Читать книгу The Practical Dog Listener: The 30-Day Path to a Lifelong Understanding of Your Dog - Jan Fennell - Страница 15

Few things can compare with the pleasure that comes from providing a home for a rescue dog – that is, a dog that has been placed in a sanctuary or dogs’ home due to abuse, abandonment or bad behaviour. As someone who has taken in a number of rescue dogs over the years, I can say with my hand on my heart that the rewards both the dogs and I have had have been phenomenal. The joy I have had in seeing tragic dogs given a new hope in life has been immense. And I have to admit it has made me feel good to have provided these dogs with a happy and stable home life they had previously been denied.

Having said that, there is no escaping the fact that rescue dogs can present considerable problems, for self-evident reasons. I often say that there is no such thing as a problem dog, but there are dogs with problems. And rescue dogs, by their very nature, come with more problems than most.

Obviously in such cases it is simply not possible to make the checks that are possible with a new puppy. Any decent sanctuary or rescue organisation should be able to provide you with some details about the dog’s immediate past. Again, vagueness or reluctance to give out details should be regarded with extreme caution, however, the vast majority of sanctuaries and rescue homes are run by people who have an extraordinary dedication to dogs and their welfare. Whatever they know about the dog, they will be willing to tell you: good or bad. It is not in their interest, or that of the dog, to deceive you. The reason many dogs are in a sanctuary is due to violence. I believe, however, that, provided you understand the way a dog’s mind works, it is a calculated risk. For many people, I hope it will remain a risk worth taking.