im wondering what other people think to no dog put down policys i think it stinks those poor dogs in there that are nasty and stressed they say no healthy dog but surely these dogs arnt mentally healthy. they take up room for dogs that could easily adjust to family life with some love and time. dogstrust do it and one of our local stray kennels i think its a really really bad idea.

:rolleyes:What a horrible thing to say Hazel. My male Rottie could have been called nasty but it was lucky that the rescue kennels gave him a chance. He has improved now. He was always good with children, its mostly men he doesnt like and other dogs. i cant muzzle him cos he can get it off but he isnt allowed to run around loose when other dogs because he would attack them but he is lovely with my kids. We had a few dodgy days to begin with but hes mostly ok now. The bitch is fine, she loves everyone. Im glad healthy dogs arent put down, they all deserve a chance.

so its fair to keep them stressed out in kennels for several years untill they finally die of old age? barking continuously having kennel cough numerous times no doubt. i visited the kennels recently and the look so stressed out. if they rehome a dog and then it bites someone that is just wrong.

But most of them have a reason why they are unfriendly. They havent been given a chance to be looked after right and until they are we dont know if they are really nasty or if its cos of whats happened to them. And the other thing is, with my bitch she was barking like mad in kennels but shes really quiet at home. They are different in kennels I think. But I dont know about the ones who are completely imposible to be rehomed. Im sure there must be some, what happens to them? They cant leave them in kennels forever can they? Maybe they could go the police or be used as guard dogs.

Dogs trust do keep dogs which for one reason or other are not suitable for rehoming. We sponsor one - we get regular updates, and I am under the impression that the dogs are looked after very well. I'm much happier with their policy than the alternative - euthanising perfectly healthy dogs which aren't rehomed or able to be rehomed.

im not on about perfectally re-homeable ones im on about the ones with severe temprament issues.

I am totaly lost here.  Where is there a kennel that is keeping dogs forever with severe temremant issues.  I dont think any responsible ones do but of course I could be wrong.  Is there a link to a web page giving this information.

We are talking about do9gs that the homes deem unhomeable.  Is it fair that they live in kennels for the rest of their lives with only staff to look after them and spend limited tiem with?  surely these would be better put to sleep?

I work at a rescue kennels where our dogs dont get put down, and I can say I couldnt dream of putting a dog down because he didnt find a home in a set length of time. All our long termers are really plesent and friendly dogs when you get to know them. These dogs are usually the most chilled out dogs unlike many of the dogs who are only in for short periods of time. Some may have a previous history which makes it difficult for us to rehome them but others dont find homes just because they arent pretty enough.
These 'long termers' are usually the healthiest dogs in the kennels, most of the new-commers suffer from somthing at some point during their stay in kennels, whilst the long termers rarley suffer from anything. These dogs are all loved and spoilt rotten, and all recieved more christmas treats than my own dogs! Its hard to think that many of the dogs who I have spent today spoiling and caring for wouldnt be here as they hadnt found a home quick enough in other kennels.

If you were to spend a week or even a day working in a kennels that you could put so and so down because there was difficulty in finding them their perfect home.

Just from an outside point of view....I think that the original point has been missed.The poster asked about keeping nasty....(I assume tested for aggression) & unrehomeable animals in kennels.The way I read the post was, if ther is NO chance whatsoever of placing these animals safely for ALL concerned, why keep them alive in a small kennel for the rest of their lives?  Now shoot me down in flames if you wish, but given a personal choice, if I wasn't fit to be let loose on the public, I'd sooner be having a nice long sleep than couped up 24/7 in a very small space.

I posted further up as well.  Do you know where these kennels are that keep such dogs.  I don't think any responsible kennels do but I could be wrong.  I know a a few rescue kennels that keep long term dogs which are sponsored by members of the public and have visited some of these but none of them keep dogs with severe aggression issues as it isn't fair to the other dogs or the dog in question.

a kennels by my friends house said they have a no kill policy unless its ill, they got a end of the kennels with alot of nasty ones that says we are not for re homing. most of them are staffordshire bull terrier kind of dogs with big heads and long legs maybe rottie crossed. alot of mastiffs and akitas alsations rottweilers and then the nice dogs are at the other end that can have homes.

