Rescue inventory

716 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by peachygeorgia, 12 d ago

LuvShepherds

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

I check my local rescue groups regularly and noticed a change in the type of dog available. During Covid they turned over purebreds quickly so by 2021-2022 most of the dogs on their sites were mixed GSDs or dogs with serious issues, either health or behavior related. Now, the populations have changed. They mention they have taken in a lot of abandoned Covid puppies. The dogs I’m seeing are mostly purebred GSDs and Mals. The Mals look well bred, while the GSDs may or may not be. They are mostly young, ages 1-3, and many are unsocialized or aren’t good in homes with young children because they are too rambunctious. Many don’t get along with other dogs. About half will only be placed in experienced homes.

That is exactly what we predicted would happen with pandemic puppies. The numbers increased and socialization and exposure decreased. There is a whole generation of young dogs in shelters or rescues that are difficult to place. If you are thinking about getting a rescue, this is a very good time. If you are a senior willing to take a senior, around 8 years old or older, they may offer a discount. If you aren’t fully experienced or don’t want a dog with problems, there are enough dogs that you can take your time and wait for the right one to show up. I saw dogs that were placed when an owner died and they seemed to be better behaved and somewhat trained.

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Magwart

· #2 · 15 d ago (Edited)

Yep, unsocialized pandemic pups are now full-grown dogs with issues. Add to that an increasing number of financial surrenders at shelters---people laid off or earning too little to afford the rapidly escalating cost of food, vet care, etc. I've noticed a big uptick in the emails wanting to surrender older dogs too, usually due to lack of funds for senior care. Adoptions have also frozen up to a significant degree. Even the reliable northern transport partners that used to be enthiastic about taking young, HW-negative purebred GSDs from the South are full and have no more capacity.

I'm also noticing more selfish surrenders -- "I want to travel so I don't want to keep my dog" -- the one I got last week was a middle-aged dude who wanted to retire and travel, asking to give up his 10-year-old dog. I gently told him to travel with his dog and experience the joy of seeing beautiful places with a senior dog -- because nobody has room for seniors that take forever to find homes for right now. It was infuriating. Having recently lost a sweet old dog that I traveled the country with, it took everything in me not to unleash a tirade.

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jarn

· #3 · 15 d ago

Geez. @Magwart I once volunteered at a shelter and someone returned a cat because they'd gotten a new couch and the cat didn't match.

Don't your dogs love you? You in return? To me it seems sociopathic to surrender a dog you (?) love to a rescue or shelter so you can travel (!!!!!!)

Agis is basically a pandemic pup (he was very young when it hit, we got him towards the end of 2019) and I would say the inability to do in-person group classes was...unhelpful...but we persevered (he was unhealthy at first, registered for classes that were to start in March 2020 after our February vacation...yeah). I would never in my life give him away because of mistakes I've made (and I have) - it's on me to do better! Ooooh I hate people sometimes.

And I would eat plain rice all day every day if it meant buying the boys (and cats) their food and keeping them (might come to plain rice this pay period, not really but darned work screwed up my paycheque so after rent and the car come out and my consumer proposal payment (us bipolar folk are bad with money, or, at least, I am) I'm in the hole...but I did get Neb's thyroid meds yesterday and more fish oil for the boys today. It's been two weeks since we got groceries (I'm trying not to charge things; I have some money hanging around but that's earmarked as a wedding present), but we have lots of staples and frozen veg so it's all good). I'd go to food banks if I had to! There are programs here in Toronto at least to help people who are struggling with cost with stuff like dog and cat food so they can keep their animals. And programs to allow animals to go into temporary foster homes if someone loses their home and needs to work out the next place they'll live.

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Hopps

· #4 · 15 d ago

I’m seeing a huge influx of mals, gsds, cane corsos in my area. I’ve been seeing cano corso x mal crosses as well. these are just dogs in my area.

I saw quite a few Mals at the shelter. Lots of them have been there for 6+ months. Some of the description was “shy, timid, best in homes with 1 or 2 people”.

All these dogs are for “protecting” their family. I’ve had some sketchy run ins with these dogs already.

Reactions: 1

jarn

· #5 · 15 d ago

I notice more mastiffs/cane corsos at the shelters in Toronto @Hopps. Way more GSDs too though some shelters are still randomly bringing dogs up from the US (I was poking around out of curiousity after reading this thread and the Toronto Humane Society has a GSD boy from Georgia).

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Carter Smith

· #6 · 15 d ago

Pandemic puppies is just an excuse for people. I got two puppies in the pandemic, both were very well socialized. Guess what everyone did during the lockdowns, walk outside.. our streets were like malls at some parts of the day.. too many people have dogs that shouldn’t, period. These poor dogs in shelters, I can’t even look it breaks my heart.

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WVNed

· #7 · 15 d ago

Carter Smith said:
Pandemic puppies is just an excuse for people. I got two puppies in the pandemic, both were very well socialized. Guess what everyone did during the lockdowns, walk outside.. our streets were like malls at some parts of the day.. too many people have dogs that shouldn’t, period. These poor dogs in shelters, I can’t even look it breaks my heart.

