Why is it so hard to adopt a rescue dog?
Why do they have stupid rules?
They don’t let you adopt if you have young children.
I don’t have a garden and I can offer a loving home but I was turned down for a dog I applied for. Surely a loving home is better than no home.
I work full time and I can afford and look after a dog and I will get in a dog walker in during the day. Yet when I applied my application was rejected because of my working hours. Why?
My cats are dog savvy yet the rescue wouldn’t let me adopt a dog I wanted.
The rescue wouldn’t let me adopt a dog I applied for so I’m going to buy one…
All these dogs in rescue but they make it so hard to adopt one….
These rescues need to have a think about their rules because they are stupid.
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These are just some of the comments we have seen written about rescues, on social media.
We make no apologies for our application process. We are not going to give our dogs to just any home, no matter how nice or loving because it absolutely has to be the RiGHT home for that individual dog.
If we have a dog assessed as getting highly anxious in the company of children or that has previously snapped, then no we won’t home THAT dog to a home with children. Who would that benefit? Who would be happy? No one.
If we have a high energy dog that needs to have garden access as well as long walks or one that likes to potter around quietly in a garden then we will want the dogs new home to have a garden, why wouldn’t we?
If we have a dog that hates to be left home alone and you work. Would you be happy to come home to complaints from your neighbours or a half eaten sofa?
Why would we put a dog in a situation where the dog would become highly anxious? I’m sure the new owners would be quick to return the dog too.
Dog savvy cats? Brilliant. Would you like a dog that would hurt or kill your cats? Maybe not a good idea then.
By all means buy a dog. It’s your choice.
There are dogs in rescue but we are not desperate to home them. They are loved and cared for in their foster home. We care about their future and want their new home to be perfect for them. So we won’t home them to any home just to get them homed somewhere. That’s just irresponsible.
Our rules? We don’t have blanket rules. Age of applicants, children, working hours, flats, height of fence, other dogs, cats etc are all flexible. The criteria for each dog varies. They have been assessed prior to being available for adoption.
We have a large number of applicants for our dogs. If you are not successful that does not mean we believe you can’t offer a fantastic home to a rescue dog, it’s just that we can only choose one home for each dog.
We care about all the dogs like our own and are very loved. They will always be part of the Barney’s family.
I don’t think they are stupid rules but I did have to question some of them when I was desperate to adopt a senior rescue last Sep/Oct after losing my senior very suddenly. I am a senior, living in a retirement complex in a ground floor flat. No private garden, just a communal one. I can assure you my previous one never needed for anything - especially a garden . She and I walked 3, 4,even 5 times a day, off leash and on leash. Some outings were short, sniffy strolls, to stretch both our legs. She had social times where she gladly met the residents here. When I lost her I was bereft.
I placed many applications but felt it never went past the “live in a flat with no private garden with a 6 foot fence”
At my age I wanted another senior - a smallish dog that would “fit” in my flat with me.
I have had rescue dogs almost continuously since 1969. I have never given one back, never have given one away or had it put to sleep for any other reason than to end their suffering.
Fortunately I found a shelter that listened to me. I travelled a considerable distance to go and see my 12.5 year old “grumpy old man” - probably breaking tier 3/4 rules but I would have taken him without seeing him. Seeing him did not tell me really anything useful.
I am in it for the long haul. I’ll solve any problems I may have.
He is on heart medication for a leaky heart valve and has a luxating patella and is on Metacam. I have a doggy stroller for him so he can rest up during long walks - good for both of us.
Do you think that he is being denied a good life because I have no private garden with a 6 foot fence? I will continue to give him a good life however short or long that is left. And then I shall look again if I am still mobile!!
Absolutely Alison, this is exactly what we are saying. Every dog is an individual and there is always the right home for the right dog.
We just won’t put a dog in any home if we don’t feel the dog will have their needs met.
thank you for saying that and if my little old man doesn’t live as long as i hope he does, I will be looking again. Your comment gives me hope.
I’d rather be turned down a hundred times than one single dog get rehomed and then returned because they aren’t suitable!
It doesn’t always work for “people” but as long as that process works for the dogs, as an animal lover I agree with it. I’ve looked at so many rescue dogs but always see the “can’t live with cats, adult only home, children over 14” etc. And I do think to myself “It would be fine, I’ve had experience of training dogs, I’m a dominant personality (in a kind way 😂,) I’m used to very large dogs”…..but I also have three cats, and a 9 year old (who animals seen drawn to I must admit) and what if something did go wrong?! What if the dog did snap and bite my daughter, or attack my cats? What happens then?…….one thing’s for sure, the poor dog now has to suffer the consequences for something I had already been warned about
So no, they are not stupid rules. The dog has to be the top priority, if that leaves some unhappy humans then so be it