Dogs often arrive at Achnabreac Kennels’ Argyll & Bute Council sponsored Stray Dog Unit needing new homes, and thankfully there are people in Argyll willing to take on these dogs rather than buying a puppy.  Many of these dogs have to be re-homed through no fault of their own; perhaps their owner has died, the family has split up or even moved unable take the dog with them.  People’s circumstances change in life.  Most dogs will adapt to a new home and family with no trouble.  However, taking on a rescue dog is not always an easy task if the new owner is not aware of some of the pitfalls.

Everyone feels sorry for a rescued dog, and with little information about its history we immediately assume that it was found wandering on the motorway where it had been thrown out of a car; rescued from a garden shed where it had been locked in and almost starved to death; or taken off a cruel family who used to beat it up every morning just in case it did anything wrong that day.  Sadly, from time to time there will be dogs that fall into this category, but this is quite rare in Argyll.  Most dogs that come to our kennel are being re-homed for perfectly genuine reasons.

It’s fair to say that previous unpleasant experiences are likely to affect your dog’s behaviour, but from the day you take on a rescue dog it is imperative that you chart this as the first day of the rest of his life, and start as you mean to go on.  Dogs are not humans and do not think like we do.  Dogs live for NOW.  They don’t lie about thinking about what life used to be like.  Memories of previous experiences are only triggered off by familiar audio, visual or chemical reminders, such as a voice, a rolled-up newspaper, a stick held a certain way or a familiar smell.  A smell such as creosote can trigger off a fear of being locked in a shed, but until the dog actually smells the creosote, he won’t think about it.

Giving a rescue dog a home can be an extremely rewarding experience, not only for the dog but also for the new owner(s).  Here at Achnabreac Kennels we are only a phone call away to give any advice with training or behaviour.  If you are interested in re-homing a dog, please call us.

Our procedure, if you would like to give a dog a home, is as follows:

Contact Achnabreac Kennels, where your details will be taken.

Visit the dog, take it for a walk and see if you’re compatible.

Where possible, a representative of Achnabreac Kennels or Argyll & Bute Council Dog Warden Service will visit your home to check it is suitable.

If you decide to take the dog, we require you to sign a Re-homing Agreement.

You and your dog start your new life together.

We have a Stray Dog Re-homing Fund and all donations are gratefully received.  The fund pays for any necessary veterinary treatment, (worming, flea and tick treatments) and food throughout the dogs’ stay with us.

Here’s a look at a few of our success stories:

Nevis was an eight week old puppy when she arrived here having been taken from her litter at five weeks old and then left with an elderly neighbour while the owner went shopping – the owner never came back! Unable to cope with a puppy the elderly neighbour asked us to re-home Nevis, which happily we did.

She went to a family on the Cowal peninsular who had recently lost an elderly dog and Nevis helped fill a large void in their lives.

Blue’s owner had died, leaving him in the care of relatives who struggled to meet all his needs. Happily, after a short stay here Blue was successfully re-homed and now lives on Islay.

Tia came to us as genuine case of owners not able to cope with the demands of a fast growing puppy.

She has been re-homed near in Kilmun and has settled perfectly into her new life with new owners Mr and Mrs White.

….and then there’s Archie. Many of you will remember the plight of the little Lurcher pup with the funny walk found wandering on the Oban road. Archie’s story appeared in the Argyllshire Advertiser and Campbeltown Courier and prompted over 70 people to offer him a home.

Archie was instrumental in raising the profile of stray dogs in Mid Argyll and created motivation and drive here at Achnabreac to ensure that everything we can do will be done to give stray and unwanted dogs a second chance. Archie was re-homed to the Reid family on Mull where, despite his increasing health problems he has a wonderful, happy and secure life.

If you find a stray dog your first port of call should be the Dog Warden (01586 559000) during office hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).  Out with these hours you should contact the police.  You can register the dog’s details with the police and then request that the dog be collected from the police station and taken to the stray dog unit at Achnabreac Kennels.

If you have a dog that needs to be re-homed for whatever reason, we can provide a service to help find a good home and also foster the dog if necessary in the intermediate term.  There is a charge for this service, so please call to discuss.