Animal charities full to overflowing

[opticron1]

Of course the "overflowing" problem is going to get much worse as people finally are allowed to get back to work and resume going on holiday. They'll suddenly realise a dog can't just be left to it's own devices for a week or two! There'll be a sudden rush when the kennel bills start coming in and the real cost of vet's bills start mounting up...... might be a few unwanted (potential) working dogs coming onto the market....
My problem around here is that everyone seems to be buying yappy little hand-bag dogs and which have no training whatsoever......kind of like their kids, but there you go!

 

[Ooops]

A couple of years ago I went to numerous GSD rescues looking for a a second GSD

Rant warning!

After a spell of looking after my trained GSD my mum missed the companionship and, quite taken with the breed, decided to rehome one. Unfortunately I wasn't around to advise.

She went to the various local shelters looking for a candidate & found an older bitch which she was told had belonged to an elderly owner who could no longer walk her. Mum asked all the right questions, spent time with dog at the shelter and on the promise of support and or return if required took her on.

It immediately became apparent that whilst ok with mum the dog had serious issues with people coming to door and was beyond mum's ability to control. So she tried to take the dog back and the shelter wouldn't entertain it.

Being a force of nature mum was able to find out, through independent means, that the shelter hadn't disclose that the elderly lady had died and that the dog had been locked in with the body for a good few days and that the dog had fought with the rescuers who had been forced to break down the front door.

Long story short, using some heavy weight professional contacts from her working days the shelter took the dog back.

Here you have a shelter lying in order to rehome a dangerous dog, and placing a dangerous dog with an older & therefore vulnerable member of the public. And in the process permenently loosing the opportunity to rehome a suitable dog in a good home.

I don't think it's putting it too strongly to say that I feel there's an element of criminal negligence to it.
These people seem to be beyond accountability. ...... End of rant!

 

[Oracle]

Wonder what’s gonna happen if the taxman cottons on and realises people are able to take £30,000 cash for a decent sized litter?
If someone does 3-4 litters in a year should they be vat registered ?

Animal Welfare Act 2018

The Business Test

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business for the purposes of this Schedule include, for example, whether the operator—
(a) makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
(b) earns any commission or fee from the activity.


In scope criteria
Activities that fulfil one or more of the following criteria are subject to licensing:
1. Anyone breeding three or more litters of puppies per year(unless they can show that none of the puppies have been sold).
2. Anyone breeding puppies and advertising a business of selling them,as defined under the business test outlined above. This is irrespective of the number of litters produced per year. This is not restricted to registered businesses – individuals can also be classed as a business depending on the extent of their activities.
3. Factors that should be considered when determining whether someone is “advertising a business” include:
4. The number, frequency and/or volume of sales-systematic and repeated transactions using the same means of advertising are likely to indicate a commercial activity.
5. High volumes of animals sold or advertised for sale could indicate a business.
6. Low volumes of animals sold or advertised could indicate a business where high sales prices or large profit margins are involved.
7. High range and variability in the breeds traded. A wide variety of breeds being advertised could indicate the commercial nature of the activity.
8. High numbers of advertisements of puppies for sale, including on classified websites, could indicate commercial behaviour, even where there is no actual sale taking place via the internet. This could be high numbers of advertisements at any one time or over a short period of time, and/or regularly.
9. Advertising through a variety of sites, forums or media could indicate a commercial activity.

The following may assist consideration of the criteria listed above:
• The Government announced in Budget 2016 a new allowance of £1,000 for trading income from April 2017. Anyone falling under this threshold would not need to be considered in the context of determining whether they are a business.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I think that thar Ooops' post (Post #22) highlights the situation very well with some animal shelters.
Before we moved in to our current home we used to "foster" dogs for Harpur Hey Dogs Home (Manchester Dog's Home) on a regular basis. We would take on a dog for a few weeks (In our own home) and assess the dog's nature and behaviour and if need be help it through any "minor issues" it might have. Then when we took the dog back to the dog's home ready for rehoming we were then able to offer an INDEPENDENT WRITTEN REPORT regarding the dog so that any potential future owner was able to know exactly how the dog behaved, what stage of training it was at, how it behaved while meeting other people (Both adults and children) and dogs, how it behaved in the house, if it was house trained and of course any bad habits the dog might have.
There were several times that we took dogs back from fostering and were able to see the reports that we had written openly available for the public to read. In my opinion this is the best way for dog's homes to act in order to find the dogs the most suitable homes!

Edit: I ought to say that we only had one dog from them which I took straight back without even getting it home. The damned thing wanted to rip my face off whenever I bent down near it.
Other than that most of the dogs we fostered managed to get rehomed quite quickly after we took them back ready for rehoming. It was done on a purely voluntary basis and we paid for all of the dog food, it's bedding, etc ourselves. We both found it very rewarding in the knowledge that we had been a part of helping a dog find the right sort of home. The only difficult thing about it was saying goodbye to a few of the dogs we fostered as we got quite attached to them!

