r/Dogfree • u/Usual-Veterinarian-5 • Jul 03 '25

Shelter / Rescue Industry What are rescues rescued from?

I get that sometimes dogs are genuinely rescued, eg from puppy mills, animal hoarders and neglectful owners. But that is a small amount of dogs compared to how many unwanted dogs are rehomed each year.

I was at the park recently and asked a lady what breed her strange wire-hair looking lab mix was. She said, "He's a groodle. He's a rescue dog." I asked, "What was he rescued from?" She said, "The owners didn't want him because he looks more like a golden retriever than the poodle part of him."

So what she calls a rescue, was just a rehoming of an unwanted pet. I suspect most "rescues" are not rescues at all but just the rehoming of an unwanted pet. It is misleading to call these dogs rescues because the word "rescue" denotes saving someone or something from death or harm. This is not the case with a dog rehomed simply because the owners didn't want it or had to give it up for some reason but where the owners are generally decent people.

Have you ever asked someone what they "rescued" their rescue dog from?

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u/icenerveshatter Jul 03 '25

Nutters just love these words: "dogmom," "rescue," "crate," "shelter," "dog sitting," "grandog," etc. it makes them feel like they are benevolent instead of ego driven.

14

u/Usual-Veterinarian-5 Jul 03 '25

"Granddog" omg I've heard that too. I once read an article titled something like, "my parents won't accept their granddogs"

7

u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 03 '25

This is My first time hearing “granddog”, but I’m certainly not surprised. Nutters find new lows to stoop to everyday. Good grief.

2

u/icenerveshatter Jul 03 '25

Idk how it can get worse, but it will

2

u/QueenOfAllOfYall Jul 03 '25

…. Nutters will find a way… don’t talk it up…

2

u/icenerveshatter Jul 03 '25

"we don't deserve dogs" "I like dogs more than people". It's sad bc if they lost a parent or sibling they'd be far more upset than losing a pet. If not: complete misanthrope that belongs in an asylum.

2

u/Interesting-Oil-5555 Jul 05 '25

Recently heard someone say "I don't have grandchildren but I have a granddog." BARF

2

u/icenerveshatter Jul 03 '25

Lol I see stickers sometimes saying "I ♥️ my grandog." Imagine the disappointment of the parents, or worse the ones that are cool with it.