The ‘adopt, don’t shop’ phrase has taken off as a key tag line you will hear in most rescue charities, and whilst it certainly is catchy and memorable, does it really explain the importance of rescue and why it is so imperative to support dogs in shelter? We have to say, much like our naughty pups at home, the second you hear “don’t”, boy, does it make you want to do whatever they are advising against. So, before we get on to the specifics of rescuing a street dog, we’d like to take the opportunity to discuss why you should consider adopting, over shopping.

Unfortunately, since the high demand of puppies during Covid19, there has been a staggering boom in the level of puppy mills and backyard breeders, both of which have devised incredibly clever ways of hiding their true origins and appearing as above-the-board, responsible breeders. Whilst getting a puppy out of this situation is certainly a tick in our box, unfortunately, buying into these processes only serves to fuel their fire and continue to over-breed, mistreat and even in plenty of cases, cause fatalities. This is especially important to consider when we add in the effects of maternal stress from mother dogs in these environments. We will go on to explain how this affects puppies of all backgrounds below.

There are predicted to be 300 million stray dogs living around the world, and this does not include dogs currently living in shelters! These animals’ experiences fear, mistreatment, abuse and malnutrition, sometimes on a daily basis, and shockingly, so many of them are still puppies themselves.

An issue that we rarely hear of is the appalling number of dogs around the world who are euthanised on a daily basis. Whilst this can be argued to be due to medical concerns, breed bias, or behavioural challenges, we can not ignore the fact that it is also due to the much lower demand of rescues in comparison to puppies. The number of dogs being euthanised globally every single day could be drastically reduced if the demand for them showed a significant increase.

There are so many more reasons for adopting over buying, and countless wonderful charities working towards the same goal for the helpless dogs already living in our world. We will never stop the puppy trade, but all we can ask is, if you do shop, please consider rescuing first, and if your mind is set, please do so responsibly.

‘Stray dogs’ is a very broad term for a lot of unique individuals with complex backgrounds. Whilst we use the words ‘stray’, ‘street’, or ‘vulnerable’ to talk about the dogs we rescue on a wider note, they could have come from any number of situations to end up in their position. Some have been abandoned or born on the streets, some kept in horrific conditions for slaughter, some relinquished due to an inability to care for them in a country with no alternatives. Whatever the reason, they all deserve the exact same level of compassion, understanding and commitment to a brighter future.

These incredible dogs are not your usual rescues. As most UK rescue shelters will host dogs that have been given up by previous owners, it is rare that they would have experienced homelessness to such a great extent. In the UK, we see a stray dog and we immediately take action to ensure it is in safe hands – our four-legged-friends around the world are just not that fortunate. Living on the streets or in a neglectful environment for a critical period of time encourages a dog to become hardwired for survival. This can become very stressful for them when they are required to adapt in a contrasting environment. When all we want to do is cuddle, stroke, scratch and feed our new fur-babies, this could be a big request for a dog that has not experienced any affection. Whilst it is unique in each case, dog to dog, they may present signs of resource guarding, stranger danger, a fear of loud and sudden noises or similar uncertainties. These fears can present in any number of different reactions, but adopted dogs do always come with character profiles, and as much as we know about their background, so that you can prepare for these challenges with the help of our team!

When rescuing a dog, especially from abroad, we cannot ask, or expect them to adapt in a limited time period. Building their trust and essentially rewiring their brains and instincts takes time, and a very patient person, but when you do see that change, nothing beats it!

“Riley was initially very scared of other dogs. He would cower or try and run away from them when he saw them. Introducing him to family dogs was really helpful, he really quickly took comfort from them and watching him relax and play for the first time was very heart-warming – it was amazing to see him come into his own and be the social dog he is deep down!” Maddy and Riley

One key thing to consider that we touched upon above, and certainly something to bear in mind when adopting from overseas, is that puppies may not have the fully adaptive nature you can expect from most UK based litters. If the dog you are considering to rescue was born on the streets, it is key to note that maternal stress on the mother can have a big impact on how a puppy reacts to changes or stresses in their environment.

It is obvious once you think about it, but good to remind ourselves that puppies brains have already started developing before birth. Though they do come out all wobbly and don’t know their tail from their nose, hormonal tuning is an evolutionary survival tactic in all mammals. For puppies that had the potential to be born into stressful and hazardous environments, a developed stress response could be the difference between life and death for them.

This certainly does not mean that all puppies will always be reactive to all stresses in their lives. It may present itself as more submissive traits, a strong flight response, or just a ‘find a safe place with my family’ attitude, and it is most definitely something that can improve greatly with positive training and a stable environment (there’s that patience and compassion we bring up so often!)

The final, and one of the most crucial, aspect we want to discuss is what we call a ‘critical period’, often tied closely with another self-explanatory title, ‘single event learning’. These two concepts are something that pretty much all dogs experience, rescue or not, and most commonly at a younger age. A critical period is a time when a dog is most responsive to stressors in the wider environment, and single event learning occurs during this time.

If, for example, your dog is in a critical period, and they experience a loud alarm such as a fire alarm or burglar alarm, and especially If it is paired with frantic, stressful, or highly emotional responses from those around them, their reaction becomes learnt from this single event – make sense? This means that whenever they hear an alarm in future, they are flooded by these emotions and cause them to react in an emotional way. As mentioned above, pretty much all dogs experience these times, no matter where they are from, though when paired with a young pup that has had a troubling start in life and potentially several bad experiences, it can take a bit more work to help them overcome their fears.

Responsible pet ownership starts with understanding our dog’s emotions, and their causes. So, whilst we will always encourage adopting over buying, we know that the true value for every dog is in their owner’s kindness and empathy.

Rescuing a dog does require devotion and persistence, but for a street puppy that had no chance at a future, to a life with a family who becomes their whole world, there really is nothing that compares. Successful adoption comes with education, and we highly encourage every single dog owner (rescue or otherwise) to keep learning about their dogs. Without rescue, each one of the 2,000+ dogs we have successfully rehomed since our start would still be living on the streets, in fear and pain. It is an incredible experience, and with the right patience and compassion, it’s definitely an experience like no other.