I dont understand

Subject: I dont understand Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:10 pm

Evening All, Anyone?

I am so baffled by the rescue sites, I have been on most of them and i look through at the fostering etc, i work 9-5 mon-fri, it cant be helped, i think the problem is we have so many dogs in rescue because people like me cant help in that area, I thought if a dog is in kennels on death row, on there own, got kennel cough....surely any home with love is good enough, Animals need the food, water, love, walks, playing, caring etc....

My parents have always had a dog, i have grown up with animals, my parents worked dog left on its own for more than 4 hours and it was fine they all lived full and happy lives because they had what they needed.

If you look at the websites the criteria is endless...No Flats, no longer alon for 4 hours, pay money to help them, so practically, i could sit at home all day in a huge house with a garden, I get vetted and i have all the essentials, i tell u i love animals etc i pass....then i get a dog, and thats it, i dont play with it give it love but i have a big house i dont go out.

Surely a home with love and care, walks food and drink, companionship is perfect, if a dog could talk and was on death row and you asked it what do you want, what would it say?

DOG> not to be left alone for 4 hours a day, a garden i can sit in on my own, and a house!

I dont think so, the dog would be after love, someone to love that dog as much as the dog loves its owner, food...

True Story - Im only young but would sacrifice my boring office job anyday and just live with animals, i had a bad month one month and didnt have a lot of money, i had 4 cats for a week i ate pasta and salad cream. thats it, my cats had a cooked meal everynight - chicken and fish and meats.

Love and Care for an animal is the way forward i bet if rescue homes stopped making these lists more homes would be found, look at the nature of a person not there possessions. I know if at the end of the day if i had to sell every one of my possessions or my cats, my home would be empty in an instant!

Sorry about my rant, but i feel the only way i could ever help these dogs is breaking my back raising money, but if money was the love i had for animals i would give you my billions!

Vealo x AKA Dr Dolittle

thanx

Admin

Hiya! Thank you for your thoughts. Smile

I think it's a really difficult issue. You're absolutely right, some animals cope very well being left for long periods of time, others don't. Sadly rescues very often end up picking up the pieces when the animals aren't coping, the owners aren't coping because of resulting behavioural difficulties, and I really wish I could say that rescues can work miracles and help the animals to overcome these difficulties, but I can't. Sad

I've actually just been looking for my handouts from a veterinary conference I went to just a few weeks ago. Oddly enough it was about stress and behaviour in animals, and one of the speakers (who is a vet and behaviourist) had carried out a 5 year study, with the help of Dog's Trust, the RSPCA and several other rescues, which looked at reasons given for rehoming animals and the effects those factors had had on the animal's behaviour. I'll try to find the exact figure, but I'm sure it was it was around 50% of people who said they were rehoming their animal due to lack of time/long working hours. Interestingly, in another part of the study, when people surveyed who said they wanted an animal (particularly dogs) but didn't have one were questioned about their reasons for this, only a shockingly tiny percentage of people admitted that working long hours would be a factor in preventing them getting an animal.

If you, therefore, look at this debate from a purely statistical point of view then you could argue that rescues are being responsible by drawing attention to one of the main factors in deciding to rehome an animal, thus allowing potential owners to make a more informed decision. Also, given that the rate of rehoming is so alarmingly high due to working long hours then so will be the rate at which animals are returned to rescues when those homes prove to be unsuitable. If you look at the policies of a good number of rescues you will find that they guarantee to take in any of the animals they have previously rehomed should that home not work out. Given that most rescues are already full to bursting what would then happen to that huge percentage of animals if they needed to be returned? Rescues just don't have the resources to be able to cope and just to survive to help as many animals as they do they need to be as sure as they can be that every new home will be a forever one.

There is also an issue of the dog's mental health. We often see the strain it puts on an animal being passed from pillar to post, and the lasting effect it can sometimes have, so again, it's important to try to make sure that every potential home will be a permanent one.

