Well she should be easy to rehome !

MurphysMinder

MurphysMinder

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I've just been looking at a well known rehoming page and seen a dog up for rehoming with following description:

She is a sensitive little lady who needs to be given space to get to know people in her own time. Multiple visits to the site will be needed to allow her to build up her confidence. Once she knows you she is very affectionate and loves nothing more than to have a cuddle with you on the sofa.
must live in an adult only household with no young visiting children and few visitors.
She cannot live with any other animals but may over time with careful introduction and socialising possible walk with quiet dogs.
would love her own private 6ft fenced garden to play with her squeaky toys and be able to have some fun off lead. No neighbouring dogs please.
She cannot be left home alone currently as she finds this distressing, her home alone training will need starting from the beginning and built up very slowly.

She is described as a staffordshire x chow. I wonder just how many people would be able to offer the home needed, she sounds a bit of a liability bless her.
 
A lot of their stuff reads like that at the moment, I looked at about 6 the other day and wouldn't have touched any of them with the amount of restrictions they placed. I can't help but feel that if they looked for homes to help the dogs change for the better rather than homes for them to stay as they are it'd be better all round. It's sad I think.
 
Mynstrel said:
A lot of their stuff reads like that at the moment, I looked at about 6 the other day and wouldn't have touched any of them with the amount of restrictions they placed. I can't help but feel that if they looked for homes to help the dogs change for the better rather than homes for them to stay as they are it'd be better all round. It's sad I think.
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Anybody taking such a dog needs to provide the right management to start with or it will be a total failure and the dog will bounce back. With plenty of time, an in depth knowledge of dog behaviour and the will to change your whole life to give this dog what she needs, it may work. Are you going to volunteer? As a few on here probably know I used to foster rescue lurchers. The really f...ckd up one is still with me as it would not have been fair to pass her onto a pet home (it was tried). She had bitten four well intentioned fosterers and would be adopters by the time she ended up with me. She was just scared of the world generally. Believe me, there is nothing rescues would like more than to be able to meet these wonderful pet homes waiting to embrace their misfits. The risk is just too high in most cases. The restrictions are to protect the dogs and the general public.
 
Probably not in the case of the dog listed on this thread but I do sometimes think rescues stereotype some of their dogs and make them harder to re-home. We got Ashkii from the RSPCA and the lists of don'ts that came with him was huge...
Don't let him near children ever - he was the soppiest, dopiest dog you could meet and loved cuddles from my partner's niece.
Don't have him around other male dogs ever - was totally dog neutral with all dogs unless told "go play".
Never let him off the lead, ever - recall training took 2 weeks and he was fab at it.
Can't be left for more than 1 hour - absolutely fine for as long as we ever needed to leave him, 7 hours once.
Must get minimum of 3 hours walking per day - couldn't care if he went 20 minutes round the block or 4 hours of hiking, also didn't care what time we went out.
Honestly couldn't have got a nicer, easier dog but the advert would have put so many off and was probably all down to him being a malamute.
 
Yes our 1st Rottweiler was a rehome, she needed our other dogs, particularly the Lab bitch who was about the same age, to show her how to go on. She grew into a lovely dog (with a few quirks)
 
Actually I don't think she sounds that bad, very unusual/ridiculous cross though, with the right owner she will probably have a good life, Many dogs don't do well in kenneled rescue centres and she may well settle in a nice home on a one to one relationship. The main problem I see is that the person who has the experience to work and rehab such a dog probably has a dog of their own already which makes it more difficult. Poor wee dog.
 
planete said:
Anybody taking such a dog needs to provide the right management to start with or it will be a total failure and the dog will bounce back. With plenty of time, an in depth knowledge of dog behaviour and the will to change your whole life to give this dog what she needs, it may work. Are you going to volunteer? As a few on here probably know I used to foster rescue lurchers. The really f...ckd up one is still with me as it would not have been fair to pass her onto a pet home (it was tried). She had bitten four well intentioned fosterers and would be adopters by the time she ended up with me. She was just scared of the world generally. Believe me, there is nothing rescues would like more than to be able to meet these wonderful pet homes waiting to embrace their misfits. The risk is just too high in most cases. The restrictions are to protect the dogs and the general public.
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Totally agree, messed up dogs need the right management and the commitment by their human to do right by that dog, whatever that ends up meaning, and help him/her to live their best life.

