Before Christmas i was interested in rehoming a Boxer - all the breed specific sites had some substantial online "paperwork" to be completed before you were assessed,interiewed and homechecked. Then you went on a list and were offered the dog they deemed suitable to your circumstances.
Anyhow i didn't want to wait that long and successfully rescued one from a local pound - who is the new love of my life.

I've considered rescuing another one so i submitted my details to two breed specific rescues.1 arranged a homechecker visit - who didn't show up, the other still hasn't responded,even though i offered to transport for them,foster or homecheck.
Now i don't expect instantaneous responses - but when i get a request to do a homecheck i try and do it in a couple of days.

Am i being a pain in the backside and impatient or don't they want any more help?

Some rescues are more organised than others - it all depends on the volunteers who run it and how much time they can spare - and how good their communications are.

I know it can be frustrating when you're all keen and eager for a new pooch and it sometimes does seem like that they don't want your help, but I'd stick with it and try to contain your impatience.

I've just been advised that the homechecker didn't come because they decided i wasn't a fit potential owner.

I've gladly updated them on their "aptitude" questionnaire interpretation, withdrawn my offers to foster,homecheck or transport. I've suggested they use their valauble resources elswhere for people who tick all the right boxes and withdrawn my offer to rehome an unwanted dog.

Do i sound as though they've ticked me off a bit?

Some rescue charities make me laugh, a call of courtesy might have been nice :rolleyes:

I don't think iv'e ever felt this offended all my life.

Did they give you a reason?

I applied to a few dog rescues, and got rejected on the basis I don't work (wtf?! They said no full timers) and I have kids under 7

'cos i'd rescued one at Christmas - they said i'm incapable of rehoming another so soon.
(pity about the two lurchers we rehomed during last year as well one only 2 months before the boxer)
They were'nt happy at the prospect of a new dog being kept in a crate for such along time. ( I'm never out of the hosue more than 4 hours a day usually and often not at all).
The new dog has been in his crate for 17 hours since Christmas in total.

I know they have the rules - but a "up yours" message last week would have been appreciated. They only responded this time 'cos i offered to rehome a new dog.

Willman - ignore them

YOU know who you are, and YOU know how good a dog owner you are

some people just get a bit too happy with a bit of power over other people - and sadly none more so than those in the dog world - be that at the high levels of the KC world, or scrabbling about feeding street dogs in third world countries

I can't believe how hard and fixed some of these places are with their rules, and if you read the rules for each rescue you'll find all kinds of non-alignment in those rules

I'm rather perturbed at this concept of having a dog foisted on you when you've been added to the waiting list though. Adopting a new best friend is a two way street - you should have your criteria met too - so long as you're not being unreasonable ;)

How can you determine things like that without even speaking to someone!

Sounds like you're better off looking somewhere else

Its a really shame for these dogs because you could obviously give it a better life than been in a rescue and they wont let you rehome one.:(

Another rescue who works closely with the one in question are sending a homechecker out. The only concern was that sometimes i leave the dogs room open and the consevatory in the summer,so they can wander in the garden - i have to agree not to do this.(no probs)
I know we can't be selective about the dogs per se - but i do know when one won't fit in with the set up we have.The dogs i've "applied" for have been assessed and all seem as though they would integrate easily.

They were'nt happy at the prospect of a new dog being kept in a crate for such along time. ( I'm never out of the hosue more than 4 hours a day usually and often not at all).
The new dog has been in his crate for 17 hours since Christmas in totalOh for god's sake :rolleyes:

they'd have kerniptions at me then. Crate training is the first thing that happens when a dog comes here, and I believe a warm house and company is much preferable to a cold, lonely kennel

what would they make of lurcher link where dogs all have their own crates?

I use crates to keep dogs safe from each other too. I suppose they'd have something to say about that too :rolleyes:

sod 'em willman - you have to decide on your own stance wrt dog fostering/rescuing. Ignore the nut jobs ;)

We rehomed a dog through a local rescue a few years back. They messed us about big style.

The dog we rehomed died sortly afterwards, and the experience we had meant that we weren't prepared to go down that route again, so we bought a puppy from a breeder.

We're very appy that we did, but I wonder how many other people are put off rohoming dogs from rescues because of bad experiences like ours.

Oh for god's sake :rolleyes:



I use crates to keep dogs safe from each other too. I suppose they'd have something to say about that too :rolleyes:



I crate trained my daughters lurchers immediately they arrived ,to protect my two little spaniels from being leapt on when they are left.

