Labrador resuce procedure - any experts?

[honeybun]

I was wondering if anybody who has adopted a rescue dog or works for one of the rescues could give me some advice. We would like to offer a home to a rescue dog but there are so many rescues and we don't want to have a dozen home checks.

The sensible thing would seem to be to contact a rescue who has a dog that sounds right for us, find out as much as possible about the dog and then apply and arrange a home check if it all seems ok. The problem is that a lot of the rescues seem to work the other way round (i.e. apply first and they then match you to a dog).

I have seen an older dog who I feel drawn to. Would it be considered inappropriate to make contact with a rescue about a particular dog or should we just register with a few rescues and see what they come up with?

Norma

[sarsy_c]

Hi Norma,

I volunteer for an animal rescue and Berry is also a rescue dog from a different rescue.

I registered with Dogs Trust online but then never actually went to visit as I then found Berry. It sounds strange that rescue's have told you to register before seeing any, maybe that's just a different area, but bar DogsTrust I didnt register with any, i just went along to visit.

With Berry, she was with a fosterer so i went to see her, decided she was the one, filled out the form there and then, paid and the lady came to homecheck the same day. This of course isnt always possible so it depends when someone is available.

The rescue I volunteer for ask for people to call if they wish to view the animals, set up an appointment, they come along and if one takes their interest they fill out the form and arrange a homecheck. I've never heard of any rescues insisting on a homecheck before you've even looked at any dogs.

Looking online is always a good idea as most have the animals on their sites. You could also try preloved as there are many private owners advertising their dogs who for whatever reason need new homes - just be aware of scammers on sites like that and NEVER give or send anyone any money without seeing the dog first in its home environment.

Happy to answer any other questions if i can, just PM me. Good luck

[littlelab]

Its a bit of a minefield isn't it

Breed rescue in general homecheck then match you with the right dog, the multi breeds will homecheck on the basis of you picking a dog then making sure that your home environment and knowledge is right for that dog.

Its not written in stone but a general guideline.

I homecheck for a number of rescues, which means that often only one check is needed then the other rescues will contact me or the first rescue for a report.

[Casodil]

Norma I think your getting closer to "going for it"

Right place, right time five days!

I'd "watched" MT for 1++ years when my younger lab was PTS with an agresive cancer. We were "in bits", her older sister seemed to cope, but suddenly went "down Hill". OH discussed having a puppy with our Vet, but I said I would a prefer a puppy farm ex-breeding bitch. We have had the same Vet for over 11 years now and he laughed, he knew what I was up to!

A few days later, on a Wednesday, a new Choccy was on the site, 18 months old, cesarean, thrown out to Sylvia. OH had "popped out" but when he came back I casually showed him the the sad little girl at MT. I went for a shower and as I got out he stood there and said "I've filled in the adoption form on the web site"!.

He rang the next morning and found out the adoption form system was having "hicups" and had a long telephone interview which ended with if we can get a Home Vetter round and if you pass how soon can you take her?

Then started the "emotional rollercoaster" - what if this,? what if that??

The Home Vetter came on the Saturday morning, checked us out, sat and had a coffee (my Cassie dog sat by her and kissed her gently on the cheek!). She then asked to use our phone, rang MT told them if it didn't work out with the dog we wanted we were OK to have any dog they had!!)

We set out the next morning and collected our little girl

We fitted all the critera, OH working from home, me a few nights in the local pub, no kids, Cassie wanting a friend.

Hope I haven't bored you (This is only the beginning! )

Chel, Cassie and Dilys xxx

[honeybun]

Thanks for sharing your story, Casodil, it really helps. I am definitely at the point where I know I want a second dog and am certain I want a rescue dog rather than another puppy (much as I love puppies they do grow up and I am so much more aware of the many unwanted dogs out there since joining this forum).

It's just the process that is freaking me out a bit. With MTR you can read about the dog and if it seems right for your family fill in the form and they will contact youu to discuss the dog and your request in more detail. Other than the long drive to Wales that sounds perfect. The lab rescue site with the dog who has caught my eye doesn't work that way. You apply, get home checked and then they match you with a dog they think will suit you. That kind of scares me.

It is such a big responsibility taking on a rescue dog as these poor dogs have already been let down, sometimes several times. I really want it to be right so that we can make it work. I feel a bit scared about letting someone else choose my dog for me.

I almost reached for the phone a hundred times yesterday to ring the area co-ordinator to ask about the dog I have seen but neverd made the call as I don't want to come across as someone who is being choosy and trying to bi-pass their system. Maybe I just have to take the plunge and filll in the form. Wouldn't it be funny if they matched me to the dog I have in mind!

Norma

[-Angela-]

[Kendra]

We were initially home checked for LRRSE, there wasn't a dog for us at that point. The home check lady mentioned she was also on MTRs books, we then spotted Anna on their site and the rest is history...

[honeybun]

Ok, I have taken the plunge. I called the area co-ordinator for the lab rescues and have left a message on her answerphone asking her to contact me about adopting a dog. Now all I can do is sit back and wait. I'm so nervous!

Norma

[Diana]

Norma, I used to work with breed rescue - LRSE and also LRRSE and I can appreciate fully it seems scarey to have a stranger pick your dog for you. Its not quite how it works in practice though. The person who home checks you sends in your form to head office with as much detail on your preferences as humanly possible. Then when a dog that *sounds* suitable in terms of age, sex, colour, previous homelife etc comes on the books, you are called to 'discuss' the dog - not told - have this or lump it. I promise.

The snag of course is that before the dog comes to you, usually, you cannot meet it as the process is the dog comes straight from the old home to the new home to stop the upsetting need, as often as possible, for them to go into kennels which they may well not be used to. However there is always a settling in period where any problems and the dog can be moved to another home. The fact in my several years with breed rescue, the fact dogs only came 'back out' of homes a couple of times of all the hundreds of homings, showed how good the 'matching' service is, or how honest the people were who were offered the dogs if they thought something sounded 'amiss'.

Bear in mind, stern bit here - grin - that the nature of taking on a rescue dog is NOT like a puppy. You cannot find something 'perfect' and mould it as you would a puppy that you have trevelled and viewed many litters etc etc. You need to decide you want to do your bit for charity and take on a rescue, and then be a bit flexiable. Sometimes the PERFECT dog comes in to all breed rescue on paper. And you get to see it first, play with it and its only when you take it home you realise its not the perfect dog. Ditto breed rescue - its only when you get a dog into your own environment you can really tell if this is a relationship you can go on with. No system is perfect but this one has worked hundreds of times really well. I think the thing is you must keep a slightly open mind on what you want to take on - OR go buy a puppy you can mould and pick down to the smallest degree.

Good luck!
Di

[honeybun]

Thanks Diana, that's really reassuring. I am certainly not looking for the perfect dog (don't even have that now LOL! !). I am quite prepared to put in any training needed but I just need to make sure that any dog that is considered for us is playful and fit for long walks so that it can cope with our Oscar who is a typical energetic young lab.

I supose that part of the home check is too gather all this sort of information to help make a good match.

Norma