Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello,

we are a large shelter with 160 dog kennels and 160 cat pens. We deal with council contracts, owner surrender and inspectorate animals. Some of our dogs due to behaviour are deemed unadoptable, this is usually because they may show some reactivity to other dogs, not be great with strangers or have other complex behaviours. We do work closely with quite a few rescue groups, but our LOS is blowing out for these dogs sometimes causing them to stay in the shelter for months while a rescue place is found. It doesn't seem good welfare. These dogs are usually on behaviour meds and the longer they stay here the worse their behaviour becomes, and they also run the risk of injuries and disease. My question is, at what point do we say rescue cannot be found?  Do we apply a timeframe around acceptable wait times for rescue?  Will this damage our relationship with our rescue partners? I've seen dogs decline over time psychologically and then we are left with no choice.  Thank you for your opinions.

#Rehoming

Hello Anonymous,

Could your rescue partners offer innovative ideas, solutions and greater support if you had the above conversation with them?  Could you strengthen your relationship with your rescue partners by being honest with them about the situation?  Could you reach out to the general public to find foster homes?

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Jen Thomasing
N/A
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AK
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Hi [Anonymous],

I feel for you - this is such a tough situation that so many shelters face. You're right that long lengths of stay can be a welfare issue in themselves, especially for behaviorally challenged dogs.

As a dog blogger at The Paws Journal, I've seen how other shelters manage this by setting clear review points (such as 30–60–90 days) to reassess each dog's progress, rescue options, and overall well-being. This kind of structure helps reduce emotional strain and keeps decisions fair.

Being transparent with rescue partners about these timelines also helps. Most understand that the goal isn't to give up on the dogs, but to prevent them from declining while waiting for help that may not come. Documenting behavior changes can make this even clearer.

Sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, the most humane choice is the hardest one - but making those decisions based on welfare guidelines can actually strengthen trust rather than hurt it.

You're definitely not alone in this, and I admire your dedication to doing what's best for the animals.

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Piyush Kumar
Off page SEO Intern
The Paws journal
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