How modern dog rescue centres operate nowadays

[Tykey]

It seems dog rescue centres nowadays choose the dog for you, rather than you choose the dog (like it used to be afaik), and I don't think I like it.

Been thinking about rehoming a dog after our 18 year old dog passing away recently and things have changed. Been in contact with a few dog rescue centers and visited 1. They seem to operate similar to how The Dog House operates on Channel 4 - they find a dog for you. A dog is a big commitment and I want to choose my own dog. Only 1 out of 3 dog rescue places I've been in contact allow visits prior to applying to rehoming the dog. All stated there are usually lists you go on when applying for the dog, and if you're not successful, they'll contact me when they find another suitable dog - which to me is a roundabout way of saying they'll choose the dog for you.

I've no issue in being assessed, they're welcome to question me all they like, to visit my home, do any checks they want etc. But I want to choose the dog myself, I want to walk around the dogs that need homes and see which one(s) I bond with. What are your thoughts on this? Edit: yes I can meet the dog before actually getting it but it's still not a dog I chose out of those needing a home.

 

[Lonewolf]

Because we can’t have a dog of our own due to both working long hours, I walk a greyhound once a week at a greyhound rescue centre. There you can adopt a dog, but you can get to know them through walking and the feedback left by other owners on each dog’s temperament.
As for having a dog chosen for you, I’m not a fan of that idea myself.

 

[Tykey]

Because we can’t have a dog of our own due to both working long hours, I walk a greyhound once a week at a greyhound rescue centre. There you can adopt a dog, but you can get to know them through walking and the feedback left by other owners on each dog’s temperament.
As for having a dog chosen for you, I’m not a fan of that idea myself.

That seems like a good idea, good on you for doing such a thing by the way. The nearest rescue centre I'm aware of is about 20 miles away unfortunately, if there was the option to do that fairly nearby I'd definitely consider it. Edit: just googled and found a place about 8 miles away and they're looking for volunteers, thx for giving me the idea.

 

[Scuzi]

I tried to rehome a few dogs last year and it was a nightmare. Lots of crazy women. We met all of the ideal criteria but it still seemed like they didn’t actually want to give up any of the dogs. We almost went down the route of adopting a dog from Romania or Macedonia, but that seemed dodgy as hell the more I found out. Went and bought a puppy in the end.

 

[petridish]

I tried to rehome a few dogs last year and it was a nightmare. Lots of crazy women. We met all of the ideal criteria but it still seemed like they didn’t actually want to give up any of the dogs. We almost went down the route of adopting a dog from Romania or Macedonia, but that seemed dodgy as hell the more I found out. Went and bought a puppy in the end.

Having adopted a dog from Macedonia I understand the sentiment about it feeling dodgy but all went well in my particular case. It's a shame that it's open to scams as there are genuine people out there trying to do a good thing.

Our reason for going abroad was that the rescues we spoke to here wouldn't consider us as first time dog owners (having grown up with parents owning dogs though). Definitely agree that some places are a little too risk averse these days even if it comes from a good place. In the end very happy with our decision and all the vets bills, kennels and transport costs it still cost far less than buying a dog here.

 

[gort]

It's very much sided on what's best for the dog rather than what the person wants. Which isn't an inherently bad thing.

Just like adopting a child really. Anybody can "do the business" and become a parent, but adopting is a tiresome and lengthy process.

When we adopted a rescue dog back in 2005/6, we were able to pick the dog but only after the rescue center narrowed the choice down to what they felt was suitable for our circumstances and the dogs personality and history.

Then each family member had to come and visit the dog several times each over a 1-2 week period (to see how we all got on and see how committed we were).

Worked out very well in the end. If you're keen on a dog they select, you will jump through the few hoops they set.

I personally don't agree with buying from breeders and would get a rescue dog each time, however not going in to that in order to stay on topic.

 

[julianhj]

I tried to rehome a few dogs last year and it was a nightmare. Lots of crazy women. We met all of the ideal criteria but it still seemed like they didn’t actually want to give up any of the dogs. We almost went down the route of adopting a dog from Romania or Macedonia, but that seemed dodgy as hell the more I found out. Went and bought a puppy in the end.

A colleague adopted a couple of Romanian dogs last year via some sort of charity. One had a lot of behavioural issues (scared of everything) as it had likely been mistreated. Both dogs are absolutely fine now and he's very pleased he did it.

 

[Abraxaz1]

Dog rescue homes are nothing but another charity Ponzi scheme these days.

You are only allowed one of their dogs if you live in a mansion, have 50 acres and don’t leave the house for more than 10 minutes in a fortnight…

Me and my missus tried to adopt a German shepherd a couple of years back from the local shelter (many tears).

I have a small holding in Carmarthenshire I have a 5 acre field and about 20 acres of woodland all fenced off. Apparently that isn’t enough for a German shepherd…

Then I failed again when I raised an appeal because my missus and I work, my missus works from home and I can take the dog to work with me to most places.
They turned us down because they don’t supply to the animal working such as sheep dogs or gun dogs…
I’m a hv electrical engineer…. If I could teach the dog to switch I’d be outstanding in my field.


