It's such a shame because, when they seemed to be run on a more individual basis, the Southampton one was good. Or maybe there were a few staff who were really good. When we applied for a dog, wanting one who could live in a flat and go to work with my ex husband who was a rights of way maintenance person, we were interviewed and then showed two dogs. We weren't allowed to browse the rest of the dogs.....but then that all changed again.

I'm sure it wasn't policy to keep unhomeable homes in the storage area but Nip, a belligerent grumpy old mongrel (who was named nip because that's what he did...well he actually bit through someone's welly once) and Sindy an incontinent ancient whippet had a nice life living in the warm storage area at night together and having lots of visitors in the day time. Lots of attention in the staff room or out sunbathing in the grounds with the staff in the summer on breaks. Technically I suppose nip should have been put down as they were unable to find a home for him. He was fine as long as he could do what he wanted but if he felt you were trying to get him to do something he'd "attack" haha...in a very old and arthritic way so you had lots of time to get out of the way as he grumpily creaked his way over to you.

I'm completely with you guys, but on the other hand it makes me think that if those puppies stay in kennels until mid-January, they miss out on a lot of home socialisation.. Unless obviously the rescue puts in a lot of effort and time.

That is how I got Tilly, she came as a foster dog when she was 20weeks old, 3 weeks before Christmas and 3 weeks after hubby past away, all the reaches were full and all fosterers had dogs. She either came to me or stay in kennels.

I didn't want a pup but couldn't leave her in kennels so she came and never moved on. She and my dogs helped me through Christmas, I was grieving but having to take care of them really helped.

That's a lovely story, dogs are amazing creatures!
I imagine it would be extremely difficult to find foster homes for a litter that size though.