yep I totally agree everyone can learn something from someone else and it would be a great idea if as you say laura people sitting saying poor dog did something constructive and made an offer of help even if it is only once I am sure that all rescues need more people we never seem to have enough if there are any of you out there that can give some time remember all rescues can put it to good use whether its a home-check or to move a dog or perhaps some off you could foster give it a thought :P :P :P

I don't know about the SSPCA but I would imagine they are pretty much the same as the RSPCA and I have seen them slated on a site I used to belong to. In what dealing I have had with the RSPCA I have found them to be prompt and efficient within the limits of their powers. Lets face it they are dammed if they don't and dammed if they do. When they have too many dogs to cope with people are horrified if dogs are PTS..if they rehome the ones they think have the best chance they are 'being choosy', if they are not careful enough with choice when rehoming they are evil..how can they win. I would have said it their position I would try to do the best I could for the maximum number of dogs I could and if that means being picky well there may have to be a comprimise somewhere

Hi SB the USPCA over here a few months ago started the same thing they also now refuse to take dogs of people... mainly people trying to offload a dog they no longer want... they tell the people that it is their own responsibility to home the dogs elsewhere instead of dumping their cast offs on the USPCA... these dogs are ending up being a big burden on the few local charity rescues here or dumped in the local council run dog wardens shelter where they are getting PTS
The attitude of the USPCA has changed here they seem more interested in turning themselves into some sort of police service for cruelty cases and making tv programmmes and they are doing a lot of pennypinching

I think your missing the point minihaha I along with most people admire the sspca for what they do and realise that a lot of dogs would be pts if it was,nt for them but surely it only makes sense if and when they have a dog and a breed rescue contact no. whether its poodles to great danes to contact a breed rescue as usually they have people that have been in touch that are looking for a dog and it can sometimes means the dog can be re-homed faster

Let me try to explain SB.. you are saying that the SSPCA are now only going to contact Boxer Rescue if they have a problem boxer is this correct? And it would seem from your posts that you get more than enough Boxers to rescue is that so or is there a shortage? Surely the main criteria is that as many dogs as possible get good homes regardless of who rehomes them ? Now..if I was trying to rehome the maximum number of dogs at the RSPCA and a family came along to choose a dog and I had a fit no problems Boxer I would do my best to rehome it, if on the other hand I had a problem or sick Boxer I would look on boxer rescue as 'the specialist homers' who would be more likely to be approached by an experienced boxer owners/previous owners to obtain a dog, that seems reasonable to me. When I am at home all the time not working I will be more than happy to rehome an elderly or sick Schnauzer, it is my breed and I understand them, I would not go to the RSPCA for one but to my breed rescue.... and if the RSPCA got a fit Schnauzer in to rehome all well and good (though having said that there are so few to rescue people usually fight over them). Am I to understand then that you have more people waiting to rescue a boxer than you have dogs available? If so why grumble that is excellent, they may go off and rehome some other breed..it you have more then enough boxers waiting for homes don't grumble, be happy one more has been rehomed regardless of who rehomes it ,one less for you to worry about

thats a very sensible way of looking at it mini

I also think that if the SSPCA are unaware of your rescue, they would (quite rightly) be wary of you until you make yourselves well known to them, by visiting, phoning etc, and being on friendly terms. then they are more likely to trust you with the responsibility of rehoming their dogs
i mean anyone could phone up and say they are a rescue couldnt they? The SSPCA would need to know you personally to be able to work with your rescue.
Or I would have thought thats the way it works anyway?

As I've said before you have to practically become a bit of a pest at the centres for them to remember you . When i walk into the glasgow or Stirling home you see the staff dropping their heads as if to say oh god it's her again!!!! I go around the country to introduce myself to as many santuaries as possible. I have a staffie rescue leaflet that I leave for them to readand then that way they now have a number to call. Yes we get the calls about the problem dogs but we also get calls about dogs needed moved out of the area. In some areas if i can't get anyone to do a home check, i've called the SSPCA and they've arranged one of their inspectors to go. Especially on some of the islands. I've had some bad days dealing with them but it's done, it's over, tomorrows another day and there will always be more dogs to save. Sometimes it's a harsh world but in rescue you have to be realistic with yourself and keep saying to yourself "No, I can't save them all" but just think of the ones you have and what you have actually given to the new owners - a whole heep of love and mischeif wrapped up in doggie skin.
Tracie

no MINIHAHA WE DO NOT HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN DOGS THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THING TO EVEN ASSUME ! ! AS CBT IS AWARE AND MOST OTHER PEOPLE ON HERE NO HOME-CHECKS OR VERY FEW ARE CARRIED OUT BY THESE CENTRES I AM KNOWN TO THEM AND IT WAS A PARTICULAR INCIDENT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT CAUSED ME TO WRITE TO THEM THEY DO AN EXELLENT JOB BUT I STILL FEEL THAT THE BREAK DOWN ON COMMUNICATION IS LAX HOPEFULLY NOW THE SITUATION WILL BE RESOLVED AS AT THE END OF THE DAY IN ANY RESCUE THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS THE WELFARE OF THE DOGS

First SB PLEASE DON'T SHOUT read my post above again please, I am not assuming I am asking you if you have more people than dogs My post is self explanatory and precise if you don't have more dogs than people why moan about someone trying to find as many good homes as possible? Why don't you concentrate more on the difficult cases which I would have thought was more appropriate? Reading all your post as an outsider looking on it seems a lot of grumbling and nit picking goes on no up there between rescue/agencies/breeders when surely the main object for all of you is the breeds best interests and rehomeing dogs!
As for the man with the dog he did not want..well some people are so** and you say the dog is fit, I as a 'rescuer' would 'resue it' that being my raison d'être and I would be happy the breeder had not hit it on the head and put it down a hole as I guess some do. Not having a go SB just amazed at all the odd rescue posts coming from up there with lost dogs and sheds to name a few..
As for home checks..well they arn't everything as has been pointed out before..the people are more important than the home.