New Rescue

[Rebanne]

What has owning a bull breed got to do with anything? I have owned GSD's and Greyhound and yes I have had people look at them with terror in their eyes and nearly fall over themselves rushing to get to the other side of the street.

Greyhounds are hunters, bred to kill game from deer down.

I didn't say GAP or GSN were perfect nor had never made mistakes but they have been around for a long time now and you could learn from them.

Because you are questioning the way I placed bull breeds, if you have never had to deal with the stereotypes that come with bulls breeds or have to watch a breed you love close to being extinct then you wouldn't understand the levels people will go through to protect them and making sure they are not exposed to small animals is one of those ways to protect them. Years ago us bully lovers had to read about Germany taking 1,000s of dogs and killing them just because irresponsible owners didn't take the precautions to keep the breed safe so a few bad dogs got a ton of good dogs killed it was so sad.

I have no problems taking advice and welcome it actually

I have had to deal with stereotypes all my dog owning life by owning the breeds I have owned.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Greyhounds have a hard time of it unfortunately. I love them and have rescued them or helped facilitate their rescue on several occasions, including earlier this year - a particularly fine example of the breed, gentle with all animals.

Last week I was trying to sell calendars for Greyhound Rescue at work - most of the time the responses were not positive, people simply don't like the way they look or worry about their hunting instincts, the muzzle really scares people when you walk a grey down the street so the green collar is vital - obtaining it differs from state to state.

As for keeping track of the dogs, in NSW one of the groups I work with puts their details on as the secondary contact - it's all explained to the owner at the time of adoption. If the dog gets lost and the new owner cannot be reached, the secondary contact is the rescuer.

It's also in their contract that a new owner must contact them before taking a dog to the pound or rehoming it themselves. However, this is no guarantee, you just have to hope that people do the right thing. A few years on and many can't seme to remember where they got their dogs from - i know this from speaking to many owners who are advertising their dogs as needing new homes.

It did appear that the dogs must be potentially aggressive if they could not live next door to other animals. Not sure how else this could be viewed. Surely if they'd been tested as OK with other animals, they could live next door to them?

[Greylvr]

I have never come across this negativity people love Midori even muzzled people ask to pet her. Myabe they are just more liked down here.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I have never come across this negativity people love Midori even muzzled people ask to pet her. Myabe they are just more liked down here.

I think you are right - I have been running Italian Greyhound rescue (we rescue and rehome nationally) for the last 3.5 years and most of our dogs are rehomed in Victoria.

[Rebanne]

I have never come across this negativity people love Midori even muzzled people ask to pet her. Myabe they are just more liked down here.

Maybe it's all the hard work other people have done over the last 15 or so years. The meet and greets while having coffee up the street, the yearly displays done at the local agi shows, the ads - radio, print and TV, the owners of adopted greys handing out business cards for GAP and GSN, talking the ear off anyone who stood still, the regular walks organised. Lots and lots of effort put in by lots and lots of greyhound people.

[tdierikx]

Have you ever owned an Am staff, pit bull or anything close? have you seen the fear in people's eyes when you walk them? Have you seen or heard what people say when one screams to get to another dog or cat?

See... it's snippets like the one I've bolded that tends to set some of our teeth on edge.

And, yes, I own a Rottie/Pittie cross and an AmStaff cross myself. When I'm out with them people don't seem to notice that the well behaved doggy on the end of the lead is of a particular breed mix - they seem to notice the wagging tail and acceptance of any and all pats though... *grin*

I've also been involved in the rescue and rehoming of a good number of bull breed types - but not one dog that has shown aggression to the point of trying to kill another animal has been rehomed by my group (of any breed) - and I've had the job of holding some extremely lovely dogs as they were given their wings due to the fact that it would not be viable to rehome them. Rescue isn't all about warm fuzzies and "saving" animals - it's a dirty and heartbreaking game at times.

The funny thing about rescue is that many of us believe that the more perfectly socially appropriate dogs we rehome, the more the public will realise that rescue dogs aren't all discards due to "issues"... just something to think about, OK?

May I ask why you don't want to join any of the established Greyhound rescue groups?

T.

[Greylvr]

Have you ever owned an Am staff, pit bull or anything close? have you seen the fear in people's eyes when you walk them? Have you seen or heard what people say when one screams to get to another dog or cat?

See... it's snippets like the one I've bolded that tends to set some of our teeth on edge.

And, yes, I own a Rottie/Pittie cross and an AmStaff cross myself. When I'm out with them people don't seem to notice that the well behaved doggy on the end of the lead is of a particular breed mix - they seem to notice the wagging tail and acceptance of any and all pats though... *grin*

I've also been involved in the rescue and rehoming of a good number of bull breed types - but not one dog that has shown aggression to the point of trying to kill another animal has been rehomed by my group (of any breed) - and I've had the job of holding some extremely lovely dogs as they were given their wings due to the fact that it would not be viable to rehome them. Rescue isn't all about warm fuzzies and "saving" animals - it's a dirty and heartbreaking game at times.

