Are you an adopter/rescuer?

Wow Alioop- how wonderful. So happy for you, both of you.

When I went to see my rescue dog my heart broke. She was skin and bone, you could see her spine and hips sticking out and she had really badly matted hair. The poor thing was a mess, a really nervous girl who was frightened of everything. I had to have the scruffy mite and hope I could help her trust again.
The scruffy dog ended up to be a pedigree wire haired fox terrier, a right wee madam who is now so full of confidence. She is the most important thing in my life and I know the feeling is mutual. We just have each other and I thank god for rescue centres who can bring these poor unloved dogs into our lives.

How lovely Joseanne - hope the adoption goes smoothly. Please post photos once you have got him/her.

So, application put in for a local rescue 11 month kitten yesterday, filled out questionnaire truthfully. Have had 8 rescue cats before, so fingers 🤞.

Grannybags

Oh dear, I didn't think I would cause such a stir with my 'dominant bitch' comment. It's always been a joke in my family!

So many people on GN with no sense of humour these days it seems.

By the way I've never rescued a dog or cat so shouldn't even be commenting on this thread apparently

I thought it was funny! It's the kind of thing my OH might have said too.
My son's partner has two dogs, one of which was a Romanian rescue dog. I do take the point which has been made about so many animals needing rescued in this country, but I support several animal welfare groups both here in the UK and abroad. Someone once said that you cannot save every animal, no matter how hard you try, but you can make the world of difference to that one particular animal. An animal rescued is an animal rescued, no matter where it comes from.

Our rehomed cats are pedigree ones as are DDs. All sorts of pets need rehomed for all sorts of reasons.

Joseanne

Setting aside the provenance dog itself, does having a pedigree dog make me a lesser pet owner, because that is how it is starting to feel.

No, no-one has said that. This is just not what this thread is about, that's all.

Ah poor thing- did she ever get over this?

We adopted a big labrador type mix, from friends who could no longer look after her. She was absolutely calm and lovely, and so easy to look after.

First New Year's eve, we went out for dinner at friends' and returned at about 1.30. She had torn the carpet in the dining/kitchen where she was left, her happy place, scratched the wall and beautiful antique oak door- and had torn 2 claws. The place was covered with blood.

Our friends lived in the country-side, so didn't know she would react like this to fireworks- but that she was terrified of gun-shot. The Pub next door held a big Fireworks Party and did not warn us. Lots of complaints in the area afterwards, as they had used some of those huge chinese fireworks that make more noise than anything else.

We just could never leave her for the whole of the autumn, what with Diwali and Bonfire night- and fireworks going off non-stop for days, weeks on end! Poor thing.

Keep the lovely stories coming.

My DS once rehomed a collie. A lovely dog. We soon discovered that she was petrified of young lads wearing jeans and can only assume that she'd suffered abuse by cruel young men.

Greenfinch

All our cats have been rescue cats . The current one we have only had for 4 weeks and we are finding him a bit difficult. He is 9 but we are wondering about his background as he is very, very nervous. Sometimes he will let us stroke him but he prefers his own company and stays upstairs most of the day. We tried to introduce him to the garden today but he put 2 paws outside and then raced back upstairs. Our other cats have been delighted to run around the garden but we have a bit of a challenge here.

Ah bless him. 4 weeks is no time. My very nervous rescue cat took a year to purr and learn how to play. Once you gain their trust, no matter how long it takes, it's very special

So lovely to hear of pet owners' love and dedication without judging others' choices.

I’d like to add that all my greyhounds have been pedigree dogs!
The good thing about greys is that they are not bred for looks but for performance, so a winning dog will be in demand at stud or as a breeding bitch, but there is a strictly adhered to chart showing any dog’s breeding and so outlawing any in-breeding and recessive genes - again unlike the many less than scrupulous show breeders.
But I am not smug or against pedigree pups. Eldest D has a gorgeous working cocker which they got as a puppy -don’t ask me what “work “ she does, it mainly seems to involve squirrel patrol - and D 2 a lurcher/poodle cross with the gentlest temperament whose brain power leaves both the cocker and my greyhound standing!
I am actually strongly opposed to greyhound racing as the track conditions can be appalling and the dogs can be treated almost as badly as your “street” dogs. That is why I find the greyhound rescue sites irresistible and am only too happy to offer a sofa not to mention the foot of my bed to Rosie!

