It Could Only Happen In Animal Rescue

16/11/2025

I suppose it all began with the “new” breeds of dog that once upon a time would have been called “crossbreed” or even worse! Now folks are making up their own colour variations. Recently we’ve been asked if we’ve got any Autumn Russet Collies, Heather-Blue Spaniels, Copper Dapple Retriever or even a Storm-Slate Hound, (I may have made some of those up….or did I?)

So to get in first can I proudly announce our latest admission looking for a new home 😉🤭😁

“Biscuit” a Chocolate Digestive German Shepherd

Recognised By:

Absolutely no official kennel club, anywhere, at any time. Universally acknowledged by biscuit lovers and confused dog-spotters.

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General Appearance

A noble, medium–large shepherd-type dog coated in a shade reminiscent of Britain’s favourite tea-dunking biscuit. Often described by onlookers as “Is that… is that a normal Shepherd?” followed by “Why do I suddenly want a cuppa?”

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Colour

The hallmark of the Chocolate Digestive German Shepherd is its unmistakable:
• Buttery Base Coat – ranging from pale custard to fresh-out-the-packet biscuit.
• Chocolate Highlights – subtle, stripey, or accidental due to rolling in flour, depending on the individual.
• Optional Crumb Patterning – usually the result of mud, garden soil, or lying suspiciously close to the biscuit tin.

Please note: any resemblance to genuine breed colours is entirely coincidental and likely due to the lighting or the dog having recently washed itself.

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Temperament

The Chocolate Digestive German Shepherd typically displays:
• Loyalty – will follow you anywhere, especially the kitchen.
• Vigilance – always alert to potential biscuit-related threats.
• Intelligence – capable of learning commands such as “leave it” (ignored), “come” (negotiable), and “drop the digestive” (flat refusal).
• Mischief – particularly around picnics, tea trays, and unattended snack cupboards.

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Preferred Home

Best suited to adopters who:
• Understand that the colour is a figment of public imagination.
• Are committed to giving the dog enrichment, training, and a secure garden.
• Do not mind being stopped in the street by strangers asking, “Is that a special edition Shepherd?”

Tea drinkers preferred, but not essential.

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Health

Generally robust, although occasionally prone to:
• Crumb accumulation behind the ears (owner-induced).
• Overconfidence around pastries.
• Tactical counter-surfing.

No health issues specifically associated with the Chocolate Digestive colour, mostly because it doesn’t exist.

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Notes for Adoption Listing

This is a German Shepherd in temperament, needs, and behaviour.
The “Chocolate Digestive” label refers solely to coat colour as described by previous owners, who may have been hungry at the time.

We therefore encourage potential adopters to focus less on the fictional flavour and more on providing a stable, experienced, loving home. 😉😁

17/10/2025

I just love reading other rescues job adverts on FB with the inevitable comments that help us realise, it isn’t just us!

🐾 The “Completely Missed the Point” Crowd
• “Is this for cats too?” (for a job at a dog only rescue)
• “I’d love to apply but I live in Spain.”
• “Can I work from home?” (for kennel assistant)
• “Do I need to like dogs?”
• “I can’t work weekends, weekdays, mornings or afternoons, will that be ok?”
• “Do you provide the dogs?”

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💰 The “Misinformed About Charity Work” Brigade
• “Typical — all volunteers and no one wants to pay proper wages!”
• “Bet the CEO drives a Bentley while you lot work for free!”
• “Why are you asking for a volunteer coordinator when you could just coordinate yourselves?”
• “Do you have to bring your own mop or do you supply luxury cleaning products?”

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🐶 The “Totally Personal Tangent” Posters
• “My aunt used to have a dog called Toby. He died.”
• “I’d love to apply but I can’t because my neighbour’s dog barks at mine.”
• “I rescued a dog once. Worst decision I ever made.”
• “I can’t do kennels because of my aura.”

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💻 The “Doesn’t Read the Ad” Division
• “Where do I send my CV?” (when it’s clearly linked)
• “What hours?” (in a post that starts with “Full-time, 40 hours per week…”)
• “Do you need experience?” (second line: “experience essential”)
• “How much does it pay?” (under a volunteer role)
• “Is this still available?” (posted 4 minutes after upload)

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😤 The “Armchair Experts”
• “You should be hiring behaviourists, not receptionists!”
• “Why don’t you just rehome them faster instead of hiring people?”
• “If you loved animals you wouldn’t need to advertise.”
• “I’d do this for free if you let me take a dog home every night.”

