Is difficult adopting a dog these days?
Posted by TheyLuvSquid@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 256 comments
I’ve been looking at potentially adopting a dog and being the main owner of one. I’m currently 22 and live at home, my mum is the home owner but is open to a dog in the house, as long as she is not the main one responsible for it. We have a medium sized garden with a 6ft fence and there’s rarely anyone not at home, I’m thinking that between 3 adults a dog will be pretty manageable and we have family members who would be willing to watch the dog if need be.
I’ve been looking at people’s experiences on adopting and most posts that I’ve seen were a few years ago, just wondering if there’s any point in someone my age and circumstances to even try and adopt a dog? I would rather adopt than buy as there are many dogs out there.
AvailableActuator111@reddit
Honestly you need to think in the long term what may happen as a child a stray cat turned up and I adopted her. Absolutely no problem in a house with the rest of my family and a garden, however my parents decided to divorce, house was sold neither had any plan for where they were going to live (yes that’s an issue in itself) had to put her initially in a cattery while my parents sorted their life out, cattery become expensive so a friend stepped in and looked after her for a good month.
Then there was a complete reliance on one of my parents finding somewhere that would accept a cat my dad moved into a flat on a main road with no pets. And my mum was more focused on finding somewhere to live while I wanted to keep my cat; friend had to flee their house as their dad was an alcoholic thankfully at that point my mum was living at my granddads house and moved into a flat where she could stay. I know this was a really bad series of events but it just proves that life may not play out the way you want it. You may in the short term be thinking nothing will materially change in X number of years but I didn’t think my parents were going to split up when they did.
I moved into a rental when I left my parents and again people telling me to get a cat every 5 mins but I knew my housing was too unstable to bring an animal into the equation. Even now I’ve brought my own flat I’m waiting for the moment that feels right rather than just jumping into getting something; I’ve always placed the animal before me and would continue to do so.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
It is stricter now but tbh I’d rather that than just hand dogs out to anyone and everyone.
Lots of people act like they can handle a dog and then you see them being dragged down the street while walking or you see the dog just ignoring basically every command the owners tries to give it.
Many dogs are easy to look after but it only takes one person being given the wrong dog and you’ve got a death or an attack on your hands and the dog gets put down purely because of someone else’s hubris.
PracticeNo8733@reddit
If you're 22 and living at home have you considered what will happen if you want or need to move out? Eg, home circumstances change, you need to move away for work, you want to move in with a partner, etc? IIRC new laws stop blanket bans on pets in rentals - but that doesn't mean you'll actually get permission for one (or that a new place would be suitable for a dog).
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
I have thought about that, at the moment currently unsure about long term (5+ years) but only moved back home 3 months ago, so no plans to move out at least in the next 1 - 2 years.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
You know dogs live a lot longer than 1-2 years though don't you? You need to be 100% sure you can care for it for the rest of its life which can be nearly 20 years for some breeds.
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
Well obviously I do know that but what I’m saying is that I will be staying put where I am for that time so there won’t be any big changes in the dogs life within that time frame that could potentially disrupt their wellbeing. Which will hopefully give us enough time to bond and develop a trusting relationship.
EeEe88@reddit
I dont have any advice on the dog front but earlier today I posted asking for advice on a different forum and got literally the same negative nellies not actually answering my question but giving their two pence where it wasnt needed. You're not alone!
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
Haha yeah, I was expecting it to be like that. Some people think you need to wfh and never leave the house, I’m not saying you can leave every dog but I wouldn’t get a dog who can’t manage a couple hours every couple of weeks by themselves.
winebookscats@reddit
But the negative nellies have a very valid point.
If you plan on staying at home until you're able to afford to buy a home, great. Go for it.
If your plan would be to move out in 3-5 years into rented or shared accommodation, then you're likely to find yourself extremely limited on options, assuming you'd take the dog with you. It's difficult trying to get a rental property at the moment, with a lack of supply and rents through the roof. Landlords can afford to be very choosy. Not likely to change much over the next few years.
So what would your Plan B be? Leave the dog with your mum? Rehome the dog? Put it back into a shelter?
Housing issues are a huge part of why there are so many dogs needing to be adopted.
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah I’m not saying that they don’t, when I moved home I had this perspective of saving up to buy a house as that’s my main goal in life and it still is very much that. I have plenty of working opportunities near me and doing a solo drastic move would be on my terms (as in I would never have to move for work). I don’t pay any rent as my mum would never charge me, so have plenty of disposable income.
At the moment I’m considering everything, affordability, dogs suited to me, what I can provide for a dog, pros and cons. As I would be the one providing financially, it’s mostly on my say but my mum and brother are involved and would be involved with some caregiving. So at this current time, I would be the most involved but that could always change as it may end up being a family pet.
winebookscats@reddit
Sounds like you've given it a great deal of thought and, as the intention is to save to buy, you wouldn't have the landlord issue. You might still find you can only afford an apartment with no garden space though - and it's a pain taking a dog for a walk at 2am on a freezing, rainy night because he needs to pee 🤣.
But, as long as you can cover food, health maintenance and insurance comfortably, and if your family are in agreement, go rescue a dog 😊
samamba17@reddit
And after you move out/ after the first few years?? You need to be thinking a decade ahead, not a few years. Especially when it comes to smaller breeds as they can live for a long time- I’m talking 15+ years. So many dogs end up in rescue because people’s thinking is too short term when getting one, please don’t be one of them.
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
If I ever want to move out, then I would be happy to take the dog with me. The only way I see myself moving out at the moment would be if I’m buying a house (my main goal in life), for work I have plenty of opportunities close to home, so I don’t see me moving away for work at any time.
Its not only my decision what would happen with the dog, just at the moment I’m certain that I would be the main caregiver financially and active wise. I’m not adopting a dog tomorrow, just currently working through the logistics of owning. I’m not the type of person to make big decisions impulsively, I’ve always allowed myself to sit on them for at least a few months +.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
I thought your mum didn’t want to be the main caregiver for the dog? That it would be yours?
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
Yeah she doesn’t want to be the main caregiver for the dog at the moment, at least financially. She always said she would have to be retired to do that. Obviously having a dog will impact the whole family and it’s not just my decision. My brother would also be very involved, as he loves animals and is fond of the idea of us adding a pet to the family. I’m just the one who is naturally outdoors the most and has the most disposable income along with the means to deal with any costs that may crop up down the line.
merlybirds@reddit
Why don't you save whatever money you'd spend on the dog and put it towards a deposit. THEN get the dog
lavender_cookie_@reddit
I will say don't do this until you have your own place and set up properly and independently.
I found it difficult enough to have a landlord accept my cat and I paid more deposit to have her with me, a lot of other places it was a no straight away.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be in this economy to have a dog housed with you. A lot of insurance won't allow it (landlords home insurance) or if in a flat, property insurance for the building won't allow it.
If you want to look after dogs, offer pet sitting or foster for your local rescue? I've done it and found it a very rewarding experience.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
And what about when you do move out?
snowdrop0901@reddit
What about when the world ends? Or you die in a freak accident?
Op has said they have no plans to move out any time soon. Why would they need to think about that now?
Surly theyd know what the dog needs and plan for it accordingly by the time they may want to move out.
The dog may hate being outside, or may love spending time outside. It may hate grass, or hate concrete. It may be a huge great dane or a tiny chihuahua. They cant plan for all outcomes until they have been living with the dog and until then they cant plan for the future.
The plan for the immediate sounds fine, the only bit is ive not seen mention on finances as dogs are a physical but also financial commitment.
Sutraner@reddit
They've been living at home for 3 months, any time soon probably means not in the next year. Not in the next 10
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Eh? Those are both very rare things, a 22 year old moving out of home at some point in the next 20 years is normal and expected.
They don't need to know every detail, but they do need to be 100% committed to living somewhere that the dog can always stay with them which will limit their options and they need to be prepared for that.
PaleozoicQueen@reddit
You could adopt a senior dog who needs some love?
Necessary_Doubt_9762@reddit
And they also need more care as they get older. We rescued two dogs and I didn’t not have any idea of the costs that I’d end up incurring and dogs getting elderly coincided with me having young children. It was a tough, tough few years. I’m glad I gave them a home they otherwise wouldn’t have had and I miss them terribly but I would not recommend adopting dogs if you’re planning on having children around the time your dogs will be old. I honestly don’t know how we stayed afloat and sane during that time.
BertieBus@reddit
Exactly this. This is why so many people give up pets after a few years because they forget pets are an actual commitment.
I'd say don't get one. Wait till you have your own place. If your out at work, it sounds like your mum is going to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting
MelonBump@reddit
Yes, never get a pet unless you know you can house it safely and happily for its whole life. Years go by, faster than you think. And it's always heartbreaking to see the old ones in shelters - they tend to really struggle with kennel life, and especially with losing their bonded person. They can be really traumatised by it.
The other option is to adopt an old dog, that can be reasonably expected to live another 2-3 years. But I'd only do this if you can be certain that your mum will be happy to keep them until the end of their life, if there's a possibility of you moving out & not being able to take them. If you've taken an old one, this won't be a very long-term commitment, and she might be willing.
If not though, I'd say don't do it. It's one thing having to rehome a pet because your circumstances change unexpectedly & are beyond your control - but it's unfair to take one on if you know you may want to rehome it in a year or 2. It might just be that now's not the right time.
