Dear All

My partner and I are splitting up. She has two dogs (German Shephard and a Terrier) and cannot get a place in rented accomodation because of them. She's come to the very sad decision to rehome them but cannot do it herself and has asked me to do it. Both dogs are from Rescue.

I'm not a 'doggy' person so really don't know how to go about finding somewhere safe and decent for them to go. RSPCA are not answering today but today is the day I have a window to do this 'cos she's planned to go out for the day (for emotional reasons).

Does anyone have any advice for me? Would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Deepak

Hi,

I've asked for this to be moved to the pets section as you'll get more advice there.

Thanks

The RSPCA wouldn't have been open at the time that you were trying them, try them after 10, and keep on trying sometimes they are busy and cannot always get to the phone easily.

Also if the dogs are rescue dogs then does the adoption agreement say that they have to go back to the rescue if you can't keep them? most rescues do this.

You might find that there is a wait to get the dogs in at some rescues, so it's best that your prepared for that, I doubt very much that your going to get them in anywhere today.

Give this (http://www.rotherham-dog-rescue.co.uk/inf_07.htm) rescue a call they will put the dogs on their website for you, you could also PM rainrescue and ask if she will do the same, there is a great site called dogpages join that and put a thread on there, there is a rehoming section and lots of rescues use the site.

First port of call is the rescue that gave you the dogs though....Good luck with finding them a good home :)

Just a thought (as I hate to see people separated from their pets) - could you maybe keep them short term or perhaps with help find a fosterer for the dogs so that she has time to find somewhere that will allow her the dogs?

A member of the forum recently split with her partner which left her with the dog and she came here asking how to rehome him and ended up having him fostered for 2.5 months until she managed to find somewhere.

She is now renting a shared student house with her dog so there is certainly hope.

I know lots of people around here who have dogs in rented accomodation - I don't know who they are renting from but it's worth seriously checking out the possibility of a fosterer even if it's long term (people sometimes have them fostered for 6 months - a year) so that she can keep her dogs.

Best of luck - otherwise I agree with moonbird's advice on rehoming :)

It is difficult to find rented accommodation, but not impossible

It's often a heck of a lot easier if you approach private landlords rather than agencies, and if you can offer reassurances such as keeping dogs in an indoor kennel when left, paying for carpet cleaning upon departure, and/or a larger bond along with a promise to pay for any and all damage caused by pets, you may just swing it

don't forget the rental market has slowed down, mortgage payments have risen, and a landlord can't really afford to have a property stood empty!

It is difficult to find rented accommodation, but not impossible

It's often a heck of a lot easier if you approach private landlords rather than agencies, and if you can offer reassurances such as keeping dogs in an indoor kennel when left, paying for carpet cleaning upon departure, and/or a larger bond along with a promise to pay for any and all damage caused by pets, you may just swing it

don't forget the rental market has slowed down, mortgage payments have risen, and a landlord can't really afford to have a property stood empty!

Try the property section on Sheffield Forum too

It is difficult to find rented accommodation, but not impossible

It's often a heck of a lot easier if you approach private landlords rather than agencies, and if you can offer reassurances such as keeping dogs in an indoor kennel when left, paying for carpet cleaning upon departure, and/or a larger bond along with a promise to pay for any and all damage caused by pets, you may just swing it

don't forget the rental market has slowed down, mortgage payments have risen, and a landlord can't really afford to have a property stood empty!

This is true, perhaps parts of this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=380049) thread might be of help to your ex too.

Thanks everyone

I'll try the original rescue places first. Time is of the essence unfortunately - I'll do my best and follow the offered links too.

Thanks again,

Deepak

I don't want to be a damp squib, but many dogs are dumped in rescue at this time of year as people go on holiday and can't be faffed with paying kenneling fees :(

Rain Rescue are without kenneling facilities at the moment, and the local dog pounds are full to bursting - even having moved as many as possible on to rescue

Is there not anybody who can look after the dogs for a month or two, even if their owner is able to walk them but they are housed elsewhere until alternative arrangements can be made?

If it is essential the dogs go, they can be signed over to the local dog pound (ring the council), but there may be a hand in fee, and there is no guarantee on who or where they'll be rehomed to :(

The hand in fee for the RSPCA is a rediculous amount!

... which is why so many dogs are dumped, but the problem with rescues being so prominent is that people now think they are there to collect 'used' dogs who are no longer fashionable

*takes a deep breath*

I agree with Strix's above post... can't you even arrange for them to go into a boarding kennels until you can find a fosterer to care for them until she has found somewhere to live??

