Outside Looking In

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I guess the selectiveness of the rescues has something to do with the bad experiences they've had. Like the bizarre warnings you get with toasters (eg don't stick a knife in the toaster, don't put a cheese toasty in a toaster).

I had to fill out a questionnaire at AWL but nobody came and checked the home. I didn't have any other pets or people living with me or they might have asked me to go and fetch them all (AWL and RSPCA like the whole family including the cat to meet the new family member and agree).

These days I know a few people who run rescues from seeing them at events and schmoozing their dogs, and buying ice creams and etc. And I'm pretty sure they'd be happy to place a dog with me if I thought my evil hound would agree (and this would be checked too).

But I think a lot of the problems described - come because the rescue org just doesn't know the adopter well enough. And yet other rescues will ship the dog interstate - so they can't do any of the checks described, well they can get someone else to do a yard check but that's about it. They really don't get to know the household and family.

It's worse than dating. It's possibly more like finding a good child care place for your baby.

[_PL_]

There are plenty of rescues who just need a call and will drop the dog off at your door, collect the fee and disappear into the distance.

I'd rather ask questions, they are my dogs not 'nobody's dog' as people have told me they are. And I have the right to decide where they go, making the best decision I can make and not ping-pong them in and out of homes. It's also with the adopter in mind so that they get the right dog. If we don't have the right dog then we refer them on.

We have a lifetime return safety net. Any age, any time.

I promise you, if I made carers hand over dogs to poorly checked homes they would leave us in a flash because that's not what they signed up for.

Adding: we've had several dogs come through that have been poorly placed by other rescues who do not want them back.

Edited April 9, 2015 by Powerlegs

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Yes, not all rescues are equal that is for sure. I myself have written to a few other rescues for one reason or another - sometimes asking for help for a breed they specialise in, sometimes offering help for a dog they have. The truth is I rarely get a response at all although I did get threatened by one large group - who shall remain nameless - for offering help. Not a good look.

I do yard checks for other rescues and recently someone who I did a yardcheck for - who ended up with a dog from another rescue contacted me and asked for some behavioural help.

I can only believe that the rescue concerned has placed the dog and that's been the end of the story.

We've definitely all come across rescues who place dogs ASAP without having got to know the dog at all, doing proper checks and so on so the dog ends up compromised, the people end up with a pet that isn't right and sometimes the dog is dumped again, sometimes rehomed by the people themselves etc, especially when the original rescue doesn't want to know.

It isn't the point of rescue IMO. When I take on a dog, I see them as my dog for the rest of their life so I always tell new owners if something happens, the dog comes back to me.

[sas]

A lot of rescues do such a poor job in the communication stakes. It's not hard to reply to an email, it doesn't matter if you have a full time job, husband, kids, 100 dogs. If you have committed to being the contact person then you do it properly.

We constantly hear complaints from people saying other rescues never got back to them or were rude to them, this turns people off rescue entirely.

Now, in saying all of this, I make zero apologies for interviewing you for a dog, it's my job to place the right dog with the right family, with only 2 dogs returned in 10 years I'm doing a good job at placements.

My phone number is not available because I don't run an animal shelter, I work full time and e-mail is how we communicate but I respond same day so it's never been an issue for me.

Edited April 9, 2015 by sas

[KittyKat]

I started this thread, not to be critical of resuce, but to wonder about the process of rehoming when there are so many dogs coming into rescue and so many more needing to be rehomed. Simple communication is not hard, if I got an email stating "you live too far away, but thank you for your interest" would be sufficient.

What is my alternative? An unknown off Gumtree? As a responsible dog owner, I value what rescue do and the expertise in rehoming by matching dogs with homes. But what is "good enough" dog ownership? A dog who spends 3 hours a day at home alone vs not getting out of the pound and that alternative?? A dog who gets let out of the house by a concerned owner (social interaction) vs a doggie door (no social interaction).

Why are the standards across rescues so inconsistent? What message is being sent to those new potential homes that they cannot measure up? Who are rescue "rescuing" for???

My last rescue was a senior Jack Russell whom, I'm assuming, would not have been assessed as being suitable for me, however, as a failed rescue... he was perfect and lived another 7 years being totally loved and part of my family!