Merpedy@reddit
OP you really need to think about this
I have a cat and moving out is extremely difficult because (a) costs of anything that isn’t a sharehouse and (b) finding places that allow pets
People will also share plenty of good stories but you have to keep in mind that you may get a dog who isn’t well socialised and may have anxiety, so suddenly moving out also poses questions like “what happens when I’m out of the house for x amount of time” or “what happens when I go on holiday for x amount of time and I know the dog may be stressed out about having someone visit/moving temporarily to my parents”
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
I’m fully aware of these considerations have thought about them (as everyone should), my girlfriends family has a dog who cannot be left alone by himself ever, not even for a quick trip to the shops. It’s something that I’ve thought about mainly due to him.
seasonaldiamond@reddit
I have no idea why you’re being downvoted so much for this. My dog also cannot be left alone as of this last year due to a health problem. As a family we have no difficulty accommodating this because our dog is family too.
Personally it sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it and I wouldn’t pay any mind to what people are saying on this thread. Visit your local shelters, see what dogs are needing homes and what their needs are. It doesn’t sound like you’re searching for a puppy, so a mid life or senior dog could be exactly what you’re looking for, and sounds like your family would give it a good home.
All the people asking what happens in 2 years, quite frankly none of us know what happens in 2 years and any stable situation can be unstable in a flash. As long as you’re committed to the dog you rehome, there’s really no problem. Dogs are the best and will bring you so much joy, go find a little one to bring that same joy to its life 🐶
TheyLuvSquid@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I feel like a lot of people are acting as if I’m going to get a dog tomorrow and move out next week. I’m planning to live at home as long as I can, I have it pretty good, get along with family, have all the perks of living at home with no restrictions. I’m currently just running the logistics of getting one and what would I do if there was a chance all three of us would be away for an extended period of time.
I know quite a few people with dogs, my dad grew up with dogs, my uncle has about 4 at the moment. Most households near us have dogs or cats. I just find the online perspective compared to reality vastly different lol.
Free_Ad7415@reddit
You can absolutely love dogs, be a dog person, but not be at the right life stage to have one.
I have always loved dogs, we had a dog growing up. I now have a dog and I am 38 years old. He costs me at least £500 a month (this month he needed a blood test so it was £850).
I love him and would do anything for him.
I can’t really go anywhere for more than 3/4 hours- he goes to a dog sitter whilst I’m at work which costs £30 per day.
This suits me because I am settled, but honestly OP it is a FULL TIME and very expensive commitment
seasonaldiamond@reddit
My dog always loved going into kennels when we were away, so also worth asking the shelter too, to find out if the dog would be okay with that or not.
Justan0therthrow4way@reddit
How long have you been together with your girlfriend? If it’s been a couple of years, you might want your own space in 2-3 years ?
PreoccupiedParrot@reddit
B hopefully less of an issue with the renters rights act.
Merpedy@reddit
Honestly I very much doubt it will have a big effect
Most leasehold properties don’t allow pets in their leases so flats are out of the question. It also looks like a property being too small can be used as a reason - and I’ve definitely seen a few adverts say they won’t consider pets for a similar reason already
CheesecakeOk2222@reddit
I moved house a few months ago and most letting agencies just completely ignored my inquiries when I asked if pets were allowed so I imagine a lot will continue to dodge the new rules by doing this.
DomBrown2406@reddit
Do not get a dog.
MRS_GMILF@reddit
Yes! Must have the following to adopt Daisy - football pitch size garden - no children - no other pets - needs 18 walks a day - is allergic to grass - needs meals prepped by gourmet chef - £1200 donation
Itsstillyourturn@reddit
You should try adopting a stray cat. We've got quite a big house, garden, cat flaps, work from home, 25yrs experience of owning cats, not on a main road, can afford insurance, 2 adults no kids that live with us.
The problem is our garden isn't encapsulated with chicken wire (catio), so its a no from all the local cat rescue places.
jennejy@reddit
We had this experience with Cats Protection! We were "too close to a main road" (i.e. separated from it by a 6ft fence and 100ft of woodland). Went to a local independent rescue instead who were brilliant. Little lady has been with us 4yrs this year (and has never been near the road!)
thecatwhisker@reddit
Are they managing to rehome any cats?
Itsstillyourturn@reddit
God knows, I'm guessing not many as they're constantly saying they have too many cats that they're desperate to re-home.
katyaboid@reddit
No wonder, with requirements such as these. I also tried. We have a super chill Maine Coon who is fine with other animals, and no garden. A kennel is apparently so much better.
In the end, we adopted through a vet. The second kitty is so much happier, he doesn't even want to go outside (was found on the streets, he much prefers inside). He is a velcro kitty, no issues with the first cat.
Those big charities constantly cry about having too many pets yet it is an impossible task to actually adopt anybody. Support smaller charities and local vets who are doing gods work to re-home pets.
Barbora1519@reddit
They don’t want people to actually adopt their dogs because they wouldn’t be able to cry that they have so many dogs and need more donations .
katyaboid@reddit
Indeed. I see them fundraising at some tube stations exits all the time and think about it. I don't engage, because people doing the fundraising itself must be doing it believing they are making the difference. There is no point upsetting individuals trying to do their best. But the machine basically prolongs the imprisonment of cats and dogs to collect more donations. I am genuinely sad about this situation.
Barbora1519@reddit
I’ve spent 3k buying my dogs . I did my best to ensure I wasn’t buying from the puppy farm and I am 99% sure I didn’t , but there is always that chance . My 3k could have gone to a dog shelter .
HowUtterlyGhastly@reddit
Basically no.
These charities would rather cats and dogs rot away in a cage in a warehouse, rather than live in a place which is only 99% perfect.
headphones1@reddit
We tried to adopt a cat back in 2020 when the world was a little crazier. One of the rescues refused anyone who was renting. They even suggested the deed of the house as a form of evidence to prove you owned your home.
We ended up getting a cat from a breeder.
Puzzled-Barnacle-200@reddit
Are these small places? The RSPCA, Cats Protection and Blue Cross all prefer for the majority of cats to be able to roam
Ambitious-Elk-3350@reddit
When someone wants to talk about adopting a dog, what literally goes through your brain and possesses you to start talking about cats?
27106_4life@reddit
Many of the shelters have the same asinine restrictions for cats as for dogs
MRS_GMILF@reddit
But you can go buy a kitten off a backstreet breeder or irresponsible owner.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Dog rescues are there to find the right owners for the dogs in their care. They aren't a dog shop, they don't exist to provide a dog for you on demand.
MRS_GMILF@reddit
I appreciate that but sometimes the demands from the dogs home are wild.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Not in my experience, you just have to be realistic and self aware. I've adopted 3 dogs, 2 while living in a flat, all while working full time. I couldn't just say 'I want that one' if it was completely unsuitable for my situation and then stamp my feet that the rescue said no. I waited for the right one to come along and then all was fine.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
"Self-aware" is absolutely right. Rescues deal all day long with people who aren't honest about their situation, or who aren't honest with themselves about what they actually want or what they can deal with - or who think they know the needs of the dog they've never met better than the professionals who've been caring for it and assessing it.
As it stands, we already regularly get dogs returned over issues we discussed thoroughly with the adopter, but when they got the dog home they decided they couldn't actually deal with the reality of it (or it turns out hadn't listened to us at all - expecting the dog to be left alone for 5 hours on its second day at home then being surprised that it howled all the time, realising actually you don't have time to do the level of exercise the rescue told you the dog would need, not liking the fact that the dog followed you around all day because it felt insecure in its new environment, deciding it's actually too big, too hairy, doesn't go with the carpet (!), the children are scared of it, the husband turns out to be unexpectedly allergic, it peed in the house once on its first day, it was unsettled, you invited your 3 year old niece round on the dog's first day home and she hit it in the face with a toy tractor and it growled - all of these are 100% genuine reasons why dogs have been returned that I've known in my career. But god forbid we ever try to avoid this sort of shit happening by doing our best to make sure the match is right in the first place - how dare we. Clearly we just want to hoard dogs.
GraeWest@reddit
Mad to include developing allergies and children being frightened by a dog in your list of ridiculous reasons to return a dog. Seem extremely reasonable to me.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
But also the kind of thing you should and could probably figure out before you take the dog home.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
My sister had been around dogs her entire life. Recently suffered a severe allergic reaction landing her in hospital after meeting a mates new dog. She's 32.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Cool story. If you are adopting a dog, you will be meeting it at the centre at least a few times before taking it home.
GraeWest@reddit
You really ignored the point that people can develop allergies over time or as a result of medical conditions, huh?
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
No, actually I just genuinely missed the notification amongst all the others that were coming in. Sorry to keep you on tenterhooks.
Yes, I'm aware of this, that wasn't the type of situation I was thinking of however.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
It took several hours for the allergic reaction to escalate from a slight itch to the inability to breathe.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Hi. I know you're beyond reasonable conversation on this issue because you've already decided all rescues are shit, everyone who works in them are shit, and that you're free to insult me with impunity because I have the goddamn nerve to make a career out of helping dogs in need and you apparently fucking hate that for some reason, but here goes an attempt at reason:
Once again, if you're adopting a dog, you'll be spending time with it before you take it home, so there'll be time for issues like this to become apparent. I'm also not sure why we'd need to wait for it to escalate to breathlessness, surely the itch alone would be clue enough that there was a potential problem? If you know spending time with the dog at the rescue made you itchy, but you take it home anyway, then return it because you're allergic, that is very much your own mistake.
