Tried giving a Rescue Dog a loving new home and have been told we're not allowed!!!

Spit That Out

Spit That Out

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As some of you may know that we had our beautiful dog PTS earlier this week. After 14 wonderful years he had had enough...:(

I can't stand this empty house, and i dread coming home. I miss going for walks (even in this weather!!!) i miss playing, cuddling, losing out on bed and duvet!!! I feel empty inside.

I know it's only been a couple of days but both myself and my OH both want another dog and without trying to sound disrespectful to Charlie, we get quite excited about the thought of getting another one.

We can't afford the ££££'s that breeders are asking for (even though i would love either a spaniel or Golden Retriever) so we looked at a few well known rescue centers and saw a couple of dogs that looked like they could do with a loving, warm home with toys, chews, walks and someone to cuddle.

So i phoned them today to arrange an appointment to come and see the dogs and after they had asked me a few questions told me that we were unsuitable to re-home a dog because we (me and OH) work!!!

I told her that the dog would go for a walk in the morning, on it's own for 4 hours and i would come home at lunch to let out in the garden and then 4 hours again before a walk, evening of attention and a walk before bed. Weekends the dog would come to the stables with me and have 250 acres to run around in!!!

I was told that we are an unsuitable home because the dog would be left of it's own for too long in the day.

How many people have to work but still have dogs?

My dog coped for 14 years and didn't wreck the house or turn savage!!!

I appreciate that there are breeds that need lots of attention and lots of exercise but I'm sure there are plenty of dogs that would like a big house and garden to run around, sleep on the sofa all day and go for long walks?

I was gutted to be turned down and to be told we are unsuitable :( I feel like the rug has been pulled from under our feet.

I felt like I've been a bad owner for Charlie over the years because he was left in the day.

So they would rather a dog PTS or live it's life in a kennel, perhaps never finding a loving home because people have to work...:rolleyes:

Do you think I'm being unrealistic wanting a dog and having to go to work...to afford to spoil the dog!!!
 
This is fairly common in large rescues, I believe, however breed rescues are more personable and able to discuss specific dogs with specific needs.
 
I was talking to my OH about this the other day.
Surely the majority of dog owners work and the rescues must have very few people to choose from if you have to be at home all day.

I hope you find a rescue that will accept you.
 
I am starting to get really angry now having heard this so many times. These rescues should take each individual home on its merits and not lay down blanket rules and then complain they are overflowing :mad:

I think you will find that the smaller rescues are far more flexible in their attitudes towards working owners. Good luck in your search and don't give up on rescues yet x
 
we got our first dog when we i was 3. aprently i choose her as she didnt bark at me and i do remeber going and getting her. she was from a rescue home and they never had any of these rules imposed on us. lucy the dog got walked everyday and when we got her both my parents worked but lucy slept in the house all day and played with us at breakfast and t and got a walk every day but she had 7 or 8 hours a day in the house and never had any issues.

we got our second dog when i was 14 as lucy was getting old at 14 years and we wanted to give her something to live for again and we couldnt bare the idea of no having a dog in the house. lucy lived for another 2 years and died at 16. so we brrought pepsi. my parents now work for themselves and are in the house most of the day. the rescue home we got pepsi from still said we had to have a secure outdoor space for pepsi even tho my parents are at home all day and we have 6-7 acres for him to play in. so we put up a 8 foot fence in the side garden and we were allowed him.

now we dont want to fence back up again to get a new dog and mum doesnt want to trash her garden again. even tho they are at home and my dad works in the yard and the dog would be outside 80 percent of the day we cant get one from a rescue home at all. i frankly think the system is rediculous.

we are currently waiting to find a non pure breed for sale at a lower price. we have no real requirement apart from the dog cant be vicous. we dont care if its massive tiny or medium size or attention seeking or sleeps all the time. i cant believe that a rescue home wouldnt want us to have a dog its barmy
 
Please please dont give up with wanting a rescue - I know quite a few people have posted about their problems with rescue organisations, but if you get a good one they are fantastic :):)

I have had five rescues so far from GRWE (www.grwe.com) who know I work full time - I did get a slightly sarcastic comment from one regional co-ordinator on one occasion but other than that they have been great :)

I can recommend a greyhound BTW - I was so worried about mine when I was at work that I videoed them on one occasion, and got six hours (long-play recording) of greyhounds sleeping :D:D
 
These big rescue places do seem to go OTT with their rules, a friend was refused a dog she was a live in groom on an estate of 100's of acres and the dog would have been with her all day on the yard and then in the flat, they refused said the yard wasn't secure, I personally couldn't imagine a better home in he end the local games keeper leant her one of his old labs to keep her company.

