Are you an adopter/rescuer?

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!

@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!!

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

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.

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.

* provenance of the dog

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

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

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 ?

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

I thought it was funny too Grannybags my husband would make entirely the same comment.
I think the alpha/dominant dog theory is now losing favour in dog training circles.

I've had many dogs over the years, both pedigree and rehomes, they've all been wonderful in their own ways. My current two are both rehomes, they came from different homes about a week apart. They are both pedigree Pugs and both came with all their paperwork and vet history. They adore each other and love everyone especially my 3 year old GS. Both were chipped and that paperwork came with them too. The female came via a fosterer because her owner had died and the male, only 9 months old and neutered they simply couldn't handle. Apparently he couldn't get on with the resident dog but came to us and although he was a bit stroppy to begin with soon settled and adjusted quite literally within a couple of days and became best mates with our resident male Staffie and resident female Pug, both now sadly departed.

We have always taken in cats who needed new homes or were from a litter of kittens, but our last two "ladies" were from Cats Protection. The first was about 11 years old with a history of arthritis, for which she needed pricey medication, but she was worth it and gave us lots of fun and love for four years. We then acquired Molly, an older indoor cat (new to us) who loved to spend time by my side and was such a good pal. Sadly, she developed kidney failure this year and was put to sleep. Such a loss as one gets older oneself seems harder to bear somehow, so until now we have not taken on another cat, but who knows, we may do this in the New Year.

sodapop

I thought it was funny too Grannybags my husband would make entirely the same comment.
I think the alpha/dominant dog theory is now losing favour in dog training circles.

Yes, funny. Just depends on context, and who says it.