6 months later the behaviour has stopped 'cos they've settled in and although they have a crate it has no door on it.

I crate any dog I have had, and never had any issues from it.

dogs feel safer in crates, and when they're left they spend most of their time sleeping - as anybody who's home all day will tell you too - especially if they're well past the puppy stage

Have you offered your services to RainRescue Willman?

dogs feel safer in crates, and when they're left they spend most of their time sleeping - as anybody who's home all day will tell you too - especially if they're well past the puppy stage

Have you offered your services to RainRescue Willman?

My dog sleeps whenever were not in! We never leave him long but hes fine and has never chewed anything up. Some times he cant even be bothered to get off his bed to see me off!!
My sister rescued a dog from the sheffield rescue and i dont think they did any home checks or anything. Is this what they normally do?

was it actually sheffield rescue or did she adopt directly from the council pound at spring street? spring street don't do home checks

Have you offered your services to RainRescue Willman?

Which services might they be :hihi:

I already homecheck for a pound, i'm happy to volunteer to assist any other similalry transporting. At the minute it's easy 'cos it's company fuel , but as i'm about to be made redundant the car will be going.
As for dogs - i am being a little selective to get another "youngish" boxer for the one we rehomed @ Christmas.
Long term fostering is a problem - the rescue i offered to help,only foster prior to the dog being rehomed (short term assessment).

I think it was spring street. I know they didnt ask any question about where the dog was going. Although i think if they did she might not have got one from reading this!!! She works all day and so does her partner but i dog walk so i look after her every day.

I wasn't homechecked for the boxer i rescued at Christmas,neither was my daughter for the lurcher she rescued from the same pound.
But i did have to homecheck my daughter and myself for her second rehome from a Sheffield pound.

spring street are faced with some tough choices really

rescues often get a say so in what dogs they do or don't have in, and then they have a say in where a dog goes to afterwards - they have the option of ignoring the dogs they don't want - not their responsibility. Spring Street can't - they legally have to take every stray in Sheffield. Any dog somebody offers a good home to is welcome to leave. You can usually tell somebody who knows what they're doing with dogs, and if they're prepared to take on a dog nobody wants, has never been walked on a lead, etc etc, do they refuse and run the risk that this dog will have to be put to sleep when they run out of kennel space?

I was suprised when they just let my sister have the dog without asking questions. Shes been with them over a year now though and they couldnt have got a better dog. Shes great! I think they should find out where the dogs going but i think some of the rules are just too strict.

I love homechecking and get a real buzz when you ring up to confirm it's all okay. Then you know another little tyke is on the way to a better life.

spring street are faced with some tough choices really

rescues often get a say so in what dogs they do or don't have in, and then they have a say in where a dog goes to afterwards - they have the option of ignoring the dogs they don't want - not their responsibility. Spring Street can't - they legally have to take every stray in Sheffield. Any dog somebody offers a good home to is welcome to leave. You can usually tell somebody who knows what they're doing with dogs, and if they're prepared to take on a dog nobody wants, has never been walked on a lead, etc etc, do they refuse and run the risk that this dog will have to be put to sleep when they run out of kennel space?

I think you can tell when someone wants to give a dog a good home. And people that go there are normally prepared to work with a dog if it has problems. Maybe just take a few details about home life, children etc? I dont like going because id end up with a house full of dogs!

I was suprised when they just let my sister have the dog without asking questions. Shes been with them over a year now though and they couldnt have got a better dog. Shes great! I think they should find out where the dogs going but i think some of the rules are just too strict.you can ask questions, but people can lie *shrugs*

supposing they asked if there is a secure garden - would you say 'no' if you knew you could be refused the dog you'd just fallen in love with, but you had no intention of letting the dog loose in the garden alone?

besides, some of the dogs in there are there thanks to their fence scaling skills!

I love homechecking and get a real buzz when you ring up to confirm it's all okay. Then you know another little tyke is on the way to a better life.

I bet its really rewarding. Knowing that you have sent the dog to a good home for a better life. :)

you can ask questions, but people can lie *shrugs*

supposing they asked if there is a secure garden - would you say 'no' if you knew you could be refused the dog you'd just fallen in love with, but you had no intention of letting the dog loose in the garden alone?

besides, some of the dogs in there are there thanks to their fence scaling skills!

