Rescue Roulette: Dogs from Abroad

paddy555 said:
I thought every dog nowadays was a rescue dog. Everytime I meet a dog the owner tells me it is a rescue, none of them are foreign imports. Admittedly those with behaviour problems like to tell me several times it is a rescue. :D:D:D:D
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Tbh I haven't met anyone in years who has described their dog as a rescue. The last was a couple of years ago when a colleague proudly told me their dog was a foreign rescue.

I was thinking earlier actually, that the most genuinely in need of rescue dog I've met recently is a standard poodle now owned by a woman that I do hoopers with. It wasn't abused or abandoned, it was just a case of naturally iffy temperament combined with owners who were way out of their depth. It came to current owner with a dog and human bite history and was so reactive that I really think it was exceptionally lucky to find a new owner who is one of the very few who could deal with that kind of dog and was prepared to. Current owner has so far and continues to do a wonderful job with her.

But even she doesn't describe that dog as a rescue.
 
Calais don't unload every dog, just hand a scanner in the door a lot of times. Having been at the border for the Chunnel and the ferry it's hit and miss.

There's a recent incident where a rescue took a life size ikea dog teddy through 3 ports/border checks (all back and forth trips, so 6 border crossings) in an airline crate with a microchip embedded in a collar to scan.....not one border crossing picked it up.....! :oops:

I hear of pedigrees looking for homes regularly, by word of mouth. GSDs, spaniels, setters and lap dogs in the past few months
 
druid said:
Calais don't unload every dog, just hand a scanner in the door a lot of times. Having been at the border for the Chunnel and the ferry it's hit and miss.

There's a recent incident where a rescue took a life size ikea dog teddy through 3 ports/border checks (all back and forth trips, so 6 border crossings) in an airline crate with a microchip embedded in a collar to scan.....not one border crossing picked it up.....! :oops:

I hear of pedigrees looking for homes regularly, by word of mouth. GSDs, spaniels, setters and lap dogs in the past few months
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But they used to be quite tyrannical at the Tunnel, though, as I understand? I've never actually gone that way as my travelling companion back in the day was never done ranting about the French jobsworths and refused to travel on it :p
 
What a lot of antagonistic comments in this thread from people who seem to know nothing about the facts of rehoming from abroad. The health checks and welfare of these dogs are central to the concern of a good rescue. The licenced dog transport companies handle the dogs with great care and compassion. My beautiful Cyprus rescue was well researched and is becoming a much loved family member with my other animals. I thought we were all animal lovers on a forum like this? Can you not accept that much good is done by some very selfless folk who work tirelessly to give these dogs a chance? My particular dog would be dead by now had she not been rescued in Cyprus. As to finding a UK dog it’s nearly impossible if you are older or do not meet their criteria even when you have a good home to give a dog. As we are retired we can walk our dogs in our fields or on our local beach every day and they have plenty of company. Training is coming on leaps and bounds and is a pleasure to do. Don’t believe everything you find in the media.
 
Borderreiver said:
What a lot of antagonistic comments in this thread from people who seem to know nothing about the facts of rehoming from abroad. The health checks and welfare of these dogs are central to the concern of a good rescue. The licenced dog transport companies handle the dogs with great care and compassion. My beautiful Cyprus rescue was well researched and is becoming a much loved family member with my other animals. I thought we were all animal lovers on a forum like this? Can you not accept that much good is done by some very selfless folk who work tirelessly to give these dogs a chance? My particular dog would be dead by now had she not been rescued in Cyprus. As to finding a UK dog it’s nearly impossible if you are older or do not meet their criteria even when you have a good home to give a dog. As we are retired we can walk our dogs in our fields or on our local beach every day and they have plenty of company. Training is coming on leaps and bounds and is a pleasure to do. Don’t believe everything you find in the media.
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Read the entire thread. Some of the respondents are vets, some are dog trainers, some have elderly parents who had no problem getting a large breed dog from a UK rescue (myself included), some have dealt with the fall out of foreign rescue gone wrong.
My interpretation of Loving An Animal does not fit in with the practices of some of these rescues.
 
I also don’t believe in rescuing meat animals from the abattoir. It’s not un noticed that many RSPCA hoarding type cases are ‘rescues’. Animal lover doesn’t always = animal welfare minded. I know more than I’d like to about foreign imports having been caught in the cross fire of some dodgy charity work. Unrelated I’ve seen some shocking examples where it would clearly have been kinder to the dog (and family involved) to have euthanised on site at its home country. There’s not many British bred dogs presented in a crate as the owners can’t get a lead on it.
Is a humane euthanasia a welfare concern?
 