I am aware there are some circumstances that are genuinely unforeseen where it is legitimate to return a dog, but realistically situations where you have never been allergic to a dog before and had no warning signs at all spending extended periods of time with the dog at the centre, and then suddenly develop an allergy when you get home are going to be quite rare. Much more common are situations where someone knew or could have reasonably predicted that allergies might be a problem but went ahead anyway, or where the "allergies" become a convenient excuse not to have to explain in more detail why you've suddenly decided you don't want the dog anymore.
GraeWest@reddit
People can develop allergies with exposure or due to medical issues. FYI.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
That's stuff you should know or find out before you take the dog home.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
RSPCA said to me when they found me a "match", I wasn't allowed any neighbouring dogs... when I asked "where's the dog now?" They said "kennels" me - "okay so erm currently, they're in kennels with other dogs next door and presumably infront of them?" Them ....yes. Me - erm yeah so how am I meant to tell my neighbours, "sorry guys, now I've got this dog. She can't have any neighbouring dogs. RSPCA said." They hung up on me🤣
I mean how ridiculous.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
That dog was probably stressed out of its mind in kennels, though. Kennels are stressful for all dogs but horrible for dogs which are reactive so I'm sorry but just because its in kennels now doesn't mean that's an environment where it is in any way OK or coping. And if it's a very reactive dog, it will help no one to put it in a home where it's going to be fence running all day at the neighbour's dog.
I'm sure you thought you were very clever but all you proved is you didn't understand the needs or situation of this dog at all, which means you certainly weren't suitable to adopt it.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Lmao. "Very clever."
No, I was simply asking the question of how am I meant to approach that with my neighbours because saying my neighbours weren't allowed to have dogs was wild. Yes that dog didn't suit me, but for some reason they matched me with that dog? Why? Like you said, if that dog was stressed out of its mind etc, maybe they'd be better suited with a couple far in the country.
Yes, I didn't take the dog on because I felt my husband and I weren't suitable. Hilarious you're coming at me when it was the RSPCA who matched ME with that dog... ?
Ambitious-Elk-3350@reddit
They should stop bitching about being full then.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
I work in rescue: yes, we're full, and you know what really fucks us over when we're full? Dogs who get returned unexpectedly. Our "asinine" processes are there because we understand from long experience where problems and pitfalls tend happen with adoptions and WE WANT TO AVOID THOSE HAPPENING. Because not only does it fuck us over when dogs get returned (there's another dog in that kennel now so where the fuck do we put it?), it's incredibly stressful for the dog and causes their welfare to decline, can exacerbate behaviour problems, all of which impacts that dog's future adoptability.
It's incredibly easy to bitch about rescues when you don't understand the first thing about the reality of working in that environment. If you'd ever had to hold a dog you worked with and loved for euthanasia because there's simply nowhere to put it or because its been messed around by different homes and its behaviour and welfare have declined to the point it's no longer rehomeable, you might sing a different song.
HowUtterlyGhastly@reddit
If you've ever euthanised a dog when there was literally someone right there wanting to take a dog who you refused.... then sorry, but you're clearly not a good person.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Why on earth would you think they'd do that?
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
The person you replied to was giving me a hard time even calling me "clever" because the RSPCA told me if I was to take the dog they matched me with I wasn't allowed to have neighbouring dogs, and when I asked where is the dog now, they said kennels.. well yeah where there's dogs next to them, in front of them, all around. Maybe that's why they are so stressed? How can I possibly tell my neighbours "sorry guys, just so you know. You're not allowed to have dogs whilst this one's alive." Then the commenter above, blamed me cause I wasn't a suitable fit for that dog. I was like well duh hence why I said no?🤨
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
What an incredibly nasty and clueless comment. Of course we are not euthanising dogs with homes to go to, do you think we fucking enjoy it or something?
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
They are full because of irresponsible humans. Handing dogs out willy nilly that will likely just end up back within a few months or years isn't the solution to that.
Moose-Maleficent@reddit
You forgot "must be home most of the day" or Daisy can only be left alone for 1 hour a day (probably in 'dog time')
pirategospel@reddit
1h in dog time has me cackling
Moose-Maleficent@reddit
😆 But seriously. The number of adverts I see where they would probably blacklist you and say you're unsuitable if you have to leave the house to go to work for more than 3 or 4 hours is crazy 😔
Misskinkykitty@reddit
Then they rejected retirees for being too old. You can't win!
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Who is "they"? I've worked for 4 different rescues and rehomed countless dogs to retirees at every single one.
It's almost like you have no fucking idea what you're talking about.
snittersnee@reddit
Daisy is also not remotely close to a breed that fits your needs, has at least 6 health issues we aren't disclosing and if you attempt to question us about any of this the incredibly mean people who work for us will tell you how much you clearly hate animals.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Bloody hell this was my experience with the Dogs Trust 🤣🙉
snittersnee@reddit
Samesies. Went wanting some form of sight hound because they're most suited to my kind of lifestyle. Apparently the only dog suitable was a little terrier with an obvious tumour almost as big as her on her back they never mentioned once.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
No way wtf! I tried to adopt a 3 year old staffie on their website. They brought us in to the centre, this lurcher came out. I was like "oh sorry. I thought we were seeing the saffie" ... no you matched me with a lurcher that was 11 years old with arthritis. When I asked "have you got the right application form? I want to adopt this staffy." They were like "you don't match with her. You match with this lurcher." Me "okay so erm how?" Explained this lurcher had come in through no fault of his own, fine. Then they were like "what's your financial situation?" Me "well okay I guess? I'm planning to take out insurance." Them - "this dog has arthritis so you'll have to pay for all the medication etc cause it'ss not covered on insurance."
Me ".... erm hang on a minute, I don't want an arthritic dog? I'm in my late 20s, I wanted a dog I could be active with and go in my camper van. Are you sure you have the right application?" Them "well you obviously don't like dogs as much as you say you do. This is the ONLY one you match with. Don't contact us again." 🤷🏼♀️
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
As someone who's worked for Dogs Trust, this isn't their process, and sounds very unlikely - it's possible you might not have been a good match for the dog you applied for (or that dog had already gone), but if there was another dog they wanted to talk to you about, they would have phoned you and had a full conversation about that dog and its needs before inviting you to come and meet it, you would not have just turned up at the centre and been blindsided. So either this is a situation where something has gone extremely wrong with the process or wires have become very crossed, or... this isn't actually what happened.
PsychologicalClue6@reddit
Yup my friend adopted the exact breed they wanted just last month… and charities/rescues have a vetting system for a reason. People that aren’t willing to make an effort and spend a bit on the adoption are gonna be unlikely to be able and willing to meet the demands of actually looking after said dog. Vet bills and health/enrichment needs aren’t optional. Besides, the entitlement of thinking you’re owed a living being is wild.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
I literally don't have that entitlement at all? I saw the dog on the website and thought "that's a good match for my husband and I to join our adventures."
You hear all these dogs that need homes, "adopt don't shop." And I was prepared to adopt but I apparently didn't meet the criteria and because I said no to the dog they matched me with which wasn't suited to my lifestyle, I'm obviously the entitled one. Okay then.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
If you didn't meet the criteria for that dog, then that dog wasn't suitable for you. Just because you saw it on the website doesn't mean you know the dog and its needs better than the professionals who have been handling and assessing it. I understand it's disappointing, but it's even more disappointing and difficult and stressful for everyone - including the dog, who is the priority here - if a dog gets placed in an inappropriate home and ends up getting returned. In your case, they offered you a different dog instead, you didn't want it, which is fine. But essentially what's happening with a lot of the stories people are telling here is that they went to a rescue, didn't immediately get exactly the dog that they wanted, and are now declaring rescues are terrible and rescuing a dog is impossible. I've worked in rescue for 15+ years now, for major organisations and small ones, I won't pretend every rescue is perfect or no one has ever had a legitimately bad customer service experience, but everything we do, we do it for a reason, and we do it for the best interests of the dog. We aren't deliberately hoarding dogs, we aren't rejecting perfectly good homes just for a laugh, we aren't enjoying keeping dogs stressed in kennels by saying no to people, it's just that we want the dogs to go into the right home so they thrive and don't get returned. Otherwise we are not doing our job properly. One thing you don't see behind the scenes from "rescues" that don't bother doing any checks or trying to match dogs to the right home is their return rates will be through the roof, and their euthanasia rates likely will be too.
And at the end of the day, while the dog's needs come first, it is for your benefit as an adopter too - you don't actually want to have a dog placed with you which does not suit your home, or has behaviours you aren't able or prepared to deal with either.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Literally did not read your entire comment because I truly believe you're missing my point??
I accepted I wasn't suitable for the dog I applied for? But to match me with an old arthritic dog makes no sense?
Both dogs, dogs trust AND RSPCA weren't a good match for me hence why I said no. Jfc. I'm blocking you now because you're not reading what I'm saying.
Specialist_Stomach41@reddit
ignore them, ardent foaming at the mouth "you must rescue" crowd will not accept that its almost impossible to do so. I run my entire life around my dogs. They are well behaved model citizens, get the best of everything, but no one will adopt to me. So I buy exactly what I want when I look for a new job and support a good breeder. There is nothing on earth that could make me feel guilty about that.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Eh? Eh? I never said “you must rescue” or anything about going to a breeder. If you choose to go to a breeder, that’s up to you. Stop hallucinating things I didn't say.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
No and you shouldn't feel guilty for that. It just pissed me off the way the both of them were like "you're entitled" and "you obviously weren't a good match." And it's like yeah mate, I know I wasn't a good match! Hence why I said no to the two dogs they offered me because what kind of match were those!
