I think there will always be a major problem - ok at the moment, the problem is the credit crunch.

People can't afford to 'run' their dogs anymore and the backyard breeders who were selling as many dogs as they could produce in better economic times are now finding they are over-stocked with breeding bitches and can't sell their puppies for love nor money. Of course when people were prolifically buying their pups, these ended up in rescue at 6-7 months.

In the meantime, other pet dog owners are thinking their dogs can have a litter or two, to maybe bring in some money to help with the heating bills/buy the kiddies nice toys at Xmas.

I don't think there is an answer to be honest.

Nev, I agree you DO harden up and I know you & Liz have seen heaps more in the rescue world than I have. This was something I was told when I first volunteered in rescue - that you don't stop caring, but you do harden up. Otherwise every rescuer would be burnt out, surely.

We're all in this for a common aim - to help dogs (and predominantly spaniels on this forum) in need. If the massive rescues can't help, how disheartening that is.

We all have to hope and pray that just one more foster carer turns up at the right moment, just in time, so that we don't have to say no. All are in the same boat and there is only a finite amount of cash to go around too.

I picked up an ex breeding bitch yesterday for the Spaniel Trust - she'd given birth 2 weeks ago and all her pups died a week ago . She wasn't viable for the breeder obviously. On the way down I was asking myself what I would do if the byb had offered me any pups. Would I have taken them? That would have made room for more. Thankfully that scenario didn't arise, but it could have. The breeder had a lovely plasma tv and her daughter had a horse. Apparently the pups were an accident!

There's no black and white in all of this, but plenty of grey. Well all have our own opinions and values but, at the end of the day, we're all doing it because we care.

Selina, yes that's my point exactly,why should it be left to the little guys to pick up the pieces,you only have to look at the charitiy commission website to see how much some of these organisations have in reserve,yet they still seem unable to help.

We have taken in ten dogs this weekend,we don't have extensive kennel facilities and we have had to juggle them about the best we can,but at least we are trying and i'm sure the same can be said for the many little operations up and down the country.

The big guys seem more interested in fancy advertising which will cost them a fortune,surely the money would be better spent trying to help us guys out a bit.



Nev

No you still haven't addressed the problem at all, I reiterate in case you have not understood the question or the eventual outcome; what is going to happen to all the old or older dogs and dogs with chronic or acute health problems when there is nowhere or no-one to take them in?

This is something we all should be discussing now before the situation worsens and on this most appropriate board to discuss it ie "Rescue Chatter"! The young being given precedence over the old, harks back to it's human equivalent in 1939 and gas chambers!!

Last month several rescues closed their doors to new intakes. Older dogs are already being destroyed in rescues who simply cannot take in any more, Oldies Club are struggling to place many of their old guys.

Where are you going to keep the pups and any others you take in, or are you going to keep them, what happens when the supply of helpers and homes dries up? What is NESSR's stance as a registered charity on this issue; is NESSR a non destruct rescue? At what point do you turn them away or do you specifically choose which to take and which to refuse?

Fifer you are way out of line

We do not descriminate young or old,healthy or otherwise.

Open your eyes and look past the puppies on the original thread.we have 1 that is deaf,2 with hip problems and 2 oldies.

They will stay in our care until they have homes,no matter how long that takes.

I find your insinuations sickening to say the least



Nev

again I will say the answers are in here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


and also on www.nessr.net for all to see......and how hard the team works,,for the breed,,

Your Topic of young and old dogs coming into rescue warrants a new thread ,,so that all rescues for all breeds can join in,,,,and have a healthly Chat,,,,,,and not just NESSR,,,

Cynthia for NESSR

Have I missed something here? Aren't we all striving for the same thing ? Or are we just bickering?

It seems that each rescue has its share of pups, oldies and problem dogs and are working hard to rehome them. Helpers either take dogs in their own home for fostering or turn out in all weathers to fund raise and walk dogs at kennels.....because we care.

If we were suddenly to turn round and say its not our problem you shoudnt have bred them in the first place..then surely we are all going against everything we believe in? Whats the alternative for the breeder..shoving them in a bag and drowning them; taking them up the field and shooting them?
I agree that some breeders need to wake up and take a look at whats going on around them but in a way arent they making the best decision they can out of a bad situation by handing them over to rescue?

I personally dont feel we are doing the face of rescue any favours by making these statements..people will become reluctant to do what is right for the dog..which is surely what this is all about.

We're all busy and peed off because we have to pick up the pieces but it doesn;t mean we'll ever stop does it?

Very well said Conckersmum, and also so true . . . . .I personally do what I can to help and support those rescues that I can . . . . and have held back doing that bit more and becoming as involved as others as I have seen to often the bickering that can occur . . . and I just don't want to get involved in that . . after all . .. . . . shouldn't it be 'all about the dogs' and not who is doing what and when and why????

Absolutely agree, Kelly.

Everyone's rescue work is as important as everyone elses. It's not about who shouts the loudest.

