Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=7938.msg111845#msg111845 date=1411332950] It IS very difficult. And a big responsibility to get it right [/quote][quote author=Beanwood link=topic=7938.msg111840#msg111840 date=1411332506] [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=7938.msg111839#msg111839 date=1411332263] [/quote] Probably in part the reason why so many dogs end up in rescue centres... [/quote] Absolutely :'( You can't imagine how difficult it must be for a rescue centre to hand a dog over to an adopter that they feel is in a position to offer a dog a forever home only to have it returned for some reason or another. Charlie had been given up at 6 months in Ireland, shipped to Wales to rescue centre kennels, into foster, into a new home and returned within a month, then we adopted him. It's heartbreaking :'( :'( xx
Re: Home Check Advice.. You have quite a unique perspective Helen. I can quite see why you feel strongly about it. You and your family have been the best thing ever for Charlie x
Re: Home Check Advice.. Helen your efforts and dedication to Charlie have been short of heroic, i am in awe in what you have achieved. I completely understand your point of view, an adopter owes it to the dog, they all deserve nothing less. We would be quite happy to adopt an old dog, it doesn't matter as long as what we can offer is right for the dog. I do think there should be flexibility from the shelters perspective, after all what is the point of the third degree? It is not just a quick questionnaire..but telephone conversations, visits, home checks, that surely is enough to build a good profile of the potential adopter?
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=7938.msg111851#msg111851 date=1411333317] You have quite a unique perspective Helen. I can quite see why you feel strongly about it. You and your family have been the best thing ever for Charlie x [/quote] Thanks Jac, I hope Charlie agrees xx I do feel very strongly about it and enormously sad for those poor souls too :'( :'( I really have been thinking very long and hard about offering to volunteer at The Dogs Trust but I'm not sure I could keep my emotions in check because of Charlie's previous life :'( xx
Re: Home Check Advice.. Kate 99% of adoptions I went through were successful so I am sure you will have nothing to worry about! The home visitor is not there to find a reason for you NOT to have the dog, as I mentioned before, if there are any concerns they will raise them to you and help you find a way to rectify any issues they feel need addressing. I've known a few dogs who have gone to farms or to live on large estates where the '6foot fence secured garden' rule didn't apply (I'm just using this as an example). Everything depends on the individual dog, as well as the potential adopters.
Re: Home Check Advice.. Thank you Kate that's really kind of you to say xx A profile is built, but I still think most if not all rescue centres have the 4 hour to leave a rescue dog alone rule which is in the best interest of the dog. Some dogs might be OK to be left a little longer but an anxious, abused, ex-bredding dog etc. might not even cope with that, possibly they would not cope with a strange dog walker/sitter popping in, and not forgetting it takes a very long time for a rescue dog to settle into it's new home and family life so it needs it's new owners to be there for him/her and it's what a rescue dog deserves and no less, imagine how frightened these dogs must feel, I can't stand to think about it :'( :'( :'( xx
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=bbrown link=topic=7938.msg111826#msg111826 date=1411331177] I also hear that some rescues are reconsidering a blanket approach to neutering too. /quote] This could and would lead to unscrupulous people adopting rescue dogs for £150 or so to breed from in order to make money out of already vulnerable dogs :'(. I don't agree with this at all they should be neutered.
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=7938.msg111829#msg111829 date=1411331687] Well I am feeling a bit disheartened, but I can understand. [/quote] Don't be - push on. I think a lot of rescues have cultures that are somewhat idealistic and unrealistic, and sadly this means more dogs in kennels for longer, but I think things are changing. The dog that ends up with you, will be a lucky one. Give it a go...
Re: Home Check Advice.. [quote author=charlie link=topic=7938.msg111865#msg111865 date=1411335522] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=7938.msg111826#msg111826 date=1411331177] I also hear that some rescues are reconsidering a blanket approach to neutering too. /quote] This could and would lead to unscrupulous people adopting rescue dogs for £150 or so to breed from in order to make money out of already vulnerable dogs :'(. I don't agree with this at all they should be neutered. [/quote] I neutering would still be the norm Helen but for dogs whose temperaments deemed it appropriate they would leave them intact to guard against causing them to become nervously aggressive. No one is suggesting that ALL rescue dogs stay intact. I believe there's evidence from abroad that going on a case by case basis doesn't adversely affect the number of dogs in rescue. I'm quite, quite sure the people running rescues don't want to increase the number of dogs they see!
Re: Home Check Advice.. Feel sick with nerves...we have a homecheck tomorrow with a view to fostering an older but healthy and boisterous labrador... I am sure I will open my mouth and sound like a raving lunatic! Spent the weekend putting up extra fencling...still not finished so back out in a bit to try and finish off....gulp...
Re: Home Check Advice.. I'm sure it will be fine, after all they can see you have one well cared for dog already.
Re: Home Check Advice.. Kate, the very best of luck for tomorrow not that you need it. You will pass with flying colours as you have so much to offer, any dog would be soooo lucky to live with you and your family and the lovely Benson xx
Re: Home Check Advice.. Thank you for all your good wishes ...the fencing is up..by Mr Bean, he needs to be here tomorrow unfortunately not sure if he should...he got stung by a bee yesterday and now is doing a very passable impression of the elephant man....with him and my Monty Python impressions I think any homechecker would run a mile....