Would I volunteer? No, but I already have my own messed up angel who's brought so much to our lives in the time we've had him, but for seeing the the dog he is now to the dog that arrived I'd do it again. And even now he's far from a 'normal' dog.

What I was trying to say (badly probably) is that rather than giving a list of things the dog can't do that appears to be non negotiable, say the dog has x, y and z issues and needs an experienced and vetted home with suitable backup, willing to take on and work through or manage the issues to give that dog the best, safest life he or she could have. To me it just feels like they're writing these dogs off as damaged goods that can't be helped or improved. There must be experienced dog homes out there that would take on these dogs but don't even try because they know they'd fall at the first hurdle by not meeting all the sometimes almost impossible criteria. I know of somebody who was turned down for a JRT from a well known rescue because they had a collie and they feared it would be walked too far, there was no thought that perhaps the dogs would be exercised to their needs, separately or together as worked best. Just no.

I know all rescues want to see their dogs go to loving homes but I think some of them want the perfect home ready made rather than the home that can be made perfect for them. I've probably said all of this badly again bit I hope that makes sense.
 
Mynstrel said:
Totally agree, messed up dogs need the right management and the commitment by their human to do right by that dog, whatever that ends up meaning, and help him/her to live their best life.

Would I volunteer? No, but I already have my own messed up angel who's brought so much to our lives in the time we've had him, but for seeing the the dog he is now to the dog that arrived I'd do it again. And even now he's far from a 'normal' dog.

What I was trying to say (badly probably) is that rather than giving a list of things the dog can't do that appears to be non negotiable, say the dog has x, y and z issues and needs an experienced and vetted home with suitable backup, willing to take on and work through or manage the issues to give that dog the best, safest life he or she could have. To me it just feels like they're writing these dogs off as damaged goods that can't be helped or improved. There must be experienced dog homes out there that would take on these dogs but don't even try because they know they'd fall at the first hurdle by not meeting all the sometimes almost impossible criteria. I know of somebody who was turned down for a JRT from a well known rescue because they had a collie and they feared it would be walked too far, there was no thought that perhaps the dogs would be exercised to their needs, separately or together as worked best. Just no.

I know all rescues want to see their dogs go to loving homes but I think some of them want the perfect home ready made rather than the home that can be made perfect for them. I've probably said all of this badly again bit I hope that makes sense.
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I agree.
we tried one rescue for a dog before buying the GSD. Barely got through the door, very unhelpful. We could have taken a dog with a reasonable degree of problems, own land, both at home, no kids, dogs all our life etc. Their dogs could't go anywhere with a cat.
Our cat was old so we also asked about a future cat. Good heavens, one of their cats wouldn't be able to go to a home with a dog.
That rescue had so many set ideas they were totally unable to see that to get homes for animals you have to compromise a little.

We left and bought our own dog.

Cat died, went to the shelter we normally used who actually try to rehome animals.. We left with 2 cats. They judged that those cats would probably be able to adapt to living with a big dog to try and get them a home.

The cats are on the settee with the dog. All still alive.
 
I wonder if potential litigation has something to do with it? If the rescue covers themselves by saying dog has to be kept in certain conditions there's no comeback? Sad if that is the case as the dogs may be perfectly fine with kids, other animals etc.
 
Rescues are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Sometimes it can be down to financial restrictions, not enough staff/volunteers or the scale of difficult dogs passing through their doors. Or sometimes their rehoming criteria is just ridiculous and dogs who could have found a good home are left in rescue kennels because of a failure to see beyond the rules set down.

I have volunteered for two different breed specific rescues. The first was what I’d thought rescue would be like - they take almost any dog and assess before any decision taken on rehoming (even if the dog had a bite history), potential homes are thoroughly and individually assessed, no strict immovable rules about garden size, fencing, other animals, working hours etc. It was very well run, was countrywide and has an army of volunteers for fundraising and home checking etc. The other was quite the opposite and I found it too restrictive so ended up becoming frustrated and quitting.
 
Every time I browse the local rescue pages, as you do, the dogs must be rehomed with no cats or small furries, and no other dogs.

There's a limited number of experienced dog owners who have not already got at least one other dog. Maybe the easier dogs get rehomed before going up on the website?

If anyone knows of a youngish to middle aged terrier or smallish dog looking for a country home just shout! Very friendly but slightly nervous 4yo JRT would love a friend.
 
Moobli said:
Rescues are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Sometimes it can be down to financial restrictions, not enough staff/volunteers or the scale of difficult dogs passing through their doors. Or sometimes their rehoming criteria is just ridiculous and dogs who could have found a good home are left in rescue kennels because of a failure to see beyond the rules set down.

