Rspca Denies Adoption To Non-pr

[andrewang]

I don't know why people are being so tough on the OP.

They were obviously prepared for a dog, have contacted breeders, know what they're in for overseas transport wise, have guaranteed to take the dog back to singapore with them.

So they fell in love with a dog at the RSPCA and were told they couldn't have it, despite being a responsible owner, able to offer a good home. Don't they have a right to be a little peeved and disappointed, even if the RSPCA policy is a good one?

I don't blame them for visiting the RSPCA when they were lonely. I volunteered at the local pound when I was away in college because I missed having a dog so much. My mum was a bit of a dog stalker when our dog passed away- she would go to dog parks and ask if she could cuddle the dogs there!

I also intend to travel and work in the UK in the next few years, and I have a dog. I knew this even before I had her. I absolutely intend to take her with me. Does this make an irresponsible owner?

I do think the RSPCA policy is a sound one, but I can also understand the OP's frustration.

THANK YOU!!!! Finally someone that understands what I am going through.

[Guest lavendergirl]

As someone mentioned a shihtzu cross would likely be highly rehomable and the shelter naturally wants to place the dog in what they consider to be the best home - I think they have made the right decision in this case. The person may not have been polite which is regrettable but what a highly stressful environment to work in As regards not being able to play with the dog that is totally understandable - AWL for instance require potential adopters to complete all the paperwork before even allowing you to look at the dog.

[andrewang]

Alright guys. I went for a walk in the park and had some dinner which allowed me the time to think about what you guys have said.

I wanna thank everyone for their constructive advises and some not so constructive accusations.

In conclusion, yes, RSPCA is probably right because of their rules but I think flexibility can be allowed in some cases.

Anyway, no harm done. Hopefully I'll be able to get my cocker spaniel soon and start living a fuller life! haha

Edited September 1, 2012 by andrewang

[minyvlz]

I went to AWL when I wanted a cat and filled in all the paperwork, presumably was given the ok to adopt, and wasn't asked if I was local or not (even though my partner and I don't remotely look or sound Australian). When you adopt out a rescue or foster, all you can do is trust and have faith. Nobody knows for sure if an adopter would be a great dog owner, PR or not.

I took two dogs and a cat to Singapore. The thought of leaving them behind in Australia never crossed my mind, and I knew I was going before I got them. People have to understand that most dogs in Singapore are mostly from Australia and Taiwan. BYBs, most probably. Stray/shelter dogs here are usually large mixed-breeds. Pure-breeds from local puppy farms (yes puppy farms with lots of breeds to choose from - not many ethical, registered breeders here) are at least 5k and up due to import fees. Local-born dogs look nothing like the breed standard.

Sometimes it's just easier to buy from pet shops rather than from reputable breeders or adopting from shelters. No jumping through hoops, no buttering anyone up, no needing to be assessed. I didn't know anything about dogs before I got my first dog in Australia. I bought the cheapest food, didn't know they needed toys or socialisation or training etc. The learning curve was steep, and I wouldn't have passed any breeder's suitability rankings then, but it doesn't mean I would forever be a bad owner.

edited for clarity

Edited September 1, 2012 by minyvlz

[schnauzer]

Some people did not read my previous posts and said I am "being incredibly selfish, one track minded and shortsighted".

Let me repeat. I INTEND TO BRING THEM HOME WITH ME!!

Even before I thought of getting a dog here, I asked around in the forum for the price of bringing a dog back home and I got quotes from a couple of different pet transport companies. So before accusing me of "being incredibly selfish, one track minded and shortsighted", know me better first.

Couple of reasons why I wanna get a dog here are as follow:

I love dogs and life without a dog now is just different.

Australia produces good quality dogs. Singapore doesn't have good breeders. I'm a sucker for quality in terms of dogs. I used to own 2 german import Rottweilers because singapore rottweilers are so small. They lived a good life and pass away so now I decided to go for English Cocker Spaniels.

I went to RSPCA that day because I believe fate wanted me to meet that poor fellow. (FYI, I only go for pure breed dogs but I somewhat connected with that shihtzu X)

So let me ask everyone this:

Would you rather a dog take a chance and hopefully find a good, permanent home, or stay in RSPCA for a couple of months and in the end be PTS?

If the dog was in "Adoptions" for you to view the dog would not have been pts.

