Snubbed by the RSPCA

S

shadowboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2006
Messages
4,754
Visit site
We went to our local shelter today to look for a large dog. We filled in the form - and were told we were not suitable as dog owners..... why? Because we live in a flat.

We have a LARGE flat- bigger than most new homes in fact we have a 16 foot long lounge, large kitchen, two double bedrooms etc. Have a huge fully fenced by 7 foot panels garden. We have access to the flitch way- a 17mile safe byway that leads to the local forest. The dog would not be alone for more than 6 hours a day at any point! And we are experienced dog owners having had GSD's and Springer spaniels! And are active, people able and willing to go for long walks every day.

But no- apparently this didnt matter- they dont rehome dogs bigger than 'toy' size to people in flats They reccomended a JR to us, but we are after a large dog. They wouldnt even do a home check. Looks like we will have to go to a breeder now.
 
What a shame, but maybe you could try other rescue centres first ? Alternativey have you seen the post on here for Saffi - 10 yr old GSD ?
 
I'd go ask some other rescues.
My opinion of the RSPCA is that maybe they have too many rules and can be a bit blind to real life! Ie. if you tick the wrong box that is it - flat = no, out most of the day = no, even if you will be having a dogwalker twice a day or something.
Many years ago my parents - who worked shifts - so dog would be on own for 5 hours max - were told instead of leaving dog at home with the run of downstairs and dogflap to garden - much better to cage it in the car for the 5 hours so you could look in on it??????!!!!
Where abouts are you in the country? People on here may know of some good rescues - I know a couple - ManyTears is a really good rescue - tend to have working type dogs (alot of collies) and also ex-breeding/farm dogs and dogs saved from the pounds in Ireland.

Hope you find your perfect pooch
smile.gif
 
That's a shame but I was turned down to have a kitten and we live on a farm with 2,500 acres half a mile from the nearest road. The reason - I wanted a kitten, not a cat as a cat would take one look at our three dogs and move home fast. And I won't have the kitten past our enormous kitchen with an Aga because we have some beautiful antique furntiure and hand made curtains. I got a kitten from a neighbouring farm and she is asleep with my dogs on a sofa in the kitche. Don't give up, just go to another charity that's prepared to come and visit you.
 
we are looking into having another springer spaniel (sadly had to have ours pts in november) from the springer spaniel rescue centres, have you tried any of the rescue centres for certain breeds? good luck
smile.gif
 
That is a very short sighted view from the RSCPA.
Most rescue and breed centres are bursting at the seams at the moment as people feel that they cannot afford to look after a pet (or are having to work longer hours and don't want to leave the dog at home). I would imagine that the larger breeds are more affected by this so visit the rescue and breed centres first.
Good luck.
 
Shadowmonkey, PLEASE consider Saffi, Lliedi has posted a link above. She so deserves a special home. I am keeping everything crossed. By the way, I have ot time for the RSPCA, refusing to home a dog to a flat, regardless, is typical of them imo.
 
Have sent an email to the owner of Saffi outlining our situation/lifestyle etc and my contact number in case he thinks we may be suitable.

I cant bleive how rubbish it made me feel when the rspca said we weren't good enough because we live in a flat!
 
I know exactly what you mean - I wouldn't even consider going to them to re-home because of their attitude - they don't apply common sense and take the time to find out if you prepared to make the proper commitment for a dog. When I lived in a flat in the centre of Birmingham I walked my dogs twice a day everyday round the local park and took them out for big walks every weekend as well as their daily walks. Where I live now in the middle of the country I know people who despite having gardens and countryside around them never walk their dogs - but they would probably be approved for re-homing by the RSPCA! Sorry rant over - going back under blanket now!
 
im currently waiting for a home check from rspca and have a horrible feeling now that i may get turned down. i live on my yard with 16+acres other dogs to play with, and never left on there own but have a feeling they may say he will be able to get out if running loose etc etc. Fingers crossed they wont but trying not to get my hopes up as i know they can pretty much say what they want.

Its awful really when they have so many dogs needing homes and people willing and able and they say no.....
 
