Are you an adopter/rescuer?

2 rescue cats, one rescue dog and one dog who wasn't a rescue..The rescue dog rescued me when my dh died and pulled his canine brother out of deep mourning.

I honestly think animals give you loving support when you most need it.

Redhead56

I honestly think animals give you loving support when you most need it.

They absolutely do. They just know when you're not feeling great and are in need of a bit of support.

Lulu was rescued as a kitten by DS who was living in Dubai. Later flown to us at vast expense when he moved countries. She adored DH and was definitely more dog than cat. She was also spotted. Vet said she was an Arabian Mau. Sadly she died at 7 and DH says she was irreplaceable ?So no more cats for us.

Yes we are rescuer's and have two lovely Romanian dogs from a wonderful Uk charity saving dogs from unimaginable cruelty. We also have a rescued cat from a Cattery where he was left when his owners went on holiday and never came back for him, never paid the Cattery bill either! Shame on people who abuse animals!
Our pets bring us such joy, love and companionship we wouldn’t be without them. I’d recommend a rescue dog or cat to anyone who can offer a good understanding home. These animals rewards you in so many ways.
Please don’t buy an expensive puppy when all the shelters are full of poor dogs and cats with no homes.

Not any more but we have had inherited, rather than rescue, dogs whose elderly owners died and seemed to enjoy being in a family with children.
Our children have all gone on to own many dogs and cats over the years and most have been rescue animals.

We've had rescue hamsters and guinea pigs as well.
DD always has rescue chooks and they reward them by laying well.

I've had my rescue dog for 5 years, she's around 9 now. She was found on the streets so I knew nothing about her past, but I do know someone had been bad to her as she still cowers at times when you go to stroke her. She also has seizures with epilepsy which breaks my heart watching her, her meds have to keep increasing.
I got my last dog when she was 7, she knew nothing and trailed you on walks. I had her walking in the end with no lead in safe places, she even wiped her paws on the doormat when it was raining.
I've just bought my 2023 calendar from her rescue centre, it's lovely. Every little bit helps these fantastic places, they are wonderful people caring for so many at present.

I've had several cats over the past 42 years. The first one was found, abandoned. The others were all from shelters, apart from my current cat, who was feral. He's been the most gentle, patient (with the GC) cat I've ever known. Je's now about 19.

I've had 2 lovely rescue moggies since they were 5 weeks old. I had to get a bottle feeding kit from the vet. They gave me such pleasure.

Tragically the boy kitten was hit by a car and died in the vet's hospital, and his sister (Phoebe) and I were distraught. That was 7 years ago. I could not have got through the pandemic without my precious Phoebe as I live alone and my health's not good. Pet therapy is wonderful. She's sitting beside me right now.

Well done you ! 2 of my dogs were rescue dogs, also had birds off people due to various reasons

A word in support of people who do buy a pup from a reputable breeder. I rescued for 50 years. I’ve been a volunteer for a charity that fosters and re-homes dogs. I fostered until young grandchildren started arriving, making It no longer safe to bring unknown dogs into my home. These days, I assess potential foster/adopters and transport dogs for the charity.

Some posts here are rather self satisfied. My various fosters and adopted dogs were all great dogs but needed individual care to help them recover from neglect and abuse. Only one foster had to be carefully supervised or she’d bully my resident old dog, twice she unprovoked snapped at family members. It would have been impossible to have her in a house with young children. Yes, she was successfully adopted.

I now share my life with a 4 year old and 2 year old pedigree dogs. Both from reputable breeders, 5 generation health/temperament checks and life long support if needed. I share the concerns about the number of dogs in our rescues and shelters. My own view is that’s where we should be adopting from. Street dogs from Europe/India/Thailand don’t always find domestic life is for them. Our local Facebook/dog lost pages regularly shows photographs of one of these dogs who runs at the first opportunity. ‘Don’t approach, this dog is fearful’

Thank you for your knowledgeable input about rescues Iam64. You're right to say that the issue is all about the unknown and where young children are involved one simply cannot take any risks. I guess it all depends very much on one's circumstances. The reason we have always bought expensive dogs from reputable breeders is because we lived at school and the dogs were part of the furniture and school family. It was impossible to supervise the pets every single second, so they had to be 100% reliable and touch wood, we were never let down. I guess in our current circumstances we could have switched to a rescue, but very often you stick with what you know and what works for you.
I have to say our current very expensive young lad of the same variety is jolly hard work and testing our skills, and I wonder whether that is because he is getting too much attention! In the school environment all our others knew their place at the botton of the pile and mixing with over 200 people a day were very relaxed. This guy pushes to the front of the queue and wants attention from everyone!

