Choosing and relocating a rescue dog
Choosing a rescue dog
There is something immensely satisfying about taking in a rescue dog, in many cases someone else has not been able to cope or has become a burden or a nuisance, in some cases due to marital breakdown, bereavement or allergies or medical issues . reasons. What amazes and infuriates me is that some people take dogs almost as a fashion accessory and then discard them when it’s no longer cool or convenient. See my poem “Am I coming home today?”
The decision to have a dog should never be taken lightly, the whole family must accept the idea or the problems it can cause can be terminal for a relationship that may already be breaking down.
I’ve had clients tell me they bought a dog so they wouldn’t look out of place walking around, they clearly hated animals and dogs knew sadly they weren’t loved or wanted. In most of these cases, I recommended relocating them.
Dogs can be incredibly perceptive, can suffer from loneliness, anxiety, depression from stress, and often grief from the loss of friends and owners. Sometimes they give up the will to live and die because of their wrong. Owners, not always reciprocating this total and absolute loyalty, sometimes take charge of dogs without thinking about what a commitment long-term dog ownership really is.
This article is to give you an idea of what it is like to deal with a rescue dog.
What rescue group?
Rescue societies come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of policies. Some rescue groups do not have facilities to keep dogs; they make referrals from current owners to potential adopters. Others, like Battersea, have huge resources and large kennel facilities,
They all try to help owners find new homes for their dogs, give advice on solving problems, keep a list of available dogs, and screen potential owners. Most rescue societies are eager to place dogs in good homes. Some are overly anxious and skimp on temperament testing, health issues, or spaying. And a few have such strict adoption contracts and procedures that it’s easier to adopt a child. These are the ones that place very few dogs. And it is the poor dogs that suffer for this. If you’ve been through an exhaustive interview process and been turned down because of some minor rule, it can be very annoying in the extreme and keeps some really good people away from accepting rescue dogs.
Some rescue societies go out of their way to set guidelines for the responsible care of dogs. I recently lost a much loved dog to cancer; I have two other dogs and decided I would like to take on another rescue. This well-known rescue center (no names) insisted on a lengthy interview and home visit, even though they knew me and regularly contacted me for advice. Given what I do for a living, I found it somewhat institutionalized. They even said that the staff at the center would have to go through this same procedure.
Try to support your small local rescue charity. In my area. “Hounslow Animal Welfare Society” (HAWS) does a brilliant job with all kinds of animals, including cats, dogs, parrots, rabbits, etc. Just like “Dogs in Need”, click on any to go to their sites.
All are run on a shoestring budget and run by unpaid volunteers. These are the charities you should be giving too, not the big multinationals whose vast charitable donations are consumed by huge running costs and political agenda. See my links for local and national charities. “Rant About”
Rescue dogs should always be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and at least relatively healthy before purchasing. A dog on medication for an ear infection or arthritis can easily go to a new home; a dog with heartworm disease or an active respiratory or intestinal infection should be kept quiet until the disease is cured to avoid the stress of rehoming while under treatment.
Good rescuers try to match each applicant with an appropriate dog. They know if a particular dog likes children, can get along with other pets, needs plenty of exercise, plays rough, is easy to train, is afraid of men, jumps fences, etc. They can’t make a good match if they don’t ask questions about the type of home the adopter will provide. So get ready for the next questions. . .
Why do you want this breed?
Do you have enough time and energy for a Border Collie (or a Jack Russell Terrier, a Labrador Retriever, or any dog)?
Do you have a fenced garden?
Do you plan to walk the dog a mile or more every day?
Will the dog live inside or outside?
He has children? How many years?
Do you have other pets?
Do you plan to visit your vet at least once a year? etc etc etc etc
Choosing the rescue dog
Most rescue dogs have had at least one home, and sometimes many. He will usually come with baggage and behavior problems, simply because he has been rejected at least once.
Some will have been in Kennels or the Rescue Center for a considerable time, this affects dogs, especially those that are normally used to family life and constant attention. The dog may have been put there due to behavioral issues, which can include aggression, grooming, excessive barking, destructive tendencies, etc.
Rescued dogs are usually over six months old, house trained and mostly past the chewing stage, they are normally happy to be placed in a loving home. Many have been abruptly torn from a loved family by some misfortune, and some will have been abused or abandoned and will need a great deal of patience and tender loving care to overcome the trauma they have suffered in their short lives.
The initial adjustment can sometimes be difficult as the dog may need to learn to trust again, or even for the first time. Separation anxiety, fear of noises, and attempts to run away are common. But once the first few months are over, when the dog learns to depend on the kindness of his new owners, then the bond is forged.
Here are some points to consider when choosing a dog.
If your time is limited, choose a dog that needs little grooming, minimal training, and only moderate exercise.
If your budget is tight, choose a small or medium dog that needs little grooming, minimal training, and less food.
If you are an inexperienced dog owner, do not choose a large dominant dog or a dog with a high energy level unless you are committed to six months of consistent, patient, consistent training and a dozen years of daily walks from one dog to another. mile or more.
If you have children or elderly people in your home, don’t choose a large, dominant dog that needs a lot of training and exercise or a nervous dog that is afraid of high-pitched voices and childish behavior.
Be prepared to walk the dog at least twice a day and clean up his waste.
It may not be background or information about the dog, not even the dog’s original name or age, or even what crossbreed it actually is. Many will have been found wandering the streets cold and hungry. Whatever the case may be, there are some principles and rules that you must adhere to.
Rule 1. Do your homework and decide on the size and basic type of breed before you start looking. Look at your work and time commitments. Can you really afford the time and expense of having a dog?
Rule 2. If you have children under the age of five, I strongly advise against taking a rescue dog, the temperament may be unknown or masked by the kennel environment. In most cases, responsible rescue centers will not allow their dogs to be rehoused in pairs with young children.
Rule 3. Never buy on impulse or because you feel sorry for a scared and timid dog, especially if you are not an experienced and confident dog owner.
Rule 4. Talk about what you want in a dog (e.g., an active dog that will play willingly, happy to go on long walks, or a relaxed, homey breed of dog that happily sits for hours by the fire and only requires light exercise).
Rule 5. If you have decided on a pedigree, check the breed requirements and possible problems, discuss the positives and negatives of that breed with breeders and rescue personnel.
Rule 6. Don’t expect to walk into a rescue center and walk out with a dog. They will need to verify your suitability to own a dog, including your home, garden and work commitments; In many cases, they will visit your home and ask you to complete a lengthy questionnaire.
Rule 7. Once you have decided that you are going to re-accommodate a dog, prepare the house and garden well in advance of arrival.
Remember that your new dog will be ‘stressed’, worried and unsure of you, your family and the new environment. You must have time to adjust. By taking on a rescue dog, you’re also coming to terms with his past, and he could be unhappy.
Among companion animals, dogs are unmatched in their devotion, loyalty, and friendliness towards humans. Anyone who has loved and owned a dog will confirm this. The excitement your dog shows when you come home, the wag of his tail when he hears the sound of the leash, the pleasure of games and his head snuggled in your lap, are just some of the rewards of owning a dog.
That said, having a dog is not just a privilege, it’s a huge responsibility. These beautiful animals depend on us for, at a minimum, food, water, and shelter, but they deserve so much more. If you are considering having a dog in your life, think carefully and seriously about the commitment that comes with having a dog.