I spoke to a lady from a rescue centre (dalmatian) at the weekend and gave her my details and she explained I would need a home check etc and would need a letter from the council to state it was o.k to have 2 dogs living with me as I already own a dalmatian.
No problem I thought, I have a secure back garden, visit the park every day with my dog, kids love dogs and I already own a dalmatian so know what it's all about and there will be someone in the house with them all day.
I went to the council today to get this letter to be told only one dog was allowed, many people have more than one, but as long as they don't receive a complaint about this they just ignore it.
I am really upset about this as it's not a decision I've taken lightly. I have waited and considered many things, e.g. my other dog, children, lifestyle, practically everything, even adjusting my work so that there will be someone in the house for the dogs all day.
Do all rescue centres require this?
I'm definately going to get another dalmatian, I would have preffered to rehome a rescue one.
I pleaded with the council as to some way round this but she says well just don't tell them you already have one so it's not as though there is a problem with having more than one.
The rescue centre know I already have one, rightly so, I need a good match.
I have spoke to 2 dalmatian rescue centres, the 1st one, Dalmatian Welfare said it was difficult getting a home check because I live in Newcastle and they are based in the south but they never mentioned a letter of authority from the council.
The 2nd is the North of England requiring a letter of Authority.
I just feel so let down as I've got all excited with the thought of having another dog, I'm dreading telling my son, he'll be devestated.
Do all rescue centres require this letter and the first lady forgot to mention this?
I've just ate a large bar of chocolate whilst typing this and don't feel any happier, it usually works.

I work with weimaraner rescue and we dont ask for any letters from the council,  I do ask if it is council or private rented accomodation if they are allowed animals but we have never asked for letters.  I know people in Newcastle who would be happy to vet if that is of any use to Dally rescue!

Lynn

It's council property I live in. I'm going to phone the lady from the Dalmatian rescue and explain the situation and let her know that the council aren't strict but won't give permission.
I'm onto a big bag of maltesers now, my dally knows somethings up because I've just gave her a couple and she never gets chocolate off me.
It's such a shame because there are so many unwanted dogs out there needing a home and I am willing to give one.
I'll bear that offer in mind of a home check, I'll see what happens when I phone.

Good luck - I hope it all works out for you.

This makes me so cross.  Why are councils giving the people who play it straight a hard time?  I live on a mostly council estate and people have as many animals as they like - and you can bet your life they didn't ask permission.  Worse still, most of the properties on this estate are flats and shouldn't have 2 or 3 big dogs 3 floors up.

Responsible pet owners like yourself are being given a hard time for asking and then suffering because of the others that don't care.  Most people wouldn't even ask.  I would reapproach the council, maybe with your vet on your side to say that you are a "good animal owner" (though why you should have to I don't know).

Really hope it works out for you and if you must eat chocolate, stick to the maltesers :D

CG

The lady at the council was very nice and apologetic but unfortunately it's in black and white that only one dog is allowed. I've looked on other council websites and they allow 2. I might have to move to get my dog.
I've phoned the dalmatian rescue and left a message and will wait for them to get back to me and hopefully we will be able to sort something out.

I think it depends on which Council you are with. I'm in a council house and when I first left my husband (7years ago) I phoned their head office and was told that I would be allowed a MAXIMUM of 3 dogs AND 3 cats, but each person would be dealt with individually. When I got the keys to my home the lady at the local office tried to say I was only allowed 1 dog. I told her what the main office had said and she said 'so long as we don't get any complaints about the dogs it would be ok' I moved with 2 dogs. I now have 3, and a cat. Waiting to get another dog nearer xmas (been booked for a year - not a pressie ;) )

Have you checked with the head office to see what they say? They may say differently to the local office.

