UK based Romanian Rescue Dog Charities - are they increasing health risks to animals here?

I support a Romanian rescue charity based in the UK and I also have a Romanian rescue dog. She had a horrible life out there and is the sweetest natured dog we have ever had and we have always had dogs.

I looked to adopt in the UK and was disqualified because of age.

Before she arrived she was thoroughly checked by a vet. In fact she wasn't allowed to travel until she had recovered from her previous mistreatment. She also had all the necessary injections. She was very nervous and traumatised at first but after two years she is a bundle of joy and everyone loves her.

There can be problems with any rescue dog no matter where from and I think to single out Romania is wrong.

Family member had two rescued Romanian dogs. They are friendly and socialised.

It is not easy to be accepted as an adopter there are strict criteria to be met.
The Charity continue to pay the vets bills for several years.

A homeless dog needs a home wherever he lives. Humanitarian standards are very low in many countries and compassionate people here want to help. They and the rescue dogs are strictly vetted and followed up after arriving here.
Many former street dogs are traumatised and take a long time to trust people but I’ve never heard of one arriving with an infectious disease.

We adopted from spain after being refused by 8 English charities for a variety of reasons, no available dogs-that was Battersea and dogs trust (really? No smallish dog regardless of sex age or breed in ANY of your kennels?), 2 cats in the home, work hours too long (8-12), youngest daughter being 14, not a high enough fence etc etc we finally adopted 2 siblings after being shown pictures and videos, took approximately 3 months for checks on us to be finalised. Both pups fully vaccinated, vet checked and neutered . Best decision we ever made and not a moment's regret.

I am so glad to see the supportive posts about adopting from Romania or elsewhere. I agree with Lulu it is very difficult to adopt in the UK, too difficult I think. I know they need to make sure the dog is going to a good home but so many petty rules and regs makes it very difficult to qualify.

Every dog deserves a loving home no matter from where.
I don't have a moment's regret with adopting from Romania.

I have friends who adopted a dog from Rumania as they were unable to adopt in the UK for similar reasons as mentioned by Lulu69. The dog has settled with them really well. However, I can see why there might be concerns over infectious diseases For example, rabies which has an incubation period of between 14 days to a year.

A lot of these poor dogs,mainly from Romania have had bad adopters,who have been told not to take the dog for walks etc,until they get used to the home,as most are not used to living in houses, recently there was someone who left the dog out in the garden overnight,the dog escaped and ended up i think being killed on the road,
Others have escaped and never found,or again been found dead
I think most rescues are good, but i think some are not too bothered as long as they can rehome,
As sted higher up in the thread,a lot of English rescues have too many rules , in some cases maybe a good reason, eg,no small children, no garden, living in a flat etc,so people just give up and rescue from abroad

We have adopted a little dog from Romania within the last month. She came fully vaccinated, sterilised, with passport and chipped. The dogs would not be allowed into the country otherwise. We were put in touch with the Romanian charity by a local rescue centre. ( France )
Our little girl is friendly, well socialised and house trained. No problem living with our other rescue dog and cat. We are lucky to have her.

Good to see you posting again EllenVannin

Animal rescue charities make so much money the only way they can spend it is by bringing in animals from overseas, dogs from Romania and donkeys from North Africa are two, it should not happen. There are plenty of good causes in the UK that deserve more support.

Katie59

Animal rescue charities make so much money the only way they can spend it is by bringing in animals from overseas, dogs from Romania and donkeys from North Africa are two, it should not happen. There are plenty of good causes in the UK that deserve more support.

Are you an animal lover Katie59 ??? Sure doesn't sound like it. As others have said, why does it matter where the poor wee soul comes from. As mentioned, in other countries, animal welfare is extremely poor often and often there are no charities like the RSPCA/SSPCA to help animals who are suffering. Have a heart Katie and maybe check out the numerous very good, well run small animal charities here who help to safe dogs etc from abroad and find them loving homes here. Just in the same way that foreign children have been adopted by loving families in this country, who had little hope of being adopted in their own country. Do you object to this too?? Or is it that it is different for animals in your opinion??

Our DD adopted a Romanian dog, she arrived with all the health certificates, she was taken to our local vet and was given a clean bill of health, DD signed a form to say that she would have the dog spayed as soon as she was able (which she did) but yes she has issues as do most rescue dogs.
DDs home was checked before she was allowed to be put on the list, she would have been refused if she had had children or other pets. The process was very thorough.
Having said that, spending 3 days in a crate whilst being transported must be traumatic for any animal and personally I would have preferred her to get a dog from a U.K. based rescue charity, but she is a delight and my DD loves her to bits.
The plight of stray dogs in Romania is horrific, they are rounded up and beaten to death with baseball bats, some are taken to be dumped some are left dying in the streets, the state ‘controls’ the disposal of these poor dogs, this is why so many people are rescuing them.