All rescues have their own policies on issues such as flats and long working hours, and if a rescue is reasonably confident that a particular animal would thrive in those circumstances regardless then they may still allow them to be rehomed there. A quick couple of examples: I carried out a homecheck quite recently for a lovely couple who both work from 9-5 Monday to Friday. Regardless of their working hours they passed the homecheck; the dog they wanted was a little older (about 7), the rescue had history on the dog and knew that all she wanted was a nice cosy spot to snooze in all day long and the couple had also arranged to take it in turns popping home, just for five minutes on their lunchbreak, to let the dog out to relieve itself. For that particular dog the circumstances were not detrimental to her mental or physical health and from the updates I've had she seems to be very happy in her new home. I've also previously carried out a homecheck for someone who passed despite living in a flat. The lady wanted a little companion dog, and although she lived in a flat with no garden she was always out and about, wanting to take the dog with her. There was also a park near the flat for her to take him for walks every day. The dog was also so small she could easily carry him up the stairs if she ever needed to, so any issues with the flat could be overcome and the rescue were more than happy to rehome to her.

Sometimes it's also difficult to know how an animal will behave once it's left alone, especially given that rescues don't always know the animal's background. It would be very risky, and irresponsible, of a rescue to place a dog into a foster home where the occupants worked long hours, only for them to come back to a trashed house because the dog has been bored all day on it's own. They certainly wouldn't be fostering very long! Even leaving them with another animal unsupervised to keep them company is risky as they may fight or be just as destructive.

I agree that kennels aren't the ideal solution either, but even jumping over the 'working hours' barrier, I'm still not convinced that there are enough homes or foster homes out there for all the dogs in pounds anyway. A lot of people, if they really want one and are told by a rescue that their home isn't suitable, just seem to go out and obtain one through other means. Sad

(...and then how often do *those* dogs end up in rescue when the owners finally realise they can't offer the animal everything it needs? Sad

) As for kenneled animals, rescues do try their best to monitor the animal's well being, and if it is showing signs of stress then they will do everything they can to properly assess that animal and find a suitable foster home where the fosterer is around as much as possible to help settle in the dog and work with it to overcome any issues.

From my own experience I can genuinely say that working with rescues has been an eye-opener! For a long time I had no transport, couldn't take in fosters (still can't really!), had no homechecking experience, worked full time, wasn't motivated by *any* of the fundraising opportunities I'd read about... and then I found a forum like this and realised, actually, I had something I could offer rescues, my time! I had no idea how much goes on behind the scenes and how much help is needed for things like co-ordinating transport runs, finding volunteers to do homechecks, running a forum... lol!

In all honesty, if you'd like to get involved saving the lives of animals there is a lot lot more you can do besides fundraising. Smile

If you ever want to you are more than welcome to PM me and I can give you some ideas. (Be warned though, there's more than enough to keep you busy AND it's very addictive!!! Razz

)

This is just my take on it all anyway. Hope that helps! Smile

Admin

Apologies for the essay ^^. ROFL

I'm off to bed now! (Finally! Razz

) Night!

Subject: Re: I dont understand Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:36 am

Thank you for clearing that up ladies,

Dont worry i got already started sorting some things out,

Vicky may need your knowledge though!

Any news on those akitas?

Admin

Yes, we received an update this morning. Smile

They've been very busy but are so grateful for the offers of help! Thank you!

FriendsOfAkitas wrote:: Hi Folks,

Only just registered on this forum as our posts had been cross posted from another rescue forum. Thanks for your replies and kind offers of help. To date we are aware of 8 Akitas in the pound, 3 are now safe (crystal & pujo are in safe kennels). 5 are still awaiting assistance although we hope to have a few foster homes ready by the weekend. If you feel you can help by adopting, fostering or helping to raise funds, please contact me direct at Nicola@friendsofakitas.co.uk. Unfortunately myself and the FOA team work during the day and cannot access forums like this frequently but we can access emails. Thanks for all your help so far and hope to speak to you via email soon.

Sorry I had better mention due to the Akitas coming from the pound we have no background on them what so ever, we do not know how they get on with cats and other dogs until they are safe and we can assess further, they will also not be placed in a home with children under the age of 16.

Thanks,

Nicola & the FOA team

Glad the essay helped. Razz

Sorry it was such a long read though. You need a medal for getting through that! Crying With Laughter

Always feel free to ask for advice hun, it's one of the things we're here for. Smile

The great thing is we have a growing number of members and rescues with a good deal of experience between them, and I'm sure whatever the question someone will be able to help. Very Happy

Admin

I think you'll find that some dogs are fine with being left and some just can't cope - As Vicky's said.

