liverbird
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 | | Subject: the TRUTH about 'rescuing' a dog Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:35 am | |
| the TRUTH about 'rescuing' a dog
There is a popular myth that dogs who are seeking new homes
from Britain’s overstretched rescue shelters are, somehow,
‘damaged goods’. There is a notion that these dogs ended up
in shelter because they have a behavioural defect or health problems or
personality disorders or are in one way or another not quite as
dependable as pedigree dogs purchased from breeders. All of this is
bunkum. Absolutely, categorically incorrect.  "Rescue dogs don't need pity, they
just need a new, permanent home."Part of the problem is the stigma that can come just from use of the word ‘rescue’The definition of rescue is:“To set free, as from danger or imprisonment; save.” This alone gives the wrong message about dogs in rehoming shelters.
It creates a feel that these dogs need to be saved. That they are in
danger. That they are on their last chance. Whilst that may be true in
a minority of cases, it is absolutely not an accurate description of
the majority of dogs seeking adoption.Dogs, like people, end up homeless for a whole variety of reasons.
It may be that their carers have died. It could be that their previous
owners have been uprooted, separated or their circumstances have
changed to such a degree that they are no longer able to offer their
well behaved, well socialised, perfectly ‘good’ dog the
care they require. Fortunately, we have rescue shelters who can pick up
the slack in these situations.There are tens of thousands of dogs in rehoming shelters around the
United Kingdom. Given such numbers, it is reasonable to expect such a
diverse number of personalities and characters are looking for new
homes. Boisterous dogs, shy dogs, energetic dogs, confident dogs,
nervous dogs, cheeky dogs, defensive dogs, playful dogs – the
whole range of canine personality types, breeds and life histories are
there.It is absolutely safe to assume that no matter what sort of dog you
might like to share your life with, that very dog is probably in a
shelter somewhere right now.So let us look at how and why dogs get rehomed, why
‘rescuing’ a dog is not and should not be considered an act
of charity and what steps to take if you are thinking about adopting a
dog.Why Do Dogs Become Available for Rehoming?There are hundreds of reasons why dogs end up looking for new
owners. Just like young children, dogs are 100% at the mercy of their
human carers. Dogs rely on us to provide them with food, water,
shelter, exercise and affection. They are one of nature’s most
robust survivors and have we’ve discovered just how adaptable
they are to change. Think of the most spoiled, overly pampered dog in
the world and then think of the dog who spends his nights outside with
a homeless owner – neither dog would be defined as happier than
the other based purely on their living arrangements. Dogs are social
creatures, they thrive on routine. They actually need very little in
order to be happy and content in their lives. Occasionally their owners
find themselves unable to continue to provide the basics and the dog,
through absolutely no fault of their own, finds themselves in an
adoption shelter seeking new owners and a new home.Sometimes a dog may be given up due to a behavioural issue. But this
is often as a result of them originally being owned by a person or
family ill equipped to provide the dog with a suitable level of
obedience training. Sadly, some people will sometimes buy the wrong dog
for their particular lifestyle and will ultimately find themselves
having to give the dog up as it grows.Of the many thousands of dogs in shelters, it is absolutely not the
case that they are, in any way, ‘problem’ dogs. Their only
‘problem’ is that they have a lot of love to give and would
dearly like to give it to a new owner.Dogs in shelters are not charity cases. Contrary to the human
thought process that leads us to conjure up images of sad dogs waiting
patiently for new owners to come along, shelter dogs, by and large, are
actually very happy, well balanced dogs.
Why would a rescue dog be an ideal pet?Adoption shelters are usually full of dogs who are brilliantly
suited to be pets, often coming already well socialised, house trained
and used to living in a family home. In many ways, adopted dogs can
sometimes be the LEAST risky option when acquiring a new dog, the
reason being - you already know what you're going to get.It is very important to speak at great lengths with the staff at the
shelter about the dog you are interested in. Sometimes they have plenty
of background information on the dog and other times they don't. What
they will have though is an assessment of each individual dog's
suitability to go into a new home and fit a particular lifestyle.Feel free to go and meet the dogs. Ask if it would be OK to take the
dogs for an accompanied walk and generally get to know the dogs outside
of the kennel environment. Never judge a dog by how it acts in the kennels.