We got a lovely lab x springer last year from a private rescue kennel close to lincoln, we took him the same day we saw him, the said they didn't have the staff or time to house check and dogs were rehomed on trust all they asked was you brought the whole family to meet the dog ie kids or other dogs. He is perfect we took a chance all the girl said was that he was a good type of dog so we took him on face value. If you want to know the details PM me.
 
You can also try re-homing privately..google it there's quite a lot of people who's circumstances change & they have to re-home their dogs..i've seen a lot on preloved.co.uk too, you obviously then don't have to worry about the 'no working' rule if the PO says it's ok being left..my 4 year old bichon is a re-home & she gets left on her on 1 day a week & when I get home she's still asleep, some days I get her ready for a walk & she curls upon the sofa & refuses to move!! Not all dogs hate being left..
 
I think they expect completely unreasonable things from potential good homes for dogs.

I find the best way around that is just to lie ;)
 
Oh - just read the whole thread - I would definitely second whoever said PM Cayla on here?

Just be prepared to take on a dodgy greyhound cross which has one mission in life... to eat rabbit muck :o:D
 
Thanks for your support (again) guys...i was getting worried that it me being unreasonable wanting to have another dog!!!

I'll check out a few local rescue centers tomorrow and see if they can help.

I've had a quick look on the links attached earlier and that black and white scruffy 8 month old pup looks adorable, just a shame that they are in Yorkshire...and it looks like someone has already asked about him even though he's only been on line for a couple of hours!!!

I love the fact you have 6 hours of your dog just sleeping on video...lol

I can't believe they wouldn't let you have a dog because there was too much space (not enclosed area) It just seems wrong that there are all these fantastic homes, so many dogs who need a home and to get told by a woman on the end of a phone over 50 miles away that has never met you or seen your home to be told no?!!?

Then just to rub salt in the wound, an advert has just come on the TV asking for money to help a big charity this Christmas pay for the abandoned and unwanted animals they have just taken in...Irony!!!
 
Some cuties!!

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http://www.lurcherlink.org/llink/forum/viewtopic.php?t=64281

That'll do I think...
 
I have had a similar problem in the past, once for trying to take on a cat and once a dog. I tried a small animal rescue shelter for the cat and years later a larger one for a dog.

I have always had animals and loved them and looked after them well. I would like to think that every animal I've had has been looked after and wanted for nothing - yet I have been unsuccessful when applying to re-home animals from shelters.

The reason I was given both times was because my husband was in the military. The first time I tried to adopt a cat we lived in military quarters and I worked part time, the second attempt many years later we had our own house and I didn't work but I still wasn't deemed a suitable owner for a dog.

It's total madness I'm afraid - total madness.
 
try many tears .. www.manytears.co.uk. they have many dogs there. they do home checks and references, so get your vet to give you a ref. there are many slightly older dogs who are quite happy to be left am and pm with a lunch break/walk/pee. good luck. manytears is worth the drive. my labx i got from them at 8 weeks. he is fab. and copes with a few hours on his own.
 
Unless you are a retired - but with the stamina to walk for 10 miles 4 times a day, have no children of any age, live in a castle with an 8 ft garden wall, then some of those rescues think their dogs are better off in kennels... :eek: :mad:

Same happened to me. So, I went to a small rescue where they weren't so picky and adopted a hooligan lurcher and a little later an ASBO LabXRottie... Both had to be put down this year, both 13, both after 12 years of a horrible life of mooching round the yard at week ends, long walks at dawn, long walks at dusk, long walks on the beach, many many ball games, lots of love and hours by themselves during working hours (AKA nap time in between walks and horse chores - eating poo down the yard)...

I now have taken on a puppy, who is nearly 6 months old and has very easily fallen into the routine of a good brisk 45mns-long morning walk, stay at home in an indoor kennel with toilet area (though she rarely uses it now) from 8.30am to 4pm, whilst I am at work, then gets picked up to go spend a couple of hours down the yard, freeranging, "playing" with cats and other dogs there, practising being a terrier... Awful life! ;)
 
As others have said it's a common complaint with larger rescues. Along with requirements for fenced gardens. Because honestly, having acres and acres to walk a dog on is OK, but what you really need is a secured area the size of a postage stamp onwards to chuck them into when you can't be bothered to take them for a walk :rolleyes:

Agree with others that you should try smaller rescues, and possibly sites like preloved and gumtree for private rescue (although you'd have to be careful it was a genuine case).