I am not looking. At one time we had 8 dogs here and we are down to 4. Paddy is the only youngster.

finn'smom

· #8 · 15 d ago

If I had unlimited time and funds (because I have the space) ... I'd def wander around and drag home seniors who deserve to spend whatever time they have left lounging in the grass and soaking up sunshine. I have had the worst dog karma and would love to look at some gray hairs on a snout and be thankful. I do not know how people give their dogs up for what I'd consider trivial reasons.

I have noticed lately though, many Mals in local rescue groups looking for appropriate foster and adoptive homes. There is almost always a GSD or GSD mix looking .. and many others!

Reactions: 3

Dunkirk

· #9 · 15 d ago

Here in Australia, due to the volume of surrender requests, there are waiting lists in place.

Hellish

· #10 · 15 d ago

Here in Tucson we are on trend, same as every year, as our shelters continue to be full of pits with creative attempts to label any pit mixes as another breed whose dominant trait may be peeking thru. Prick ears on anything = GSD mix. This baby has been incarcerated full year already.

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Buckelke

· #11 · 15 d ago

oh, to be able to give them all a home...

Hopps

· #12 · 15 d ago

Carter Smith said:
Pandemic puppies is just an excuse for people. I got two puppies in the pandemic, both were very well socialized. Guess what everyone did during the lockdowns, walk outside.. our streets were like malls at some parts of the day.. too many people have dogs that shouldn’t, period. These poor dogs in shelters, I can’t even look it breaks my heart.

I think people fell in love with the concept of a dog vs actual dogs. Staying at home with their puppies, posting photos, having a best friend that would listen to you for days and loving you at the worst.

but tough times? Nope. I hope the broken hearts of those dogs are mended by meeting someone that deserves them

Reactions: 4

Carter Smith

· #13 · 15 d ago

The senior dogs, I just can’t.. how someone could do that to an old dog, I too would love to foster all the old dogs who just need a place to rest their head and eat in peace.

WNGD

· #14 · 14 d ago

Magwart said:
Yep, unsocialized pandemic pups are now full-grown dogs with issues. Add to that an increasing number of financial surrenders at shelters---people laid off or earning too little to afford the rapidly escalating cost of food, vet care, etc. I've noticed a big uptick in the emails wanting to surrender older dogs too, usually due to lack of funds for senior care. Adoptions have also frozen up to a significant degree. Even the reliable northern transport partners that used to be enthiastic about taking young, HW-negative purebred GSDs from the South are full and have no more capacity.

I'm also noticing more selfish surrenders -- "I want to travel so I don't want to keep my dog" -- the one I got last week was a middle-aged dude who wanted to retire and travel, asking to give up his 10-year-old dog. I gently told him to travel with his dog and experience the joy of seeing beautiful places with a senior dog -- because nobody has room for seniors that take forever to find homes for right now. It was infuriating. Having recently lost a sweet old dog that I traveled the country with, it took everything in me not to unleash a tirade.

How about you wait just a few short years for your beautiful loyal dog to pass first and then travel you selfish prick?

Reactions: 2

WNGD

· #15 · 14 d ago

What's with all the Malinois? I have almost never seen one in public.
Did that Channing Tatum movie ("Dog") with the armed forces Mal have the predictable bad results?

Reactions: 1

jarn

· #16 · 14 d ago

WNGD said:
How about you wait just a few short years for your beautiful loyal dog to pass first and then travel you selfish prick?

I was going to do the 'love' reaction but yeah. Not enough likes for this. I cannot imagine how terrible a human you have to be. Like I said, it seems sociopathic to me.

...on the other hand, maybe the dog will be better off away from someone that awful.

My first guinea pig (which while lovely is obviously no dog) I got when I had rabbits and cats because someone left him outside of the pet supply store and when I went in to get hay the owners knew me to be good person with similar-type pets and asked if I'd take him. I said yes (they gave me a cage for him they were so happy).

A week later, the mom who left him outside the store while it was it closed (!) went in and said her kids missed Ralph (I named him after Ralph S. Mouse) and could they have him back. Obviously I said no. What a terrible home. Wasn't giving him back to THAT.

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Fodder

· #17 · 13 d ago

WNGD said:
What's with all the Malinois? I have almost never seen one in public.
Did that Channing Tatum movie ("Dog") with the armed forces Mal have the predictable bad results?

No…. they’ve been on the rise in CA for at least the past 15yrs. I found one in 2006 and it was impossible to locate a breed specific rescue - now there are many.

From the people I’ve talked out of them, they’re… “like german shepherds but smaller and with less health issues”

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Hopps

· #18 · 13 d ago

WNGD said:
What's with all the Malinois? I have almost never seen one in public.
Did that Channing Tatum movie ("Dog") with the armed forces Mal have the predictable bad results?

The folks here want a Mal because it took down bin laden. It’s news but people are really clinging onto it.

Reactions: 1

Katiebob

· #19 · 13 d ago

Fodder said:
“like german shepherds but smaller and with less health issues”

But on crack

peachygeorgia

· #20 · 12 d ago

Yeah they just really took off on social media as well with viral videos showing the insane things they could do, same with the Cane Corso, now both breeds are suffering.

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