[Kavik]

I am also going to suggest that you volunteer at a shelter or rescue organisation to help you get our dog 'fix' until you get your own :)

THey are always looking for volunteers to help out at a wide range of activities, and would appreciate the help. There are general shelters and rescues as well as breed or type specific rescues if you would prefer to help out a certain type of dog.

[GeckoTree]

Fake a broad Aussie accent, where a flanno and rugby shorts next time mate.

Sorry these people suck so much. You will get a dog soon enough, where there's a will there's a way.

J.

[Guest lavendergirl]

Some people did not read my previous posts and said I am "being incredibly selfish, one track minded and shortsighted".

Let me repeat. I INTEND TO BRING THEM HOME WITH ME!!

Even before I thought of getting a dog here, I asked around in the forum for the price of bringing a dog back home and I got quotes from a couple of different pet transport companies. So before accusing me of "being incredibly selfish, one track minded and shortsighted", know me better first.

Couple of reasons why I wanna get a dog here are as follow:

I love dogs and life without a dog now is just different.

Australia produces good quality dogs. Singapore doesn't have good breeders. I'm a sucker for quality in terms of dogs. I used to own 2 german import Rottweilers because singapore rottweilers are so small. They lived a good life and pass away so now I decided to go for English Cocker Spaniels.

I went to RSPCA that day because I believe fate wanted me to meet that poor fellow. (FYI, I only go for pure breed dogs but I somewhat connected with that shihtzu X)

So let me ask everyone this:

Would you rather a dog take a chance and hopefully find a good, permanent home, or stay in RSPCA for a couple of months and in the end be PTS?

If the dog was in "Adoptions" for you to view the dog would not have been pts.

I know that is AWL policy but wonder if it is the same at RSPCA - is there a time limit for keeping the dogs?

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

by allowing me to adopt, I reduce the amount of animal they have to care for and therefore reducing their financial strain.

This is more in line with foster caring. Depending what dog you wanted to adopt. There's a lot of people who adopt puppies and as soon as they become awkward teenager semi-deaf dogs - they get brought back to the shelter. And then those dogs are largely unhomeable. If you took an older dog - then there is less chance of this happening. But it is better for a dog to have one home or family than to be passed around.

And saying that, how many abandoned animals in RSPCA are abandoned by overseas students? I'm sure there are way more Aussies who abandon their pets just because they don't like them anymore.

This is possible true. I would like to know the answer too. But I would also like to know the percentage ie if 100 OS students adopt - how many take their dog home with them? how many give them back to the pound or otherwise get rid of them. And it's unlikely the RSPCA would adopt out to an Australian student in rental accomodation either. I've seen heaps of those posting to get rid of their dog because they're moving to accomodation that doesn't allow a dog.

It's still racist to ask a question based on someone's appearance and accent. That's what racist is. You can't tell by looking at someone or their accent, whether they're about to nick off overseas for work or because their visa expired or because they want to visit family and don't come back. Heaps of Australians go overseas and leave their dogs behind too.

[Tibbie_tabbie]

It is something that needs to be considered carefully. I went a long time without my own dog (I claimed friends dogs whenever I could hee hee, they loved a free dog walker/trainer/player). I wasn't wiling to get a dog (even tho I wanted to so bad) until I had PR, stopped moving (three countries in 8 years with work) and had an emergency deposit account. This money is to cover the transportation if we needed to return home for any reason (although no plans to go home, I have researched and know the company we'd use and have quotes) or as a deposit on a house if we couldn't find a dog friendly rental (we have our current dog friendly house for at least the next two years, during which time we plan to buy anyway). Yes, we would buy a house for our dogs if it came to it.

Now I understand that we are strange (friends laugh at our 'dogs prepper plans' ) but my dogs are family so I needed to be sure we had every safety net in place before taking them on.

Some countries also have breed restrictions/ quarrentine laws that have to be considered.

Whilst you may feel it intrusive have you thought about getting quotes for transportation and then showing the rescue group you have the money?

[Brucebriz]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

Edited September 4, 2012 by Brucebriz

[minimax]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

Especially those countries like Vietnam where they boil them alive and eat them

[silentchild]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

More education about dog ownership for people from different cultures / OS students is definitely something which I think needs to be done, and am quite passionate about it, however I have seen countless cases where no matter how much you educate someone they just won't listen and will still go out and do as they please. Sometimes it really is just the different way of thinking and culture differences.