I'm sorry... if it were my dogs I'd be doing everything I could to keep them and as Strix says so many dogs are dumped at this time of year that you may struggle getting them into rescue and even then they may not find homes due to the vast numbers in there who may be seen before this pair :(

Oh and you have an even smaller chance of having them rehomed together :(

Thanks folks - as you can imagine - money is extremely tight at the moment - with us both moving into rented accomodation - credit checks, deposits, buying home essentials, etc, so kennels are not really an option. And they're not my dogs as such, I mean, I'm not the primary carer. I agreed to get the dogs as long as I only had secondary responsibility for them.

I'm not happy that I have the responsibility of sorting them out now but I've taken that on so she can move then I can move.

The Vet has discussed 'putting them down' but I can't accept that. Two healthy beautiful dogs shouldn't be killed because a relationship broke down.

I'm trying again today - RSPCA Bawtry and Sheffield Dog Pound.

Well, Bawtry have agreed to take Kelly (the GSD) back when they've sorted out a kennel cough issue. Just leaves the terrier now.

Was the terrier from a rescue too? if so it should be taken back by them.
If it wasn't from a rescue why not fill in and post the rehoming template at the top of the page? it's in the stickies and advertise it on here....it would be a start.

Most rescues (I think) have a policy whereby if you decide you can no longer keep them they must go back to the rescue they came from - its worth checking.

Out of interest what area do you live in, would your x or yourself be prepared to walk the dog if foster home could be found temporarily. How old are they etc...

We are a letting agents in HIllsborough and we sometimes get propertiess were you can have pets so all is not lost. I would recommend registering with as many agents as possible and getting them to contact you when a property comes up that allows pets.

Cheers everyone

Both dogs gone back to their original rescue centres. My ex is distraught (I'm only upset) and I'm trying my best to look after her now. It's not been good for anyone - human or canine.

Kelly, GSD to RSPCA Bawtry - she's beautiful if you want to look at her on their website (in a wek or so)

Mr Kippling - Patterdale Terrier back to Sheffield City Council - not beautiful but full of character.

Thanks again - SF has been so helpful to me at least twice this year. Bit teary now.

Deepak

Well, its a very sad situation but at least you were responsible about it and helped your x

So - I'm confused - have you taken the little terrier back to the Sheffield Council pound? or some rescue in Sheffield?

The pound is a stray kennels - not a rescue whereby you have a contract to return them to. Does that mean you had to pay for hand-over fee?

Can you send me a picture and a write up of him / her if he is in there, and maybe it will help for him not to be in any longer than need be.

pm me and I will give you the email address to send it to, and then we will put him up on the website under Sheffield Dogs.

did i read right, is there a hand in fee? ....... that would explain the dumped animals .... i had no idea.

Deepak, you did the only thing possible, it'll get easier from here on out.

did i read right, is there a hand in fee? ....... that would explain the dumped animals .... i had no idea.

Deepak, you did the only thing possible, it'll get easier from here on out.

There is an hand in fee at lots of rescues.

Yes - there is a hand in fee for dogs to be handed into the Council. It costs to board a dog whether its with the council to pay for staff to look after them in their own kennels or with a rescue centre to pay for boarding and some dogs are in and held for a long time. Plus by this dog now being handed into the council - that means there is one less kennel space for any stray dog that gets picked up on the streets - which will put the pressure on the council staff to move the existing dumped ones.

The service that the council provides is purely that they collect stray dogs - but I suppose they do this because they know that if they don't - some people would just dump the dog down the road (and I'm not saying that you would do that deepak).

There is an hand in fee at lots of rescues.

I understand that it costs an awful lot of money to care for a dog and yes, i suppose rescue centres need to generate cash any way they possibly can .... however i would presume many people have to give up a family pet through financial strain, therefore handing the animal over to the correct institute would prove too costly .... and it would end up being dumped. .... Its a sad state of affairs

(not talking about you here Deepak)

in this day and age there's then the issue of microchips

if your dog is picked up by the pound and you don't want it back, there is the option to prosecute for 'abandonment'

when the chips are down, you really are in a cleft stick with pets :shakes:

in this day and age there's then the issue of microchips

if your dog is picked up by the pound and you don't want it back, there is the option to prosecute for 'abandonment'

when the chips are down, you really are in a cleft stick with pets :shakes:

which would possibly be an excuse for irrisponsable owners not to have their pet chipped

which would possibly be an excuse for irrisponsable owners not to have their pet chipped got it in one :thumbsup:

good lord, theres just no easy answers is there, and along with the laughable sentences/fines the law dishes out to abusive owners .... theres no winning

you know how deflated we feel sometimes :shakes:

Hi folks

Mr Kipling, the Patterdale Terrier, was returned to the Council run service near the fire museum. It's where my partner picked him up from. The hand-in fee was £76 which I paid and I don't think I've got in in me to ask my ex for that amount. She's just too upset. I had a few tears last too. Didn't realise that I felt so close to them - I had no idea how much I loved them - came as a massive shock. Mebbe it's all the other stuff going on re the split and this was the final straw.