Chances are if you mention to the rescues that you work long hours then they will help you find a suitable dog. Alot of resces are fine if the dogs gets attention the rest of the time and if someone can go and take dog for a walk while your away to break the monotomy (sp) of it.

I know my grandfathers dogs are working dogs and they spend a lot of time in a VERY large kennel during the day but they are taken on two longish (at least 30 mins) walks a day and each weekend and sometime during the week spend the whole day out. (They're retriever's for shooters) so to some rescue's he'd probably be devil incarnate but his dogs are VERY happy well adjusted dogs.

Good Luck

finding a doggy and as vicky says. Just ask!! Very Happy

Subject: Re: I dont understand Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:12 am

I take the phone calls for RDR and fill the forms in when someone wants to adopt one of our dogs. I also have 6 rescue dogs, 5 have been in a pound at sometime. Pound dogs rarely have any known history, those that have been surrended the owners often lie about the dogs so we can't take what they say as the truth.

Puppies need constant attention if they are going to be housetrained, yes it can be done if you work but it takes a lot longer and many never become toilet trained, far too long for many people. One of mine wasn't supposed to be housetrained when he came, I never had an accident from him because I was with him all the time. Crating a puppy does help with housetraining but expecting them to go 4 hours in a crate without toileting is far too long, their bodies are not ready for this yet. Like human babies, puppies have to mature to hold it.

A dog left on his own is unsupervised during that time and you can't train a dog if you are not there. Many dogs in rescue suffer from seperation anxiety when they first go into a new home, coming home to a trashed house is no fun and many give up. If a dog chews when you are out you could come back to a dead dog.

Dogs are pack animals, they are not designed to spend long periods on their own although many learn how to cope with it. Arrangements can be made to make things easier for the dog, a dog walker, neighbour or family member go in to spend time with the dog but many people are not prepared to do this.

The breed is also a factor, Staffies hate being on their own, Greyhounds will just sleep on the sofa when on their own until their owner comes home. My Greyhound was terrible with SA when I first got him.

We have a maximum of 4 hours for a dog to be on their own but we also accept a dog going to mum's or mum going in to the dog etc.

Is it better for a dog to be on his own for 8 hours during the day, 4 to 6 hours with his owner then 8 hours asleep, with his owner for about an hour first thing of a morning, approximately 16 hours a day on his own, or spending all day in kennels with lovely staff who try to make life better for him and he has lots of other dogs as friends and lots of things going on to watch?

I have often been abused when I have refused to let someone have a dog, I am told I don't love dogs, it is a bad rescue etc, the other day one lady tried to bully me into changing our policies, she wanted a dog straight from the pound without an assessment but my duty is to the dog not the person who wants him. I have to find the best home I can for the dog regardless of what the person is like. I have to give 100% to the dog, anything less and I shouldn't be in rescue.

Subject: Re: I dont understand Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:53 am

Mattie wrote:: the other day one lady tried to bully me into changing our policies, she wanted a dog straight from the pound without an assessment but my duty is to the dog not the person who wants him. I have to find the best home I can for the dog regardless of what the person is like. I have to give 100% to the dog, anything less and I shouldn't be in rescue.

That is really noble if you ask me. I can imagine some people will be really offensive and unpleasant when they don't get the answer they like, it must be a tough job to do.

(Sorry to post again on a really old thread! Only just had chance to have a look at older posts)

Rescue Rep

Mattie wrote:: I have often been abused when I have refused to let someone have a dog, I am told I don't love dogs, it is a bad rescue etc, the other day one lady tried to bully me into changing our policies, she wanted a dog straight from the pound without an assessment but my duty is to the dog not the person who wants him. I have to find the best home I can for the dog regardless of what the person is like. I have to give 100% to the dog, anything less and I shouldn't be in rescue.

We have exactly the same problem, we dont home to the public but we do assist should anyone want to offer a poundie a home. Our pounds policy is quite strict compared to some others. One woman expressed an interest in one the mastiffs, when asked about children in the home, she replied she had 3 all under 6 years. To which I replied sorry no, the pound do not rehome with children that young. Call ended, but 10 mins later, from the same number a man called enquiring about the same dog, this time telling me he had no kids, the whole time you could hear the woman in the background trying to keep the kids quiet. Duh