Please let me know if Ben (saffi's owner) doesn't get back to you and I will try and contact him. I know he is spending quite a bit of time over with his Dad and may not have access to his emails.
Re living in a flat, about 15 years ago I was contacted by a lady who lived in a flat in Hackney, London. She was interested in a GSD puppy. She had no garden, just a tiny yard area, but owned a large allotment a short distance away from her flat. She worked from home and her dogs were very rarely left. I must admit I hd grave reservations about her suitability for a GSD pup, but she supplied loads of references, from vet, dog trainer etc, and had a bitch puppy from me. That dog had the most wonderful life, she had it house trained very quickly (a grass tray in the yard to start with), and I received loads of photos over the years of a happy, healthy Shepherd (who was also the star of her training club). It has made me realise that there is a lot more to a home than the stereotypical house with a garden. Its a shame the RSPCA haven't learned the same thing, but hopefully in this instance their loss will be Saffi's gain .
 
The RSPCA are a pain in the butt. We rehomed a springer from them in April.

We had to meet the dog twice, not a problem, but in their 'blurb' they say the prospective new pet must meet all your family twice. Well, I don't call our dogs our 'family', they are 'the dogs', so we ended up going there three or four times as all the dogs had to meet twice, very tedious and pointless - they met once, they got on, why go through it all again?

They did a home check - fine, but they were reserved about the dogs being in the utility room at night, felt they should be in the house all the time with us except when asleep in utility - didn't grasp that springers are generally mud monsters and whilst I'm not mega house proud, I don't live in a sh1t pit either, and I don't want to - they come in when dry and cleanish!

They then had to do a shop check, because the dogs come to work with us everyday! By now I would have merrily told them what to do with the dog (metaphorically!).

They then told us that the dog should always be walked with a harness, definitely wasn't a country dog, and would benefit from extra training classes (he was supposedly seven or eight years old). And don't let him off the lead for a fortnight in case he doesn't come back!

So, we took him to our field, let him loose, and discovered that he is a fully trained gundog, retreives to hand, sits, stays, beats with vigour, and doesn't pull if you use a slip lead. Oh, and walks to heel off the lead.

So, whilst I'm grateful for a lovely dog, it was a lot easier to buy a dog from a breeder than use the RSPCA.

Sorry, shouldn't have ranted on, but they drive me mad. They told an active retired couple that they couldn't have a small dog (and specifically they didn't want a puppy, wanted to give a home to an older dog) as their back yard didn't have any grass in it. It didn't matter that the couple were active, and the dog would be walked - ARGHH - they ended buying a puppy from a puppy farm!
 
I dont know how they actually manage to rehome these dogs with all these sad stories of people wanting to provide them with good homes. I guess they are just trying to look out for the dogs I suppose.
 
[ QUOTE ]
That is a very short sighted view from the RSCPA.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly this is them through & through & the reason that I will have NOTHING to do with thme what so ever.
 
They would not accept me any how!!!
I have a lovely big house but no garden what so ever!

This is the front of my house! There is no back area to it!
IMG_0186.jpg


These are my 2 fat under exercised mutts!
8yrs & 2.5 yrs
IMG_0079.jpg


As everyone on here will tell you they never see any pics of my dogs out & about!!LOL!
 
I was turned down by the RSPCA as I live in a flat.
I have no garden but my dogs have four walks a day and spend 3-4 hrs at the yard with me.
On the other hand, a lady at work got a dog from them as she has a 100 ft fenced in garden. Her dog, unfortunately receives no walks at all as she feels her garden is sufficient!
Who has the better life style?!
 
I realise they have to be careful but they do need to bend their rules or be a little more flexible or dogs that could have lovely homes like yours will end up being pts or just stuck in kennels for years. I was once turned down by the RSPCA when I wanted my second dog because I worked 9-4 even though I only worked 2 miles down the road and could come home at lunchtime to walk them and they had access to the garden all day. I then went to another large rescue centre and lied about my working hours and bought little Jakey home. He had a marvellous life and was so loved and couldn't have been happier.

Don't give up on the rescue idea and go to a breeder, just go to a more accomodating rescue centre
frown.gif
 
i have rehomed a jrt from them today and i live in a permenant mobile home on my yard and already have 2 dogs and 3 cats. They did the home check at 12 the bloke didnt really ask me much and was here all of about 5 mmins filled out his form and i picked JJ up at 1.30.
It was my living accomodation that i was worried they would dissaprove but he wasnt here long enough to worry about it and were outside most of the time anyway.
 

I feel that the rspca are more about making money than rehoming animals these days.


No time for them at all - whatever happened to common sense!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top