No. I'm not looking for a new home for the TH :D

The dog charity for which I do work has a new re-homing manager. She's just phoned me up and asked me to do a home check on an 80 y.o. lady whose dog has just died (last week). Which I don't have a problem with. Except. That she's suggesting matching her up with a 6yo border collie. And she said not to worry if the lady didn't look too sprightly as the dog would be happy just being let out into the garden and wouldn't need a walk.

This is the charity we got grumpy collie from. And she'd been placed with a couple in their 60s and after 2 weeks the placement broke down and she was just too much of a handful.

My query is. Should I just go ahead and do the homecheck and not worry. Should I do the home check and depending on her situation once I'd met her recommend if a bc would be suitable or if she'd be better with a smaller dog. And should I query their whole rehoming policy,as the new person doesn't seem to have the same philosophy as the previous rehoming manager.

Ta

9th

Do you know anything about the dog itself? A 6 year old dog is fairly mature, but there are 6 year olds and 6 year olds that are going on 6 months - personally I'd want to know more about the dog before giving the OK.....

I would suggest you should go and do the home check on the lady and then ask if you can go and see the rehoming manager and discuss it with her. Maybe there is something about this BC which means it would be a successful pairing, if, however, it is a very active BC then you might have to say that in your opinion it would not be successful. I do feel it is important that at some stage you talk to the rehoming manager and find out whether you can be comfortable with her policies, if you can't you may have to stop doing the home checks. Don't make any decisions though until you've heard her side, she may know something you don't.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Nothing against BC's but most of those I have met would not suit an 80yrs + of any sex. Unless the dog is not typical of it's breed I think you will have to meet the rehoming manager in question (& the dog) and make your views clear. It is not fair to make you responsable for the decision and I think you should speak your mind. I'm only glad it is not my problem as I can see it is very difficult for you but you must do what your common sense tell you to. Jackie H

could you not home check the lady and then say she is only suitable for rehoming a specific type of dog not a BC?

When i did homechecks, i would always go along as asked, even if I had misgivings, and then either "OK" it or not. At the end of the day, it was up to me and the manager would always support my decision.

As others say, unless there is something about the BC - maybe he has 3 legs or something :) - it would be difficult to imagine and could lead to disaster. HOw on earth could she giv e him the mental and physical stimulation he would need?

If you feel strongly, yes, you could question their policy (are you a tactful person?!)

Good l uck anyway.....

lindsay.

My understanding, when I do a homecheck for our breed rescue, is that I assess if the home is not suitable for a dog, but the dog that is to be rehomed. An 80 year old lady could be a wonderful home for an elderly dog who maybe had lost it's elderly owner, but not for a 12 month old, untrained Old English Sheepdog, for instance.

If your dog charity has asked you to take the time and trouble to visit the lady, then they will hopefully listen to your recommendation.

My dilemma has been resolved. :) When I phoned the lady's niece to arrange the home check, she said that her aunt had been given a dog by someone. So I don't have to go now.

Thanks for your advice. The previous rehoming manager did listen to your recommendation. Even the time I told her I just had a "gut feeling" and she did a vets reference on their existing dog and it hadn't been there in 4 years, so no boosters or anything, so they got turned down.

I'll wait and see what the next rehoming visit is before I make a decision.

Thanks again.

9th