Fifer - why do you have to have a go at NESSR at every opportunity.

You are well out of line here and I take exception to the comments you have made - the Helpers and Fosterers go that extra mile to make sure that every dog is helped and they do not disciminate

The pups that came in are now in a loving, caring foster home as are all the others that have come in. I don't think you will see the supply of foster homes or helpers dry up - we are all committed to the rescue of dogs and NO NESSR does NOT cherry pick which is what you are implying!!!! No dog is refused be it old, young, fit and healthy or have ongoing medical problems - just take a minute to read the post that Cynthia posted and the photos of the dogs and their stories - I think you will find that we do not refuse dogs on the grounds of their age or health.

Are you saying that if somebody contacted your rescue with a litter of 7 pups that they could not sell and ultimately would be given away or even worse PTS you would turn down that person? I sincerely hope not.

Incidentlly what has it got to do with you where the pups are being kept, as I said before, they are in a loving caring foster home - and as for asking if NESSR and by this I take it you mean Cynthia, is going to kepp them - well words fail me - Fifer grow up and don't ask such stupid questions.

I could not agree more. There are alot of rescues on here that all do great work. It is nice when they post the dogs and about their work to hear about what they are doing. Indeed I read you post "Twas Winter in Consett" ... great work, well done. And it has been interesting to read other rescues also facing the challenge of the credit crunch and the dogs and puppies needing help.

It just saddens me that when NESSR decides to post just one thread letting people know what we have been up to, as we've been quiet on here for a while as we've been busy ..... well instead of people commenting on the dogs that are in our care a great debate starts.

I for one am deeply saddened and angry about poor Alfie who had three homes in his short and painful life ... homes that could have sorted his pain out but instead chose to pass him and his problems on. It was an extremely sad day when we lost him, a terribly tough decision but one that the vet made very clear was the ONLY and kindest option.

I am also very sad about Jerry, Scruffy and Barney all young gorgeous dogs that are being over looked because they are not "perfect".

All rescues are about to face an extremely challenging time because all charities are facing difficulties fundraising at a time when demand for their services are increasing. So the bickering has to stop, this is about the dogs and pulling together so that we don't lose springers who are desperately in need of help.

personally I don't care who is rescuing what, where or when so long as springers in need are being helped.

I am the one that is sad,,,,,had I known it would cause this much trouble,,it would never have been posted on here,,,,,

But it has,,,,and all hell broke out,,,,,

one little question,,,where were our,,,oooooooooos and rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs over the litter of pups,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,no ,,,just alot of where are the pups,,,who is keeping them,,,
or Run Free at the Bridge Alfie,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
so sorry to hear about Barney,,,,etc etc,,,,,

nothing like that,,,just slated,,,,,,
so again I am very sorry,,,,,and for those who do know us well,,,,,,,,you know we mean that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

why does everything need to personal, just about to head out to dinner and am stuck knowing that all this is just going to carry on and create a shocking example of rescue to alot of the new members, but if I delete this thread and just head out for the evening then I will be accused of all sorts of favouratism or cherry picking, if you want to do harm then go ahead but dont expect me to keep picking up the rescue pieces - got a stunniung calendar about to go to the printers promoting and celebrating ALL the rescues on ST

and why the hell do all the groupies have to jump in and give opinions, the rescue reps were capable of defenind themselves rather than having a "who has more to say by more people!"



I am going out, I may be some time

So I am a 'groupie' now am I - this is getting damn silly all this bickering

It's the Dogs who need the help of rescues that are of prime importance and it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better

Lets be honest we are in this for the dogs - not to have a debate on the whys and wherefores of different rescues

This thread and some of the comments are very sad and yes the rescue reps can do defend themselves but they are probably at this very moment tending to any dogs in their care

Freya - you can delete my posts if you so wish - I've said my piece so quite honestly it doesn't bother me one way or the other

I know the feeling!

If anyone really wants to discuss how we deal with the present crisis facing all in rescue I will be more than happy to join in any discussion.

Which is, by the way, a very valid one as the crisis is deepening.

I don't feel the need to get personal but if someone asks on here for my support then I retain the right to ask pertinent questions.

Strongly held views - yes always
Strongly worded - yes always

You will get all of these but always for the dogs sakes, and I am happy to change my view when I see a good and valid alternative!

Good night all!

I'm pretty sure all Freya meant by that was you don't see people on here for an age and then all of a sudden, one little disagreement and up pop all the old faces

Why is that?

Let's face it, every rescue is FULL at some time or another, of course foster places fill up, or are we back to rubber walls again, come on, no-one can just keep admitting dog after dog after dog do they? If so just how do you give them the time and attention that they all need as individuals
And what would you do if they turned out to be aggressive or have 'issues'?

It's no secret that we have helped dogs from up North when we have had the space and time and haven't been as busy ourselves, not easy to rehome dogs neither but hey that's life, it's not always great for the dogs having to travel so far but better than being PTS.

Sorry, rambling now, will let things get back to topic