Yeah thats true. If you really want the dog you would say anything to get it.
My dog climbs the trees on our front garden but luckily he does want to get out he just gets on the wall!

besides, some of the dogs in there are there thanks to their fence scaling skills!

My mother in law rehomed a springer from Woodhouse kennels. Nice trim garden little 4 foot fence and a 30 foot wall to the road. In the first 6 months the dog jumped it twice - fortunately unhurt and didn't run away.

(large wall just past St Marys Church Beighton)

Yeah but come on Willman - you are only giving the bad side of rescues.
As you know - i work primarily on my own being a small rescue - and yet you and i had chats about a potential that we had with Harry - you visited our fosterer but decided it wasn't right for you - but we did our part of the bargain. So they aren't all bad.

Homechecking can't be done by pounds and often they aren't worth the visit anyway - people can tell lies - no matter how hard they try. There's a difference in needing a totally secure garden when the family have children who may let the dog out - than people who don't have a fenced garden - but who are very capable of ensuring the dog is on a lead before they go out of the door. Many have secure gardens - and never take the dog out for a walk - many leave the gates open if they do have them.

What about the home check of a house - when the people take the dog to work with them - do you home check their office? How sensible they are when loading the dog in the car on a busy road? Most of my time i go on my gutt instinct - and there are some homes I wouldn't let have a dog - no matter how much they were at home or how good their fencing was - just on talking to them about their attitude to the dog.

Its good that you offered to do those things Willman - but very few people offer anything to rescue - believe me - I can tell you first hand.

Rescue organisations which stick to rigid rules and rely on questionnaires to assess volunteers must lose out on so many people who would be suitable. Not even bothering to even talk to you is ridiculous.

According to the Cats Protection guidelines, my late partner and I shouldn't have been let anywhere near a cat - we lived on a busy main road and we both worked full-time! Yet we fostered for them for years (as well as acquiring a few permanent residents from them) and often had pregnant cats, because we had the space and enthusiasm to deal with litters of kittens.

Why were we allowed to foster, despite our shortcomings? Because they had the good sense to talk to us and find out how we intended to cope with the "problems" and they realised we were experienced/committed enough to do a good job for them.

The secure garden thing does get me a little. If they really want to get out they will do.

Luckily for me D does not seem too bothered about trying to get out and we always supervise him in the garden, he did manage it once after a fox but as we were there he was rounded up quickly and he had only had got next door, hole quickly filled with chicken wire!. The rescue used thier common sense with this one. What does worry me is if they knew the extend of his dog aggression he really should have an extra secure garden.

The golden retreiver I had could be completely trusted not to go anywhere we never had a gate and she just used to lie just behind the border line giving doe eyes trying to persuade people to walk onto the drive to stroke her! She knew she was not allowed to approach them / dogs/ furries off the property without permission, the other extreme was my nanna's first jack russel she was a escape artist nothing would stop her, she would dig tunnels, scale 6ft fences anything to get out! Luckily it was just fields behind them as they lived out in the sticks at the time, she would take herself chasing rabbits on the moors then come home when she had enough. I don't think any rescue would have been able to find any home secure enough :lol: She once had to be dug out of a rabbit hole by the fire brigade up on the moors(this was about 25 years ago) any hole small enough she would get herself into it :lol:

I think home checks are just a thing to put people off who have not thought things out properly which is a good thing.:)it's hard not to be impatient waiting for them to find a volunteer to come around.

Yeah but come on Willman - you are only giving the bad side of rescues.
As you know - i work primarily on my own being a small rescue - and yet you and i had chats about a potential that we had with Harry - you visited our fosterer but decided it wasn't right for you - but we did our part of the bargain. So they aren't all bad.

Homechecking can't be done by pounds and often they aren't worth the visit anyway - people can tell lies - no matter how hard they try. There's a difference in needing a totally secure garden when the family have children who may let the dog out - than people who don't have a fenced garden - but who are very capable of ensuring the dog is on a lead before they go out of the door. Many have secure gardens - and never take the dog out for a walk - many leave the gates open if they do have them.

What about the home check of a house - when the people take the dog to work with them - do you home check their office? How sensible they are when loading the dog in the car on a busy road? Most of my time i go on my gutt instinct - and there are some homes I wouldn't let have a dog - no matter how much they were at home or how good their fencing was - just on talking to them about their attitude to the dog.

Its good that you offered to do those things Willman - but very few people offer anything to rescue - believe me - I can tell you first hand.


