Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: Rescue ... are we getting it right? Today YES
Having beeen very busy with rescue lately, I'm beginning to wonder if we've got it right when 'publicising and promoting' rescue dogs.
I've been struggling with several potential homes who seem to think that obtaining an older 'rescue' dog is better than getting a pup because it by-passes all the ghastly house training stuff, not to mention basic obedience, and effectively gets them a trained obedient family member ... despite all the paperwork sent to them explaining rescue aims and purposes.
A recent thread on here has made me wonder. I do make follow up phone calls when I get an enquiry passed to me, in an effort to 'weed out' those who have unrealistic attitudes. Sometimes when someone is told that they are unlikely to get a 'dream' dog, they back off and say, no thanks if I've got to train it
How on earth should we promote rescue re-homing in a positive way without either telling lies or being too negative?
I'm knackered and beginning to think I've had enough of trying
Last edited by FRE on Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:10 pm; edited 1 time in total
. Sometimes when someone is told that they are unlikely to get a 'dream' dog, they back off and say, no thanks if I've got to train it
then good im glad they back off because then the potential dog that was said to be heading there way will not be back in the re-homing centre so many weeks down the line because they cant be bothered.
personally i would want the truth the downsides and the high notes on a rescue dog,
having rescued dogs myself i know full well its not easy but oh the rewards afterwards are just bloomin lovely
you are very lucky if you get a partly trained dog but this still means the hard work has to be put in still.
i wonder if you can leave rescue packs with ppl before they sighn up for a dog saying bad storys with great endings and bad storys with bad endings and great storys with great endings type of thing?? that way they get to look at it from loads of different angles?
not every person is set up for a rescue or dont realise the time patience and effort needed to put in to look after a rescue as i say there are some lovely dogs in rescue just waiting for there forever homes so PLEASE dont give up xxxxxxx
I don't think you should change the way you promote them - ultimately, if someone isn't prepared to put the time and effort in, then they are not the right home anyway - and if you did try to sell it in a different way, I suspect you would have a lot more dogs returned - which would be a double negative - not good for those managing the rescue, nor for the poor dog being shoved from pillar to post
People need to be told everything about the dogs, warts an' all, or else they will bounce back into rescue. If they don't like the Warts, then they are not the right person for the dog in the first place.
You will always get people wanting the easy route. I have a friend who is a breeder and she is often asked if the pups will be housetrained before they pick them up at 8 weeks old . Those people never make it as far as her waiting list, needless to say.
The work that the majority of rescues do in finding the right homes in my opinion is spot on
When I rehomed Melody, GS x Lab, she was about 8 years old, she did come with lots of problems and I had to spend lots of time with her getting her to trust people again. Knowing that when I offered to rehome her from Battersea, didn't put me off at all. She was sadly only with me for 3 years before she went to the bridge.
After Melody I rehomed Eliza who was one, my lovely GSX, who is now 12 1/2 Eliza had been in Battersea for her first year of life, so I knew I was literally rehoming a puppy. On the card on her kennel, Battersea stressed how dirty she was and that she would need housetraining. A week after Eliza being home she was clean
I think so long as rescues discuss all the problems that a potential owner may face and they can see that the person doesn't seem to back off and once the dog is in their new home, they make regular visits they are not going wrong.
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Rescue ... are we getting it right?
FRE wrote:
How on earth should we promote rescue re-homing in a positive way without either telling lies or being too negative?
I think honesty and a thorough assessment (health and temperament) is essential to match the dog and home well. Along with life time support and assurance that the dog can come back into the rescue at any point in the future if need be.
I don't deal with rehoming for the OC, but I know it must be so disappointing when a potential home enquiry turns out to be unsuitable, but better that you find out sooner rather than later, especially for the dog's sake.
I'm sure there are rescues that don't provide thorough information on the dog's/their needs, just as there are breeders that sell puppies without ensuring the new owner knows how much work is involved in bringing up a pup. I don't feel either of these are serving the dog population, or their owners, well.
Honesty, brutal Honesty Fay, that's all you can do.
When I speak to people who want to rehome a dog, I tell it warts and all, I also sometimes take Maia with me on homechecks to show them what a traumatised dog can turn into.
Diane Morgan sums it up beautifully
Diane writes, "After a couple of bad experiences with adopters (NOT the dog) in rescue lately -- I wrote this. Forgive the irritated tone. (If anyone would like to place this on their own rescue page for any breed, you have my permission so long as the content is not altered." dcrocodile@aol.com
Note to adopters: Lassie and Cleo and Rin Tin Tin and Toto don't show up in rescue. We don't get the elegantly coiffed, classically beautiful, completely trained, perfectly behaved dog. We get the leftovers. Dogs that other people have incompetently bred, inadequately socialized, ineffectively "trained," and badly treated. Most Rescue dogs have had it. They've been pushed from one lousy situation to another. They've never had proper veterinary care, kind and consistent training, or sufficient company. They've lived outside, in a crate, or in the basement. They're scared, depressed and anxious. Some are angry. Some are sick. Some have given up. But we are Rescue and we don't give up. We never give up on a dog. We know that a dog is a living being, with a spirit and a heart and feelings. Our dogs are not commodities, things, or garbage. They are part of sacred creation and they deserve as much love and care and respect as the next Westminster champion. So please, please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a "bargain," or indeed of "getting" anything. Come to Rescue to give, to love, to save a life -- and to mend your own spirit. For Rescue will reward you in ways you never thought possible. I can promise you this -- a rescue dog will make you a better person
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
I think that quote is valid to a point Nat, but there are certainly people who have done everything for their dogs and then had to make the heartbreaking decision of rehoming their dogs. Not all rescue dogs have been unsocialised/neglected/abused.
She's right though, rescue is not about getting a bargain - and I think a fair number of adopters end up giving back more than the adoption fee to the rescue. I feel very grateful I've been allowed to adopt the dogs I have, the rescues cared very much where they went and I honestly feel honoured to have been able to adopt them
I was really referring to rescues in general rather than specific charities. It seems that the majority of people attracted by rescues, from the RSPCA on, are looking for an easy deal, older dog, no housetraining, no basic training required.... just say sit, stay, this is home ... and that's it ... sorted. It's an awful ot of wasted time and effort.
So that's my real question .... are all rescues portrayed as supplying the 'Perfect Pet Solution' .... and if so, what should the approach be?
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despite all the paperwork sent to them explaining rescue aims and purposes.
.... and if so, what should the approach be?
