| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Westie dog's owner has died - urgent foster needed | |
| Posted by: | Claire Moran | |
| Date/Time: | 03/05/15 11:26:00 |
| I have never seen the initial cat testing done, but when I pressed Heathlands about how thorough the cat testing of the first dog I got from them was and whether it had been carried out in different situations (with 5 cats I had to be very sure) the fosterer brought her big ginger tom in on a lead and someone else had Quinn on a lead and held them both firmly while they sussed each other out. After a minute of looking at each other, Quinn whimpered and backed away. The fosterer said rather drily 'I think he will be alright!'. He was indeed and now happily shares his bed with any of the cats and they are often curled up together, and although I try to stop it the cats pinch food from their bowls while they are eating. My other dog would chase a little for fun if one of the cats was running through the house when I first got him, as they told me he would but I got that stopped within a week and even when one of my cats decides to give him a swipe - for no reason - he ignores it. Good animal rescues are very experienced in cat testing dogs and won't put either animal at risk, they can tell pretty quickly whether a dog is likely to be aggressive. But it has to be said that many dogs will accept their 'own' cats, even when they are aggressive outside towards strange cats, so even a dog that fails the cat test in a rescue home could be ok with the 'permanent' cats in the house, but rescue centres tend to err on the side of caution and if there is any doubt at all about whether they will get on with either cats, other animals or children because of their reaction when they meet them, won't rehome to a household where the dog might pose a risk. They want to protect the animals but also don't want dogs to have to be returned, it is better to take time and effort over finding the right home than keep getting dogs brought back as unsuitable. |