I wasn't complaining about all rescues ever,just one particular one. The difference between you and them is that you put the dog and prospective owner first - they put the rules first,then the dog and new owners.
I don't think homechecking is a must - but if a rescue offers it then they should carry it out - not just denote someone as a bad owner based on a tick box form. I submitted the same details to them as i did to you re:Harry,they won't let me have a dog but you would.
I know which rescue i have more respect for - which is why i still visit your site and not theirs.

btw. did the parcel turn up last week.
Do you need any leads at all?

no I know you wasn't really complaining and I truly do understand. All the time people go on about home checking - and yes - in an ideal world it would be done and should be done - but sometimes the rules do get in the way of the right home which gives people the wrong impression of wether they can own a dog or not.

I have recently rehomed a dog to a couple that worked who had been turned down by 4 other rescues. I wouldn't rehome ANY dog to them - but we looked at a dog that would be ok to fit into that life style - JUDD was perfect. He loved to sleep all day - was happy with his walks in the morning and will be walked in the evening. Often my dogs will run back into the house if i try to get them out for a walk in the cold and the wet - they would prefer to stay in doors. Its just a case of looking at each individual case. Plus - whats worse - someone being at home all day to let the dog in the garden for a pee but never going for a walk - or someone who will walk twice a day and give an older dog a loving home for the rest of its days - and who can and will pay for any vet treatment it will need in the future.

I always need leads - every single one of our dogs is rehomed with a good strong lead - and collar - thanks

Which parcel was that? I got a couple of dog coats posted out to me from a lady in Scotland - should i have received anything else?

ta

Should have been one black doggie coat.
Tesco have some leads on offer at the moment i'll get half a dozen and send them on to you.If they have collars i'll get some too.

my friend is looking for a rottie,very very very good dog owner good at training dogs, went to college for 4 years with me to do animal care ect, but yet when she looked at a rescue she had to be 25, cant adoptd if your private renting, a must with secure garden, cant work to long hours,its a discrase, shes 24but does it make her a bad owner becouse shes not 25, my mum bought me my labrador puppy from a breeder when i was 15 7 years later a bit grey round edges shes still my litle babe, never had a secure garden in her life until now but never ever ran off

I think some rescues have too many rules, we was turned down point blank without a home check on the basis we have too much land!!!!!! we have a 2 acre garden fully fenced in and a 50 acre field, but they said this was too much?!?!?!?!

They said it would take too long for the home checker to walk around and inspect the fence!

Funny thing was we was looking at a GSD at the time, what do they expect? a straight run of grass built like a prison?

I was then frowned apon when i meantioned we was building an outside pen with a huge cabin attached so they could go inside, only for when i nip out so they didnt have to be inside, i was told then i would never be allowed to rescue a dog from there as they didnt agree with it.

Your story is all too true and so ridiculous - but thats what happens. Remember many of the people who do the home checks are not the ones that actually know the dogs either. Some rescues have a list of home checkers in areas - then contact them to do the check - when they don't hve an understanding of the actual dog and if it will fit into the home situation.

don't get me wrong - home checks have their place - and the reason rescues have them is because there are many nutters in this world that try to get dogs for so many awful and ridiculous reasons - and so over the years - the rescue tries to put in place different ways how they won't be duped or tricked or lied to again. Usually the people who look after the dogs, or those that go to the pounds and see dogs before the are put to sleep - have a different view of what is better for the dog - than those who want the 'ideal' or the 'perfect'.

I have worked all my life and always owned dogs - so i have managed it. I know have land - but i have to say that it is totally secure and dog escape proof because although my dogs know home - they would still wander off - obviously looking for a home better somewhere.

I had one of my volunteers home check a dog for me and she turned it down. I was sure this was a good home for this dog - so I went myself. It was turned down because the fencing wasn't up to scratch and he could get out into the next doors garden. However, this lad would never let the dog out into that garden on its own - nor would the dog wander off in a month of sundays. So, it was ridiculous to turn the home down - because both were fine and I rehomed the dog to them.