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😂 The “Unintentionally Brilliant” Ones
• “I can’t work around dogs, I’m allergic to fur, smell, and barking.”
• “Will I get a discount on dogs?”
• “Do the dogs get a lunch break?”
• “I don’t drive but can you pick me up and drop me off?”
• “Can my psychic support cat come with me to the interview?”
• “I’ve never owned a dog but I’ve watched Marley & Me six times.”

14/10/2025

It might only be October, but we seem to have a clear winner in the 2025 “I Don’t Believe It” Story Of The Year. It’s hard with this one to even make it even slightly amusing so let’s simply outline the story as it unfolded.

Two visitors arrived today, no appointment just called in on their way home from holiday. Called in to see what dogs we have available as “their current dog isn’t well and probably won’t be with them much longer” Colleagues discuss how the adoption process works and the dogs we currently have. After some discussion they then reveal they have their existing dog with them, “Would you like to see him?”

Colleagues of course said yes, but certainly didn’t expect what was about to be revealed.

The dog was taken out of their vehicle, unable to stand, the owner laid him down on the floor. His breathing was very shallow and covered in….well, I’ll leave to you guess what a dog that can’t stand, that is struggling to breathe might be covered in!

“I really think your dog needs to see a vet” a colleague discreetly pointed out.

“Oh yes we know. That’s why we’re heading home. We’ll get him booked in at our vets when we get home. (It transpired, home is about 3 to 4 hours away so very unlikely it would be today)

“No, I really think he needs to see a vet now. He’s very unwell. We could call our vets and see if they can see you straight away. I think we should”

“What now? Today?”

“Yes, now.”

Appointment made and we called the vets back to check they had arrived. They had, of course we don’t know the outcome but at least the poor lad got to see the right person to help him!

We know it’s a difficult decision to face but you do have to question the thinking in a situation like this.

06/10/2025

Here we go, it's Monday and we've started - If you’re after a dog that never chews, barks, sheds, digs, jumps, pulls, or needs walking — we’ve got just the one for you!
He’s quiet, obedient, never costs a penny in food or vet bills, and will sit exactly where you put him for the rest of his days.
You’ll find him in aisle three of your local toy shop — labelled “plush”. 🧸🐾

03/10/2025

My week is complete, I've just spoken to a potential dog adopter, a Mr Woof. I made no comment, professional as always :-)

02/10/2025

Yep, we concur with these sentiments. Especially after a recent matter than has involved so much time and effort and now reached a point where we've closed down any further contact by email! Sometime you just have to say, "Enough is enough"

Rescue is hard. It’s heartbreak and hope, every single day.

Today has been hard enough without horrible people.

We’ve all worked a full day—8am to 5:30pm. Then after work, we’ve gone straight out to the rescues. Some of us have been on the roadside collecting kittens. I’ve gone out to take in an emergency dog (pictured below). And after all that, we’re met with a nasty and spiteful review… for simply being responsible and having an adoption process.

We have Messenger. It’s checked daily and responded to.
We have email. Same story.
We are open. We are honest. We tell you exactly how we operate.

If you want instant replies, you need a rescue with paid staff.
If you want to adopt without an adoption process, you need an irresponsible rescue—or a cuddly toy.

If you can’t follow an adoption process, you aren’t the right home.
If you’re rude, nasty, or abusive—towards our team or anyone else—you aren’t the right home.
If you skim the write-up, ignore the details, and assume you know best, you aren’t the right home.
If we say an animal must be on a lead around livestock, we mean it. We’ve assessed it with our own eyes, our own stock, and our own common sense. That’s not up for debate.
If you’re abusive to our team, you will never adopt from us. It doesn’t matter how “perfect” you think your home is. Respect is non-negotiable.
If you can’t grasp that we are volunteers juggling full-time jobs, then please go elsewhere. We will only disappoint you—and you will only be disappointed.
If you lack common sense or common decency, go elsewhere.