Grannybags

Oh dear, I didn't think I would cause such a stir with my 'dominant bitch' comment. It's always been a joke in my family!

So many people on GN with no sense of humour these days it seems.

By the way I've never rescued a dog or cat so shouldn't even be commenting on this thread apparently

I loved the dominant bitch
One of the best contributions here ?

No Joseanne, it certainly doesn’t. It’s unfair and unpleasant to even suggest it. There’s a joy in meeting people who really know their chosen breed, in working with trainers who can focus on encouraging breed tendencies. My two are water retriever dogs. They’re never happier than when given opportunity to exercise their inbred ability.
Watching a jack russell do what it’s bred to do is a treat. Site hounds run like the wind.
My hugemlabradoodle had the best qualities of her standard poodle and working lab ancestors
I have to say, my rescue mongrel was one of the best dogs I ever shared my life with. He arrived with earth rib showing, fearful, stole and guarded food, etc. within the year he was rock solid. He, like four of my dogs, helped my therapeutic work with chikdren

Oh dear, I didn't think I would cause such a stir with my 'dominant bitch' comment. It's always been a joke in my family!

So many people on GN with no sense of humour these days it seems.

By the way I've never rescued a dog or cat so shouldn't even be commenting on this thread apparently

* provenance of the dog

Setting aside the provenance dog itself, does having a pedigree dog make me a lesser pet owner, because that is how it is starting to feel.

Our first cat followed the fella next door home from the pub, he didn’t want her and she adopted our door step overnight and ended up living with us for 21 years ( a ripe age I gather ) .I was so upset when she died but made the mistake of looking through the cats protection website and saw this lovely big Ginger Tom cat who had been badly abused (?) .
Well enough said,he was ours within days and 5 years later he’s still our beloved pet. I couldn’t go out and buy a pet when I know the pet charities need lots of animals rehoming.

It’s a minimum 3 months before we begin to know our adopted rescues. Puppies are a totally different thing. There’s no way we can say rescues are safer than puppies

@Fleurpepper

Perhaps with respect I might remind you of the origin of my # comment -
Grannybags
Many years ago when I took our male puppy for his first check up at the vet she said I needed to show him I was the 'dominant bitch' My husband said I would be very good at that!!

SOH by-pass? No, not really.

Rescue stories are rarely 'funny' actually- some are just wonderful and heartwarming.

But if anyone has a funny story about a rescue- that would be nice too.

Love verbs which are also nouns- like hound! Or bitch, t'other way round!

Callistemon21

I shouldn't have looked at all the pictures of dogs which need homes in this area.
We can't have one.

What a pity- but why buy, when there are so many properly vetted, screened and assessed dogs that need good homes?

But, and I know threads meander and the title was not clear, this thread was never meant to discuss this, but to share experiences. Hopefully good and wonderful, but of course. less so if that is the case.

Iam64

Fleurpepper, where’s your evidence that a properly vetted fostered dog is probably safer than a puppy? I seem to recall your experience with puppies has been limited. I’ve had four puppies and one of my spaniels had a planned litter (7 healthy puppies) back in 1974.
It should be possible to discuss the joys and risks associated with dogs, whether they’re puppies, adolescent or adult dogs. There are no simple answers to complex problems.

Because it is an adult, has been in care with an experienced dog handler-foster carer- and their behaviour seen and experienced.

Sorry, cross listed there with Callistemon and maw.
As an aside, I wish my little spaniel was more of a dominant bitch with the young, over full of his own importance huge labrador. Rather than attempt to help improve his manners, she turns her nose up at him and gets comfy on the sofa

I shouldn't have looked at all the pictures of dogs which need homes in this area.
We can't have one.