I have both a rottie and a gsd at this moment looking for homes from a family environment. Both would no doubt be happy with either of the homes on offer - rather than them being dumped back into a pound to await their fate.

well i have contacted my friend this morning i have already lined her up with a rottie who she is going to meet today, but it does have to get on with other dogs as her mum is having an operation so she is staying there for a few weeks and whenever she visits, so she is also taking her mums dogs to meet her, hopefuly it will all work out but if not i have also told her about your rottie in rescue, and she was overjoyed lol cheers rainxx

mummysaz - one of the rotties i am trying to help is of a lady who is having an operation - does she also have a bullmastiff?

no hun its not that lady wanting rottie anyway but the lady avn op has a collie x lab and jack russel we need to make sure they get on with any rottie

oh right - this lady is having an operation - and can't get to walk her rottie and bullmastif - so both now looking for homes - even foster homes would help if you hear of any.
both have lovely tempraments - we rescued the bullmastiff a few years ago - he was like a skeleton - and is now such a happy boy - we don't want him to have to go back into kennels after all he been through.

Your story is all too true and so ridiculous - but thats what happens. Remember many of the people who do the home checks are not the ones that actually know the dogs either. Some rescues have a list of home checkers in areas - then contact them to do the check - when they don't hve an understanding of the actual dog and if it will fit into the home situation.



I agree with that - i have limited info. usually breed size and type. As a homechecker my responsibility is to make sure the home offers a safe environment, everything else is a matter of opinion. Working schedules, are they the right type of people, have they owned dogs before(rehoming a resuce can be so different in my opinion to homing a new puppy).
A friend of mine was just been refused a staffy from one rescue because she lives in a flat - above her shop, with it's own private car park and Rother Valley 30 metres away. She went to a smaller rescue and got what she wanted - although they didn't insist the dog had the chop which i was surprised about.

oh right - this lady is having an operation - and can't get to walk her rottie and bullmastif - so both now looking for homes - even foster homes would help if you hear of any.
both have lovely tempraments - we rescued the bullmastiff a few years ago - he was like a skeleton - and is now such a happy boy - we don't want him to have to go back into kennels after all he been through.

i wish i could help but my fosters dont go back lol i ended up wi bullmastif cross staffy, but im sure you will have made my friends day, we are going to see zeena the other rottie in a few hours today, so is it ok to get back to you about her fosterign the rottie later on today?

These breed rescues get worse - they're more petty than a bunch of school girls.
I was asked to homecheck a family for a boxer by rescue #1,whilst online rescue#2 asked me to homecheck the same family.They had obviously applied to both rescues to adopt(just like me).
I did the homecheck for both rescues and reported the findings to both rescues - the new home had selected a dog they would have liked from rescue#1. It now turns out that rescue#1 appear have taken umbrage that the family have approached more than one rescue and meanwhile allowed the dog to be homed elsewhere.
What does it matter as long as an unwanted dog is rehomed - anyone would think the rescues didn't get on or something.

What does it matter as long as an unwanted dog is rehomed - anyone would think the rescues didn't get on or something.

It matters a lot when there is a difference of opinion as to what constitutes a good home. There is a lot of focus on having a secure garden, as an example, because a stray IS an unknown quantity. However, the blanket ruling that some rescues apply is preventing dogs finding good homes. It has always disturbed me that the policies don't vary to take account of individual circumstances.

What you might consider to be a good home might be entirely different to my opinion and the variation is just that at the end of the day. A difference of opinion. We're all juggling with a life when it comes down to it! Rather scary isn't it?!

Personally, I don't go by the rules. If someone has the most secure garden in the planet, it doesn't make them a better owner than the old boy that has a shared back yard. What matters is the quality of life the dog is going to receive and there is the judgement call!

But i would be surprised it a local pound restricted a potential adoptee just beause they had been to another pound to look for a dog.
The email i had basically states that. Both these rescues send homecheck paperwork and guidelines abouting rehoming for us to use.The number of boxer strays they rehome are very few tbh.

I think i'll stick with just the local pounds and rescues from now on. They at least have the dog at the forefront.

You're right of course, it does sound as if there is some ill feeling between the two but they should have put that aside for the dog's sake in this case. It's worrying how they can't work alongside each other and there is more than likely some history behind it.

That shouldn't prohibit someone from approaching both in their search for a dog. It's rather petty!

We went to a Boxer rescue for one of our boxers. They were fantastic. They do proper homechecks, find out about your lifestyle, children etc, so that they can match you with the right Boxer. We were chosen to have an 8 week old puppy. When we went to collect him there was a few toys for him, a bag of special puppy food, and a special blanket that he had got used to whilst in the dog home. The rescue keeps in touch with us and even has their own forum. We have an annual fun day. I would recommend them to anyone.