Breed Rescue v General Rescue

Would it be better to have ALL purebred rescue dogs going through breed specific rescue centres, whilst crossbreeds and mongrels being rehomed through general rescue centres.

What could be the pros and cons.

I'm not sure, in many ways I can see that breed rescue is good for the pure breeds, at least people will understand better what characteristics they are taking on and presumably the breed rescues have a better understanding of how to look after the dogs - particularly bcs who often do not do well in kennels.

Then again, I would never have got Kip (and then Hoki) if they had been at a breed rescue. I have always loved bcs but had major reservations about them being kept as pets, so I would never have gone looking for one, but they have proved just perfect for us.

I think probably, the pure breeds themselves are better at breed rescues, but the crossbreeds do benefit from having pure beeds in general rescue - e.g. someone goes in to see a purebreed but falls in love with a cross instead.

You also potentially have the problem what do breed rescues class as purebred? Would they only take the dogs that had papers or would they go on what looked like it was their breed?

Hmm good question!

My first thought is yes. It would mean that potential owners would be given breed specific information and also stop people homing an unsuitable breed on a whim (i.e. seeing one at a rehoming centre among other breeds and wanting it because it looks pretty)

However, would the numerically larger breeds cope? They'd have to have rescue kennels all round the country that are able to deal with a large number of dogs.

Difficult one really, although I'm still leaning towards the pros outweighing the cons.

Debs

I think it would generally be a good idea for the reasons already stated, but as Surannon has said, the more 'popular' breeds in rescue, Staffies, Collies, Labs, e.t.c, their breed rescues would be over run and I doubt that staffie rescue for example, has the facilities and means to cater for so many dogs.

So for the ajority i'd say yes, but if it was a steadfast rule, i.e only crossbreed allowed into general rescue, then dogs like staffies would be in trouble.

Also as Hali has stated, in these circumstances if general rescue was reserved for crossbreeds only, would breed specific rescue take in dogs with no papers which looked borderline crossbred? (I have seen purebred dogs which have been so badly bred they could easily be mistaken for crosses).

I can imagine the wars between the 2 sides now...

I think on a general note though, It would be beneficial for most breeds, as rescues don't know the traits and likely good/bad points of each and every breed as well as a breed specific rescue will do, being as they specialise in that particular breed. For instance, I know of a weimy who was rehomed a total of 11 times in the first 3 years of his life, going back and forth to the same rescue, (mentioning no names as it is still a rescue to this day) as they just couldn't place him in the right home and didn't know enough about his breed and traits (destruction, needing LOTS of excercise, not doing well being left alone, very attention seeking, e.t.c, e.t.c) to inform his new owners. A weimy is a handful enough but a rescue weimy often takes some doing to commit yourself to. In the end said dog ended up in breed rescue as the general rescue had basically felt he was a no-hoper. Breed rescue placed him once and he is now a happy boy in his forever home aged 14 years.

Obviously this was some time ago and times have changed, but I thought it a good example never the less.

What would be even better is if breed specific and general rescue were to work TOGETHER.

I'm reading this post perhaps slightly different. Are you asking for the expertise of the rescues where a dog would be better placed then to me it would be with the breed society. No one knows a breed better unless they have lived with those particular breeds.
Geographically this may not work, but general rescues should work closely with the Breed rescues with breeds they are not sure of. Rehoming a dog to the correct owner is hard enough. How on earth are you supposed to do that if you have no knowledge of the breed your homing. There traits etc. Reading up on a breed is some help but no substitute for working with someone who has lived and dealt with that breed for years. Most breed societies aren't interested whether the dog has papers as they do not look to breed from them anyway. They just want the best home for that dog Anyone rescue who doesn't do this isn't doing the best for that dog Do'nt get me wrong. I'm not saying all pure bred breeds should go to Breed Society rescues. I'm saying where education on a breed is lacking then the experts on the breed should be contacted.

I got Louie from the English Setter Rescue, who brought him over from Southern Ireland for me as he'd been in kennels there for over 6 months and no-one wanted him! As i've always had setters I went directly to them rather than the local PDSA centre.

your local PDSA does rehoming? thats interesting, i only thought they were low cost vets?

Whoops got the wrong name its the one with advert on the TV, the Dogs Trust? that I meant.

Most General Rescues do tend to work with a handful of Breed Rescues. We ourselves regularly take in breeds from General Rescues, we have breed specific fostercarer/rehomers who are experienced, knowledgeable in their particular breed, so we’re often classed as a Breed Rescue. The problem most Rescues have, including ourselves, is finding good Breed Rescues; ones that always neuter, microchip, home check etc, many say they do but unfortunately don't. For me to pass on one of our dogs I have to know and trust the Rescue, know that they will carry out the above and know their rehoming policy, pts policy and adoption contract. Unfortunately there’s not as many good Breed Rescues as you might think. The Breed Rescues we work with are excellent, problem is there often as full as we are.
If there is a space available in one of the reputable Breed Rescues it makes sense for a General Rescue with that breed to pass him/her on, freeing up space for them to help another, and their dog being cared for by someone experienced in it’s breed.
However for this to work you’d need a lot more reputable Breed Rescues, stats from two General Rescues in London (one large one small), show so far this year (Jan–April) approx 2/3rds of the dogs they were asked to help were pedigree, 1/3rd crossbreeds/mongrels

I think it would cause problems in some breeds where there are many non registered dogs bred as to what is a pedigree. I took many dogs to the GSD rescue when I was working for them as a transporter who were very questionable ^ whose pedigrees read for Eg Sally mated to Fred Sally's mum Sadie, Sally's dad Prince Fred's mum Freda, Dad not listed.
There were many like this, not a registered dog amoung them & some of the dogs were quetionable to. But then I think of the dog I fetched from the RSPCA. They said he was visious & they couldn't get in to feed him When I picked him up he was nervious but greeted me with enthusiasm & when I checked him over he was just changing teeth,a baby whose mouthing was teething related. So possibly even for the queries the pro's outway the cons. Having said this our local Dog's Trust are great with most breeds. O dear I seem to ne going backwards & forwards. Perhaps the answer is breed rescues are best when & only when they are well run.