Thank you Iam64

We must be aware that not all rescues are successful.

We have a friend who adopted a rescue dog, thinking patience, love, care and training would be the answer. Yes, they'd had dogs previously so weren't novices.
This dog was an absolute nightmare, unpredictable, would lunge at passersby when out for walks on a lead, pulling the owner over. He'd obviously had a poor start to life but should never have been rehomed by the rescue place.
They spent hundreds on a well-respected behaviourist but to no avail. He was dangerous and sadly had to be pts.

all our others knew their place at the botton of the pile

Yes, that's very important. Some male dogs like to think they are leader of the pack and need to be reminded of the pecking order!

I have just adopted 2 kittens, they are now 4 months. I am hoping we will be together until I fall off my perch.

Aaw, have fun with them SparklyGrandma. Please can we see some pics?

Yes please!

Joseanne, your young male dog sounds like my young lab. He swaggers and I fear if he was a human teenage lad, he’d be drinking and smoking and worrying me. Instead I’m working on loose lead still ?. I think you’re right, they’re getting too much attention. My other dogs fitted into busy life so never saw themselves as the most important thing in the universe. My daughters dog fits into whatever their busy lives throw at her.

3 pages of beautiful, heart warming stories. Fabulous.

Iam64, there are many ways that rescuers can work with charity and volunteers to assess dogs. You say you are an assesser- so surely you should know. Most rescuers are not naïve or stupid!

You post is very unfair.

The dog we are adopting from Tunisia is currently with a great dog carer, in her own home- and I trust her that Yata is perfectly suited to us. She is calm, gentle, and great with other dogs, children and cats.

'Rather self-satisfied' is truly uncalled for, sorry.

I could not buy a dog, ever. And vast numbers of dogs bred by so called reputable dog breeder, are over bred, with lots of health issues. The Kennel Club has a lot, LOT, to answer for.

Let's keep this thread for rescuers- please.

I count my little dog as a rescue. My daughter found him on Gumtree ( We were totally unaware that you should never buy a dog on Gumtree) I drove a long way to meet his owners. The sale took minutes in a car park and I drove him home. I noticed blood on the blanket I had put on the seat for him and further examination under his long curly coat revealed wounds and infected ears.
I took him to a vet next day who looked at me angrily and said "Did you do this to him ? " Then began a long recovery process involving special baths, anti biotics and steroids etc. I got him over most of his awful fears except separation anxiety. That's my big problem even now, four years down the line.
In spite of the expense, time and work that has gone into helping my dog, I don't regret a minute of it.

Let's keep this thread for rescuers- please.
Now that is very unfair Fleurpepper . You asked, "Are you an adopter/rescuer?"
I said yes, to 8 cats, but no I would never adopt a dog and gave my reasons. Did you honestly mean for just nodding dogs to reply in the affirmative to your question?
Anyway, I hope Yata is as happy with you as M,D,R,R,L from reputable breeders and current kennel club pup have all been with me.

Fleurpepper, it’s an open forum so no one dictates who posts or what they say. I didn’t say most rescuers are naive or stupid.
You seem to happily ignore my fifty years of rescuing dogs because my current pair weren’t rescued. One came to me at ten months the other at nine weeks. They came from excellent breeders
I have not suggested their aren’t disreputable exploitative breeders have I?
I’d rather you saved your anger for someone who earned it. I don’t believe I did

Yes, I did expect those who are adopters/rescuers to be those who would respond. and they have, 3 wonderful pages. If it was not clear from the title, I'd like to ask nicely for this thread to remain for adopters and rescuers. Thank you,