Why do I look to rescue for another dog? Because I'm totally aware of those dogs that don't get those second chances and I wish to free up another space and provide a dog with a wonderful, but not perfect, home. :)

[aussielover]

What kind of dog are you looking for? Perhaps someone here can suggest a good rescue group for you to try?

My experience with rescues has been mixed, some are great, some borderline crazy.

If there are so many happy, well adjusted and healthy dogs looking for homes, I struggle to see why some rescues will reject people for seemingly trivial reasons- like having a job, not having a dog door, wearing pyjamas around the house etc. I know quite a few people that applied for multiple rescue dogs and were rejected who ended up getting pet shop or gumtree dogs, and they are great owners.

[juice]

i see more and more people put off rescue because its all too hard, which it should be to an extent.

i know i would probably get turned down as my dogs are outside.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I started this thread, not to be critical of resuce, but to wonder about the process of rehoming when there are so many dogs coming into rescue and so many more needing to be rehomed. Simple communication is not hard, if I got an email stating "you live too far away, but thank you for your interest" would be sufficient.

What is my alternative? An unknown off Gumtree? As a responsible dog owner, I value what rescue do and the expertise in rehoming by matching dogs with homes. But what is "good enough" dog ownership? A dog who spends 3 hours a day at home alone vs not getting out of the pound and that alternative?? A dog who gets let out of the house by a concerned owner (social interaction) vs a doggie door (no social interaction).

Why are the standards across rescues so inconsistent? What message is being sent to those new potential homes that they cannot measure up? Who are rescue "rescuing" for???

My last rescue was a senior Jack Russell whom, I'm assuming, would not have been assessed as being suitable for me, however, as a failed rescue... he was perfect and lived another 7 years being totally loved and part of my family!

Why do I look to rescue for another dog? Because I'm totally aware of those dogs that don't get those second chances and I wish to free up another space and provide a dog with a wonderful, but not perfect, home. :)

The standards are different simply because like everything, rescues are run by different people with different ideas, goals and experiences.

It's like anything - I work in a large organisation - you might have 50 managers in the company, all of whom have different ways of working, different ideas and plans.

I had worked for Sydney's largest private rescue for about 9 years before I set up a rescue. I was already rescuing and rehoming dogs - very carefully matching them to homes.

I set up a rescue for Italian Greyhounds because of my experience with the breed rescue in existence (in VIC). I adopted a dog from them. He was dead 2 days after he arrived. He'd been in their care for months with no vet treatment, even when he was obviously in great pain.

Nothing was asked of me, I simply had to pay for his transport from one state to another - it was freezing and he endured a long road trip inadequately clothed and froze.

To go back to goals - my goal is to ensure optimum health for a dog, to assess in foster care for however long that takes, housetraining, assessing a home carefully and making a match - this involves several steps.

I can't comment on all rescues as I don't know them all but I do know some whose goal is to get dogs in and out as fast as possible.

I know some who will give anyone a dog, the first person that enquires - they sound nice so that's fine, they can have the dog - no "match" is made as such.

Some people like the kudos that being a rescuer gives them, some want to save every dog on death row and I know that not every dog should be saved - as sad as that is.

Some want only puppies because they are pretty easy to rehome - everyone wants a puppy ....

[BarbedWire]

There is a first time poster, Raggedblossom, on last week's DAS thread trying to contact someone.

This is the post:

H there, there is a rescue wanting to take this boy but has had trouble getting in touch with the Pound. A Rescue email was sent on Tuesday with follow up calls with no replies. Can you advise what can be done to sort this out. Many thanks :)

I am just wondering why it has not been answered. Maybe it has, or is this another example of a rescue not getting back? I am not sure which rescue he/she is trying to contact.

[_PL_]

There is a first time poster, Raggedblossom, on last week's DAS thread trying to contact someone.

This is the post:

H there, there is a rescue wanting to take this boy but has had trouble getting in touch with the Pound. A Rescue email was sent on Tuesday with follow up calls with no replies. Can you advise what can be done to sort this out. Many thanks :)

I am just wondering why it has not been answered. Maybe it has, or is this another example of a rescue not getting back? I am not sure which rescue he/she is trying to contact.