We’re here for the animals. We’re here to give them the best chance. But we are human. And we are tired. Be kind—or go elsewhere.

Hay Animal Rescue Team
https://www.hayanimalrescueteam.co.uk

26/09/2025

Sometimes you really have to stand your ground! I had a call this week who was upset I'd sent her father, who needed to rehome his dog, an email saying, "Can't help too busy" (her exact words). I explained I would never send an email like that.

She was adamant I had, after several minutes of no I didn't, yes you did she read out the name of the rescue on the email. Guess what, wasn't us. didn't even apologise!

22/09/2025

The last few days we have been battling against the never ending stream of "Where are you?" "Do you have a centre in (think of a county)?" It's a real shame you can't find this sort of information from, I don't know, perhaps our website or even that Google thing but no just endless comments and messages even when you've explained.

And then there's the chap who thinks he should be the one to adopt a dog, despite 100's (well okay perhaps not than many, but a lot) of applications some of which came before his. And because he's been pipped the post he thinks we are running some sort of scam.......

I'm adopting a Wisdom of Solomon approach: "Do not wrestle with fools on Facebook… lest ye become tagged in a comment war."

20/09/2025

“Where are you based?”
Ah, the eternal question… asked with such mystery and intrigue, as though we’re hiding in a secret bunker guarded by German Shepherds in sunglasses. 🕶🐾
Spoiler alert: it’s written on our Facebook profile… and on our website… and probably even on the sign outside the kennels.
But hey, we don’t mind saying it again and again and again – just promise us you’ll read the other bits too, because the dogs would really like their carefully written profiles appreciated! 😉🐶❤️

11/09/2025

Serious post of the year! -
📢 Why Rescues Can’t Absorb Extra Medical Costs

With the increase in the numbers of dogs from outside the UK with owners now asking for help in rehoming, we’ve recently had a small number of cases where they have questioned why our rescue asks for certain additional health tests—like brucellosis—even if they aren’t legally required under DEFRA guidelines at the time of import.

Let us explain 💬

🛂 Legal requirements are the bare minimum for entry into the UK. However, as a rescue responsible for the safety of our animals, staff, and the wider community, we have to consider the additional screening to ensure long-term welfare and prevent the spread of disease.

🧪 These extra tests (e.g. brucellosis screening) aren't always mandatory by law—but they are ethically responsible and often strongly advised by UK vets due to risks posed by diseases not commonly seen in the UK.

💸 We are a non-profit. Every penny we spend comes from donations. Should an owner needing to rehome, decline to cover additional, non-mandatory testing, we’re left with three options: put strain on already limited funds, or risk the safety of animals and people or refuse to accept the dog without the test.

🤝 We kindly ask for understanding: If we request or require tests beyond our initial vetting process, or if we advise additional safety measures, we may ask you to cover those costs. We simply can't commit to fund extra procedures for every individual case without compromising care for the rest of our animals.

💙 Thank you for supporting responsible, ethical rescue.

06/09/2025

Delighted to read earlier of a call to a fellow rescue - Out of hours when phone rang. As I was already on pc, I answered the call. After 1 minute I really wish I hadn't!

Caller: Hi is that the dog rescue boarding place where you can board your pets.

Me: Yes that's us how can I help?

Caller: Can I book my cat into stay in October?

Me: Oh I am sorry, we only board dogs, I assumed you were calling about boarding your dog.

Caller: No I don't have a dog.

Me: Oh. OK well you could try xyz for cats.

Caller: No I don't want to buy one, I have one.

Me: No, I know, but they board cats there so may have vacancies.

Caller: Do you have their number? Will someone be there now?

Me: Sorry no, I don't have their number and no idea what the opening hours are there, perhaps try Googling it for details.

Caller: That's not very useful, in fact you've been quite unhelpful.

Hangs up on me.

Every day, in every way the GBP never fail to amuse us 🤭😂

02/09/2025

Yes folks, I can say, without any doubt that we've never been asked, "......and would like another dog my brother want me to get a something with a poo in it"

We nearly replied that there's lots of things we can't guarantee with dogs but we can definitely guarantee that! And then it dawned on us............they meant the like of Cockerpoo, Caverpoo, Shihpoo etc