I have volunteered for two different breed specific rescues. The first was what I’d thought rescue would be like - they take almost any dog and assess before any decision taken on rehoming (even if the dog had a bite history), potential homes are thoroughly and individually assessed, no strict immovable rules about garden size, fencing, other animals, working hours etc. It was very well run, was countrywide and has an army of volunteers for fundraising and home checking etc. The other was quite the opposite and I found it too restrictive so ended up becoming frustrated and quitting.
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so which rescue was the sensible one? it would be helpful to know as i am thinking of adding another but dont want a puppy and my experience of rescues has not been good so far
 
splashgirl45 said:
so which rescue was the sensible one? it would be helpful to know as i am thinking of adding another but dont want a puppy and my experience of rescues has not been good so far
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not Moobli but in my view the first one as they seemed to want to rehome the animal.

I have had a lot of cats from rescues. When I got Cat his honest advert would have been "not very attractive B & W neutered male, cannot go with dogs as he will attack them, hates people more than he hates dogs and will equally seriously attack any other cats within a 2 mile radius. Good for those who like A & E where he put one of our staff. Only now dealt with by the supervisor. Miserable looking cat, good at hissing which shows his lovely set of teeth, claws in equally excellent condition. Most suitable for someone who doesn't want to touch him or preferably anything to do with him. His only interest in life is killing, something he has mastered to perfection"

He had in fact had a pretty miserable time and had been thrown down a laundry shute. The rescue didn't set any conditions about what home they wanted. He had been there for a month in a cage on death row as there was no one suitable for him. Then we turned up and wanted a totally miserable killing machine. They came to visit and realised that what we were proposing for him was beyond what they could ever have hoped. We had 8 wonderful years with him.


If their advert had been like post 1 on here with lots of things he wanted then they would never have rehomed him and he was getting more aggressive by the day caged.. Lots of compromise on all sides is needed rehoming difficult animals.
 
Our little mixed yorkie x jrt was a spanish rescue. He was fostered locally and our old dog died. We couldn't find something to get along with our elderly jrt from a rescue and he needed a child free home. Could not be left, no visiting children and liable to snap. He was super cute and the lady fostering knew us well. We agreed to give him a trial as he was not everyones cup of tea. He had snapped at children and was yappy and did not like strange men.
He settled nicely and our old girl helped him to settle. He is still vocal :rolleyes:, he is still wary of strangers but no biting (except the vet first time who refused to muzzle him as he could "cope" with a small dog! despite my advice). He is loving and kind and funny and scruffy and loyal. 5 years on he is brilliant with our granddaughter who is 4 and never ever shows aggression to children. He is good with our new JRT pup and has rewarded us 10 x over. He would not have been homed with us by a "proper" rescue as we both worked part time... God knows what would have happened to him.
 
I think a lot of these 'problem' dogs would be better off PTS. The rehoming pool is so limited, and the experience needed is only possible from one person every ten or so years when the previous 'problem' dog has died, that these dogs end up, if they are lucky, stuck in kennels, miserable!
Surely PTS secures their future and opens up kennel space for dogs that are easier and better equipped with life, to be rehomed.

Dont get me wrong, I'm a softy and it breaks my heart seeing these messed up dogs but with the desperate plight of so many, surely the few should be taken out of the rehoming pool.
 
Antw23uk said:
I think a lot of these 'problem' dogs would be better off PTS. The rehoming pool is so limited, and the experience needed is only possible from one person every ten or so years when the previous 'problem' dog has died, that these dogs end up, if they are lucky, stuck in kennels, miserable!
Surely PTS secures their future and opens up kennel space for dogs that are easier and better equipped with life, to be rehomed.

Dont get me wrong, I'm a softy and it breaks my heart seeing these messed up dogs but with the desperate plight of so many, surely the few should be taken out of the rehoming pool.
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I think I would be of a similar mindset.

As a tangent question - what do people think about charities/rescue centres having dogs (or cats/horses/anything, really) with ‘permanent resident’ status?

From what I’ve seen of permanent resident rescue dogs, they’re usually very similar to the staffie described in the OP - behavioural problems, often aggression issues, separation or guarding problems, dog reactive, no small furries, etc,. For whatever reason, it seems like some charities actually give up on rehoming some of these types altogether, but they still continue to keep them as resident dogs; taking up kennel space, and using donated money to house & feed them.