I saw that, looks like trouble contacting the pound?

But she has quoted the contact details and instructions of what to do which written in the first line. :) So I assume she worked it out or got in contact with someone else.

Please let Frenzied1 know onEmail Frenzied1if you are able to help any of this week’s needies. Saves need to be on by close of business on Tuesday which is 5pm

Edited April 10, 2015 by Powerlegs

[westiemum]

On the age thing - I rehomed a 4 year old westie girl to an 84 year old lady - match made in heaven. After the lady died her daughter took the westie on - they loved her as much as the lady and it was a natural succession plan. As far as i know she is still there.

[Cam & Cam]

Early April, it was brought to my attention that there was a Rotti that was needing re-homing desperately. For some reason this Rotti had been in foster care for too long, about 6 months I believe. We have been looking for a Rotti since about November 2014. So I filled out the application and it was responded too within 15 minutes.

I was advised that we were not being considered for 2 reasons. 1. We have a cat and the Rotti was untested with cats. 2. Our girl was not yet desexed (the Rotti is a desexed male). I queried these reasons and was basically advised the following:

Untested with cats: We have a 15yo cat and a prey driven Rotti. Cat hates other animals and Rotti loves to play with anything that is small and move and makes a noise. As responsible pet owners, we keep them separated. We are aware of this. As a responsible rescue organisation they are being responsible by never re-homing untested dogs with cats. So, what if I did not declare my cat and was accepted to adopt the dog and then got a cat? Does that make me irresponsible? How are you going to know what they are ok with other animals f you don't expose them with supervision? Doesn't interaction with other animals at all levels educate the dog and enhance their experiences? I have a tropical fist tank with 36 fish and the girl Rotti loves watching them. Perhaps that is another 36 reasons to not consider an application.

Wont be considered until desexing is at least 6 months prior: But the dog being adopted is already de-sexed. A week's leave has already been taken to have the girl de-sexed. They are not going to have puppies. Either side have complete bitches as well so the pheromones will be in the air anyway and all three bitches (mine included) have different cycles. So does that mean that neighbours have to have their bitches de-sexed as well as pheromones travel. Ask every complete dog within a 1km radius of our place.

I appreciate that when a rescue group are re-homing their animals, they need to ensure that the dogs are going to good homes. I admire all that they do. I for one will be the first to admit that I could not do it. But why cant a good home be one that has real life things and real life situations and real life experiences? I am not saying re-home the dog with any home and any family. Just loosen the red tape a little and you know what? You might just find the perfect family and environment for the right dog, regardless of the time of day they are in their jim jams, regardless of the routine of the 4 adults in the house who are all on different shift, regardless of the cat or no cat.

As it happens, we have just adopted a male Rotti last week that was on death row. We have undertaken to pay for all desexing and vaccinations and transfer of chip and council registration. The rescue group have taken our situation into account and believe that despite all this, we can offer this new boy a good home. We contacted six people of the closest rescue group to this fella and not one had replied or acknowledged my messages. I then went and met with another owner who was selling their boy and against my better judgment I offered to buy their boy. Later that night another rescue group, whom I had not been in contact with previously, had the boy pulled form death row, for us. Biggest risk was to take ownership of a dog that you had never met, or met once. We contacted the other dog owners and explained to them the situation and they accepted that I would now step away from purchasing their boy for this one that really needed a home.

We now have two Rottis and all is going well. Loosen the strings and little and you never know what you might find.

Cheers

Cam & Cam

Evie & Bear

[_PL_]

You seem to have 2 gripes, first being communication which is what this thread was about.

Second, if I've interpreted correctly;

You've gotten a group to pull a dog out of the pound and given it to you with no vetwork done then that is not "rescue". That's facilitating. That is you choosing a pound dog and them using their council approval to get it out for you. And I hope you don't need to return it anytime soon because they have no obligation to help.

You can also take the dog and vanish because dogs are property, there's no law to force you to do anything with it let alone notify them. If they are happy with this method then fine but you are now pleased because someone took a gamble on a dog's future.

