident, well-mannered dog where once she was homeless and poorly treated. It was just a case of right-place, right-time for her. I actually rarely tell people that ours is a rescue from abroad precisely because I want to avoid this discussion!
allyp
Member
As said, I'm not having a go at people with foreign rescues, I just want uk dogs to ne considered first
And no of course you don't have to have a breed you don't like but the small/cute/puppies/dogs that are good with everything go QUICK. You probably won't see them in the kennels or on the website, you have to register, keep in touch with rescues etc. Yes some work is involved but then that should be the case no matter where you get a dog from including a breeder
If want a specific breed, go to the breed rescue in first instance
Here are some of the breeds that we have had in our local Pound that went to tescue- these were dogs with no issues btw, its just more popular to have pedigree dogs now so more end unwanted: Labrador. (loads) poodle, bichon, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, spitz, German shepherd, collie, lurcher, dalmatian, shih tzus, lhasa apsos Tibetan terrier, English bulldog, pointer, spaniel -springer and cocker, every terrier breed you can think of and so on. I've recently got an unwanted St Bernard puppy off to rescue and have had puppies as young as 8 weeks looking for homes where people have got them without thinking
Currently Rehoming a kc registered weimaramer who's good with everything, ditto cute terrier x and yes a lovely staffie x. The first two will go quick, the staffie will take longer...
The dogs that are put to sleep in this country are not all staffies (poor poor staffies) or dogs with issues. Some pounds have so many dogs in they run out of room have first has to go no matter what - this includes puppies.
We have humane pts in this country, we have rules regarding kennels and we don't have the numbers that they do even in countries like the USA but every year 1000s of dogs are destroyed because there is no room for them, I just have to keep saying that because I don't want it to be forgotten
And no of course you don't have to have a breed you don't like but the small/cute/puppies/dogs that are good with everything go QUICK. You probably won't see them in the kennels or on the website, you have to register, keep in touch with rescues etc. Yes some work is involved but then that should be the case no matter where you get a dog from including a breeder
If want a specific breed, go to the breed rescue in first instance
Here are some of the breeds that we have had in our local Pound that went to tescue- these were dogs with no issues btw, its just more popular to have pedigree dogs now so more end unwanted: Labrador. (loads) poodle, bichon, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, spitz, German shepherd, collie, lurcher, dalmatian, shih tzus, lhasa apsos Tibetan terrier, English bulldog, pointer, spaniel -springer and cocker, every terrier breed you can think of and so on. I've recently got an unwanted St Bernard puppy off to rescue and have had puppies as young as 8 weeks looking for homes where people have got them without thinking
Currently Rehoming a kc registered weimaramer who's good with everything, ditto cute terrier x and yes a lovely staffie x. The first two will go quick, the staffie will take longer...
The dogs that are put to sleep in this country are not all staffies (poor poor staffies) or dogs with issues. Some pounds have so many dogs in they run out of room have first has to go no matter what - this includes puppies.
We have humane pts in this country, we have rules regarding kennels and we don't have the numbers that they do even in countries like the USA but every year 1000s of dogs are destroyed because there is no room for them, I just have to keep saying that because I don't want it to be forgotten
rachel3
New User
We should be spaying our dogs in this country there are too many its a worldwide problem other countries should also be spaying. too many dog owners are saying they have to let the dog have the chance of breeding before spaying, others just don't and accidents happen. its not just about saying if a dog is born in a different country its their problem not ours what about the dog itself. yes countries should be responsible for their own borders but we should be all equally looking after the whole world too. people are too sentimental if an animal cant be helped mentally or physically it should be put down wherever it comes from the others should be spayed to bring world wide numbers down. What makes a Uk dog better than a dog from the rest of the world. We are all Earthlings animals and humans and should be judged on our own individual behaviour and not from where we come from I am a proud English Woman from way back in my ancestry and Also a proud Earthling and it is high time we as a planet started working together and realise that is down to the individual not where they come from.
Emsarr
Well-Known Member
As per usual, the UK is forgetting about its own and heading abroad. Happens all of the time with animals, be it dogs or horses. The amount of animals in the UK that need rescued/rehomed that are instead facing life in kennels because people feel sorry for the animals abroad. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the fact it happens and would love to help BUT charity starts at home, that needs to be remembered.