28/10/2025
The UK used to be known as a Nation of animal lovers so what is going wrong? Rescue centres are full and as this rescue below posts the reason for dogs being in rescue is different now than before.
There will always be genuine cases where a dog needs to be rehomed. This post is not about shaming anyone. In fact I for one am grateful for Ding coming into my life through Battersea dogs home. But we need to think seriously when we invite a dog into our home.
🐶 Have we got time to spend with the dog
🐶 Are we willing to train the dog and help them settle into our lifestyle
🐶 Can we financially afford a dog. Not just to feed but also training and potential vet fees
🐶 Do we understand the breed of dog and are they suitable for the lifestyle we have
🐶 What if the dog isn't what we expect or want...
The expectations being put on dogs nowadays are often unfair. Dogs are expected to all be social and not express how they feel. Not all dogs want to be cafe dogs, not all dogs want to live in noisy, busy households. Not all dogs love kids and cats or want to be handled at the vets. Of course we can work with these dogs to help them feel more comfortable but what if you don't have the time, knowledge or skill? What then...
I have the utmost respect for those working in rescue as it can be more heart breaking than rewarding but as a nation we need to do better.
If everyone trained their dog and worked with them they would be easier to rehome if the absolute need arose. Don't leave it until it is too late. Be proactive from the beginning to help prevent unwanted behaviour occurring. If you don't know how to work with your dog get professional help. The hardest dogs are often the ones you end up building the deepest bonds with.
Am I missing something or am I just getting to be an angry person for no reason?
As a rescue the dogs that used to come in to us were from dog pounds, strays, young farm dogs that weren't working, older retired farm dogs, dogs home alone after their owners have passed away, dogs from owners having to go into care homes, welfare and neglect cases. It's a pattern isn't it? Dogs that need to be rehomed!
We struggle now for spaces for those dogs because we have so many requests from pet owners. Don't get me wrong as some of them are genuine, illness, home repossession, allergies etc. BUT we also get the ones where the dog has bitten people, or someone is pregnant, can't cope with a puppy, bought it from a paper and wasn't told the truth!
The FOSTBC team work hard, they had no time off during Covid, they work Christmas day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Bank holidays, their birthdays etc. They crawl in to see to the dogs when they feel so ill they should really be in bed.
What gives some .people the right to tell us their dog doesn't fit their lifestyle anymore, isn't what they expected, is hard work, pulls on a lead, they can't give it what it needs, would be better in another home? Those dogs don't need rescuing, they are in a home and those people need to step up, accept responsibility and put the effort and work in so that those dogs who really need us can have the chance they deserve of a new home, and the people who would give anything to keep their dog but can't due to ill health can find the space their dog needs.
Still a bit angry Barbara
Please share if you can as this is a huge and still growing problem
