We have been involved in the Black Retriever X group this weekend, nothing much, just helped out in transporting a beautiful dog called Sally down to her foster home.. you can see info about Sally and some photos here It was a real wrench handing her over, she was the sweetest, most affectionate thing you could imagine, hubby was completely smitten! ;D https://www.facebook.com/BlackRetrieverXRescue Anyway, it has got us thinking, we would really love to adopt a labrador or labrador cross through this group, but wondered what exactly does a home check entail, and who does them? Have had a brief chat with the group organiser and she knows we are thinking about it. We appreciate the huge responsibility, is an awful lot to consider getting a rescue, and we want to get it right, it may even be we are just not suitable. Any thoughts anyone? Any advice greatly appreciated!
Re: Home Check Advice.. Kate, what a lovely thing you are your OH do helping out and thinking of adopting Ours consisted of a local home checker coming to our home to check that our garden was completely secure no holes in fences etc, that gates were locked, where the dog would eat, that there was warm bed and area to sleep in, she felt Hattie all over to make sure she was not matted, that she was in good health, condition and friendly. She talked to us about taking on a rescue dog informing us that if we needed any help or advise to ring the centre. The whole process took less than 30 minutes, she then reported back to the rescue centre who called us to say we had passed and we could visit Charlie. I spent a week talking to the fosterer, we visited Charlie on the Saturday with all the family and Hattie,. The fosterer was very happy with us signed Charlie over to us as good owners and he came home with us that day Good luck if you decide to go ahead and make sure you don't end up with a nutter like Charlie xxx
Re: Home Check Advice.. Both of the dogs homes I worked at did home visits before adoption. For the most part they just want to chat to you to make sure you are aware of what you are taking on, especially for a dog that may or may not have behavioural issues either from being in rescue or as the reason they are in rescue. They will look at your home and your set up, the environment the dog will be living in to ensure it is suitable - one of the major things is that the garden is secure; most places ask for a minimum 6foot fenced garden, however if you are in a situation where you have land they will also take that into consideration with regards to how you might be able to make a secure area or how secure it already is. They will chat to you to get a feel for you as prospective dog owners. I have only known people fail a home visit a handful of times and these were for pretty major issues - one person thought it was acceptable to keep the dog tethered on a chain 24hrs a day. You have to be pretty bad to fail a home visit. And if there are issues that home visitor is concerned about then they will talk to you about how you might be able to resolve them.
Re: Home Check Advice.. Thank you both for your thoughtful replies, and yes the sticking points will be the fencing, the back garden is enormous and both sides back on on open farmland, and we also manage a wildlife area where we keep our bees. It is all fenced in, and the fencing is around 4.5 foot secured with chicken wire. We also border a wood, but we have electrified fencing there. Sensibly we may struggle with a known absconder, so that would be a consideration. We are having a new gate fixed at the front, though the whole area is a farm and private property. Another worry is we work,albeit hubby from home a couple days a week and my hours are flexible, we go to great lengths to ensure Benson is not left more than 3 hours, and he gets lots of exercise each day, our dog walker takes him out for 2 hours, and only walks retriever types and the same dogs are walked together. God, I am worrying already!!
Re: Home Check Advice.. I want to foster labs - when my work allows. I've had three problems (well, 4 really). The first is some rescues are reluctant to consider you if your pet is intact. [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=7938.msg111795#msg111795 date=1411325253] one of the major things is that the garden is secure; most places ask for a minimum 6foot fenced garden, [/quote] This has been a problem for me, my gardens are not secure in Cornwall (they are in London). This causes me no problem with Charlie, because cliffs, fields and beaches are 5 minutes away. He just gets lots of walks - no big deal, I think. What's wrong with taking a dog to the beach next door to the house when he needs a pee? But it has been a stumbling block... And the 3rd -working. Charlie sometimes gets left 6 hours with an hour walk in the middle. So 2.5 hours, 1 hour walk, 2.5 hours - some rescues have a 4 hour rule max and don't rate dog walkers... A 4th issue is because I don't always live in the same place, trying to co-ordinate across regions to do 2 home checks has been problematic. I push on though, I think I've a lot to offer...
Re: Home Check Advice.. Yes, the amount of hours the dog is left is a consideration too and a lot of rescues have different policies - for example the first rescue I worked at were fine for the dog to be left 4 hours max in the morning and 4 hours max in the afternoon with someone coming home for lunch or a dog walker coming in (provided the dog walker visited the dog at the rescue before adoption), however the second rescue I worked at would only allow dogs to be rehomed where they were only being left 4 hours maximum in total per day - they wouldn't allow you to have someone in at lunch whether it was yourself or a dog walker.
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=Julie] I want to foster labs...... ......... I think I've a lot to offer... [/quote] I think you do too Julie. I think most of us do, but a lot of us don't fit the criteria. Its a bit like children. Just about anyone can have one, scarily, but try and adopt and it is a long drawn out process that many people don't get through, in spite of having a huge amount to offer. Thankfully, some of the "rules" are being relaxed.
Re: Home Check Advice.. The rescue centre Charlie came from would not rehome a dog if it was going to be left for more than 4 hours including travel time. I think that's a very reasonable request and one that should be considered very carefully x
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=charlie link=topic=7938.msg111821#msg111821 date=1411330024] The rescue centre Charlie came from would not rehome a dog if it was going to be left for more than 4 hours including travel time. I think that's a very reasonable request and one that should be considered very carefully x [/quote] I have to say I disagree. I think that such blanket rules, without considering the wider circumstances and the overall quality of life on offer, the number of times this may occur, the availability of long periods of exercise to break up the time (I am talking about one hour longer than the rule), is rather blinkered and potentially does a disservice to needy dogs who could have better homes than being stuck in kennels waiting for them.