The Dogs Trust will put to sleep a dog that is overly aggressive or unstable.  They do not consider that a 'healthy' dog so you are worrying unnecessarily.

Glad to hear it, but then why use the I will never find a home as I am too scared in their advertising.  Surely a severely unhappy neurotic dog is better off PTS?

I wouldn't have thought that necessarily true.  Surely dogs like people can become institutionalised. While some dogs may never be able to emotionally adapt to living in a home environment they can function relatively comfortably in a kennel environment with regular staff they can trust.  I don't think such a dog should be euthanised while sponsors/staff are prepared to take the time out to care for it.

But is that not comparing dogs to people like what was said in another thread?  ok maybe some of the dogs dont know any difference and its all they have known but it doesnt actually mean they are living a good quality of life? Say a people aggressive dog that cant be homed is in a kennel being sponsored, i bet theres at least 20dogs on a waiting list that can be re-homed with a family and lead a good quality of life that need that same kennel.

Hi Hazey Dogs

The Dogs Trust as stated above does not keep overly aggressive dogs as they are not considered to be healthy.  The kennels you are talking about seem to be adopting a breed specific policy, keeping the more vocal and reactive types away from the gentle nervous one.  This is standard policy in a lot of kennels and makes sense to me.  When you go to the kennels you could try asking them what is their policy on keeping dogs which have no hope of living a normal life i.e. behaving normally.  It would be very interesting to see the reply.  It could also be that they are working with these dogs, at the far end of the kennels and have hopes of rehoming or fostering and so do not want to put them down yet.  Without knowing the facts I don't think you can generalise over these matters. 

Of course if you have spoken to the manager of the kennels and they have told you that they will keep dogs which are hopeless cases because of temperament and behaviour, then I would feel that is a cause for concern.  Many dogs, yes even the supposedly vicious ones, will react well to a good handler who has gained their trust while barking like a mad thing at all and sundry who come to visit.  We all know that once one starts the rest join in especially if there is an element of boredom. 

It is only my opinion and without knowing the facts about the kennels near you I couldn't hope to come to any conclusions.

Good points Echo :)

Well Hazel did say they had not for re-homing on the kennels, i cant see someone just coming out with a statement like that, she has probably asked the kennel manager/staff why the dogs have not for re-homing on. There are a few private run stray type kennels that do keep nasty dogs alive as they dont have the heart to put them to sleep. Even after some re-hab work they are still going to have the un-predictable side to them if they get re-homed and savage a local child that sure looks good when the press get hold of it. Seen it so many times in the papers and on the TV and they always mention about the dogs should be temprement tested to see if they are suitable for re-homing. The aggressive dogs at a kennels by us that i have helped out at before any dog that has aggression problems that arnt heath related are pts after 8days if no one claims them.

I am sure you are right BorderWays but it isn't general practice.

What I was trying to point out is that supposedly nasty dogs aren't always so.  They bark and growl out of fear and set others off who are also bark prone. 

I bow to your knowledge on the subject and will not pursue this thread any longer.

Just like to add, our rescue doesn't behave like that.  Nor do the other rescues I have visited..

Just me; I would be asking lots of question if it were me and wondering why they would not accept perfectly re homable dogs for the sake of other dogs taking up kennels.  Again I have to say no where does Dogs Trust say that they will keep a dog that is not healthy.  Diseases of the mind, even canine, is classed as an illness.

I'm in the middle - no-kill policies are fine to a point, but there will be dogs that just aren't adoptable for whatever reason.  In those situations it's better IMO to PTS than keep them locked up for the rest of their lives.  As for the ones that are severely kennel stressed - some rescues operate a fostering program, so that dogs can adjust to home life without the kennels stress (and have some training if needed) before they are adopted out.

It is always worth the effort to try and find homes though - I remember a collie from the last boarding kennels I worked at (they also usually had 3 or 4 strays for rehoming) that was rehomed; only his owner could get anywhere near him.  If anyone else tried, they would get severely mauled, not just a nip; he found a home, so there is sometimes a small chance that a nasty dog can find a home, albeit remote.