discrimination

Are rescue dogs seen as inferior to other dogs ?

I ask that cos im getting annoyed with people who wont even consider a rescue ... this week alone I have advised three people on forums to rescue a dog , and posted links to a rescue (not all on this forum I might add) and in each case the answer has been negative

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Not at all - in fact I see lots of "snobbery" about rescues, but a rescue is not for everyone, I work and show my dogs which pretty much counts out a rescue for now - I also work full time as does my OH which many rescues are not happy with although the rescues that I volunteer for judge cases on their own merits.

I have also had 12 years of dogs with ongoing health issues and at the moment am very much enjoying and appreciating my dogs from good breeders who are fit as fiddles and without any health concerns.

It very much depends on why people want a dog and what their expectations are of the dog - a rescue is perfect for some people, but then for others would not be a wise move, or an inappropriate dog to have.

I am not against rescue, I have had more than one myself over the years, but I would like to see an end to dogs needing to be rescued. Much of it could be avoided if the animals were put in the right homes with the right people to start with.

Why shouldn't anybody buy what they want if thats what they want to do without feeling guilty?

I think there can be an attitude, I've seen it when I've told people my 2 dogs are rescues for sure, and they play happily with another dog in the park, and we chat to his owner who was saying he wanted another dog, I said why not look at a rescue dog, and he said oh no I wouldn't have a rescue, because of the children! I tried to explain that rescue dogs are vetted but he said he wouldn't consider one, and he sees our two on an almost daily basis, go figure! I do agree that people have choices, of course they do, its their money they can buy what they want, but I also think there is snobbery involved too.

I don't think rescues are discriminated against but it comes down to personal choice. I have both breeder and rescue dogs and rats and will continue to have both as my circumstances permit.

I think there are a number of reasons why people are put off rescues - some factual, some 'myth'.

On the factual side:
the majority of rescue centres will not consider rehoming a dog to those that work or to those that have young children.

If you are determined on a certain breed you may not have a choice - some breeds rarely go into rescue and if they do, there is a long waiting list.

Some rescues are not good at assessing the dogs (and it isn't always possible to see a dog's true tempermanet in kennels anyway). This can result in people being unhappy with their rescue experience. Of course against that is that people can just as easily buy the wrong breed or just not be suited for dog ownership at all - hence why there are so many dogs in rescue.

Myths:
"All rescue dogs have issues". It's true that many do but there are those that have been well treated, well trained and loved and are in the rescue through no fault of their own - e.g. their owner dies. Providing that the potential adopters are open and honest about their dog experience and their life styles and that they are prepared to wait for the right dog (which should also apply to chosing a puppy too), I believe there is a rescue dog to suit everyone.

"You could never have the same relationship with a rescue dog as you could with a pup that you'd had since 8 weeks old". Anyone who had met my 3 rescues (one now sadly at the bridge) would soon learn that this just isn't true. When I took Hoki to training classes for socialisation, she was about 5 years old and I had had her 3 or 4 months. Half of the other owners there came up to me after the session and said they wished their dog had the same devotion to them as Hoki had to me.

"you can't teach an old dog new tricks". Yes sometimes it takes longer, but they can and do learn and what's more they enjoy it.


I can understand your frustration, but trying to force the issue isn't the way to go and sometimes the harder we try, the more we can put people off. I always think the best way to convert people is through showing them the evidence - when people are jealous of your dogs and your relationship with them, then find out that the dog is a rescue, that says more than a thousand words.

Hali I agree with your comments, and my 2 are so good in the park with their recall, ball fetching and general behaviour I get loads of people saying aren't they good, wish mine was as good etc, and yet they still have this attitude about rescues.

Excellent post, Fiona

I don't see rescue dogs as inferior - just unfortunate that they either had a poor owner who never took the time to train them in the first place - or unfortunate that their prior owner died and there was no family who could or would take them on.
That's not the dog's fault and I love to give them a second chance.

For me its a rescue every time - I take my dog loads of places and she's well behaved, everyone comments on how lovely she is and I tell them she was 7 years old when I adopted her from Battersea.

Nearly everyone is astounded because she is SO people friendly - and they had their own skewed thinking about what type of dog comes out of a rescue.
The love we have for each other is obvious -- and the best thing I hear is, "well, if rescues are like her, I'd have one."

It may be just the people you meet. Just about all the dogs in our local park are rescues. And all my friends have rescues. Maybe I just move in scruffier circles!

I can fully understand the original posters frustration......... especially as many people refuse rescue due to 'issues' and think that some how a rescue will be hard work............. so they go out and buy a puppy instead, go figure?

We have had our rescue dog for about 6 weeks now, she is approx 7 months old and came with no problems other than the normal puppy behaviors (chewing etc). I believe there is a good rescue dog out there for most people, you just have to go looking.

There are even many pure bred dogs in rescue now, so if you are after a specific breed it should be possible to find a good match.


The only downside I can see is the process of adopting itself....... some of the home vetting and criteria these places set out is madness, I could hardly believe it when we were looking for Rose (6ft+ fences, no kids under 16, private housing only, no working families, no couples under 25 or singles under 21 etc etc), and potentially could result in a lot of frustrated visitors going away empty handed and another homeless dog being put down.............................................. .... Then again when we were visiting the dogstrust centre, people were returning adopted puppies because they cried at night, made a mess on the floor or required too much attention! - so there are a lot of idiots out there that think a dog can be turned on and off like a play station, which I suppose partly justifies the patronising adoption process that puts many people off.