Personally, I feel that these types of ‘unadoptable’ animals should either be PTS, or should be privately funded at least, if they’re not able to actually be taken home by any staff. But perhaps that’s an unpopular opinion?
 
fiwen30 said:
I think I would be of a similar mindset.

As a tangent question - what do people think about charities/rescue centres having dogs (or cats/horses/anything, really) with ‘permanent resident’ status?

From what I’ve seen of permanent resident rescue dogs, they’re usually very similar to the staffie described in the OP - behavioural problems, often aggression issues, separation or guarding problems, dog reactive, no small furries, etc,. For whatever reason, it seems like some charities actually give up on rehoming some of these types altogether, but they still continue to keep them as resident dogs; taking up kennel space, and using donated money to house & feed them.

Personally, I feel that these types of ‘unadoptable’ animals should either be PTS, or should be privately funded at least, if they’re not able to actually be taken home by any staff. But perhaps that’s an unpopular opinion?
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I don't see a problem with them having permanent residents. Up to them what they do. I've met lots of the permanents and they have seemed happy in their charity home.

As for using donated money then it is entirely up to the people donating. They are able to read the charities web site, indeed they most likely have to go onto it to donate. If they disapprove they don't have to donate. Many of them have sponsor pages for long term residents. Up to people who they want to give their money to.

I expect there are some people who would love to adopt an animal themselves but their circumstances make it impossible. Possibly it gives them pleasure to sponsor a charity animal. Our local charity which has permanents welcomes visitors to see them so I guess the sponsors see their sponsor pets sometimes. There is an adoptor's club with a newsletter.
If it keeps the sponsors happy, gives the animals a good home and raises money for them there is no problem.
 
paddy555 said:
I don't see a problem with them having permanent residents. Up to them what they do. I've met lots of the permanents and they have seemed happy in their charity home.

As for using donated money then it is entirely up to the people donating. They are able to read the charities web site, indeed they most likely have to go onto it to donate. If they disapprove they don't have to donate. Many of them have sponsor pages for long term residents. Up to people who they want to give their money to.

I expect there are some people who would love to adopt an animal themselves but their circumstances make it impossible. Possibly it gives them pleasure to sponsor a charity animal. Our local charity which has permanents welcomes visitors to see them so I guess the sponsors see their sponsor pets sometimes. There is an adoptor's club with a newsletter.
If it keeps the sponsors happy, gives the animals a good home and raises money for them there is no problem.
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I am chuckling to myself, lol ... "Sponsor a resident dog .. we'll send you monthly updates of who they have bitten and the pics to prove it, thank you for your donation" lol! .. Sorry its my warped mind after a long week :)
 
fiwen30 said:
I think I would be of a similar mindset.

As a tangent question - what do people think about charities/rescue centres having dogs (or cats/horses/anything, really) with ‘permanent resident’ status?

From what I’ve seen of permanent resident rescue dogs, they’re usually very similar to the staffie described in the OP - behavioural problems, often aggression issues, separation or guarding problems, dog reactive, no small furries, etc,. For whatever reason, it seems like some charities actually give up on rehoming some of these types altogether, but they still continue to keep them as resident dogs; taking up kennel space, and using donated money to house & feed them.

Personally, I feel that these types of ‘unadoptable’ animals should either be PTS, or should be privately funded at least, if they’re not able to actually be taken home by any staff. But perhaps that’s an unpopular opinion?
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I think that's just the difference between an animal sanctuary and an animal rescue/ rehoming centre. Where I volunteer the majority of animals are permanent residents. If an animal comes in that can be rehomed then they will be but there is a home for life there for those who can't. That is usually horses but there are some cats and dogs there who will never be rehomed for various reasons (complex health needs, behavioural issues etc).

I can say none of the PR dogs are in kennels though, they live with the owner. Her house is probably chaos but that's her prerogative! A lot of the larger "rescue" centres of course wouldn't be able to do that and I would absolutely have an issue with permanent resident dogs living in a kennel environment, that's no life really. I do like what Almost Home have done with their Heather House for the golden oldies, it's as close to a home environment as they can make it and people will still donate money so "unadoptable" animals can have a quiet retirement if they can.
 
Sad, but this is why we went with retired greyhound initially. Our local rehoming centre go to great lengths to match you with dogs even if “on paper” it’s not suitable. Cats, small kids, flat, shared garden. We’ve had two now no issues
Every other rehoming centre we didn’t even pass the initial checks ?
 
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