What I think is even more insane is the Dogs trust still had that staffie for a few weeks after we refused the arthritic lurcher... someone in the thread said they had at least 15 applicants per dog and I genuinely don't believe it. The fact that Battersea said no to my parents because of their age was also bonkers. Give them an elderly dog or something..? Crazy.
Specialist_Stomach41@reddit
I think rescues attract some absolute nutters sadly. No one is good enough, but a life in a tiny kennel is just fine. Its madness.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
I'm not going to argue with someone on the internet about what my experience was with them, considering my upvotes and the person I replied to, it's clear it's not just a me experience. Obviously that was only part of the experience, no one wants to read paragraphs and paragraphs.
Yes granted, I accepted I maybe wasn't a good match for the staffie, but to be matched with an arthritic lurcher ? C'mon now. My experience was in 2021 so during the end part of Covid so maybe that's why it went totally wrong but I did keep saying to the woman "I don't know if you have the correct application form but how have you matched a couple in their late 20s who's happy to take on a dog that needs exercise and a bit of training. How they were about my financial situation was not okay, I had considered my financial situation but no way was I prepared to take on an arthritic dog? But maybe I'm the idiot because that dog needed a home that I could've given him. But he wouldn't have suited our life style.
I complained to head office about the attitude of the woman as well.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
"Obviously it was only part of the experience"
So you're admitting you didn't tell the full truth. Yes, sometimes, the dog you apply for isn't the right match or isn't available anymore, in that case they will offer you an alternative, in this case you didn't want the alternative. That's going to happen sometimes, it's not the fault of the rescue. But it sounds less exciting when you tell it that way, doesn't it.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Dude what are you talking about...? That was still my experience and I explained to you the process and even took into the fact that it was 2021??
Okay the full truth is as I said above, I applied for a staffie that was a young dog and for some reason they matched us with an old arthritic dog?? Really? That is the experience...
Okay that's not the fault of the rescue but it kind of is. I even said to the woman "I don't understand how you've got to this point with my application." Then I was made to feel like how you're making me feel because I didn't want to take on their alternative dog that DIDNT MATCH MY LIFESTYLE. FFS.
bigfattony89@reddit
They told me to buy a private advertised puppy off of facebook instead of trying to adopt one from them as I have kids... Honestly they are absolutely crap
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Omg what?? They are literally so rude. I hope you complained!
bigfattony89@reddit
Already had a collie at home who has grown up with my kids, but apparently dogs and kids don't mix. Genuinely believe they hold a stock of them to gain donations and the animals welfare is lowest priority. They'd rather they rot in a kennel then have a home.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Dogs and kids don't mix? 🤨 I grew up with a Labrador that had the best life with us..?
The staffie I put in an application for was still on their website a few weeks later, my husband thinks they put fake dogs on their website.
MRS_GMILF@reddit
This is the type of thing im talking about. Its crazy. I get that there is idiots out there but cmon thats a joke.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
It's not even one rescue either. My experience with Dogs Trust and RSPCA was awful.
My parents approached Battersea in their retirement to adopt a dog, they were told they were too old... When my dad pointed out that anyone can die at any age, they still said no!
I approached a Greyhound rescue in the end and they matched us with three! THREE! I got my beautiful girl in the end but damn.
donnygal@reddit
This is the problem though, people whinge about the main charities and then buy from a puppy farm. There are so many different charities looking to give dogs a home and I’ve found that the smaller ones are much more lenient.
Your dog is a cutie btw, I had a black greyhound, she passed away in October and I miss her so much.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
I agree. I totally get why charities have strict criteria. I watch POG for the love of dogs and the dog house, some of the reasons why people give up their dogs are so random, "I was embarrassed because he's friendly with everyone." Like dude what? I try not to be so judgy cause it's a good thing the owner has approached a rescue instead of dumping. I had a great experience with the greyhound trust. Quite a few friends of mine adopted with Romanian rescues. Weirdly though my vet has put a requirement blood test on any dog that isn't from the UK before they can be registered there.
As stupid as it sounds, I actually don't know where I'd find a puppy. I wouldn't know what I was looking for which is why I wanted a rescue 🤣
Thank you! I'm so sorry about your grey❤️ sending you hugs🫂
animal_behaviour@reddit
Went on your page in the hope of dog tax but unfortunately your stuff is all private…I wish to see da baby!
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
This is Phoebe!
animal_behaviour@reddit
Thank youu! She’s gorgeous!
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Thank you🙂
She knows she's a pretty lady💁♀️
MadamKitsune@reddit
We went through something similar with Dogs Trust with an older family member who wanted an older small dog. It was either a young dog who was listed as a Staffie-cross (although looked more Mastiff than Staffie) or nothing.
They ended up getting a really great older dog from an independent rescue.
snittersnee@reddit
Oh. The fun of their "matching system" that definitely just isn't 4 people who only work with animals because humans won't put up with their obnoxious personalities slagging you off in a back room while they work out which of their problem dogs they can guilt you into taking.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
This is a crazy take. Its usually volunteers and the 'problem dogs' are the ones they are most careful about.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Were you expecting them to have a selection of sighthounds available on demand for your perusal? They aren't a shop!
If you want a specific breed, there are breed specific rescues, especially for sighthounds! Greyhounds are incredibly easy to find.
snittersnee@reddit
I mean given the fact that on the website and at the actual kennels they had a dearth of both pure bred sight hounds and lurchers at the time I was trying to adopt, you can see how I'd make the logical conclusion they did in fact have a selection for my perusal.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Why would they be for your perusal? Again, rescues are not dog shops, there will have been good reasons those dogs were not suggested to you. Do you think these people just hate to see their dogs go to homes? I assure they do not at all!
BackgroundDesigner52@reddit
Considering this is the same experience as I've had and multiple others I know, as well as in this thread. I'd take the logical conclusion that, no, they don't want the dogs to go to a home. They want the dog to go to a perfect home that doesn't actually exist in reality. By doing so they drastically reduce the amount of dogs that are in fact rehomed.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
That's really not the logical conclusion. Dogs are rehomed every day, you are just looking at it completely the wrong way. You are not a customer, you are not the beneficiary of the service they provide, the animals are.
For the cutest, youngest, easiest dogs there will be multiple suitable homes available, the rescue staff/volunteers will of course pick the very best one for that dog. If there were 10 or 15 others who expressed interest and would also have been suitable just not quite as great, they get told no and sadly often take their ball home, declare the rescue unreasonable and go and buy a puppy from a questionable source. All based on a fundamental understanding of the point of rescue.
BackgroundDesigner52@reddit
Take their ball home. Jeez. You sound insufferable.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
I'm hoping the fact that you just went with an insult means you have at least slightly understood what I'm telling you.
BackgroundDesigner52@reddit
It wasn't an insult it was an observation. I don't really have a dog in this fight. I'm telling you the experience of myself, many others I know and a lot of this thread. If that doesn't align with what you say is the mission statement of these charities then they are obviously doing something wrong.
You essentially called everyone who disagrees with you "not knowledgeable" in your last comment. Jump off the high horse and stop huffing your farts.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
Bravo. This comment has literally made my day that I wish I could award it 🏆
"Jump off the high horse and stop huffing your farts." 🤣🤣
To agree with you though, there's no way this many people have the same experiences and we're all apparently wrong or misinformed.
HellPigeon1912@reddit
I think you're using this word wrong. Dearth means a lack of
snittersnee@reddit
Huh, thanks for that
MRS_GMILF@reddit
She also only had 6 months left to live and the vet bills are on you
jolittletime@reddit
My friend was turned down as she works from.home but has to go to the office 2 days per.month. doggy daycare or a dog walker were.not acceptable.options.
HowUtterlyGhastly@reddit
The good news is though, all those dogs that might have had to suffer the horror of being slightly lonely once per fortnight now only have to suffer being lonely every single day until they're put down.
PsychologicalClue6@reddit
That’s some BS. There’s a standard adoption fee that is hardly this amount and only gets deducted if you actually get the dog.
MRS_GMILF@reddit
I dont know if you noticed the "slight" since of sarcasm in my post.
UnknownError465@reddit
We adopted an ex-racing greyhound. The process was very smooth and she is such a lovely dog. There's loads that need homes after they finish racing.
LichenTheMood@reddit
Honestly reading your comments it sounds like any dog is a shitty idea until you have solid plans for the next decade
ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit
Rescue centres can be frustrating to deal with so you need a bit of patience with the people working there as some of the rules can seem very petty or odd.
When we got Bruce they made a bit of a song and dance about how a farm was an unsafe place for a dog. Ended up have to build a fenced off garden area for there visit and promptly took it back down once we’d got him.
He’s been free range ever since and probably the chilliest collie we’ve ever had.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
In my career, I've encountered quite a few adopters who've lied to us about their fencing, most memorably one who returned the dog a few weeks later complaining that it kept running away, and another situation where the dog vanished and was never seen again, I suspect the poor animal got hit by a car and died in a ditch somewhere that it was never found.
I'm glad it worked out for you, but rescues do ask for the criteria they ask for a reason, and lying to them is neither big nor clever and can end in tragedy, or at least red faces when you discover through experience that they had a point.
ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit
Yep this post here is the perfect example of the kind of Holier-than-thou attitude you can get from rescue employees unfortunately.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
No, love, I just have a great deal of experience of this industry and have seen the times people have tried it on where it hasn't worked out. Or are you saying rescue workers shouldn't try to avoid dogs dying in their first week at home from an avoidable accident?
ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit
I’m saying you have an attitude problem.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
And I'm saying people like you who lie to us are exactly the reason rescues have to do the checks you then complain about. Imagine thinking there's something unreasonable about rescuers not wanting to see an avoidable accident that we have literally seen happen before happen again. I'm sure the guy I mentioned above who lost his dog thought he was very smug and clever at first too, then he was phoning us sobbing because his dog had been gone for hours and he didn't know what to do. And you know what? We didn't give him attitude, it was too late for that, we sympathised and we helped him, we had staff and volunteers out searching for days, we used press contacts to put out a radio appeal, we got in drones and search dogs, we phoned round local authorities for him, we put up posters. We never found a single sign of that poor dog, it was years ago now and I still think about him often, he was a lovely boy, and he didn't deserve this.
But yeah rescues are the ones who have attitude, how unreasonable of us to not want to see our dogs die in entirely avoidable accidents because someone was too egotistical and entitled to just tell us that they don't have a secure fence.
ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit
Some rescue employees I’m sure are very good decent people.
But a lot are like you unfortunately as evidenced by the number of people put off rescuing animals because of the attitude of staff.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
You lied to a rescue charity in order to fraudulently get a dog off them, I don't think you get to be the moral arbiter here.
Specialist_Stomach41@reddit
if the criteria werent so ridiculous then no one would need to lie. And considering all you do is whine about dogs being returned, then you arent even getting it right with the ridiculous rules.
Imagine a collie on a farm not having a fence, the horror. oh wait, the dog is totally fine as the new owners knew it would be.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Imagine a disorientated dog in a new environment running through a non-existent fence which the adopter lied to the rescue about, getting lost and ending up dead on the road.
Specialist_Stomach41@reddit
And yet that didn't happen did it?
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
On this occasion, no, but it certainly has happened, and could have happened, and if you've actually read my comments, I shared a story I was personally involved in where it happened and ended with a dog who's now been missing presumed dead for over 4 years. That gentleman told us he'd fixed a loose fence panel in his garden when he hadn't. He even sent us a picture of the panel in place, turned out he'd just propped it and not secured it, it fell over about a week after he took the dog home, and the dog was gone and never seen again. He was a lovely dog too, and the bloke was absolutely devasted. I still see him around occasionally; he's never had another dog since.
Honestly, the effort people are making on this thread to be unpleasant and angry about people who work in rescue, twisting yourself into knots trying to pretend requests like "please keep your dog secure at least until it's settled in and you know you can trust its recall" are so unreasonable that it's okay to lie to get around them. Trying to pretend there's nothing risky or dangerous about letting your brand new dog just run loose on acres of farm land. It is literally just common sense to understand why a rescue might want you to have a fence. And regardless of what you think about that, it's never okay to lie to get around it - that's entitled, arrogant and puts the dog at risk. If you don't agree with a rescue's rules, go and get a dog from somewhere else.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
You really think Border Collie farm dogs are unsuitable for a farm?
Much better to keep them locked in a cage, earning you money through donations.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
I didn't say anything about the suitability of this dog to live on a farm, I said it's wrong to lie to a rescue about what your circumstances are and related a story about a similar situation which resulted in the loss and probable death of the dog.
> Much better to keep them locked in a cage, earning you money through donations.
What a nasty clueless little comment.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
You might want dogs locked in cages and fenced into miniature gardens, but working dogs need farmland and space.
You've repeatedly admitted your shelters can't accurately place animals without causing their death. I'd be embarrassed to admit such a failure.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
> You've repeatedly admitted your shelters can't accurately place animals without causing their death. I'd be embarrassed to admit such a failure.
Yes, because the person lied to us, just like the commenter I replied to lied to the rescue they adopted from. If you want to get mad about that, get mad at them.
Jesus fucking christ, we can't win according to you, can we. We're wrong to do checks, we're wrong not to do checks, we're wrong not to just accept everything we're told at face value, we're wrong not to be psychic and know if someone's lying to us, we're wrong if dogs get returned, we're wrong if dogs get killed because people lied to us or didn't follow our advice, but we're wrong to give them that advice in the first place.
You have no clue. NO CLUE. What the reality of doing this job is, how hard we work, the shit we have to deal with, the sadness, how difficult it is, the decisions we have to make, and all of that we have to do knowing adopters like the person I replied to treat us with contempt, act like we have no idea what we're doing, like we don't know the dogs we work with and handle every day, like we put rules in place just for shits and giggles and not for good reason, like you can lie and lie and lie to us then complain that WE have the attitude. Go and volunteer at your local rescue, go on, I dare you, go there for one fucking weekend and then maybe your eyes will open a crack. Until you do that you know nothing.
Misskinkykitty@reddit
They're a collection of some of the most narrasistic individuals I've had the displeasure to meet. Their goal is money and being better than everyone else, not saving animals.
I will continue rescuing animals myself with my own resources - cats, dogs, horses, ducks, pigeons, etc.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
What the actual fuck is wrong with you? You're insulting people who literally rescue puppies for a living, you're spreading lies and misinformation all over this thread with the bizarre idea that there's profit in rescue (I assure you there isn't), I daren't even ask what on earth you think a "euthanasia kick-back" is, you're insulting me for being angry about someone lying to a rescue while simultaneously blaming me for the death of a dog who died because someone lied to a rescue, you're angry that I'm upset because a dog died, accusing me of somehow making money off this (?you know euthanasias cost us money, right?). JFC what a senselessly angry person you are. Why are you wasting your time on reddit, don't you have some babies to go and kick or something?
ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit
Yep there’s that attitude problem again.
ImThatBitchNoodles@reddit
They wanted a farm/working dog stuck between 3 fencing panels? 😂 That's ridiculous even for a rescue. It would be the saddest life for a collie, and frankly a lot more dangerous than free roaming as they do very stupid stuff when they're bored.
They need their freedom and they absolutely love working, some of the most intelligent breeds.
Kyle_2099@reddit
It's easy to buy a dog in the UK, that's why there's so many unsuitable owners.
GodsBicep@reddit
Yeah but on the other hand rescue centres enable it by being fucking ridiculous. I was turned down for a dog, I have a small garden and live in a 1 bed but im 10 minutes walk from endless fields.
I ended up just getting a spaniel from a breeder.
CelesteJA@reddit
My Mum is retired, nice house, has a big dog-proof garden, has owned dogs in the past, no children in her home. Basically a perfect candidate, and they STILL won't let her adopt a dog. She's been trying for years. Really not sure what the rescues are looking for in a "perfect owner"!
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Who is "they" here? If she's been flat out told by a rescue that they won't adopt a dog to her, she should try a different rescue.
If she's applied for a few dogs but they weren't right or had already gone, then that's a pretty normal part of the adoption process and she just needs to keep trying.
Not saying this to you, but there does seem to be an expectation from some people on this post that you can go to a rescue and pick your dog off a shelf, and if you aren't immediately given the first dog you want the rescue is at fault for being impossible and picky. Fact is, it's normal for it to take a few tries - some dogs you see are genuinely not going to be right for you. Others might just have multiple people applying for them, which means inevitably some people get disappointed. It very rarely means we don't want you to have a dog from us at all, we'd have to be very concerned about something to outright refuse to rehome any dog to someone.
OldEcho@reddit
That is in fact how it worked for us 25 years ago when I was a child...we went to a shelter and got a young mutt (maybe 1 year old) who was going to be killed in another week.
She had an okay life, plenty of walks and play and love...
Spending years is madness to me. Aren't there dogs waiting for homes!?
Misskinkykitty@reddit
British shelters simply use animals to gain donations. Why would they give their money making stock away?
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
This is a flat out ignorant lie.
OldEcho@reddit
I think they're probably being hyperbolic but surely you can see how we're upset if there's an old lady waiting for a dog for years and there's any healthy dogs being euthanized at all. How could that happen?
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
That isn't what happens. Rescues aren't turning away sweet old ladies then laughing while we murder the bichon frise that would have been perfect for them. That person seems to think we're caricatured cartoon villians, she's accused me in another comment for getting "kick backs" when a dog gets euthanised which is just bizarre (who on earth does she think is giving us money to put dogs to sleep? The vet charges us for it!). She's off her rocker and not worth taking seriously, and I should stop letting her wind me up tbh.
The reality of the situation is: everyone wants an easy dog, so it's the dogs who have issues or need work who get left behind, it's the unpopular or hard to place breeds (does that sweet old lady want a bullbreed or a malinois? doubt it), it's the dogs who are older, have health issues, who don't look cute enough, who don't sell themselves to people because they're too stressed by the kennel environment and people can't see past that, who can't go with kids or cats or other dogs because it would be genuinely unsafe or detrimental to everyone to put them in that environment (we don't just make up rehoming criteria, if we say no kids etc, there's a reason), it's the staffies and bullbreeds because there are too many of them, it's the black boy greyhounds who nobody wants, it's the working line dogs who are too high needs for most pet homes, it's the Malis everyone brought because they saw a cool instagram video and now can't fucking cope with, it's the dogs who were brought as adorable puppies and are now massive hooligan adoscelents, it's the dogs who are scared, who've been neglected, who've been abused, who've never lived in a home before, which means they will need work and time and understanding that no one is prepared to give them, it's the dogs who've been returned three times for arbitrary reasons and their welfare and behaviour has deteriorated as their stress levels have increased. It's the dogs we've offered and suggested to a billion adopters and they've all said no, while meanwhile 10 people are applying for the same cute easy Frenchie and then the 9 who aren't successful come onto this thread and complain how it's "impossible" to get a dog from a rescue.