Although more effort in terms of education could certainly possibly go a long way and welfare / rescue groups should explore that avenue.

[Rebanne]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

More education about dog ownership for people from different cultures / OS students is definitely something which I think needs to be done, and am quite passionate about it, however I have seen countless cases where no matter how much you educate someone they just won't listen and will still go out and do as they please. Sometimes it really is just the different way of thinking and culture differences.

Although more effort in terms of education could certainly possibly go a long way and welfare / rescue groups should explore that avenue.

The bolded bit isn't limited to other cultures believe me!

[andrewang]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

Especially those countries like Vietnam where they boil them alive and eat them

Why would anyone spend thousands of dollars so they can transport their pets back home to "boil them alive and eat them"?

[Steph M]

Would you let someone adopt a child if you knew they were going to let it run feral when it stopped being cute?

I can see both sides, I have no doubt there are students who do the right thing, but one quick glance at Gumtree and see all the fluffies with "am going back home, need to rehome him/her". There's a lot, I know Australians aren't blameless either and there's a bunch of 'we're moving etc' ones, and both are sad, and rescue ops generally ask if you rent/own/have permission to have a pet on the premises, while not a guarantee nothing will change, it's a start. I think asking if you plan to stay is perfectly resonable to be honest, she sounds like she was pretty rude, but she works a pretty hideous job. Can't say I blame her being fed up with everything.

[Linda K]

was just about to say the same thing Steph - just take a look at gumtree and look at all the dogs and cats being offered FTGH as their owners are now going back OS and can;t take the pet with them, and urgently need a home. Good reason for the RSPCA and others to be cautious as to who they adopt to.

[Pheebs]

I think everything's pretty much been covered already in terms of adhering to policies etc. which I think was the right call to make.

However I find it ridiculous that they wouldn't even let the OP spend some time with the dog in question purely for some interactions sake. He had been denied adoption of the dog but was still denied after the fact the chance to throw it a ball!! It also makes me feel quite uncomfortable (but not surprising) that the question was even asked re: residency. Burwood and it's surrounding suburbs has a very large student population and as many of the previous posts have shown; apparently not all students have good long-term intentions.

Now, at the risk of having my head chewed off I ended up adopting Maggie because I went to the LDH after having quit my job that morning and wanted to spend time with some needy smoochy faces. I went there with no intention of adopting a pet but like the OP, was not a particularly huge fan of crossbreeds but just 'clicked' with her and she is now a much-treasured and adored part of our family (I did however put her on hold and go home and have a think about what it was I was signing up for!). I think the OP was already somewhat mentally prepared for the addition of a dog to the household given the ECS enquiries so the insinuation that the acquisition of "a dog" would have been a complete impulse purchase is not altogether fair.

ETA: All residency issues aside; this forum is littered with folk who have acquired dogs without much preparation: people who have rescued dogs left behind in neighbouring backyards, people who have 'saved' puppies from petshop windows, people who have 'rescued' dogs from the trading post for fear of being used in puppy farms, either way - the psychology is the same. The OP saw an opportunity to adopt a dog (who he deemed at the time to be 'at risk' even though as mentioned previously if it was in the adoption pens it wasn't at risk of being PTS).

Edited September 6, 2012 by Pheebs

[Greytmate]

I wonder if any of the dog rescue/adoption/welfare groups have actually engaged with the issue of dogs being abandoned by OS students? Also as owning a dog is like anything else, subject to cultural norms, is there any outreach to OS students about positive dog rearing/training/care etc. I mena when you see dog ownership culture OS it is pretty different to here IME ...

Especially those countries like Vietnam where they boil them alive and eat them

Why would anyone spend thousands of dollars so they can transport their pets back home to "boil them alive and eat them"?

The point being made was that the dog might not be seen as valuable enough to spend a lot of money on taking back to another country, because the owner might consider it is edible and disposable. Not that the dog would be exported for food.

Although I think the point is a bit insensitive.

There is absolutely no difference between an Asian student that buys a pet without full consideration of the obligation that brings them over the next fifteen years or so and an Australian student that does the same thing. The difference is that the Australian student may have a parent on which to dump the animal when they get tired of their responsibility, where as the Asian student has nobody.

Best to delay dog buying until you have finished full-time studying and settled in life in the place where you want to be. No matter what nationality you are. Then buy a dog to suit your lifestyle, from wherever in the world you need to get it from.

That's my twenty cents worth anyway.