The funny thing about rescue is that many of us believe that the more perfectly socially appropriate dogs we rehome, the more the public will realise that rescue dogs aren't all discards due to "issues"... just something to think about, OK?

May I ask why you don't want to join any of the established Greyhound rescue groups?

T.

I already stated why I dont want to foster dogs. Its a few pages back. The dogs I placed didnt act like that, it was the irresponsible owners who would walk their dogs like that that is what the rescues are up against so any precaution to protect the dogs is a good one IMO. I suppose some hear what they want but this isnt about a bull breed rescue anyway so not sure how we got so far off track.

[Greylvr]

I have never come across this negativity people love Midori even muzzled people ask to pet her. Myabe they are just more liked down here.

Maybe it's all the hard work other people have done over the last 15 or so years. The meet and greets while having coffee up the street, the yearly displays done at the local agi shows, the ads - radio, print and TV, the owners of adopted greys handing out business cards for GAP and GSN, talking the ear off anyone who stood still, the regular walks organised. Lots and lots of effort put in by lots and lots of greyhound people.

Maybe thats right, so why is it harmful for more people to educate down here. I love talking dogs with people I dont understand this post to be honest. We plan to go to the GAP events and having a good time with them. Why are you so worried about this competition? There wont be GAP isnt going to suddenly go broke and close down because a family saves a few greyhounds ones that they dont have room for anyway. I am really having a tough time figuring out why you have an issue with me.

Edited December 5, 2012 by Greylvr

[Salukifan]

All I can say is do your insurance and legals carefully.

You don't want to lose everything you own due to a bad decision on a dog or an adopter.

[Rebanne]

I have never come across this negativity people love Midori even muzzled people ask to pet her. Myabe they are just more liked down here.

Maybe it's all the hard work other people have done over the last 15 or so years. The meet and greets while having coffee up the street, the yearly displays done at the local agi shows, the ads - radio, print and TV, the owners of adopted greys handing out business cards for GAP and GSN, talking the ear off anyone who stood still, the regular walks organised. Lots and lots of effort put in by lots and lots of greyhound people.

Maybe thats right, so why is it harmful for more people to educate down here. I love talking dogs with people I dont understand this post to be honest

You don't understand it?? You said people aren't scared to pat your greyhound, I replied that maybe it's because etc etc. In other words so many people have spent so much effort over quite a few years educating people about greyhounds that a lot of people nowadays know a lot more about greyhounds.

[Greylvr]

re read the post hit send too soon

[Rebanne]

re read the post hit send too soon

Are you planning taking your greyhound to GAP promotions? Cause I am not sure what other activities you mean? If you are then I suggest you make contact with GAP because I doubt you will be allowed. They can't allow an unknown dog to be put forward as part of a GAP event. If something was to go wrong, well it doesn't bear thinking about.

If you are talking about some of the private walks sometimes advertised on GAP's website, that is different. Anyone can join them.

[Greylvr]

The get togethers actual GAP rescue events.

We also hope to organize some walks down this way with greyhound owners that would be really fun and before you ask I have checked all the beaches this way and know what times dogs can and cant be on the beaches.

Edited December 5, 2012 by Greylvr

[Greytmate]

You can ask people that adopt to do anything you like. You cannot enforce it.

Dogs in any state can be identified by earbrand and microchip but not all owners will update contact details.

Yes I know, but usually when people sign a contract they try to stick to it. I am not sure why my asking people to do this equates to me not being a good rescue, I can tell you really really don't want us to do this I just cant understand why. Why are we so bad? Why are we not capable of running a good rescue and helping dogs. Do you give all new rescues this much trouble or just greyhound ones? I have been involved in dogs since I Was 15 and volunteering at a vet, I spent all my adult life working for vets, going to school to be a vet tech, working at shelters and humane societies, running rescues. I think maybe its just you dont understand how dedicated I am to helping animals its not a hobby for me its a passion.

You need to read what I actually wrote and not imagine things. There are plenty of things for you to think about that you don't seem to have considered very well. Least of which is how your group is going to fill a different need to the others.

Gap victoria do have a handle on what the laws are. They have been around longer than some of the laws that apply to organizations that sell dogs and have worked hard to successfully lobby for laws to improve to help greyhound adoption.

If you are so dedicated and passionate about doing this well you shouldnt be taking such offence at people who are giving you good advice.

[Greylvr]

You can ask people that adopt to do anything you like. You cannot enforce it.

Dogs in any state can be identified by earbrand and microchip but not all owners will update contact details.