OldEcho@reddit
That's legitimately tragic. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I came at you with upset aggression. Would an old lady not want a black boy greyhound though...? I would love a black boy greyhound... You're killing me I haven't got the time or money for a second dog... :'(
They look like such good doggos.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Honestly, I need to step off this thread because it has been genuinely upsetting to be on the receiving end of such anger and vitriol, people apparently absolutely fucking hate dog rescues. I do appreciate you actually listening and apologising though, you are the first person who has done that, so thank you.
As it happened, I rehomed a lovely black boy greyhound to an older lady recently, it was a rehoming we had a lot of team discussion over whether to go ahead with, because she was quite wobbly and walked with a cane and while the dog was very gentle 99% of the time, he was also very large and would be perfectly capable of pulling her over if he felt inclined, especially, being a greyhound, if something small and furry crossed his path. But, she wanted him and no one else did, he'd been with us for a while and already had one return (not his fault). We talked very honestly with the lady about our concerns, and she told us perfectly honestly she had concerns too, we discussed how we might be able to minimise the risk, we did trial walks with her in the woods and on the roads around the centre, we gave her loads of support with his training, we agreed with her that she'd arrange for a friend to walk with her for the first few days to make sure she could cope, we let her do a trial foster period, and we let her take the dog, and he's doing very well. Believe me, especially with a more complex or harder to place dog, we are constantly trying to make things work, and if we say no to someone, it's a decision we have agonised over, and there will be a very good reason.
OldEcho@reddit
I do think people are justifiably upset to have to wait years for a dog and get declined for honestly asinine reasons or have to put up a potemkin fence as if a big farm isn't a fantastic place for a dog. Some of the stories I read in the comments here are like from some horrible bizarro version of Earth. But I'm sure most of the people working with animals aren't being paid a fortune and care about their wellbeing. I also think with the demand there is for dogs these days, it's an absolute shame if some dog is getting put to sleep for being a bit old or the wrong color apparently!? But I also know from personal experience that for a lot of people it's puppy or bust, which I find downright sickening. God I don't know it all feels very tragic. Probably my anger was misplaced. Just another terrible problem in the world where I genuinely have no idea how you'd begin to solve it, but it's easy to get mad and cast aspersions.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
We are genuinely not rejecting people for asinine reasons. If you've been rejected, there are two possible scenarios: 1) the set up you have is genuinely not suitable for the dog you applied for based on the rescue's best assessment of its needs or 2) the dog had multiple suitable applicants, and you missed out on this occasion.
I get people don't like being rejected and it feels personal, or maybe it wasn't properly explained why (or maybe it was and they just didn't like the explanation), or maybe the person who rejected them was genuinely rude about it, but honestly I've worked for 15+ years now for 4 different rescues, and it is very rarely ever more complicated than just 1) or 2).
GodsBicep@reddit
This is exactly it. Thank you for saying.
MintyMarlfox@reddit
I applied for about 50 dogs from shelters, the only one I got a callback about needed hydrotherapy at £40 three times a week which they wouldn’t cover.
Gave up after that and got a golden retriever from a breeder and have zero regrets.
Dog charities make it near impossible for most people.
ImThatBitchNoodles@reddit
We've been rejected 3 years in a row by 3 different shelters.
Mainly because our garden is small and mostly paved, my income wasn't high enough for their criteria, and my son is high needs autistic and they didn't wanna risk my son hurting the dogs.
My son grew up with a dog up until 4 years ago. We had to put her to sleep due to post surgery complications that were killing her slowly.
He loves animals and is very compassionate not once has he shown any aggression towards any animal or insect, he even loves spiders (to my horror). He's not a fan of people though, so didn't make a good impression with them.
Sometimes these agencies make it incredibly hard to adopt. We gave up and paid an ethical KC breeder, and got this little guy.
headphones1@reddit
We had similar issues to you when it came to adopting a cat, so we ended up getting a cat from a breeder. £800 was the cost, which was a lot at the time. But over the years, that £800 has been quite insignificant, especially since we recently had to pay a very large vet bill.
itsheadfelloff@reddit
Been looking at adopting a cat and that's not exactly straightforward either. Literally easier to buy a kitten.
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
With cats it's legit probably easier to find an area that's known for strays and just, like, hang out there til you find one
thereadingbee@reddit
innit
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
Especially right now, being Kitten Season
thereadingbee@reddit
absolutely. 2020 one of my cats showed up with 2 kittens in the garden. she was near death still found them safely. still have them all to this day aha
Free_Ad7415@reddit
Do you mean they were her kittens, or she had found them somewhere?
thereadingbee@reddit
no. theyre her kittens.
FeGodwnNiEtonian@reddit
I tried for a year to adopt a cat - I applied for maybe five or six- it was absolutely laughable the hoops they were trying to make us jump through to get one. In the end we just got a call from a local vet who had had some kittens brought in and that was that.
jolittletime@reddit
Yep. We wanted a couple of kittens about 6 months after our last cat passed away (at almost 20 - we were good cat owners!). Didn't have any restrictions on breed, gender, colour. Live in a fairly quiet village on a residential road with plenty of other cats around. 4 different local rescues had no cats for us. Ended up getting one from a friend of a friend and a second from pathfinder
PsychologicalClue6@reddit
We have adopted twice with no issues, despite being two foreigners in a flat. Mind you, I actually appreciate rescues screening potential adopters. My friend bought two kittens and while they look after them well in general, they smoke indoors which cannot be great for their lungs… no wonder a rescue would see that as a no, for example.
Icy_Reply_7830@reddit
I looked into this and honestly just went and bought one in the end
thereadingbee@reddit
just go find a stray cat 😭 all mine have been ones who show on my grans garden. 3 we're left behind when owners moved out.
Barbora1519@reddit
Dog shelters make you jump through the hoops . I got so sick and tired of them that I just bought my two dogs . I would never donate a penny to them . They seem to do everything in their power to stop any adoptions .
Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit
If you can prove you can provide a good home for the next 15 (hopefully) years & fully meet their needs, go for it. I know people get angry because they believe shelters and rescues have unreasonable demands, but I'm a dog trainer and see what goes wrong when the dog goes to the wrong family and I totally understand why they are picky - and sometimes they need to be pickier (Dogs Trust, selling a young husky to a couple in their 70s - looking at you!)
Just don't pick by looks, consider what breed(s) the dog is, what they were designed to do, and whether that is a good fit
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit
Although their requirements may be less, please be VERY careful about adopting from abroad. Many, many people have had difficult experiences doing this (myself included: dog ended up not being safe around my child, it was AWFUL). Do your homework and always make sure a rescue can provide lifelong backup.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit
Maybe consider fostering for a reputable local charity?
Failing that, there’s always rescue chickens 😉they make great pets
Competitive_Pen7192@reddit
Adoption places are weirdly elitist.
I bought a house years ago and wants a cat companion. The rescue home said I wouldn't be suitable as I work long hours, had no prior experience and the cat would wreck my house or run away.
The below furry critter joined us shortly after the shelter's rejection as a colleague was giving her away. That was over 12 years ago and I'd like to think I've been a responsible owner to her.
No idea why shelters are so precious over giving away their animals. I won't ever go to a shelter again as I was made to feel like some sort of moron who was either entirely unsuitable for a pet or needed to beg for one.
ImThatBitchNoodles@reddit
They'd rather let healthy, young pets go for euthanasia, than give them to someone with a smaller garden than their stupid criteria requires or a full time job.
PositiveMushroom3228@reddit
Can you do fostering for a charity with your mum?
660trail@reddit
Look very thoroughly into the pros and cons of pet insurance and vet costs, they can be significantly expensive.
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
Depending on where your adopting from you may still have to pay something. I was gonna rehome a dog from local cat and dog shelter. They wanted 400 squid for me helping them so i bought one off internet who was a year old. One thing to bare in mind is if you get a puppy its like a baby, you 100% know whats happened to the dog. If you adopt you have no idea what they have been through, ask your self why is the owner getting rid, sometimes its legit reasons alot of the time it isnt.
c0tch@reddit
This is why I can’t get a dog because I don’t want to be part of the problem unqualified people breeding animals to sell. Then I’m hesitant to adopt because what if their trauma makes them a problem? I’d have to abandon the dog again and contribute to the problem.
But if I got a dog I’d want to train it, I’d want to ensure it’s safe around others.
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
Get a puppy if you get one. 'You cant teach an old dog new tricks' isnt wrong. Ive had dogs all my life and 3 people in my family breed them. The dog i adopted has taking nearly a year to trust me, hes bit me numerous times because he wasnt used to been stroked.
wordsfromlee@reddit
Have you ever thought that if the dog bites you when you stroke him, then maybe he doesn't want you to stroke him?
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
Have you ever owned a dog ?
wordsfromlee@reddit
Yes
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
So what you on about then you melt? The dog i had used to get kicked to fuck before i got him. He wasnt used to sitting next to someone getting stroked. a couple of times i moved me hands and i think he thought i was gonna hit him so snapped at me.
wordsfromlee@reddit
That’s not how you you do it. This has got to be a troll account.