Some dogs are totally different to how they appear when behind the kennel gates.
Don't be put off by noisy or shy looking dogs based on how they behave
in kennels. It’s good to do lots of research before visiting any shelters
to try and get an idea of the types of dogs who could suit your
lifestyle. Choosing the wrong breed for a particular lifestyle is one
of the most common mistakes that leads to dogs being rehomed in the
first place, the last thing any dog needs is to become someone’s
‘experiment’ – that is, people who want to
‘give it a go’. Honestly, the dog is better off in shelter
waiting for a permanent owner than for someone to ‘give it a
go’. So it makes sense to try and narrow down a number of types
of dog that could suit your circumstances before you even start looking
to see what’s out there.The website DogsBlog.com, run by K9 Media Ltd the publisher of K9
Magazine, is a very user-friendly, national database of hundreds of
dogs seeking new homes from all over the UK. Log on and start looking
at the huge variety of dogs available. Don’t be overly
constrained by location. If the RIGHT dog for you happens to be 100
miles away then it’s worth the petrol money. A dog is for life,
after all.Bringing Your Dog Home from the Adoption ShelterWhen you first bring your dog home, try and establish routine as
quickly as possible. It's always tempting to make the dog's first few
days full of play and excitement. This can lead to problems though. So
get the dog settled in, show them they have their own private area of
the home which is just for them and let them settle in and relax and
speak to your veterinary practice, your vet will be able to recommend
natural pheromone products, such as D.A.P., which will comfort and
reassure your dog, helping them settle more quickly and easily.The staff at the shelter will provide guidance on the dog's diet and health requirements.Don't do too much too soon. Dogs can be excitable and whilst it may
be tempting to show the dog off to all your friends, family and
neighbours, too much too soon can make the dog unsettled early on.
Gently introduce them to new things.Something that crops up a lot with newly adopted dogs is a good old
dose of anthropomorphic expectation on behalf of the dog’s new
owners. Because the dog has been adopted/rescued (there’s that
word again) new owners can sometimes be taken aback when they realise
the dog is actually pining for its old life at the shelter. Contrary to
popular belief, not ALL dogs dislike kennels. Dogs are creatures of
habit. They can and will miss the familiarity of the shelter staff, the
smell of their canine friends, the noise, the routines, the whole
environment. Sometimes owners can find this unsettling as they
(wrongly) assume the dog will instantly be ‘grateful’ for
being rescued. Provided you are ready for all eventualities –
including a dog who is missing his old friends at the shelter –
you will have a better chance of over coming any initial settling in
problems.If you encounter problems with the dog, be prepared to call the
shelter, speak to a vet or get the advice of a professional
behaviourist. Too often people let little problems develop into big
problems because they weren't sure who to turn to for advice. Remember,
with dogs there is never such a thing as a 'silly question'.Finally.....
Be prepared to love the dog for the rest of its natural life.
As mentioned earlier, the very name 'rescue' dog is a little
misleading. It suggests the dog needed to be 'saved' or that the new
owner is doing the dog a great favour. Well yes, the dog will be
forever grateful for being given a happy, safe and stable home life and
this is certainly something that owners of shelter dogs can rightly
feel warm and fuzzy about but please, don't consider rescuing a dog as
something to try out. These dogs need and deserve long term stability
and a home for life. If you are in any doubt at all that you can
provide that, you may be better suited to offering your help to the
rescue centres and going and helping out with the dogs on a part time
basis before you commit to giving the dog the life they deserve.If you are looking to get a new or indeed first dog, do consider a
rehoming shelter. Don’t consider it an act of charity, consider
it a fantastic opportunity to get the dog of your dreams and bring joy
to a dog who is sure to reward your decision wholeheartedly.http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=15&aid=2267&vid=1&npage=4 |
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Sandra
Admin
Number of posts: 18595
Age: 48
Location: Ammanford
Rep: 22
Points: 16493
Registration date: 2008-12-28
| | Subject: Re: the TRUTH about 'rescuing' a dog Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:16 pm | |
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