Hiya

If the Rescue Centre is adamant about the necessity for written permission from your Local Authority....approach it from a different angle:

To get an idea of how stringent your Council really is about this issue - have a look at your tenancy conditions/contract (sometimes also printed on the back of your rent card). If there's nothing within the contract...then give the Rescue organisation a copy of it ;)

Also, even if the contract does stipulate a "specified" or a "reasonable" number of pets allowed, this would be deemed as a 'discretionary preference set by the individual Local Authority' - which could indeed, be over-ruled by a Court of law (...no Local Authority would either want the bad press of a rescue dog being denied a caring home - or, have the financial resources to persue court matters of this nature) ;)

Hope you see where I am coming from ;)
Good Luck
Jo
x

I think Jo has a point, if you were tennants of the council for some time before they bought in the new rules, you may find they don't apply to you.

Playing Devils advocate - the rescue are covering themselves against the possibility of the dog having to be rehomed yet again, because of the new owner suddenly finding out their councils policy :(

Hi I run a rescue and we do often ask for some sort of written proof from council and private tenants to see if they are allowed pets.  I have rehomed all over the country and every council is different.  Most do specify an actual number of dogs and cats that are allowed and it varies a lot.  Yes a lot of people do have more than this and if nobody complains nothing happens, it is a risk though.  A long time ago I wasn't as bothered about checking, but having had a lot of dogs come back from people over the years who discovered they couldn't actually have them you do have to protect the dogs.  It doesn't take much for a difficult neighbour to cause some problems.
I live in an area with a lot of RAF bases and this also raises issues.  Anyone living on camp is usually allowed a dog as long as it doesn't cause a nuisance and doesn't damage the property.  However in a lot of cases these forces people have adopted a dog, then been posted abroad and wanted to send the dog back.  In one year we had 4 dogs back because of this.  Now we get permission in writing with confirmation of foreign duty.  Duty abroad is usually a voluntary thing depending on circumstances and you don't always have a choice of accommodation at the other end.  One family told me they had not applied for foreign duty, we gave them a dog and only 3 weeks later the dog came back as they had been posted to Germany and were given a flat to live in, unsuitable for the dog.  The lady was very apologetic and had lied because she wanted the dogs company.  Not a good enough reason in my opinion.
These examples of things going wrong is why some rescues do check.  If you get a dog anyway and someone does complain how will you explain it to the rescue (and the dog!)
Debbie

I can't see what people would complain about though.
There would be no crying, howling, whining when left unattended because they simply wouldn't be left unattended.
There would be no dogs mess as my dog is walked in the local park, not just let out to do its business in the back garden.
I got a copy of the tenancy agreement and it says (exact words)

YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS
You may keep small caged animals or a small aquarium. You may keep one dog and cat if the access to your home is not by a shared entrance.

I am convinced I have read somewhere whether it be an old tenancy agreement that you are allowed 2 dogs so I will get in touch with the council tomorrow and find out if this is so and when it changed. I have been a tenant of the council for 17 years.

good luck i hope it works out for you.
why is it that people that are honest and above board get this kind of treatment ,when others that allow dogs to roam get ignored by councils untill they became a problem? i will never understand this.
i hope the vets help by telling them what kind of owner you are,if they haven't had any complaints then that should go for you as well.

I've tried ringing the head council offices and unfortunately got the same reply, only one dog.
Now I've made my mind up that I'm going to have another dog, I am.
It just seems so sad that I'm going to have to go and buy a dalmatian from a breeder rather than give a donation to a rescue centre and re-home a dog that is not wanted.
I agree with the rescue centres policy and the councils but at the end of the day I am going to get another dog just not a rescue one which I would have preffered.
Life stinks.

Who are you talking to at Dally rescue? Have you spoken to Nina?

The North of England Dalmatian Rescue who said I needed a letter I'm sure it was a lady called Jean or Joan.

PM me - I'll put you in touch with someone at the BDC rescue :)

Have done
Thanks Marie

The centre I homecheck for asks us homecheckers to look at the tenancy agreement to make sure if the accomodation is rented.
It sounds harsh but remember the welfare of the dog is uppermost in our concern and you can't guarantee that a new rescue dog will be well behaved or that a new neighbour moving in won't complain in the future.