Short story is you wanted what you wanted, weren't interested in a rehoming process unless it went your way. And now you have a dog. You barely knew the dog and are fortunate it worked out. Unfortunately it seems like this has cemented in your mind as the right and reasonable way to do things. BUT Rescues aren't always wrong or weird because they turn down a home. Sometimes they actually care for both the dog and the people.

For some reason this Rotti had been in foster care for too long, about 6 months I believe.

This is a common complaint but it's not your place to decide how long is "too long". If you were rehoming your own dog I'm sure you would take as long as you want to find a home you felt happy with.

[Salukifan]

A rescue has no more obligation to sell you a dog than a breeder does.

I appreciate that it can be frustrating when you know you are a good home but people aren't seeing it that way.

But bear in mind that most rescuers have seen and heard it all and are cautious as a result.

Move on, keep looking. No point dwelling on it.

[Cam & Cam]

@Powerlegs, firstly, we offered to pay all costs for the dog so the volunteer group were not out of pocket, as we know they struggle. As would have been the case had we have bought a dog off Gumtree, which is where we were having to find another dog from. If that was wrong, then my bad. We figured we were taking responsibility for another member of our family and trying to lessen the burden of another group. I contacted the group that initially advertised him as needing a home and they referred me elsewhere. They did not advise of a location or pound contact details. I contacted people elsewhere and none of my messages were ever responded too. So I did not have the opportunity to ask anyone to 'facilitate' this for us. It was by chance another group saw my request elsewhere and stepped in to assist the dog, at the 11th hour as no one else had offered to re-home this, and several other dogs. As for the other Rotti mentioned being in care for 6 months and it being too long, that was a plea from another group and it was them that stated he had been in care far too long. In fact he had been with 3 groups before a friend advised me of his existence and need for a home.

Secondly, I was merely expressing my experiences with various rescue groups that we had tried to deal with, as per the original author of the thread, KittyKat.

What I found frustrating was the reasons for our applications not being considered and some were quite personal:

* I was overweight so how can I be expected to look after a dog and walk the dog daily

* I am not a stay at home mum

* You have a cat

* You have another dog

* You are renovating

* My husband is not home enough

I found the process quite overwhelming and the knockbacks were at times quite personal. What was acceptable for one group was not for another. I think if all the groups could agree on and work with a minimum standard, that would help those wanting to foster and adopt. As I said, I do appreciate the work that rescue groups do, and I am the first to acknowledge that I could not do it, for various reasons. It would just be a much easier process for both sides if everyone was on the same page with the same criteria and the same goals.

But that is all just another seven experiences in total from an outsider.

[_PL_]

@Powerlegs, firstly, we offered to pay all costs for the dog so the volunteer group were not out of pocket, as we know they struggle. As would have been the case had we have bought a dog off Gumtree, which is where we were having to find another dog from. If that was wrong, then my bad. We figured we were taking responsibility for another member of our family and trying to lessen the burden of another group. I contacted the group that initially advertised him as needing a home and they referred me elsewhere. They did not advise of a location or pound contact details. I contacted people elsewhere and none of my messages were ever responded too. So I did not have the opportunity to ask anyone to 'facilitate' this for us. It was by chance another group saw my request elsewhere and stepped in to assist the dog, at the 11th hour as no one else had offered to re-home this, and several other dogs. As for the other Rotti mentioned being in care for 6 months and it being too long, that was a plea from another group and it was them that stated he had been in care far too long. In fact he had been with 3 groups before a friend advised me of his existence and need for a home.

Secondly, I was merely expressing my experiences with various rescue groups that we had tried to deal with, as per the original author of the thread, KittyKat.

What I found frustrating was the reasons for our applications not being considered and some were quite personal:

* I was overweight so how can I be expected to look after a dog and walk the dog daily

* I am not a stay at home mum

* You have a cat

* You have another dog

* You are renovating

* My husband is not home enough

I found the process quite overwhelming and the knockbacks were at times quite personal. What was acceptable for one group was not for another. I think if all the groups could agree on and work with a minimum standard, that would help those wanting to foster and adopt. As I said, I do appreciate the work that rescue groups do, and I am the first to acknowledge that I could not do it, for various reasons. It would just be a much easier process for both sides if everyone was on the same page with the same criteria and the same goals.

