Problem rescue situation with Malinois dogs

OK we have a problem - our breed club rescue has had an increasing number of Malinois requiring it's services - these dogs are from so called 'working' lines and are difficult to rehome - we'just been notified of another TWENTY Malinois coming in with god knows how many more in the near future - this is the tip of a time bomb that we have been warning about for some time but what should we do ? - whilst we would like to help all the dogs placed on rescue ours is a small club with limited funds and more importantly these are VERY difficult dogs to rehome - personally I also believe that our rescue service is simply acting as an enabler for the unethical Malinois breeders out there allowing them to dump their unwanted dogs and make room for more - we've had two entire litters placed on rescue over the last 6 months all requiring very specialised homes - the working fraternity have no breed rescue and are not interested in helping ( our club members are made up mostly of those who show their dogs ) - should we close our doors to the working bred Malinois and refuse to help or should we say as BSD is a BSD and help all those who ask until all our funds are gone ?

I guess it depends on a) how dedicated you are to your breed and b) how dedicated you are to dogs.

I have not heard of the same issues in GSD, CS, ESS, Labrador rescues with regard to their working lines v show lines?

Catch 22 isn't it? It's a 'no win' situation you have.

It was only a matter of time before this situation exploded and it looks like that time is about now with the number of re-homing requests you are getting .

There are never going to be enough homes out there that are able to cope with this type of specialist dog and, God forbid, they should end up in inexperienced hands.

When the same issue hit Sibe rescue, the rules changed and they only take in dogs belonging to club members as otherwise rescue couldn't cope.
Mal rescue only take in KC reg dogs due to the massive amount and the number of mixes etc

A rescue can only care for the amount it can cope with.

If you (Rescues) get the pedigree paperwork for the dogs that are coming in is it worth flagging with the Kennel Club especially if it's the same breeders that are causing the problems by in appropriate homing of puppies?

It must be so hard, especially as they aren't for the feint hearted they need experienced homes to avoid the behavioural troubles that arise from inexperienced homes/handlers and incorrect training.

Might be worth going to the dog papers too to highlight the problem.

Or writing a letter to the breeder that is causing you issues asking for financial assistence or for them to take back the dogs that they have bred or if there's a working newsletter put ad's in there asking for donations...(I know they probably won't acknowledge but at least it might make you feel a bit better as they can't claim ignorance)

I guess you will have to what the rescue I help does we just have to accept we cannot help every dog, and only take what we can rehome. If we took all the difficult cases we would go under quickly and be no help to anyone.

Probably not what you want to hear but it's a never ending line of dogs not wanted and you can only help tip of the ice berg.

I know rescues cannot operate above their limit so cannot help but refuse to take more when they are full. But it does make you wonder what will happen to all those refused especially in the numbers are so large - there are fates lying in wait for some dogs (related to fighting and baiting) that I consider to be worse than being euthanised.

You can not save every.
When people start breeding with no regard for the welfere of the dog they willexpect others to pick up the pieces.

Stafford breed rescues long ago had to draw the line as they were being swamped with crosses.

Rescue IMO should be that, rescue, not a rehoming service for those that don't take proper responsibilty for their own.

It is going to be a difficult situation. If there wasn't such an influx of Malinois coming in, then I would say that rescue is rescue and should deal with whichever type of BSD that comes in (as far as funds allow of course). However, with the amount of dogs you are talking about, plus the predicted number in the future, it may simply be impossible for a small rescue to be able to help them all.

There is a working dog (protection) forum. It might be worth posting something on there about the number of working Malinois coming in to rescue, and see whether there may be some in the working fraternity who wants to start up their own working Mali rescue - you never know!

Other than that, I think perhaps you need to do as the Husky rescue do, and only take in KC registered Malis. Or just take each dog/litter on a case by case basis.

Another aspect to this problem, could be whether people not experienced with working Malis are the best people to find the right homes for these dogs.

I think maybe as someone has already suggested, maybe do a feature in the dog papers about this problem, it may at least shame those who are creating the problem , and hopefully promoting them to take responsibility for their actions.

Re-homing aggressive dogs is not easy, and to be honest I take the view its better to PTS a dog that is difficult to home, rather than allow it to spend its life in rescue,

Decisions have to be made, you can only spread yourself so far, it must be heartbreaking to see your breed come to this