Yes I know, but usually when people sign a contract they try to stick to it. I am not sure why my asking people to do this equates to me not being a good rescue, I can tell you really really don't want us to do this I just cant understand why. Why are we so bad? Why are we not capable of running a good rescue and helping dogs. Do you give all new rescues this much trouble or just greyhound ones? I have been involved in dogs since I Was 15 and volunteering at a vet, I spent all my adult life working for vets, going to school to be a vet tech, working at shelters and humane societies, running rescues. I think maybe its just you dont understand how dedicated I am to helping animals its not a hobby for me its a passion.

You need to read what I actually wrote and not imagine things. There are plenty of things for you to think about that you don't seem to have considered very well. Least of which is how your group is going to fill a different need to the others.

Gap victoria do have a handle on what the laws are. They have been around longer than some of the laws that apply to organizations that sell dogs and have worked hard to successfully lobby for laws to improve to help greyhound adoption.

If you are so dedicated and passionate about doing this well you shouldnt be taking such offence at people who are giving you good advice.

I am not taking offense per say but all I am getting from your posts are dont do it your not good enough just foster for GAP or the other rescue. I have stated my plans and I dont think they are bad.

I stated that we will be talking to the right people to make sure all the laws are being followed.

I stated that there is a need in my eyes the need is to take the dogs that the other rescues cant take in due to space and that are dying, to me that is a need maybe not to others but I see it as a need good dogs dying because there isnt enough room

You said I wasnt dog savvy yet I have outlined most of what I have done in my adult life with dogs which is a ton.

I must have to go back and read your posts because what I have taken from your posts are not to do it and to foster which I posted why I wont.

I have gotten good advice in this thread from others but your posts are not coming across as advice but rather picking at why we shoudl just forget the idea and go with fostering.

[tdierikx]

There are very good points but I have fostered in the past and just had too many bad experiences. Dogs placed in homes I didnt think were acceptable and had no say. Rescues knowing I had children sending me dogs that were not good with kids, being stuck with vet bills that the rescue should have paid but never did.

The above is your reason for not contacting 2 of the premier rescues that specialise in the breed of your current choice? That have extremely well written and thought out policies in relation to their foster carers best interests?

I think it might be good idea to actually contact them and ask all of the relevant questions about how they operate before tarring them with the same brush as the dodgy rescues you've fostered for in the past... who knows, they might actually be a dream rescue to foster with...

T.

[Alkhe]

I don't want to labour the point but I also don't quite understand why you want to start a new group either - you said that you explained this a few pages back, but all I got from that was that when you had been involved in other groups, some dogs were sent to inappropriate homes/foster carers. I do understand that that might be why you wouldn't want to be involved with a particular group (there are lots of rescues that I would never want to be aligned with!) but it's more a point against a particular group, than a reason to start a new one.

ETA - there is definitely a need to save more greyhounds! Neither I, nor anyone else here would ever dispute that! But to me, that doesn't necessitate a new group, particularly when a big, established and reputable one is already in Mornington. The same aim could be achieved by joining with htthem.

I'm really trying to help with due diligence etc, I think you may be surprised at the response you get from GAP if you want to work with them in the way that it seems to be envisaged.

Edited December 5, 2012 by Alkhe

[tdierikx]

... besides - fostering for one of the big organised Greyhound groups may give you a really great understanding of how it all works... and then if you still want to start up your own rescue, then you will have some excellent groundwork already done. Win-win I say... lol!

T.

[Greylvr]

Sigh..... I am not interested in fostering. Why is this so hard so are you saying that all greyhound rescues should close down and only foster for these 2 groups? That no new greyhound rescue should be made all those interested in running a rescue should just foster for these two groups? Why dont all rescues just close down and foster for the RSPCA? Why is this such a big deal that I have no interest in fostering?

[Greylvr]

I don't want to labour the point but I also don't quite understand why you want to start a new group either - you said that you explained this a few pages back, but all I got from that was that when you had been involved in other groups, some dogs were sent to inappropriate homes/foster carers. I do understand that that might be why you wouldn't want to be involved with a particular group (there are lots of rescues that I would never want to be aligned with!) but it's more a point against a particular group, than a reason to start a new one.

ETA - there is definitely a need to save more greyhounds! Neither I, nor anyone else here would ever dispute that! But to me, that doesn't necessitate a new group, particularly when a big, established and reputable one is already in Mornington. The same aim could be achieved by joining with htthem.

I'm really trying to help with due diligence etc, I think you may be surprised at the response you get from GAP if you want to work with them in the way that it seems to be envisaged.

So I foster for GAP while these other dogs are being put to death because GAP cant take them? I understand GAP is a great place people love them thats great but I am trying to help those that are falling through the cracks and dying while GAP is helping other dogs.