 

[AHPP]

Rescues are mostly lifestyle vehicles for 35-55 year old women who want to exert authority over humans and play with dogs. They foster given-up dogs so the charities' funds pay for vets, travel etc, often under the guise of assessment, training etc. When they get bored of them or numbers really do get unsustainable, they let them get adopted. In between times, they can tell people they're not suitable for whatever reason they fancy. For them, it's an ongoing source of free dogs that they can give up guilt-free and at their convenience.

Profit is not a dirty word but a breed specific rescue I recently talked to has one and a quarter million pounds in the bank and about twenty five dogs in the entire of Great Britain.

Glad to hear supply is increasing. My demand is still there. For an Alsatian by the way. Very happy to hear from anyone about a private arrangement.

Rescues dogs aren't free btw. You have to "donate" £150-350.

 

[Twodogs]

Glad to hear supply is increasing. My demand is still there. For an Alsatian by the way. Very happy to hear from anyone about a private arrangement.

Rescues dogs aren't free btw. You have to "donate" £150-350.

Sorry Pedant alert.

The breed was named Deutscher Schäferhund by von Stephanitz, literally translating to "German Shepherd Dog". The breed was so named due to its original purpose of assisting shepherds in herding and protecting sheep. At the time, all other herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name; they thus became known as Altdeutsche Schäferhunde, or Old German herding dogs.
The direct translation of the name was adopted for use in the official breed registry; however, at the conclusion of World War I, it was believed that the inclusion of the word "German" would harm the breed's popularity,[61] due to the anti-German sentiment of the era.[62] The breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog",[61] after the French region of Alsace bordering Germany.[23] This name was also adopted by many other international kennel clubs.
Eventually, the appendage "wolf dog" was dropped,[61] after numerous campaigns by breeders who were worried that becoming known as a wolf-dog hybrid would affect the breed's popularity and legality.[23] The name Alsatian remained for five decades,[61] until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts pressured the British kennel clubs to allow the breed to be registered again as German Shepherds.[63] The word "Alsatian" still appeared in parentheses as part of the formal breed name and was only removed in 2010.[64]
(Wikipefia)

Good luck with finding one they are fantastic dogs.

 

[AHPP]

Good luck with finding one they are fantastic dogs.

Aye. Thanks. I've spent a good amount of time with them. Grandma had three. Mum has one. I spent five years doing all the walking and training of mum's but was turned down for adoption because I don't have any experience actually owning one according to the current laws of personal property. I could have given mum a pound coin to get round that pointless technicality but frankly decided the rescues could go to hell at that point and I'll find one elsewhere.

 

[Twodogs]

AHPP - sorry to hear the troubles you are getting from rescues/charities, I do sometimes wonder for whose benefit they are working. Hope the right dog one comes along Soon.

Have you considered your local constabulary, Suffolk I believe, or any of the surrounding ones, for rehoming an ex-police dog. The Handlers, in my experience, are a lot more realistic when assessing suitability for rehoming. You might also get a bonus of a well trained dog.

The forces also re-home, their centre is at Melton Mowbray, could give them a try.

 

[AHPP]

Have you considered your local constabulary, Suffolk I believe, or any of the surrounding ones, for rehoming an ex-police dog. The Handlers, in my experience, are a lot more realistic when assessing suitability for rehoming. You might also get a bonus of a well trained dog.

The forces also re-home, their centre is at Melton Mowbray, could give them a try.

Already investigated. They want paying. No way am I voluntarily funding the state unless the dog can speak three languages and comes with a complimentary gold brick.

 

[Apthorpe]

Dogs Trust have 150,000 dogs waiting to be taken in....

Really? Sounds a lot. That'd be about 7,000 dogs in each kennels they have, and about 10 times as many as they typically rehome in a year. What's the source of this rumour?

 

[Warren79]

We looked at rehoming a rescue dog a few years back, wouldn't let me have it because I might use it for a bit of wildfowling was told they wouldn't rehome to a house that would use it for bloodsports!! And by the time we had paid the suggested mandatory minimum donation it was so much easier and almost as cheap to just buy a puppy!

On a slightly different note a few years ago the dogs trust fundraisers came door knocking and telling me how many staffs and staff crosses they had and how many years some have been waiting to be rehomed, the look on there face when I said perhaps you should look at putting some down rather than locking them in cages. Never seen them since so bonus.

