In my point of view this is ridiculous and needs stopping

If anyone has been turned down by a rescue charity it’s for a very good reason in the best interests of the animal. Unfortunately people seem to think they should be entitled to adopt a homeless animal no matter what their circumstances.
No, I don't have a sense of entitlement. We were ready and willing to offer a home to a Newfoundland pup. We knew what we were doing, and met all the criteria (2 gardens, both at home, experience with large dogs, no children etc. I was in my late 50s and my husband early 60s). We'd seen him on the local shelter website, phoned to ask about him, and filled in the forms. We were told that someone would come out after Christmas (this was a few days beforehand) to check the house and interview us as potential owners, and that he was ready to come for an initial visit as soon as they reopened after the holidays. When the day came we were very excited (we had bought a bed, and I'd even saved some leftover chicken as a treat for him) and rang the shelter to arrange to collect him, only to be told that he had spent the past weeks with another family to see if they were a good fit, and he was staying with them. We had been kept on the back burner in case it hadn't worked out, but never mind - they had a lovely older staffie who could go that day. I was so disappointed. We didn't want an older dog, didn't want a staffie, and we'd been lied to.

My daughter and her partner wanted to adopt before getting her current dog. It would have been a first dog for both of them. There were no children, but the assessor felt that they might have them (they were in their late 20s). They both work full-time. They have a small back garden that is more of a yard.

They were rejected, and got a dog from a breeder. But:

They were both brought up with dogs and are very used to them - their dog is extremely happy and well cared for. They volunteer at a dogs' home on a scheme run by their work, so deal with all breeds and varying temperaments.

My daughter and her partner work in the same place, so were able to arrange their hours in the office to ensure that at least one of them is in the house at all times. Surely the vast majority of young couples work, anyway? Are shelters only willing to look at benefit claimants and the retired?

Their house backs onto a field, and is round the corner from a canal - their dog has plenty of space to run around and has two long walks a day. They are planning to move anyway - again, something that people of their age do. They have put a garden at the top of their wishlist for a new house.

My daughter may have children one day, but may not - these things are not always predictable, are they - for anyone? If she does, the dog will be as much, but no more of a risk than any other dog when a baby joins the family. It will be up to her to protect the baby, as with any other mum in the circumstances, but her dog is happy around children. We had a dog when she and her brother were born, and there were no issues - there is no reason to suppose that it would be different for her.

I can't help feeling that the shelter lost a chance to rehome a dog who would have had a good home with my daughter, and there is no chance that we will ever go to the one who lied to us about 'our' puppy again, or donate to their regular requests for money. Maybe they don't care - it could be that they have enough people wanting dogs - but the news is full of stories about 'lockdown pets' being abandoned now that people are back at work.

(I am talking about two different shelters in two different areas of the country)

BlueBelle

Look at that link and Tell me that’s ok and no different to shining a horses coat with brushing Foxie !! !

Not advocating, not defending, merely suggesting that there are other less visible signs of cruelty and certainly not said "it's OK"

*GermanShepherdsMum

"MadeInYorkshire admits having purchased a dog to train as a support dog but that it didn’t work out. No UK rescue charity would allow a dog to be adopted for that purpose."

I still have him, I still love him, and he has a garden with a 6ft fence - he does help me a great deal emotionally as he did for my daughter before she actually managed to commit suicide - that dog stayed with her for 14 hours that night, without making one sound, just lay with her ... he saved her life several times. He IS a support dog, but not in the accepted sense of the word, ie he doesn't pick things up off the floor for me which is what I did want, but he is worth his weight in gold ..... and has since saved me too from following her.

I’m sorry about your daughter but did you really intend the dog to pick things up from the floor for you? What sort of life does that dog have? I’m not surprised you couldn’t adopt if you wanted the dog to be your servant. Poor thing. A life of servitude. Have you ever thought about how the dog feels?

MadeinYorkshire - what a huge loss. All dogs are Therapy dogs but only a few of them have the official label. I don’t have sufficient skill with words to express the impact your description of your daughter’s life and death had on me.

I experienced a very different kind of bereavement late last year after my husband died six months after a devastating, unexpected diagnosis. My young dogs reacted to his illness and his death in different ways. Things are settling down, they’re so tuned in to my feelings. Helping them with their response to their loss is helping me.
Thanks for telling us and I hope your assistance dog continues to be a four legged Therapist

Your dog sounds fabulous, MIY, and in my experience dogs love being useful - whether that is by rounding up sheep, picking up game or helping their owners across the road. I can't see why a properly trained dog would feel that picking things up was a life of servitude - not at all.

I'm also very sorry to hear about your daughter

I agree totally foxie but this thread wasn’t about other forms of cruelty it was about this form of using animals for humans recreation and using being the main word

www.amazon.com/Foldable-Garbage-Gripper-Grabber-Reacher/dp/B074PQY8XB?tag=gransnetforum-21

So sorry about your daughter- I can't find the right words.
Knowing that the dog stayed with her must make the bond between you and him very strong. So sorry to hear about your loss Iam64- dogs can suffer grief too, as we all know, and react in a variety of disturbing ways. Hope he will settle down soon and that you will continue to help each other.