Another possibility (though more potentially more lengthy than searching rescues) would to be to put aside the money you would normally spend on feed, treats, insurance etc for a dog. Once you have X amount as a lump approach reputable breeders to see if they have an older pup that hasn't quite made the grade? For a younger pup you and the OH would probably have to save some annual leave then stagger it until you were through toilet training at least (though somebody might correct me here, never worked full time and raised a young pup, was enough hard work doing it while I was home full time to rush him out every soddin hour! :D)
 
A tip or 2 with rspca or large centre:

Dont do it on the phone, go to local centre (better if they are also one which deals with horses)
Go in your usual yard/riding gear. Chat to staff & ask for duty manager.
Then explain about you recently losing your dog (sorry to hear tho missus, big hugs) and tell them about all the nice things new doggy can have - space, exercise fill yours & his heart with happiness etc - just like last doggy had.
Do not mention the working bit unless you have to..... a 'horsey' senior member of staff at a centre is a good person to find & they are usually pretty sensible about re-homing.

Good luck :)
 
I didn't even want a dog, I'm a cat person, until I saw all those cuties upthread! Good luck with the rescue centres.
 
Another to say try Cayla. Northeast Staffie rescue have some lovely dogs too and there is also rescueremedies.org who take a more balanced view. Please don't give up on the rescues and I look forward to seeing you posting up pictures of your new pet..!
 
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With my sensible head on I'm not going to get another dog until I move somewhere bigger but, my god, that wee cutie would have changed my mind if he'd been closer. What a great forum - definitely somewhere I'll look when it's time for me to get another. :)
 
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I have never got this theory that rescues have - ok I can see where it stems from BUT how many people are actually lucky enough to be able to earn money so they can look after a dog properly but who is at home ALL the time? I don't think there's many out there so they are sort of limiting their options aren't they! It is ridiculous how hard they make it sometimes. You're even saying you'll come home at lunch to walk the dog too - that's more than many (perfectly happy, healthy dogs) get! God, when we were kids our dogs was left (weekdays) from say 8:30 in the morning until we came home from school at what, 4pm? She was quite content with walks morning and evening.

Please don't give up - you just have to work hard at it. I totally understand that rescues don't want dogs to be returned to them but to tell you you were unsuitable on the phone without even meeting you, doing a house check or anything is madness!

there were two dogs for rehoming on the Dogs trust Leeds website who they want to rehome as a pair and they say they are happy to be left alonefor a few hours in a day - maybe worth a look, you're not that far away! Here you go

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/royston1050317.aspx
 
cinammontoast said:
Any ideas what you want? Size/sex? OH is going to work in 30 so I can trawl some sites.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer...

We would like a youngish dog, probably between pup and 3, Sex not important (well you'd say the same if you saw my OH!!!) LOL only joking!!! The sex of the dog isn't important as we would neuter if not already done. Medium to largish dog so like a Lab, Collie X, Spaniel...although i have a soft spot for long legged Jack Russel or a Cocker Spaniels...I love the ears. My OH would love, love, love a Golden Retriever but the cheapest pups we have found are £400...This might be cheap, i don't know but i just can't afford that at the moment.

There are probably loads of breeds i haven't even thought of but we are quite happy with a Heinz 57.

OH doesn't like skinny dogs so dogs like Grey Hounds etc would be a no...I don't mean to offend anyone with a grey hounds or skinny dogs and I'm sure they are fabulous pets...His loss!!!

I'm not a big fan of staffys, pit bulls etc...again I don't want to offend anyone with these dogs...My Loss!!!

We don't have kids and part from a horse and a few fish no other pets...however it would be nice to have something that you didn't live in fear of it attacking anyone or another dog!!!

We have a large enclosed garden, access to 250 acres of pure walkie heaven and a huge forest a few miles down the road with plenty of tree sniffing/scenting potential. We have access to a lake (at the stables) and a river so we can cater for dogs that like water...and i don't mind getting the car wet or dirty, we have towels!!! Must like weekends away in Cornwall/Devon/Peaks for beach walks and coastal views...sounds like a lonely hearts ad!!!

Of course with us working we can't have anything that needs constant attention or needs to be doing something all the time...so must like sleeping on the sofa or our bed until we get home ;)

If there are any breeds you can suggest, i'll have a mooch for a pooch online :)
 
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