Evening_Plum2683@reddit
So dont stroke him till he wants to be
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
What would you know ? Your injecting shite into your body because you cant stop eating. You seen what it does to bones ? Ill tale advice from someone who knows how to look after themselves never mind a pet.
Evening_Plum2683@reddit
Blimey, have you just stalked me on this platform. Weirdo.
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
U wish i had. Be only the only person on face of planet if i had. Keep off the cake
Odd-Recognition4120@reddit
Try fostering so you get to know a dog
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
If you can find a rescue where the animals live with fosterers instead of in a shelter, you can at least get some idea of how the dogs respond to being in a home setting
ionthedonut@reddit
The adoption fee goes towards the costs while the dog is at the rescue of such as feeding and healthcare, as well as supporting the rescue centre and other animals there. I’d say it’s well worth paying an adoption fee rather than giving to some backyard breeder off the internet.
Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit
Id say its not. Where do you think reputable dog breeders advertise?
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
You're never not going to have to pay an adoption fee. Rescues can't run on air, your adoption fee contributes to the costs they paid out caring for the animal - staffing, facilities, food, vet checks, flea and worm treatment, microchipping, vaccination, neutering, etc. Most of the time, those costs will add up to more than the adoption fee so they're not actually making a profit off you. There are also risks with giving away animals for free, it attracts unscrupulous or unserious people. Also, animals are expensive and if you can't afford an adoption fee, you probably can't afford the pet at the end of the day.
It's also not true you always know 100% what has happened to a puppy when you buy it, breeders are not always honest or scrupulous, and puppies are not blank slates, they are shaped in part by their genetics even before they're born, and will have had multiple environmental influences before they ever reach you. If you're buying from a breeder, you need to do your research and find a good one (and it will cost you far more than an adoption fee).
SatchSaysPlay@reddit
Just want to applaud you for choosing to adopt rather than buy from some breeder.
thegreatreset52@reddit
Its just ridiculous today, so many animals need good homes. I live in a bungalow, no road in front. Back is a working farm with a kind of farm factory attached. But its a bloody farm. I got refused a cat. A cat. Open farmland and refused a cat. Figure that out.
Stunning-Pudding-514@reddit
If anyone is in the midlands, the Border collie trust (Rugeley) is ok. They ask basic questions etc and if they think the dog is not a good match for you they will say. They list any issues with the dogs in the profile, they are also realistic about gardens/fences etc and don't do home checks because as they say a fence can fail at any time. I got my last dog from them in 2020 as i knew i wouldn't pass a home visit due to my neighbours fence.
Greendeco13@reddit
Yes. They are so risk averse it’s ridiculous. I have had dogs (and cats) all my adult life. Brought up 4 kids alongside the pets. Never lost a pet, never an incident with the kids. Dogs and cats lived to ripe old ages, spoiled rotten by us all, loved so much. Won’t be accepted for adoption as I have a cat, and young grandchildren visiting, live on a road. Ended up buying a pup. Love her to bits, she’s the light of my life but I’d have loved to give an older rescue dog a good few years being loved and cared for.
madformattsmith@reddit
you'll have it easy as you have a secure garden and high fence.
I tried adopting a dog (am in a very spacious council flat) but they won't give a dog to me as my back garden is communal with no fence and has a path running through the middle of it.
CommunicationHot6696@reddit
My sister adopts Romanian dogs because they have a huge stray dog problem. The two she has adopted from New Moon are just gorgeous. She has fostered dogs from there too until they find owners in the UK.
HonkersTim@reddit
Yes, I enquired about one and it would have required TWO home visits. It would be easier to adopt a child.
Demonthief27@reddit
I have adopted, was during Covid.
I got a border collie and took my dog with me to make sure they got on and they did just fine. They said they would have to check my garden and stuff but then turned around and said that because I had a collie already it shouldn’t be an issue and he came back with me. They didn’t know much about him and didn’t say much but I loved him and wanted him.
When he came back, the issues started. He had been abused from what I can tell, I was sweeping and he want to attack me, buried himself under a bed and bit me when I wanted to comfort him. He hated all animals, dogs and anything with a wheel.
6 years on and he’s not that dog now, he loves everyone and can get along with dogs now. He destroyed my stairs, he bit me a few times and was just a knob to start but I persevered.
If you’re going to rescue you need to be very very aware of the breed you’re taking in, I was looking for shepherds and had I got one I don’t know how different the actions would have been but could have been worse.
I think everyone should rescue a dog at least once, as you say there are so many out there and had I not had Clyde he may have been put down with anyone else he’s my best friend now and we do everything together.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Thank you for sticking with him and I'm so glad he ended up with you!
Demonthief27@reddit
Thank you he’s been a rock through some tough times and wouldn’t ask for a better friend
mixamatoosh@reddit
Thank the gods that that dog ended up with you.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Extremely difficult. They want to ensure the dogs are safe and be looked after. Seems nuts when they are so many dogs needing homes, makes sense though Took us 15months to get a dog!
elaine4queen@reddit
Depends where you are and what your experience is. Rehomers don’t want to see the dog coming back. What often works well is “failed fosters”. Find an organisation that wants foster carers and go from there. You will get a softer launch into the world of having a dog and if you fall in love you keep it.
Evening_Plum2683@reddit
I have adopted and rehomed privately. The last one I adopted (just under 2 years ago) from Almost Home Rescue was a video inspection of my home and I drove to North Wales twice to meet Danny. The rescue had adopted him and a number of others from a horrible situation and had him 8 weeks before I met him the first time. They were very honest with his issues, offered a lot of support if I had needed it.
What worked in my favour was my experience with spaniels and the fact I can take the dogs to work, and I had a sensible older spaniel to help with my new nervous boy. He has gone from a terrified little soul who had never been in a house to a fantastic companion, who us currently asleep upside down next to me. I had applied for a few others with other rescues but I was patient until I was able to adopt my boy.
Iammildlyoffended@reddit
I don’t know about a dog but when our beloved cat died, I rang the local cat shelter to see about adopting one of the many many they have there and are heavy on the advertising to find new homes.
After a series of questions they informed me that we aren’t eligible as we are “totally unsuited to having a cat” for the following reasons:
we have children under 18 (despite them being brought up around a cat didn’t matter)
we live near a main road (this is a semi rural small town)
we both work (wfh mind you)
we have a large garden that is close to a small river “the cat could drown”
At the end of the conversation I wondered whether they may call social services to push for removal of our children.
Best of luck with getting a dog though!
TheSibylAtCumae@reddit
Try getting one from Cyprus or Romania.
deadeyes1990@reddit
Honestly, I’d just apply and be upfront.
Your situation sounds better than a lot of people’s — garden, someone home-ish, family support, and you’re actually thinking it through instead of just going “omg dog”.
The only thing rescues might worry about is what happens when you move out or your work/life changes, because 22 can be a bit of a chaos era. But if you’ve got a proper plan for that, and you’re open-minded about the type of dog, I don’t think your age alone should rule you out.
Worst they can say is no, or “not yet”. Better to ask than assume.
Remarkable_Movie_800@reddit
I adopted an 18 months german shepard mix street dog from Croatia. She's 11 this summer. Best thing I did, she has been a lifesaver for me and I've been able to give her a safe home and the best care care. We've had to move a couple of times and also escape an abusive situation together but she's always been by my side and been my priority. She is well trained, has learnt so much and she absolutely loves life. Getting old now which is terrifying but she's my best friend and will be until she's no longer here.
WonderfulDelivery639@reddit
Have you considered affordability? And socialising? I put £400 aside every month for my dog. This covers daycare, food, insurance and emergency vet visits. I work from home but send him to a tiny daycare 1-2 times a week for socialising/when I need to go to the office. Whatever's left is saved each month which was helpful when we had a big expense last month and when all the family travelled for a wedding and he stayed with the dog sitter for a bit.
Do you have time to walk 1-2 times a day and for play/enrichment?
HostPick@reddit
I knew a Vet who got declined to adopt a dog because they had a full time job. Surely a vet would be an ideal person to adopt a dog!
Fuzzy_Strawberry1180@reddit
We looked at the website and expressed interest in him then went over, we're introduced, took him for a few short walks mind you that was about 7 years ago
Fuzzy_Strawberry1180@reddit
Our dog is adopted only thing I'd say is sometimes the history is unknown of the dog our dog was abandoned in an empty house, they checked our garden etc, but he's a lovely boy bit excitable sometimes but on the whole he's a delight
Future-Exercise-7433@reddit
We rehomed three times through Pets4homes. We went and met the humans and dogs and got a feel for the situation before we adopted. Our current (adorable) dogs came from an older lady who couldn't care for them anymore for health reasons, but was worried about them going to a shelter. She wanted to be part of the rehoming process, and she chose us to rehome to. We still send her photos and Christmas and birthday cards, and we visit when we're in the area. It's really nice for all of us
BenjiTheSausage@reddit
Honestly, won't know until you try, I think it's very different experiences based on where you are, we tried adopting a cat years ago and the shelter seemed totally against the idea of actually letting people adopt, in the end, we ended up buying a kitten.
The only thing I would ask yourself, do you intend to rent your own place in the future? Because having a dog will restrict you, a lot.
RiceeeChrispies@reddit
I would love to adopt a dog, but it would be so unfair to have one as I live alone. One day maybe. 😔
Odd-Recognition4120@reddit
I adopted mine from an abroad rescue last year and I had a great experience. The only thing is you can't meet a dog before adopting them that way.