BlueBelle

I agree totally foxie but this thread wasn’t about other forms of cruelty it was about this form of using animals for humans recreation and using being the main word

I'm honestly not trying to be argumentative but surely pet owners all use their animals in some way, it's just "some ways" are more acceptable than others and IMO some are cruel. The question is always for me is how much harm does something do. Top of my list is letting a pet get too fat. This would offend me more than seeing a fit slim poodle dyed pink or looking like a tiger, because the damage to the fat dog is long term. My vet friend says nearly every dog and cat she sees is overweight and many are obese, this makes them much more susceptible to cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints, urinary bladder stones, and anesthetic complications. Just my POV, of course but I hope a valid addition to this discussion. I did a bit of low key showing with my horses, just to get them out and about in the world and learn basic manners around other horses. They never did that well as I wouldn't have them in show condition (ie Fat), I wouldn't shorten their tails enough as I liked them to be able to use them as fly swats and although I did "plait up" I had a couple of horses who really didn't enjoy it that much. tbh most were happy to be groomed, they were used to it but a muddy puddle was a magnetic and they loved a good wallow and were more than happy to be covered in mud.

Well I don’t watch it and if that is the sort of level of interest it presents then glad I don’t.

There are people who make a good living providing trendy "clothes" for dogs, cats and even tortoises! Never had any time for this nonsense. Most dogs and cats are provided by nature with something called fur. I know that there are hairless cats and dogs (or delicate ones) who may need a warm coat for a walk in cold weather but most have no need of this. Just another way for feckless people to show off.

I’m also horrified at the baby rabbits and chicks being dip dyed in all colours to sell at Easter. Just awful and so cruel

There is no ‘prime time’ on tv anymore ….it’s all rubbish. My daughter was first in family to say NO to a tv …then my 15 year old grandson… now I’ve dumped mine .it’s sitting by my dustbin waiting for a lift to dump! All it’s good for .
So I don’t know about painted dogs or horses. One less thing to despair of…when considering the human species!

Awful, abd tovthink sime folk dont have money for food and energy yet there are idiots who will support this business.

Why don't they dye themselves?

Our village has a local yearly show which includes a dog fancy dress competition. No bought outfits acceptable. My placid old Staffie won wearing:
Hand knitted knickers with a hole for her tail. Hand knitted bonnet with holes for her ears and a pink tutu. My neighbours Frenchie won another year wearing the outfit I knitted for him; Top Hat. Bow tie and four shoes. All in red which showed up beautifully against his black coat and white front. On all occasions the dogs have pranced happily around the display ring and had the outfits removed after judging. Except for the year when a dachshund won with his entry of a hot dog in a bun with tomato ketchup. I don’t think he even noticed what was on his back. The tomato ketchup was a red ribbon. Bread bun and hot dog by correctly coloured ribbons sewed together. His Mr and Mrs ran the hot dog stall and he sat on a table in front of it. Until the end of the Show
All dog owners know if their pets will willingly accept being dressed up for half an hour or so. Or not!
But dyeing their fur?
No.

I don’t like to see it at all, I certainly wouldn’t be oooing and arring at it! Poor dogs, leave them alone

All dog owners know if their pets will willingly accept being dressed up for half an hour or so.

I like a bit of dressing up. Woof.

Add me to the list that this is insanity, it’s inhuman to make an animal a colored showpiece - all for your idea of “art”.

You’re not being clever, ingenious or artistic - some would call it animal abuse. Poodles especially are already cut and groomed in god-awful configurations. Let dogs be dogs!
WOOF!!!
USA Gundy

Blue belle
Totally agree with everything you stated

Complain to ITV. That’s the only way to let them know that their beloved viewers are dis freeing with the cooing from the presenters who don’t seem to be in possession of a brain cell between them.

Mallin

Our village has a local yearly show which includes a dog fancy dress competition. No bought outfits acceptable. My placid old Staffie won wearing:
Hand knitted knickers with a hole for her tail. Hand knitted bonnet with holes for her ears and a pink tutu. My neighbours Frenchie won another year wearing the outfit I knitted for him; Top Hat. Bow tie and four shoes. All in red which showed up beautifully against his black coat and white front. On all occasions the dogs have pranced happily around the display ring and had the outfits removed after judging. Except for the year when a dachshund won with his entry of a hot dog in a bun with tomato ketchup. I don’t think he even noticed what was on his back. The tomato ketchup was a red ribbon. Bread bun and hot dog by correctly coloured ribbons sewed together. His Mr and Mrs ran the hot dog stall and he sat on a table in front of it. Until the end of the Show
All dog owners know if their pets will willingly accept being dressed up for half an hour or so. Or not!
But dyeing their fur?
No.

Sorry, but NO and more NO. Let those dogs be dogs

Really? Dogs being dyed? I have enough of a problem when it’s flowers! So many weirdos around. 😔

I’m a dog groomer and this is something that happens in our profession, for a long time now actually. But it’s generally reserved for dog grooming shows and competitions.
Like the crazy outfits you see on the catwalk but not on the high street.
In real life our job is to keep dogs hygienic , knot free and of course pretty.
It’s extreme but really shouldn’t be on the high street.
It’s just for us groomers to show off our skills to each other and keep us up to date with techniques .