Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RESCUING A DOG
It’s astonishing that people still pay for pedigree dogs when there are thousands of unwanted animals waiting for a loving home. Adopting a rescue dog is a wondrous thing as it not only enhances your life, it utterly changes theirs too. There are lots of rehoming charities around Britain, many featured on these pages, and they all have their own procedures for adoption but Dogs Trust, which has 20 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin and has found dogs for stars including Graham Norton and Eamonn Holmes, is the largest. ‘Bringing a rescue dog into your home is hugely rewarding in more ways than you can imagine,’ says Philip Daubeny, the trust’s vice-chairman. ‘You’re turning its life around. But adopting a rescue dog is not always easy. Some have had a pretty sad start to life.’ If you’re thinking of adopting, follow Philip’s step-by-step guide and you’ll soon have your own four-legged friend.
1. CHOOSE THE BREED THAT WILL SUIT YOU
Before you start looking at individual dogs, do some research into the sort of breed that might fit in best with you and your family. Think about the cost too – larger dogs mean bigger food bills and long-haired breeds may need clipping. Remember, taking a rescue dog is not like using a dating agency – you can’t just give up on this relationship if it doesn’t work out – but the more research you do the better your match will be. There will be a lovely dog for you somewhere. ‘Dogs Trust will always advise people on choosing the best dog to suit their lifestyle,’ says Philip. ‘Our staff are expert at matching the right dog with the right person. Some breeds are not great with children while others are very good. We have lots of middle-aged dogs who, unlike puppies, are already well-trained, so they’re perfect for elderly owners. You might think choosing the right dog is obvious, but
we do get some bizarre requests. There’s an unfortunate fashion at the moment for people wanting huskies, but they need constant exercise and mental and physical stimulation and can’t be kept in small flats.’
Philip has adopted three dogs himself – two greyhounds and a whippet/lurcher. ‘Greyhounds, on the whole, make very good pets,’ he says. ‘Labradors and golden retrievers are great dogs, but they need a fair amount of exercise. An elderly Labrador would even do well in a flat as long as it has walks.’
2. DON’T ACT TOO QUICKLY IF YOU FALL FOR A DOG ONLINE
The only real stipulation Dogs Trust
makes is that you meet the dog before you embark on the process. ‘The biggest problem facing people like us is the ease with which you can buy dogs from the internet,’ says Philip. ‘It’s something people need to be very careful about. It’s a huge problem and one that’s very difficult to police. They can be cheap but you may end up with astronomical vet’s bills because of the poor way the dog has been bred. We would strongly counsel against buying a dog from the internet.’
3. VISIT THE RESCUE CENTRE IN PERSON
The Dogs Trust website has details of its centres, along with profiles of some of the dogs waiting to be
adopted. If a featured dog appeals to you, visit the centre where it’s homed. Or you can go to your nearest centre to look at the dogs there. Don’t just
choose the dog with the waggiest tail, it’s impossible to tell what a dog is really like until you get it home. Visit several times if necessary, take any dog that appeals to you for a walk, and take different family members to see how they interact with the dog.
At the centre you fill in a detailed questionnaire about your family, your home and the kind of dog you would like. ‘Our questionnaire will find out which dog is good for you,’ says Philip. ‘We take into account where you live, your available space and your lifestyle. We go into such depth because dogs like routine, and for them to change home constantly isn’t ideal. That’s when behavioural problems occur.’
Once you’ve chosen your dog and the
trust has checked your suitability, including your house and garden and how much time you have, the process from rehoming centre to your home takes about a week and there’s a £120 fee for costs.
4. BE PREPARED TO ADAPT
Bringing a new dog into your life will cause upheaval. When the rehoming centre come to check your property they may insist on things such as fencing your garden so the dog can’t escape. Be aware that a new dog may have an impact on other pets, especially cats, and children. And be prepared that shoes, phone chargers and furniture may get chewed.
5. BE PATIENT, LET YOUR NEW DOG SETTLE
As you’ll see from the heart-warming stories on these pages, your new dog needs to find its way round its new home. Some will be wary of humans, having been mistreated in the past, so give them space before you smother them with love. This is one reason you shouldn’t take on a timid dog just because you feel sorry for it, especially if you’re not an experienced owner. ‘But it doesn’t really matter if you’ve never had a dog before,’ says Philip. ‘We have classes on looking after a new dog and even after you’ve taken your dog home you can phone our staff for help and advice.’
6. MONITOR YOUR DOG’S PROGRESS
As your dog gets used to its new surroundings, you’ll get to know what it likes and dislikes. Monitor its diet, its weight and the length of its walks (see Tips On Caring For Your New Friend, opposite), and if you have any concerns seek advice. ‘Dogs Trust staff are there for anyone adopting a dog, for the whole of the dog’s life,’ assures Philip. ‘You can speak to experienced staff who’ll give advice on any issues. We see ourselves as an encyclopaedia people can refer to.
‘Every dog has medical checks and leaves us having been vaccinated, micro-chipped, neutered and treated for parasites and fleas, and with a month’s free insurance with Petplan.’
The ‘Adopt Don’t Shop’ movement – which advocates always taking a rescue dog over buying one – has been gathering pace with the help of people like Prince Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle, who’s adopted two dogs, beagle Guy and Labrador/ shepherd-cross Bogart, that live with her in Toronto. This can only help the work of rescue centres like Dogs Trust over here, which is funded through donations and legacies. It launched the Canine Care Card in 2013, aimed at protecting dogs when their owner dies. ‘It’s like an organ donor card in that if something happens to the owner, someone can contact us so we can rescue the dog,’ says Philip. ‘We’ll try to find a good home for it and we’ll never let it be put to sleep.
‘A rescue animal can give you a new purpose in life. It can bring people out of themselves, teach children about responsibility. It can give people living alone companionship, and if they have a dog they go out and meet people. A dog is a wonderful companion and that’s something that can never, ever be undervalued.’