The 20th of May is National Rescue Dog Day.
We’ve caught up with Jordan Connor, Director of Fetcher Dog a UK based Dog Rescue Charity, to find out why the work they carry out is so crucial for these dogs.
We also have our very own ambassador Kiara, taking us through her recent experience of adopting a rescue pup, Frosti from Romania.
*plus plenty of rescue pup photos for you to get your daily cuteness overload*
Tell us about Fetcher Dog.
Jordan: Fetcher Dog is a U.K. registered charity; that rescues dogs from Bosnia and finds them forever homes across the UK. We have approximately 100 dogs in our care at all times waiting for homes of their own.
Why is there a need to bring dogs over from Bosnia to the UK?
Jordan: We focus the majority of our efforts in and around Sarajevo, which is the capital of Bosnia and in particular on one of the kill shelters in the outskirts of Sarajevo, as well as the street dogs in and around the city. There are thousands of stray dogs in Bosnia and unlike Romania and Greece, Bosnia is very underserved by rescue charities.
The Bosnian war of the 90s lead to families throughout Bosnia fleeing for their lives and leaving their dogs behind. Many parts of the country are still recovering from the destruction of the conflict. The dogs that were abandoned started to live as strays and have continued to breed since, filling the kill shelters and streets.
The kill shelters provide no food, veterinary care or comfort to the dogs that are brought in. They are only given a few weeks to be claimed and are then brutally killed to make space for the next group that have been caught by dog catchers. We do our best to rescue as many as we can from the kill shelters. We also fundraise to provide food, water and bedding to the dogs whilst they are in the kill shelters.
The more dogs we can find homes for, the more we can rescue.
Has your work been affected by the pandemic?
Jordan: Fundraising on the whole took a big hit during the pandemic. I think this is the same for a lot of charities. Many people weren’t sure about their future employment so donating to charities wasn’t an option for many. We also had a few big fundraising events planned that couldn’t take place due to social distancing restrictions.
The amount of dogs we were able to rehome also decreased as we were unable to carry out homechecks for our applicants this has slowly started to increase now as the restrictions have eased.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Jordan: Seeing the dogs finally settled and in their forever homes. It’s a long road from rescue to adoption but those photos of them laying upside down on a sofa are the best part!
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of adopting a rescue?
Jordan: Time and patience are key. Dogs don’t settle in a couple of days or weeks, it can take months for them to feel at home. Everything is new to them so just be there for them as they experience the world for the first time and let them do it at their own pace.
Kiara recently rescued Frosti with the help of a rescue charity in Romania
Kiara: Frosti is currently 10 months old. We rescued her from the streets of Romania only a short 6 months ago. Her exact breed is unknown but it’s thought that she may be part Akbash and potentially part Pyrenees.
My boyfriend David and I are her owners. We enjoy being outdoors together. Hillwalking, paddle boarding, swimming and camping. We’re gradually introducing Frosti to this life as she’s getting older. She loves exploring the hills with us and can’t wait until she’s old enough and more confident for the real hikes!
What made you adopt instead of shop?
Adopting a dog is more than just adopting a dog - you’re giving them a second chance at life. You’re showing them the real love they deserved the first time around. You’re giving them a safe and happy home. You’re potentially saving their life!
I can’t quite describe the feeling we get when we reflect back on Frosti’s life before we adopted her compared to her life now.
Dogs who have a loving home from day one are so incredibly lucky. Every pup deserves that!
When we chose to adopt Frosti, we didn’t just save her life, but also the pup who was given her space in the shelter when she left!
What steps did you take to adopt?
David and I had been considering a getting a dog together for a while. We had searched various rescue sites, but struggled to find the perfect match. Some dogs had far more complex needs than what we were able to take on at the time.
A family member suggested we looked at Perrera Dogs UK, a charity who help to rescue dogs from the streets of Romania. It all seemed a bit daunting at first but after researching why dogs are rescued from Romania and the process of bringing a dog over we decided to look at the dogs they had available for adoption. After we submitted our application we received a virtual home check which was done over video call due to COVID restrictions at the time. The safety of our home and garden were assessed as well as our home situation (I.e kids/other pets) our interests, our work commitments, and our financial state (e.g could we afford insurance/food/vet bills?)
After we passed our home check we paid an adoption fee which helps cover the cost of vaccinations, travel, care and food for both our own dog and the rest of the dogs at the shelter.
It didn’t take long for Frosti to arrive! She was in our lives only a few weeks later!
What advice would you give to anyone looking at adopting a rescue?
Take your time and don’t rush into things. Make sure the adoption agency you chose follow all the legal requirements for adoption and take the time to make sure you and the adoption agency/current family are absolutely certain you’re the perfect match for the dog.
The world can be a very scary place, things can get challenging.. it just takes time, patience and consistency but it will be SO worth it!
Frosti has brought so much chaos into our lives .. but we wouldn’t have it any other way!❤️
Thank you to Jordan and Kiara for helping us put all this information together along with all the Rescue Dog workers out there who help give dogs another chance at living their best life. For more information on Fetcher Dog and the work they do you can head to their website here or check them out on social media @fetcherdog