But that is all just another seven experiences in total from an outsider.

I understand it's confusing. I'm just explaining what happened and what the deal is for the dog and for you.

Sometimes lies about temperament get told, just to get a save. There's currently a rescue facilitators' dogs sitting in other pounds and they (the 'rescue') aren't answering calls. There's dogs being rehomed undesexed by people who are given pound dogs in the same 11th hour scramble. And pound dogs being bred from. & I'm not going to dredge up a horror story from years ago but it was about the worst outcome you would ever expect. Just to make sure dogs don't get euthanised at the pound.

It may have worked for you and the rescue - I'm glad it did but, it doesn't always. Which is endlessly frustrating and damaging to rescue in general. They are also very fortunate that you are honest and will hold up your end of the bargain. Once a dog is physically in someone else's hands the rescue has zero control and presume the microchip is enough to get it back. So you got your dog, but you still need to understand that even if a group doesn't run that way, it's not in an attempt to be rude or unreasonable, or hold onto every dog. They are trying to get it right not just crossing fingers and hoping.

OK, the Rottweiler being through 3 different rescues is a red flag. That's not normal.

And as for the reasons for your refusal...some I see as reasonable if it's relevant to the dog in care and adoption policies. Case by case. But overweight? I thought I'd heard everything.

Did they do a yard check and then eyeball you as well?

Maybe I'm too fat to rescue :laugh:

Haredown, I should have just said what you did. LOL, too much rambling today.

as usual, edited for spelling!

Edited May 11, 2015 by Powerlegs

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I've got a dog that's been in foster care for 5 months, it's not an easy dog. I'm trying hard to rehome but people have to know what they are getting into and quite frankly most people don't read what I've written that is essential for this very nervous and fragile little soul.

I had a home that sounded quite nice this week with a 2 yr old whippet (the dog I'm rehoming is a 9 month old Italian Greyhound).

Our policy is not to rehome to homes with undesexed dogs full stop.

I twigged something wasn't right when the people said their dogs was bothered constantly at the dog parks - that was when I asked if it was desexed, no it wasn't, they'd decided not to do it.

That's their prerogative. I have mine - no rehoming. If the male (18 kilos) decided he was interested in my female foster, that would be an issue as she's 5 kilos. Iggies break their legs easily, it's not something I'm prepared to do.

I've got another gorgeous looking foster who's been abused, he's also going to be hard to rehome but is very very cute so will get plenty of inappropriate applications.

OR, should I just lower my standards and let him go. He's so cute but is likely to be put down when he bites a kiddy or person that scares him.

What do you reckon? I see it as my responsibility to get it right for him, he's only 4 and has had 2 homes already.

[Malti]

Early April, it was brought to my attention that there was a Rotti that was needing re-homing desperately. For some reason this Rotti had been in foster care for too long, about 6 months I believe. We have been looking for a Rotti since about November 2014. So I filled out the application and it was responded too within 15 minutes.

I was advised that we were not being considered for 2 reasons. 1. We have a cat and the Rotti was untested with cats. 2. Our girl was not yet desexed (the Rotti is a desexed male). I queried these reasons and was basically advised the following:

I appreciate that when a rescue group are re-homing their animals, they need to ensure that the dogs are going to good homes. I admire all that they do. I for one will be the first to admit that I could not do it. But why cant a good home be one that has real life things and real life situations and real life experiences? I am not saying re-home the dog with any home and any family. Just loosen the red tape a little and you know what? You might just find the perfect family and environment for the right dog, regardless of the time of day they are in their jim jams, regardless of the routine of the 4 adults in the house who are all on different shift, regardless of the cat or no cat.

Cheers

Cam & Cam

Evie & Bear

Rescues have rights to treat dogs as theirs, there is a million and one rescues now and not all work the same way, and you may not like the answer you get from one, but a bit of acceptance of 'red tape' and how rescues choose to run should be put in there, you just seem like you are saying you knew better than the rescue, yet the dog was in the rescue care, that was the dog they are responsible for, not what you think would be okay, when it just may not have been okay.