Borderreiver said:
As to finding a UK dog it’s nearly impossible if you are older or do not meet their criteria even when you have a good home to give a dog
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Preloved? That’s where we got our current JRT from as a rising 3yo.

She wasn’t a ‘rescue’, she was healthy enough, but she needed a new home, and we bought her. No home check, we rocked up, paid, and brought her home.

Nothing wrong with her, she’s a great dog.

Lots of dogs are advertised privately.
 
CorvusCorax said:
But they used to be quite tyrannical at the Tunnel, though, as I understand? I've never actually gone that way as my travelling companion back in the day was never done ranting about the French jobsworths and refused to travel on it :p
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The French LOVE paperwork. I dislike getting phonecalls at 3am from their staff asking if I meant to write a 2 or a 7 and could I clarify by email with a copy of the vaccine certificate. The 15/17/23 isn't a date as far as I remember....common sense...lacking??? :rolleyes: 🤔
 
Borderreiver said:
What a lot of antagonistic comments in this thread from people who seem to know nothing about the facts of rehoming from abroad. The health checks and welfare of these dogs are central to the concern of a good rescue. The licenced dog transport companies handle the dogs with great care and compassion. My beautiful Cyprus rescue was well researched and is becoming a much loved family member with my other animals. I thought we were all animal lovers on a forum like this? Can you not accept that much good is done by some very selfless folk who work tirelessly to give these dogs a chance? My particular dog would be dead by now had she not been rescued in Cyprus. As to finding a UK dog it’s nearly impossible if you are older or do not meet their criteria even when you have a good home to give a dog. As we are retired we can walk our dogs in our fields or on our local beach every day and they have plenty of company. Training is coming on leaps and bounds and is a pleasure to do. Don’t believe everything you find in the media.
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My judgements are from professional interactions with dog transporters, import checks and clients with foreign rescues, i.e. all direct personal interactions. Nada to do with the media or social media rescue market mill.
 
There are a lot of dogs in the various foreign rescue systems that would be much better off from a mental health POV either neuter & released, rehomed or PTS in country of origin. The life they are expected to live here is so far removed from the life they knew that some just don’t have the roadmap to adjust. Some do, with time but even with all testing complied with every single one of them is a potential vector for diseases that aren’t commonly seen in this country. (Have met vastly more that fall into the first category than the second)

There are also a lot of dogs caught up in the rescue system in this country for whom that experienced with reactive dogs retired, childless couple with acres of land in the middle of nowhere with no stressors just aren’t coming and for whom behavioural euthanasia really would be the kindest option (meet a heck of a lot of these too both “stuck” in rescue and post rehome to people trying their best but struggling / who probably weren’t really the best match for the dog)

Then as alluded to by another poster there are the ones who go unclaimed from stray kennels in the UK for whom there isn’t always rescue space available. (There isn’t endless funding and kennel space and of course rescues mostly tend to agree to take what is realistic for them to rehome relatively easily without spending the earth on)
 
Borderreiver said:
What a lot of antagonistic comments in this thread from people who seem to know nothing about the facts of rehoming from abroad. The health checks and welfare of these dogs are central to the concern of a good rescue. The licenced dog transport companies handle the dogs with great care and compassion. My beautiful Cyprus rescue was well researched and is becoming a much loved family member with my other animals. I thought we were all animal lovers on a forum like this? Can you not accept that much good is done by some very selfless folk who work tirelessly to give these dogs a chance? My particular dog would be dead by now had she not been rescued in Cyprus. As to finding a UK dog it’s nearly impossible if you are older or do not meet their criteria even when you have a good home to give a dog. As we are retired we can walk our dogs in our fields or on our local beach every day and they have plenty of company. Training is coming on leaps and bounds and is a pleasure to do. Don’t believe everything you find in the media.
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I wouldn't even bother. I haven't read the later comments but this is simply HHO going round and round in it's usual circles. They are in fact a bit like a dog that's been given a bone. :)

Rommie rescues are not a cute name, certainly not to me anyway. It is a name which identifies a group of dogs.

For those such as BR, Lady Jane and a couple of others I am updating then the rest can all go back to their arguing and I will get on sorting my dogs.

The dogs arrived. They were totally clean to hold. No wet or damp on their coats, certainly no poo attached. They drank and ate within minutes of each being given food and water.
They have spent the night in separate crates mainly because there are 2 dogs who had never met.
The one I had originally chosen is a bit different than I expected. I thought he was just very sweet and kind which he is but he is very intelligent. 8.5 month old. He came out of his cage immediately, tail wagging, can stroke him anywhere. I'm not sure he knows the meaning of playing. His default setting is to sit. Each time he sees me he sits and waits. Within half an hour of unloading and feeding he was sitting on command, coming on command and giving a paw. Different rescue fosterers do different things in Romania with them, some nothing and either this dog is so highly intelligent or someone has done a fair bit of work with him. He also knows his name and comes to it. I am hoping to find out more from my rescue when they visit in the next couple of days. I am not abandoned on my own with these 2 terrible dogs. I have rescue back up.

