At the park where I go to walk my dog, there are so many people with young dogs bought from breeders. The majority of them wanted to rescue a dog but couldn't because they worked. I now live in a flat so can't get another dog as I wouldn't be allowed to rescue as I don't live in a house with a garden.

I just don't get it that you must have a garden, especially when I see dogs who, yes they have a garden, but don't get taken on walks because they are out in the garden all day.

Sometimes with the rules the rescue places have, you wonder if they actually want to rehome the dogs.

I currently have 4 rescues, and prev to that I had 1 rehome and a stray that stayed. All 4 of my current dogs are "unadoptable" dogs for various reasons, I take the ones that no one wants and have the best group of dogs I could ever wish for! 2 of mine are failed fosters as wll.

I have a rescue BC from Ireland.

I hear what you are saying. Some rescues work on very hard and fast policies when an individual personal approach may be better. I'm of the 'every case is different' view. Unfortunately, this system is labor intensive and many rescues don't have the time or resources to carry it out.

All mine were rescue GSD's, all fab dogs. I think the first one we had (when I was very young) was got rid off by previous owners due to food agression, the other two were due to a chage in circumstances and found a home with us.

My partner and I are looking to rehome a greyhound/lurcher type next year when we move house and are more settled.

Our two are rescue greyhounds. They were kennelled together in the rescue kennels and the instant we both saw them, we wanted them. They are both black and apparently not many black greyhounds get re-homed, and especially not two together. Think it's because they get stressed in kennels and it shows in their skin and fur, which goes all flaky and makes them look manky. A few months of salmon oil and frequent brushing and they are gorgeous and shiny!

Our first dog, Jack, was a whippet and as my mum and dad had always had a dog, I wanted one as soon as me and OH bought our own house, instead of renting. OH saw him advertised in Loot on a Sunday morning, and 30 mins later I was there picking him up (from somewhere in Manchester that if I'd known what it was like, I wouldn't have gone on my own!). Didn't know what colour he was, all I got told was his age and sex. So glad I took him with me after seeing where he was living. They had only had him three weeks and he had been sleeping in the garden at night. It was September when he came home and don't think he would have survived a winter outside. As I drove off, the dad of the house said to the few kids, that 'I'm sure the nice lady will let us know how he is'. No chance, my foot was down and we were gone!

A few more weeks and I am sure Jack would have been thrown out on the streets!

That's why we couldn't rescue this time. We lived with my parents and our local shelters didn't want us to take on a rescue when we planned to move out sometime. They didn't want to knowingly rehome a dog when there would be some disruption. It wasn't considered that I only work 4 hours a day and that there was someone at home 24/7 so we had a very good chance of getting the dog settled and trained before we looked to move on. I was so upset because I only ever wanted to adopt. Still, I've got my boys now and they're great!

As Oscar is still very young obviously I have to be careful about which dogs I allow into my home. Once Oscar is an adult and maybe away at Uni or left home (although I can't see him every going anywhere), I'll go back to taking on problem dogs.

Before I had Oscar I woudl take on dogs with aggression or other behavioural issues. I was in no way qualified to dal wih them but with experience, patience and effort I woudl gain their trust. That was half the battle. Onc ethat bond was there, I had something to work with.

I know of so many GSDs who are PTS because they have "issues" and there's one place where a particular staff member claims she knows everything about the breed. If she can't get the dogs to accept her and her way of doing things (bearing in mind they're stressed out and shoved in a concrete kennel) they are also PTS. Many of these dogs have no real problems or problems that can be easily overcome and are quite young, healthy dogs that would make fantastic family pets with minimal work in the long term.

So that's my long term goal for rescue dogs but Oscar is only 6 years old (well he will be next Tuesday) so there's a long time to go before I could take on these dogs. What hurts is knowing how many will be destroyed before that time and there's nothing I can do about it.

Laura xx

I've had 4 dogs & umpteen cats, all rescues except Barney, a private rehome. I've also done voluntary work with DT as puppy socialiser, working with dogs with behavioural problems & just general dog walking. I've often been tempted to take home more dogs, but because of the cats, I have to be careful not to let my heart rule my head. At the moment I have a happy group of 2 dogs & 2 cats who all get along together so I'm loathe to upset this.

As for rescues not rehoming to people in flats, I agree this is very short-sighted. I've known plenty of dogs that happily live in flats and the owners make extra effort to give the dogs quality outdoor time. I have known plenty of DT dogs that have been rehomed to owners living flats. Maybe it depends on other factors & the flat problem is used as an excuse?

I brought a little terrier x home from a local rescue three years ago, after being without a dog for five years. First time had been together with a rescue dog or terrier. It was very clear that she had not had a good life in many respects, but building trust and giving her time, to be a dog has made a difference to both our lives. She has taught me a lot too, and very different in lot of ways to the spaniels we always had from puppies in the past(still have a soft spot for them). If circumstance were different I would happily re-home another dog, or a housefull. It's a doggie dog world(to us any road up)