I'm sorry if I confused some of you - I'm not a doggy person so don't really know the difference between 'rescue', 'kennels', 'dog pound', etc.

Rain rescue - Mr Kipling is an 11 yr old Patterdale that's been in the wars. One eye only, and big scars round his head and jaw, hardly any hair 'cos of fleas when found. He had been found wandering around injured. My ex picked him up from the Council place 'cos he was so battered, and she nursed him back to full health. All his hair has come back and he's a real character. So sad he's had to be returned but hopefully he'll find a good home for his last few years.

If any of you like German Shepherds then look up Kelly at RSPCA Bawtry. RSPCA took her from her owner at two years old and prosecuted him for cruelty. She was at Bawtry for another 2 years regaining her health while his court case was being gone through. We collected her the day he was prosecuted. She had terrible 'fear-agression' to other dogs but we've pretty much cured her of that - not 100% tho. And she is the most beautiful dog in the world.

I hope they both find forever homes really soon .... and i hope your split goes as smoothly as possible, its a horrid time for all concerned .... but things will get better

as mentioned above, if you can send some nice 'home' pics of your dogs to us at rain rescue, we can assist by putting those on our website with the details of where they can be adopted from

dogs for rehoming from Sheffield pound are usually displayed on the Rain Rescue website anyway, but if you have some nice photos they'll be much better than any we can take in the kennel environment

You just don't realise how much you get attached to them do you? not until they're not there :(

Thanks Strix and Rain

I'll email some pics of Kelly (and Mr Kip if I can find them) to assist the rehoming process.

Deepak xxx

We are hoping to get Mr. Kipling this afternoon into a foster home.
Fingers crossed it all works out for him. What a sad soul - just feel so sorry for all the other 40'odd or so still sat in the kennels hoping and begging that someone wants them.

Its all just so very sad - but at least if we do get Mr. Kipling - maybe someone will want a one eyed sorry for himself little patterdale?

[QUOTE=Pritt Stick;3897855]
The Vet has discussed 'putting them down' but I can't accept that. Two healthy beautiful dogs shouldn't be killed because a relationship broke down.

I didn't know that a vet would consider putting a dog down in these cases. Is this something all vets would do or would most of them not do it? It seems awful but I guess in some cases the stress of rehoming/splitting dogs up might outweigh the fact that it's a healthy dog, particularly if the dog is unlikely to get a new home due to age or temperament. Sorry to steal your thread but I would really welcome some information on this.

Any owner can take their dog to the vets and request that it be destroyed

Rescue centres don't exist compulsorily, not is there any legislation requiring them to take animals in - that would be impossible, and space is limited

Dogs can be handed in at a local dog pound, but different pounds have different working practices. Many don't work so hard as Sheffield to find new homes or rescue places, so if a home isn't found for a dog, there is always the risk the dog will be put to sleep anyway

Basically - the only way to guarantee the safety and welfare of YOUR dog is to continue to look after him/her YOURSELF

There are dogs which have come into rescue after their owners have requested PTS, but the vets have taken them and 'promised' to see to them later, but I have serious concerns about these situations

Sheffield Police dog section are always looking for GSDs they even went as far as Chester to collect my daughter's dog. If they take him/her and he/she is found to be unsuitable they rehome them. Good Luck

Sheffield police aren't always looking for dogs - they are looking for them when they have training programs running throughout the year- and they will often need different dogs at different times of the year.

They also can only use dogs under around 2 years old so that the expenditure they put into training the dogs - will pay off throughout its life. Plus, they do need a very certain type of dog - and not just all german shepherds are suitable.

With regards to your question - will all vets put down a healthy dog under those circumstances? who really knows. Its not something thats public knowledge but my guess is that many of them would. They know that there isn't much future for dogs to be rehomed these days and certainly not when there isn't a large rescue centre around that could help them. In some areas, the vets would phone up the local rescue centre and ask if they can help the family - but because locally the rescue centres are so small and over-burdened - that isn't an option really.

It is all extremely sad for both owners when they genuinely can't keep their pets and also on the rescue groups - who can never fulfill the need.