He is I would guess a fair part Carpathian. He is going to be a lovely dog to train.
The only thing he seems scared of it raising your arms, I lifted a stool up and it worried him.

His downside is that he is already super bonded to me and I am very keen he should not be a one person dog and that is going to need a lot of work to prevent it. I am very pleased that I put a lot of time into researching Romanian shepherds and obtaining info from other owners.

The 15mo bitch stayed in her large crate. After an hour she started to relax and later in the evening came out and walked around on her own. She is going to be a very easy dog just needs to get her confidence. She was very tired, he wasn't,

Then all hell let loose. We were in the stables, hail thundered down on the roof, one horse got very upset and another (as per usual) had a total panic. Then the thunder came and I thought the building was going to split in two.
OH stayed sitting with the dogs who slept through it all. Appeared not to even notice it. I'm not sure that bonfire night is going to be a problem after that lot. :D

the bitch finally relaxed and slept in a much more relaxed way. She is very tired after the journey but I suspect she is simply a pretty quiet dog anyway.
The dog finally gave in and zonked out on the floor flat out like the puppy he was.

Overall the first night has been good and the dogs are lovely. They are very reactive towards each other over food so it is going to be very separate feeding. I can take food away from either of them and there is no adverse reaction towards me.

Please don't anyone foreign rescue haters bother to reply to this. It is simply an update of their arrival night. In a week or so we will find out what they are really like :D:D:D:D:D


would I like to have seen them either PTS in Romania or left on the streets to eventually end up in a kill shelter. They are way too good for that.

Enjoy your arguing. :D:D:D:D
 
paddy555 said:
They have spent the night in separate crates mainly because there are 2 dogs who had never met.
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So you’ve been sold two foreign rescue dogs that the rescue had not even introduced to each other first to see that they get on?

Oh, goodie 🙄.

It’s interesting how people can claim that they do their prior research but when actual qualified professional people, inc vets, with experience of foreign rescues advise against it they can blip that out, but still insist that they are informed.
 
You're going to have fun with the 7 month old. I got Bandit when he was 7 month old and he was starting to form some real strong opinions on life! He's brilliant though and I wouldn't be without him and to be honest I think he's made me a better dog owner. He's reactive with food and other dogs too but I think a lot of that comes from no socialisation during his puppy hood. I have been asked a couple of times if hes a Romanian dog.

Anyway, what have you called your two. I'd love to see pictures of them

I meant Bandit is reactive with dogs when food is around, not reactive just with dogs in general. Although he cannot stand spaniels
 
paddy555 said:
I wouldn't even bother. I haven't read the later comments but this is simply HHO going round and round in it's usual circles. They are in fact a bit like a dog that's been given a bone. :)

Rommie rescues are not a cute name, certainly not to me anyway. It is a name which identifies a group of dogs.

For those such as BR, Lady Jane and a couple of others I am updating then the rest can all go back to their arguing and I will get on sorting my dogs.

The dogs arrived. They were totally clean to hold. No wet or damp on their coats, certainly no poo attached. They drank and ate within minutes of each being given food and water.
They have spent the night in separate crates mainly because there are 2 dogs who had never met.
The one I had originally chosen is a bit different than I expected. I thought he was just very sweet and kind which he is but he is very intelligent. 8.5 month old. He came out of his cage immediately, tail wagging, can stroke him anywhere. I'm not sure he knows the meaning of playing. His default setting is to sit. Each time he sees me he sits and waits. Within half an hour of unloading and feeding he was sitting on command, coming on command and giving a paw. Different rescue fosterers do different things in Romania with them, some nothing and either this dog is so highly intelligent or someone has done a fair bit of work with him. He also knows his name and comes to it. I am hoping to find out more from my rescue when they visit in the next couple of days. I am not abandoned on my own with these 2 terrible dogs. I have rescue back up.

He is I would guess a fair part Carpathian. He is going to be a lovely dog to train.
The only thing he seems scared of it raising your arms, I lifted a stool up and it worried him.

His downside is that he is already super bonded to me and I am very keen he should not be a one person dog and that is going to need a lot of work to prevent it. I am very pleased that I put a lot of time into researching Romanian shepherds and obtaining info from other owners.