In the end it was easier to go to a local kennel club breeder who inspected the house, asked me if I was gonna use him for shooting, said yes and he offered to help train him if he could train a couple more labradors at the same time on my land..

The gsd was still there on the front page of their Facebook page for about 8 months after this.

 

[DEL 707]

I had similar problems when trying to adopt, one place wouldn't even let me come visit, because they didn't want visitors upsetting the dogs. I noped out of that 1. If I'm rescueing a Bosnian street dog, I want to see how it interacts with people 1st.

Before I got a dog, I tried adopting 2 cats. Found a wonderful pair, but they googled my house address and saw that I lived next to a road. That was the last I heard from that charity.
Those cats stayed up on that website for over 2 months, broke my heart that I never got a chance to give them a home.

I have dogs now, but I still think about those 2 cats.

 

[mattyfez]

It's very much sided on what's best for the dog rather than what the person wants. Which isn't an inherently bad thing.

I get that, but if you can demonstate you are experienced, and have a suitable lifestyle, income for insurance etc... it's gotta be better than lethal injection? How many get euthenised due to the rescue center not being able to afford to keep in infinate number of dogs?

 

[MatsyLR]

Same with cats. They refused to let me spend time with the cats before I adopted one. I just came on the day and he was brought out in my carrier and went home.

 

[Kelt]

I had similar problems when trying to adopt, one place wouldn't even let me come visit, because they didn't want visitors upsetting the dogs. I noped out of that 1. If I'm rescueing a Bosnian street dog, I want to see how it interacts with people 1st.

Before I got a dog, I tried adopting 2 cats. Found a wonderful pair, but they googled my house address and saw that I lived next to a road. That was the last I heard from that charity.
Those cats stayed up on that website for over 2 months, broke my heart that I never got a chance to give them a home.

I have dogs now, but I still think about those 2 cats.

What sodding house doesn't live next to a road FFS.

 

[413x]

I tried to rehome a few dogs last year and it was a nightmare. Lots of crazy women. We met all of the ideal criteria but it still seemed like they didn’t actually want to give up any of the dogs. We almost went down the route of adopting a dog from Romania or Macedonia, but that seemed dodgy as hell the more I found out. Went and bought a puppy in the end.

Got koda from Bosnia because it was too difficult to get a dog from the UK.
Were all sorts of hurdles. And despite the cost and not being able to see him we went for the eastern European option.

He's the best boy I could have hoped for.

He's genuinely my best friend.

Its a great thing if you can rehome one of these poor dogs

 

[Semple]

I do see the point that dog homes are trying to get across, but unfortunately that normally comes at the detriment of the dog (when they can't find them a new home). So whilst the intentions are good, and honest, they really need to consider that there's not an endless list of people who will adopt a dog, but there seems to be an endless list of dogs needing a new home. If the new owner can demonstrate they can provide a healthy and loving home for a dog, that should really be the only 2 boxes that need ticking.

I remember my brother/sister-in-law getting a dog from the dog shelter and it took them ages to find one despite lots of loving ones out there. The dog shelters were just being extremely fussy. It's also very cruel on both the people and the dog, as both get excited and build up hope and then the dog shelter says no, without much of a reason for it.

 

[arknor]

dog chosen for you, I’m not a fan of that idea myself.

yea how does that make any sense? people could end up with a dog they don't want since theres no bond?

It's almost like having a partner chosen for you, and then seeing if it works or not

 

[mattyfez]

Got koda from Bosnia because it was too difficult to get a dog from the UK.
Were all sorts of hurdles. And despite the cost and not being able to see him we went for the eastern European option.

He's the best boy I could have hoped for.

Aww man, that looks like one happy dog!

 

[413x]

Aww man, that looks like one happy dog!

His rescue picture is so sad.

Breaks my heart. Was rescued from a kill Shelter after being rounded up off street.
Apparently no one wanted him and he'd been with the fosterer for a while.

 

[kindai]

Had the same issue when trying to adopt cats. Just an absolutely ridiculous situation that they wouldnt even let us see the cats without going halfway through the process to adopt that specific cat.

Sorry but no. Im not going to jump through your ridiculous policies, ill go adopt from elsewhere.

 

[413x]

Had the same issue when trying to adopt cats. Just an absolutely ridiculous situation that they wouldnt even let us see the cats without going halfway through the process to adopt that specific cat.

Sorry but no. Im not going to jump through your ridiculous policies, ill go adopt from elsewhere.

And that's why people go to breeders.
I get they don't rehome to anyone. But when breeders often don't care (not all) it does seem these rescues seem too cautious.

 

[Tykey]

His rescue picture is so sad.

Breaks my heart. Was rescued from a kill Shelter after being rounded up off street.
Apparently no one wanted him and he'd been with the fosterer for a while.

The contrast to your other pics is striking. So sad here but you've done so well helping to turn his life around. You were meant for each other I think, "fate".