What I found frustrating was the reasons for our applications not being considered and some were quite personal:

* I was overweight so how can I be expected to look after a dog and walk the dog daily

* I am not a stay at home mum

* You have a cat

* You have another dog

* You are renovating

* My husband is not home enough

I found the process quite overwhelming and the knockbacks were at times quite personal. What was acceptable for one group was not for another. I think if all the groups could agree on and work with a minimum standard, that would help those wanting to foster and adopt. As I said, I do appreciate the work that rescue groups do, and I am the first to acknowledge that I could not do it, for various reasons. It would just be a much easier process for both sides if everyone was on the same page with the same criteria and the same goals.

But that is all just another seven experiences in total from an outsider.

I am not sure where all the other rejections came from, but

- if someone said you were overweight and couldn't walk a dog daily

run from that group as fast as you can (oh wait, you can't because you may be 'overweight', but walk as fast as you can :laugh: I will be far behind you, as I do not 'do' runnning ), that is the worst excuse I have ever heard of.

But as someone that helps pound dogs,

- I have had a fellow rescuer informing numerous people that my car was dirty (I live in the country, dirt roads are regularly driven),

I looked like a bit of a mess (I have clothes specifically for the pound that are not my best, because I attempt to keep pound germs on a few sets of clothes, they just don't happen to be what I wear if I was going out, not even shopping), but there is nothing clean about our pound, I think the muddy paw prints may bring a certain style to my clothing choice as I get dogs out and temp test them rain or shine.

- I believe the state of my car inside became was worthy of a mention, not only do I have leads, treats crates and random assortment of necessities for helping pound dogs and rescues, and putting various dogs in my car, my car will never be the same again, especially the lovely aroma a week or two brings to a dog, my car being a source of moving pound dogs out of the pound seemed less important to said rescuer, than doing the jobs they won't lower themselves to do, and a rescue that gets someone else to pick up their pound and they only pick them up after others groom and clean their dogs.

- Also I apparently didn't offer the transporter a coffee, because I had half an hour before I had to pick up a relative for an appointment.

Some people are just bitches, I am not ever running in the literal sense either and a build of body is not a criteria for whether you have the ability to help, or own a dog.

I guess my point being, we all get judged in rescue or outside rescue, sometimes there are bitchy personal judgements made by people, they are best avoided, unless you applied for a dog that did not approve of your choice of paint colours in renovating, your dog demanded to know when your husband is getting home, or the dog may be concerned about your working status as a working mum and is against that.

But not knowing the dog, separation anxiety and cat chasing may be a legitimate concern, all the others, just like I copped are just from nutters within rescue.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Malti

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Hear hear Malti LOL. When you are a dog rescuer you have to be prepared to get not only mud but wee, poo and snot on you!! I definitely learned not to wear nice clothes to the pound or the vet ....

As for the state of my car, it's for transporting rescue dogs, not people and my friends and colleagues generally prefer to use their cars when we are going out. It's not that bad but the hairs do float and I cannot guarantee you won't get one on your outfit.

I heard about a rescue last week who tried to push the wrong kind of dog onto a person which simply didn't fit their requirements and abused them because they didn't want the age/breed of the dog. The person is actually very reasonable and has a lovely home to offer, the rescuer was obviously ill qualified to be rehoming - firstly they didn't properly assess the situation at all and secondly, you don't get abusive - no matter what. We are frequently under duress but in this case, the duress was all of the rescuer's making.

I have put forward a very good dog with some quirks but that suits the people and the home they have on offer.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Her Majesty Dogmad

[tdierikx]

Generally, if a dog has been in foster care for any length of time, the carer will know most of that dog's quirks, triggers, etc... and will be in a better position for deciding what sort of home would suit that particular dog. If that does not necessarily gel for the prospective adopter who has never met the dog, and in many cases fallen in love with a well taken photo of said dog, then that is unfortunately just the way it goes...

We'd all like to think we have the perfect home to offer any dog, but maybe, just maybe, the foster carer or rescue might just know the dog in question better than we do, and are only looking for the best possible outcome for that dog.

There are of course those in rescue who are just downright deluded about what constitutes a "good" home for any dog... but that just goes with the territory...

T.