The 15mo bitch stayed in her large crate. After an hour she started to relax and later in the evening came out and walked around on her own. She is going to be a very easy dog just needs to get her confidence. She was very tired, he wasn't,

Then all hell let loose. We were in the stables, hail thundered down on the roof, one horse got very upset and another (as per usual) had a total panic. Then the thunder came and I thought the building was going to split in two.
OH stayed sitting with the dogs who slept through it all. Appeared not to even notice it. I'm not sure that bonfire night is going to be a problem after that lot. :D

the bitch finally relaxed and slept in a much more relaxed way. She is very tired after the journey but I suspect she is simply a pretty quiet dog anyway.
The dog finally gave in and zonked out on the floor flat out like the puppy he was.

Overall the first night has been good and the dogs are lovely. They are very reactive towards each other over food so it is going to be very separate feeding. I can take food away from either of them and there is no adverse reaction towards me.

Please don't anyone foreign rescue haters bother to reply to this. It is simply an update of their arrival night. In a week or so we will find out what they are really like :D:D:D:D:D


would I like to have seen them either PTS in Romania or left on the streets to eventually end up in a kill shelter. They are way too good for that.

Enjoy your arguing. :D:D:D:D
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Good luck with your dogs. They soon decompress from the journey and start to become the dogs they should be. I understand that some matches do not go so well but my scared girl has gained confidence all the time and and fits in well here with my old lab and a retriever. I’m not sure why a random rehome from pets4homes would be any more reliable? I did look but they all seemed problematic to me. Instead my many conversations with my link in Cyprus have resulted in the best girl getting a good home she could not have had. She has just rushed into the bedroom with waggy tail to greet me so it’s time to get up! Enjoy your dogs everyone, life is shorter than you think so arguing on an internet forum with people you have never met and know nothing about is probably a waste of time.
 
I don't know why but I thought they were a bonded pair. If they haven't already been neutered (I know some rescues do this early) please bear in mind that she could come in season at any time, and at 8.5 months he is more than capable of siring a litter.
 
Borderreiver said:
I’m not sure why a random rehome from pets4homes would be any more reliable?
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There's nothing to say it would be, but at least it is easy enough to meet them and introduce to existing household dogs if you want to. Plus, as loads of people have said now, there isn't the bio risks that there is with tons of dogs being brought into the UK in a largely uncontrolled way, which is what you are adding support to if you rehome from abroad.

There is plenty of criticism and warnings on this forum about rehomes from online adverts. A lot here would describe much of my dog acquisition history as irresponsible/risky/sub-optimal. I don't particularly feel the need to be defensive about it though because they are right, the way I have come across most of my dogs is not how you would do it for the best chance of minimising issues. I have largely been lucky, plus have a fair amount of flexibility in how I manage my dogs, and have got good at identifying animals that I have the capability to handle.

I've loved all my dogs dearly, but by far the easiest with a complete lack of hangups was the well bred dog, direct from the breeder, and the specific pup that the breeder recommended for us. This dog was our previous Kelpie, so not even a particularly easy breed.
 
Tiddlypom said:
So you’ve been sold two foreign rescue dogs that the rescue had not even introduced to each other first to see that they get on?

Oh, goodie 🙄.

It’s interesting how people can claim that they do their prior research but when actual qualified professional people, inc vets, with experience of foreign rescues advise against it they can blip that out, but still insist that they are informed.
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I've said before, I'm very on the fence when it comes to rescuing from abroad. For reasons I won't go in to again. But I do understand why people do it.

But regardless of your viewpoint, I think it's grossly unfair to attack other posters in this way. And to add sarcasm in to the mix is just low.
 
Tiddlypom said:
So you’ve been sold two foreign rescue dogs that the rescue had not even introduced to each other first to see that they get on?

Oh, goodie 🙄.

It’s interesting how people can claim that they do their prior research but when actual qualified professional people, inc vets, with experience of foreign rescues advise against it they can blip that out, but still insist that they are informed.
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What do you think happens when you foster rescue dogs prior to rehoming? I have always had my own dogs plus random foster dogs for ten years, mainly from the pound, who arrived with very little notice. I just took the usual precautions with slow introductions, dog gates throughout the house, lead walks, until I judged all was well. If you take on a rescue, you just do what you need to do to make it work.
 
skinnydipper said:
Isn't it unusual for a rescue to adopt out 2 dogs at the same time, dogs who are strangers to each other?

I would have thought a rescue would want to give the new adopter the best possible chance of success and get one dog successfully settled into their new home before introducing another.
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I imagine homes prepared to spend the money to take on two large dogs, one at least of a breed renowned for being temperamentally unsuited to many a domestic home, are few and far between and it’s worth the gamble.
 
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