Do you realise how mean some of you sound we have enough dogs here who cares where a dog in need comes from .Some of you sound really mean spirited

Hooray for all of you who have adopted dogs in need from overseas the ‘In need’ over there seem a hundred times worse than the ‘in need’ here

I have friends who have adopted from overseas and they have had good experiences lovely loyal dogs and it certainly seems as if the organisations are very cautious and do all the correct checks

EllenV battersea might have a sirfeit of dogs but if they are so strict that no one can get one, of course people will go elsewhere nice to see you back even if I don’t agree with you ?

I have two Romanian rescue dogs, they’re nearly 10 now and no health issues. They’ve had the odd couple of reasons to visit a vet, the same as any UK dog would.

They arrived as puppies, having been born in a rescue charity in Romania when the mom was captured pregnant. They had a quarantine period when they arrived and full vet checks, and I took them for a check up once I had them.

Behaviourally they’re fine. One can’t be trusted off lead as she runs away and is bloody fast. One is a little jumpier and more nervous than the other, but again, that could happen with a UK dog. And both are kept on leads for walks anyway.

I went to a Romanian rescue as nearly all of the dogs available in the rescues by me were Staffordshire bull terrier types, which I didn’t want. They’re seen as a sort of ‘status symbol’ in my area and I don’t want that status. There were a few other dogs that were either too large or could not live with children. And some other rescues further away wouldn’t do home visits that far.

My friend adopted a Romanian dog which has become a monster sized whopper of a dog. It had multiple health problems when a pup but seems to have come right now. It’s not the most trainable and is loud and over excitable but my friend adores it. It’s sibling also adopted in the U.K. was sent back for being too over the top and loud, but was taken back by the charity and readopted. As long as they are taken back by the same charities if there are issues and not foisted on the battersea dogs home etc I have no issue with it.

Namsnanny

^Why must there be certain connotations about everything?....^

I wonder that to EllanVannin, presumably some folk are on a permanent battle footing?

Well said.

I think another poster also mentioned the fact that a lot of rescue organisations both here in France and in the UK are quite restrictive about the homes they expect for their animals. Large enclosed gardens etc are not available to some potential adopters but that does not mean they can't offer a healthy happy life to a dog ( or cat )

soda this is an old thread ( EV isn’t back, sadly.)

Like Lucca and other posters we have been actively looking for a small dog to rehome fir nearly 2 years with no success. Battersea, Dogs Trust local charities, nothing.
We don’t want a puppy and thought we would be overwhelmed with choice of dogs needing home, but none so far.
It’s no wonder people are looking to find a dog from overseas and if you have seen them on the streets it’s clear that they need good homes.

Thanks lemongrove I spotted that after I posted. I had to apologise on another thread for misinformation. Regarding EV seems that some people are trigger happy with the report button.

Alegrias1

Are we really having a thread about those dirty immigrant dogs from Romania, coming over here and using up our comfy homes when there are plenty good British dogs?

? ?

No we're having a discussion based on the comments (facts?) Made by the BVA.

Silverlining48, another excellent rescue who I have adopted from is Many Tears Animal Rescue based in Wales. Also Save our Spaniels rescue who save dogs in Spain. They are quite often Breton spaniels who are treated appallingly by hunters in Spain but they are wonderful family dogs. Hope this helps xx

Trouble is most Rehoming charities limit would be rehomers to a relatively small distance from them before they even consider you. I understand the reasons but it does limit our search.
will check Many Tears but fear we in the south east will be too far from Wales.
Thanks Susysue.

Hi Silverlining, many tears expect potential adoptees to go visit them in carmanenshire (spelling!!!). Often the doggies need another resident dog but not always. Often they are already being fostered with families so maybe anywhere in the country, save our spaniels Spain are quite far south England and again many in foster already. Good luck. It is so incredibly worthwhile to see the change love, caring, a warm clean bed and lots of cuddles can make xx

I know of two puppies from a Romanian charity that finished here in France. The new owners paid so they could be ‘saved’ from the cruelty these countries melt out to these animals. Why don’t people have the choice to stop this cruelty by paying for vets to work in these countries, castrating males so stopping unwanted puppies and the misery the bitches go through.