sorry but..

BOWGANG · Master

RE: sorry but..

Amber · Master

I haven't adopted through GAL, but sounds like you follow recognised procedures of a reputable rescue i.e. not just handing dogs out like sweeties.

I think I know which rescue in Scotland you may be referring to (where indeed I got my own dogs from)...I was never home-checked by them and they were prepared to meet me in a park with a selection of dogs and for me to take one there and then, which I didn't as I wasn't sure of things, but did end up adopting my 2 greyhounds from them eventually, handed over with no vaccination papers, not neutered and one with considerable dog aggression problems, not declared.

I guess I was quite ignorant then as to what constitutes a good rescue policy/procedures! To not be able to wait a couple of days for a return phone call seems a bit strange, but possibly these people too are new to the rescue scene and find it difficult to distinguish between resposible rehoming and those that hand out dogs more freely.

On the subject of Cat & Dog homes - these places are stray pounds essentially, not rescues. Some are better than others, but they are obliged to take in all strays in the area and not obliged in any way to home-check, neuter etc. But a lot of people who first think of getting a rescue dog go to local pounds, because they are well-known presences, whereas a volunteer rescue that is smaller and doesn't have kennels is more difficult to access, especially for people who don't use the internet.

On the subject of DAWGS...sorry if this sounds critical, but they are not a rescue either, but a rehoming service...at least that is what I was told by them when I phoned up to ask if they could help with spaying costs of a greyhound, they were not interested at all. My neighbour has just adopted a 9 year old retriever via DAWGS which is not neutered (good job she's not a closet backyard breeder!!) and she said she was surprised that most of the dogs rehomed by that organisation are not neutered. This despite the fact that the organisation has funds healthy enough to pay their staff...maybe they think that neutering is cruel??! I personally think it cruel to hand a dog from one home to another unneutered, since some people are very good liars and despite home-checks may use that dog for breeding and create even more unwanted dogs.

-- Edited by Amber at 19:47, 2006-08-22

-- Edited by Amber at 20:08, 2006-08-22

neeroz · Master

Em, we've never had a home check for any of our pooches. But when it comes to getting our fosters dogs the best home, I'd rather have a process that's the best................

moptop · Master

Dave, I agree with everyone else, sounds like you should just continue to keep the adoption process the way things are.

People who want a pet, and want it now, haven't thought it through. Most of these poor dogs are the ones that are going to be tossed out and neglected once the novelty has worn off. I got Jack from Greyhound Rescue Scotland. They were excellent and it sounds like you have a similar process. I had been wanting a grey for the past year and found out everything I could about them beforehand. I didn't rush into it as it had to be carefully planned because of my cats. I believe an animal is for life, so the match had to work!!!

My phone call was not returned for a few days, I didn't mind and understood they were extremely busy. A home check was arranged for 2 weeks later. The couple who came to meet me were very thorough and took 2 hours to suss me out. I was asked lots of questions until they were satisfied that I knew what kind of commitment I was making. The dog (Jack) they had in mind appeared to be cat friendly. I didn't collect him for another few weeks while they continued to assess him to make absolutely certain he was the right dog for me.

I was very pleased that they didn't give out dogs to just anybody. They are very fussy and quite rightly so. All their dogs are microchipped with two pet tags on their collars, with the first contact being Greyhound Rescue Scotland. They really strongly believe that all dogs rehomed by them are still "one of theirs"

So, keep doing the same, it's the only way to ensure the dogs don't get into the wrong hands.

Marian

Gail · Big Cheese

I think everyone agrees that the GAL policy of applications and home checks is definately the right process to follow to ensure the best match of dog to family but just wanted to reiterate what i said in an earlier post that the follow up after the adoption has to be consistent to ensure the welfare of the dogs.

No matter how many questions you may ask during a home check there will always be things that come up after your new friend moves in with you, things that you might like to ask but feel they are maybe a bit too trivial to bother the rescue organisation with, but you would have a chat about during a follow up call to see how the dog is settling in. My point is all the checks in the world can prove to be less than useless if follow up calls are not done and in my experience that is where GAL proves to be the best.

Another important point - If you adopt a dog that has been microchipped and are given the number from the rescue organisation always call and check that the ownership details have been transferred to yourself and more importantly that the dog was actually registered with them in the first place....I only discovered through calling petlog in the last few days that had Neo got lost and been scanned it would have done no good as the chip had not been registered at all.

Isla · Enlightened One

That's a horrible thought - can you imagine the heartache. I'm sure, like me, any owner would be demented with worry if they lost their dog. The fact that the whole process of reuniting the animal with the owner was much longer due to an unregistered chip would do nothing for my sanity if it were one of mine!

I changed Millie's details when we moved here through the PetLog website so no worries for her and it was my local vet that did Tigger. Think I'll now have a quick check that she's there on their website!

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Gail - where did you get Neo from - was it GRS ?

Gail · Big Cheese

Yes Siouxsie it was. He was chipped and had a tag with petlog's number on it etc and when i phoned to check that the details had been changed to show me as the owner they had no record of the chip number and no details for him...really worrying, but thankfully i have got it sorted now.

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Naughty GRS then!

doggymental · Old Hand

NO!!! You want to make sure any dogs rehomed are going to a suitable, permanent home and not just to someone adopting on a whim and having them right back in the care of GAL before you knowit!!!!! Some people are soooo annoying

Anyone serious about adopting ANY animal will appreciate that all these checks are necessary, and will be more than happy to cooperate, anyone who thinks different are obviously not worthy of adopting an animal never mind a beautiful Greyhound!!

Sorry rant over

carolineasb · Old Hand

Hi all

Please put yourself in this position - you are a GH or Lurcher lover & in a position to adopt & get told abt a GH/Lurcher that is looking for a home at the Cat & Dog Home & so you visit the Home (perhaps inadvisably) - could you resist taking the dog to your home with you or would you leave it?

That's why we have volunteers at Bothwell Bridge & Milton AWCs each week so that we can advise people about the particular quirks of GHs & Lurchers before they adopt.

I know that in the normal course of events we would all prefer people to complete an Application Form, have a Home Check & then adopt, but life just doesn't always go to plan.

Caroline

moptop · Master

Yes, I can appreciate what you are saying Caroline. I know GAL are the "Rolls Royce" of the Greyhound Rescue Organisations. The remainder are doing their best with more limited resourses. One of my best friends, Flora Fleming runs Cat Action Trust in Ayrshire. She is practically a one woman organisation, with little funding and volunteers. She is trying to rehome hundreds of cats a year. She tries her best to do thorough home checks. Although, refusing a few unsuitable homes per month,she does not always get it right. She does not sleep at night for worrying.

I really feel for all these animal rescue centres. After all, they are trying so hard to do their best. I regularly log onto many tears rescue in Wales. I quite often have a good cry when I see the pitiful sights put on every day, some quite shocking. They do some sort of home check, but do not have the resourses to do a follow up check.

I think we should think ourselves lucky for GAL being such a diligent and scrupulous mob. At least it gives us great piece of mind for our dear greyhounds.

Marian.

-- Edited by moptop at 22:18, 2006-09-01

-- Edited by moptop at 22:59, 2006-09-01

-- Edited by moptop at 23:00, 2006-09-01

neeroz · Master

I get what you mean aswell Caroline, technically we didn't go through a process when we got any o oor groos/lurcher. I know Florence and our lurcher we had were the recommendations for our vet (for gettin Abbey). As for Dexter I presume it must has been the same sort o thing when we went to meet him at the SSPCA (Havin Florence and Abbey with us).