With UK rescues they are pretty strict, but it seems like you fit the requirements, as they don't want the dog to be alone too long and want the garden to be fenced. So I would apply if I were you.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
As someone who works in the industry, I'd just add a note of caution to this: Some foreign rescues are great, but others are an absolute nightmare, there are huge risks with taking a dog sight unseen and many people who adopt foreign rescues find themselves essentially with a feral street dog in their home and absolutely no support or backup from the rescue. Unfortunately some people will sometimes opt for foreign because they find domestic rescues "too strict" but fail to understand that a lack of strictness sometimes correlates with a total lack of care/concern/proper process for either the dog or the adopter.
(Comment not aimed at you u/Odd-Recognition4120 just general advice)
OptionalQuality789@reddit
I’m not entirely convinced these foreign rescues aren’t puppy mills.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
Some of them are, or they're essentially just selling stray dogs off the street for a profit without any regard for the needs of the dog. Or there are some that are well-meaning but just not set up to deal with the potential complexities - for example, you may be dealing with an adoption agent in the UK who have never even met the dog themselves but are relying on information from their contacts at the foreign pound or whatever, and then when the dog arrives in the UK and turns out to be a nervous bitey wreck, they just don't have the resources or the expertise to offer any support.
WhereasOk5312@reddit
We adopted one that came from Serbia, nd fortunately they came to be fostered in the UK which meant we could mert him before adopting. Best decision we've ever made. They offered lifetime backup support, he came to us healthy and neutered with all required tests. If anyone goes with rescues abroad, make sure you pick a genuine one!
OkSpirit7891@reddit
Yep, I used the Romanian rescue MossMania and they put as many of their dogs as possible in UK foster homes. Had a great experience with them, and everyone else in the private Facebook group made for people who've adopted from them sing the rescue's praises
wringtonpete@reddit
We had the same experience, except our was Romanian. Lovely dog, really good with other dogs and humans.
ionthedonut@reddit
Yes, I had a great experience adopting an 8 month old from Wagging Tails rescue in North Macedonia and I’ve had my lovely girl 2 years now.
PsychologicalClue6@reddit
My friend adopted a few weeks ago. Their first two applications didn’t go through as owners chose someone else but the third one worked out and now they got the sweetest pupper. Just don’t give up easily and you’ll have your canine companion!
missyesil@reddit
I volunteer at an animal shelter in Turkey. The dogs there are in a horrible place and a lucky few get adopted to Europe and the UK. It's not cheap and there is paperwork involved, but it is possible, and I'd encourage people to look into it. You would really be saving a dog's life.
Message me if you want to know more.
Ill-Recognition2054@reddit
We adopted a dog from a rescue centre almost a year ago. Its taken from August till now with proper training and consistency to get her reactivity to other dogs down.
Lovely with people, thankfully, other dogs kryptonite.
PaleozoicQueen@reddit
I adopted my dog from the Dogs Trust when I was 21.
All they care about is the dog having a suitable home and an owner who can meet the dogs needs, understands the responsibility.
Adorable_Ad4328@reddit
There isn't actually a real excess of desirable dogs in rescue vs potential adopters (by desirable I mean youngish, non - power breed, no health/ behavioural problems). Rescues work in the interests of the dogs and can afford to be fussy, that's why people can find the process difficult. If you approach a few different rescues (incl small/ breed specific/greyhound) and are prepared to wait then you're more likely to be successful.
Be very careful if you go down the foreign rescue route. Some are great, some will dump a semi-feral street dog with brucellosis on your doorstep and offer no support. Others are covers for foreign puppy farms. Do your research.
If you're after a lab/ retriever type then guide dogs organisations will sometimes have dogs available that have failed training. Also pedigree breed clubs may know of show breeders with older dogs that have been 'run on' and are unsuitable for show/breeding. Not rescues but still dogs needing homes if you don't want a puppy.
JohnCasey3306@reddit
Your age per se won't be a problem; typically however, income correlates with age and they might question whether you can afford a dog.
But if you're satisfied that you can afford a dog, then it shouldn't be a problem.
emmaa5382@reddit
Number one thing to think about is which dog/what kind of dog.
Dogs come in all kinds of temperaments and energy levels and dietary habits, do a bit of reading on kinds of dogs and the pros and cons of different breeds (even if you adopt, it’ll give you an idea of things to expect). My family have always had dogs, we wouldn’t have been able to care for a border collie for example, but a smaller less active one is good. On the other side, you don’t want a low energy dog if you want a running buddy ect.
jimicus@reddit
Much easier than having one naturally, I can tell you.
EndangeredPineWeasel@reddit
As someone who actually works in dog rescue, yes, you could absolutely apply to adopt a dog and there's no reason you wouldn't be considered. Everyone here will comment about how rescues are "too picky" but there are reasons for this, largely based on our experience of the kind of situation which often doesn't work out and leads to dogs getting returned, which is extremely stressful for them, and can result in poor outcomes (welfare and behaviour deteriorating beyond the point of easy recovery). Believe me, we are not holding onto dogs for the fun of it, we just want to be sure the home will work out, because we're the ones who have to mop up the damage when it doesn't.
Most rescues assess dogs and homes on a case by case basis, so if there are restrictions on which kind of home a dog can go to - say no kids, no other pets, must have a garden, must have decent fences etc - believe me there will be a good reason for each and everyone of these criteria. If you can't meet that criteria, this is not the right dog for you. Again, rescues are just looking out for their dogs (and their legal liability - if for example we rehome a dog with kids knowing there are reasons that dog might not be suitable to live with kids, if a bite or accident happens, we could get sued out of existence).
It's also worth understanding if you want a type of dog which is highly desirable there will be more competition to adopt it, which means you may have to try a few times to be successful. This is nothing to do with rescues being "too picky", it's pure numbers, if multiple people apply for the same dog they can't all have it, so some people are going to get turned down.
Speaking from my experience, a few things I would want reassurance on from your situation: given the dog's owner (you) is not the homeowner, we would need to know your parents are 100% on board, and we would want everyone who lives in the home to come and meet the dog before adoption. Even if you are the main caregiver, a dog is in the home it is going to affect everyone in the home, and we don't want the dog to come back because mum didn't fully grasp the reality of having a dog in the home and isn't tolerant of hair or barking or chewing etc. We'd also probably have a conversation with you about what happens if you do move out of home a few years from now - again, because it's a relatively common scenario for a young person to move out of home into a situation where they aren't able to take the dog, and so they leave it with their parents, who didn't even want it in the first place, and then it becomes our problem again.
TL;DR yes you'd definitely be considered for a dog which would suit your circumstances, but expect the rescue to want to have honest conversation with you about your situation and plans for the future.
Special-Audience-426@reddit
Do all your research on dogs, training etc and all the requirements and possible issues with the breed you want.
For most breeds, there's almost always a Facebook rehoming group you can join and find one.
It avoids the dog being euthanised or sent to a rescue centre and it's usually cheaper.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
The adoption agencies for pets are far too invasive nowadays. Too demanding. That was inevitable once the Government started shutting down the alternative ways to get one though. Forcing us into the surveillance systems, on every level no matter how petty.
peachesnplumsmf@reddit
Or they know there's lines out the door so do what they think gets them their best shot at a permanent home.
Mina_U290@reddit
Get your mum to adopt it. You can still be main caregiver. Discuss with your mum what happens if you mine out and initially can't take the dog.
I adopted my first dog when still living at my parents, and my first flat 12 months later wouldn't allow dogs. It took me two years to get into a flat that would take him. I spent two years going over there 3 times a week on the evenings to walk him, and 1 evening going to classes.
Got a bit easier when I had my son and could go over in the day while I was on maternity leave.
I was so grateful my mum allowed him to stay with her! She had been given her own dog when she got married, then she got put into a tower block by the council, and had the same problem. Dog had to stay with Mum for a couple of years.
New-Lunch8133@reddit
I think you would be fine. Do get pet insurance though, 100%. Do not skip this step.
Opening_Nose_2347@reddit
Look around locally and find out, there's no obligation in looking and asking. You're thinking seriously about it, so they should like you as a potential adopter even if you don't fit their requirements.
TyburnLil@reddit
Every rescue is different. Talk to them.
We've never had an issue rehoming, although our garden is less than ideal (One unfenced open side)
Just find the rescue and begin the conversation from there.
Wishing you happy tails.
Nervous-Lawyer-9711@reddit
With the SSPCA (in Scotland) it was pretty straightforward for us to adopt our dog who was a victim of previous neglect, we had to sign up and were matched with her. We then sent a video of our whole house and garden to them (we live in an upstairs cottage flat, garden medium sized quite small if the decking isn’t counted). We went to meet her and actually brought her home that day, whole process took about 2 weeks!
Scruffy_Angel@reddit
It's very difficult. Exceedingly difficult. Unfortunately it's the way things have to be. No good taking a dog out of a bad situation and putting it straight into another.
Are you a first time owner? If so, that will make things difficult. It's easier to raise a puppy of your own. And don't let anybody shame you into thinking that it isn't ok to buy from a breeder.
andycwb1@reddit
I volunteer for a dog rescue charity and based on the information you’ve given I’d expect you to be approved. The key things for us is that you have a secure garden with minimum 5’ fencing and gates all the way around, and that everyone in the house agrees to having a dog.
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