Re: Home Check Advice.. I totally agree with you Julie, I think a lot of rules regarding rehoming are too strict and don't necessarily look at the individual dogs involved. For instance you may have a dog that can't cope with being left alone for even a short period, but on the other hand you could have a dog that really doesn't mind because it's been used to it in it's previous life. It used to really annoy me when we had puppies in too, the rules for them were really strict. They would only rehome you a puppy if you were home all day. On the one hand I can understand why that would be recommended as puppies need a lot of time and socialisation, but also... What happens if you get a puppy when you are home all day and then your circumstances change and you have to go back to work/can't work from home anymore/etc ...suddenly you're stuck with a dog that's never been left alone for long periods. They wouldn't even consider people who worked part time! I remember one family where the man was at work full time and the lady was a dinner lady with the school so she worked maybe 2-3 hours in the middle of the day - nope, not allowed a puppy!
Re: Home Check Advice.. I think I prefer the rescues who look at each dog and try and find a home that's a good match. I also hear that some rescues are reconsidering a blanket approach to neutering too. We got turned down for rehoming by the RSPCA. As we work full time, they weren't really interested in the fact that I predominantly work from home or how we planned to manage when I needed to be away from home. We gave up and got a puppy instead :-\
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7938.msg111823#msg111823 date=1411330445] [quote author=charlie link=topic=7938.msg111821#msg111821 date=1411330024] The rescue centre Charlie came from would not rehome a dog if it was going to be left for more than 4 hours including travel time. I think that's a very reasonable request and one that should be considered very carefully x [/quote] I have to say I disagree. I think that such blanket rules, without considering the wider circumstances and the overall quality of life on offer, the number of times this may occur, the availability of long periods of exercise to break up the time (I am talking about one hour longer than the rule), is rather blinkered and potentially does a disservice to needy dogs who could have better homes than being stuck in kennels waiting for them. [/quote] Well I am feeling a bit disheartened, but I can understand. Just think every offer should be considered on it's merits, and with the individual dog in mind, granted there will be some dogs which really need a lot of support and attention to help manage behavioural issues, that takes time and patience. It is a shame that some people on paper would fit that criteria, but no way would I leave my dog with them I guess it is best to be realistic at this stage.
Re: Home Check Advice.. Don't let us put you off and while I haven't had any personal dealings with BRX (unlike you!) I've always thought they seem to take each case on its merits - both dog and families
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7938.msg111823#msg111823 date=1411330445] [quote author=charlie link=topic=7938.msg111821#msg111821 date=1411330024] The rescue centre Charlie came from would not rehome a dog if it was going to be left for more than 4 hours including travel time. I think that's a very reasonable request and one that should be considered very carefully x [/quote] I have to say I disagree. I think that such blanket rules, without considering the wider circumstances and the overall quality of life on offer, the number of times this may occur, the availability of long periods of exercise to break up the time (I am talking about one hour longer than the rule), is rather blinkered and potentially does a disservice to needy dogs who could have better homes than being stuck in kennels waiting for them. [/quote] I personally disagree with people leaving dogs at home for long periods of time so I don't have a problem with this rule. But yes, everyones circumstances are different and if they can arrange dog walkers/sitters or work at home etc. and prove this to the rescue centre this should be taken into consideration as this is a better solution for a rescue dog than staying in kennels becoming stressed.
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=bbrown link=topic=7938.msg111830#msg111830 date=1411331798] Don't let us put you off and while I haven't had any personal dealings with BRX (unlike you!) I've always thought they seem to take each case on its merits - both dog and families [/quote] Not all Barbara, it is important to consider such an undertaking from all angles, and I can always rely on you guys for pragmatic and considered responses, and not rose tinted glasses!
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=7938.msg111836#msg111836 date=1411332094] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=7938.msg111830#msg111830 date=1411331798] Don't let us put you off and while I haven't had any personal dealings with BRX (unlike you!) I've always thought they seem to take each case on its merits - both dog and families [/quote] Not all Barbara, it is important to consider such an undertaking from all angles, and I can always rely on you guys for pragmatic and considered responses, and not rose tinted glasses! [/quote] Oh yes best to be realistic ;D
Re: Home Check Advice.. Helen, I don't disagree with you. What I find odd is that you can go to the vast majority of "breeders" (granted, not necessarily the FTC type) and buy a puppy take it home, few questions asked, but to adopt a puppy/dog that really needs a home you have to be "perfect".
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=7938.msg111839#msg111839 date=1411332263] Helen, I don't disagree with you. What I find odd is that you can go to the vast majority of "breeders" (granted, not necessarily the FTC type) and buy a puppy take it home, few questions asked, but to adopt a puppy/dog that really needs a home you have to be "perfect". [/quote] Probably in part the reason why so many dogs end up in rescue centres...
Re: Home Check Advice.. I agree Jac, maybe they are irresponsible breeders hence lots of puppies/dogs ending up in rescue centres as not enough questions are asked. Hattie's breeder asked us no end of questions and told us straight away that if she didn't like us we were not getting one of her puppies. We were with her for hours and she still keeps in touch, so I guess we were lucky. Too much money to be made from puppies Rescue centres have strict rules so that hopefully they don't have what they call "bouncers" dogs that are returned time and time again because people work, don't have the time for the dog etc. causing more stress for the poor dog and more expense to the centre. I can see where their coming from, but I don't think adopters need to be perfect they just need to fit each centres criteria. It's difficult x