 

[Zetter]

From oops and FrenchieBoys post this happened to us. Adopted a GSD/ lab cross and I should have listened to my instincts when we took her out for a play / wander round the shelter as when she saw a dog you could tell she wanted to have a go but the kids an my mrs were taken with her so we took her on.
After a couple of incidents with other dogs i.e. I removed an elderly terrier type from her gob when it came over to say hello (thank god she inherited the soft mouth from the lab side so I was able to get the said terrier out easily although it wasnt the best start to a new dog though to be fair she was on the lead at the time and the terrier wasnt). We got some advice from a dog behaviorist and after a bit of observation the conclusion was she basically had either been mauled as a pup by another dog or something had happened to her in a similar way that so now she was a big girl she was getting the first blow in regardless of if the other pooch was nice or not.
Contacted the shelter quote " we have never had any issues with her and other dogs" yeh right she was like this with anyone who had her on a lead if another dog was in the vicinity.

Behaviorists advice was shes a nice dog and doesnt have an issue with people but I wouldnt let her off the lead if there is the vaguest chance another dog is about as she is locked on with no chance of getting her back/ if you do let her off where you think its safe stick a muzzle on her. Issue was were all in love with her at this point as she had been with us a couple of months and I knew if she went back to the shelter she would probably get the needle after a while so we kept here with her issues.
I have no regrets as she has been a great dog for me as a pet and is my daughters bezza mate but I am still pretty annoyed at the shelter for not being up from with her issues and lying to my face when confronted with them.

 

[woody]

On a slightly different animal, I contacted my local hedgehog rescue centre as I live in the sticks, perfect, once they found out I lived in the sticks they said NO they are only rehoming to suburban areas, go figure, madness!

 

[shakey jake]

On a slightly different animal, I contacted my local hedgehog rescue centre as I live in the sticks, perfect, once they found out I lived in the sticks they said NO they are only rehoming to suburban areas, go figure, madness!

less badgers, more people with money. ok more cars that will splat the little egg theives but most charities seem to be after money not results

 

[Ooops]

....... wouldn't let me have it because I might use it for a bit of wildfowling was told they wouldn't rehome to a house that would use it for bloodsports!!

You'd have thought these people would be better educated but they appear to be complete ignoramuses
There isn't a soul on this forum that doesn't understand that a working dog is a happy dog but the shelter morons want to ignore their nature
The harder a dog works the calmer he is in the home

Rescues are mostly lifestyle vehicles for 35-55 year old women who want to exert authority over humans and play with dogs.

Streuth! You've described a woman I know to the letter, probably the most poorly behaved, socially retarded individual that I've had the misfortune to be forced to tolerate

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Streuth! You've described a woman I know to the letter, probably the most poorly behaved, socially retarded individual that I've had the misfortune to be forced to tolerate

Her or her pet? Both?

On a slightly different note I did once rehome a Springer dog. I had lost my previous Springer and found this one. However there were a few problems. My wife was not keen on him, no specific reason she just didn’t like him.
The other major one he chased sheep. Something I had been specifically told that he didn’t do. Something along the lines of we walk in the countryside all the time never shown any interest.
So I tried to return him, no joy just blocked every form of contact phone Facebook etc.
That left me with two options hand him to a shelter or find him a home.
So I advised him and a gentleman came to look at him. He explained that his daughter had special needs and he was looking for a dog as a companion. I checked him out as best I could. With various questions etc. He asked to leave him with me while they sorted bed, bowls insurance etc.
I offered to take him back if they didn’t get on. Well it turned out the dog was devoted to his daughter. He was delighted with him and made dammed sure he never got the chance to chase sheep.
So from someone lying to get rid of an inconvenience to a loving loyal pet for a disabled young lady. At least he got the family that suited him eventually.

 

[alberta boy]

I had no idea about the " situation " that exists in the UK regarding dogs , that's insane .

AB

 

[Ooops]

Streuth! You've described a woman I know to the letter, probably the most poorly behaved, socially retarded individual that I've had the misfortune to be forced to tolerate

Her or her pet? Both?

She either runs or is a leading light in a dog shelter

 

[paul o']

Anyone throwing out a Shiba inu ! has to be pup due to life span . ?

 

[Selous]

I’ve known of a few people that have been refused dogs from so called animal shelters. Two couples in particular are near neighbours to me, own nice houses in the country with 14 and 25 acres respectively. The one couple were in their 70’s so deemed to old, the other couple ain’t had a dog before so hot told they need to buy a puppy from elsewhere to gain experience!! Beggars belief no wonder people are importing from places like Romania etc.....

This is a big part of the problem. I know both Vets and Vet nurses who have been told they are unsuitable for having a rescue dog as they work too long hours and, wait for it.... the cage at the vet surgery where the dog would have a kip during working hours when the owner (vet) was busy was unsuitable!! These are not foster children, they are dogs, and most folks with an ounce of decency can give a dog a better home than the pound can do. Those dogs that cannot be rehomed for temperament reasons should be euthanised to make way for a better candidate. All this does is to force people into the hands of unscrupulous breeders!!