Opinion on rescues from overseas

[FairyDogMother]

As some know, our rescue has taken a couple of pups from Taiwan over the past few months. One was brought over just for my Son's family, Tai the bulldog. The others went to another foster home.

I have some very mixed feelings about this and want to know the overall opinion of all you dog lovers here.
*I think on one hand, we have so many that it's hard to take them in when we have so many right here in our own backyards.
But then what's the difference if they come from there or right across the WA border in Canada? We adopt dogs back and forth all the time.
*Another issue is many have horrendous stories and not much hope for anything there except the woman and her rescue organization who do so much to try to give them a chance by nursing them to health, taking care of the medical needs and shipping them over to the US and other places where they may have a chance.

Please share what you will on the subject. This is somewhat for research, insight and overall opinion.

My question is what do you think about this idea?

[Camberaoh]

All homeless dogs need homes.. so does it matter where they come from as long as they get a home in the end?? I guess looking at the greater picture.. the world picture and not just your state, province or country..

I dont see much wrong with it. Does it really matter what dog you help as long as your helping?

[FairyDogMother]

2 of the dogs have terrible stories. Not all are this severe.

1 was really friendly and some cruel young men got him chasing the firecrackers for the holiday festival. Yep, had half his face blown up. They've reconstructed it and he's looking great. Wonderful, he still has his love for people and a great personality.

The other had acid thrown on his face by a crazy homeless person. He still has alot of reconstruction to go.

Many were abandoned, deserted, lame. Legs caught in traps where they either had part of a limb torn or they chewed their way free of the traps. Some have twisted legs.

Some are perfectly healthy in the physical sense but are so shy from being shooed and shoved aside as homeless dogs they need to learn people are good and kind.

I don't believe I can handle the ones with the severe physical problems. Maybe the social issues, certainly the puppies that are born homeless and they took in the whole family or the pups were born there.
I asked why the puppies aren't easily adopted. I guess breed status is huge and mutts don't have any chance. They represent the homeless population for the most part but not exclusively. I can't even begin to determine some of the possible breeds either and can't find much info on the breeds prominently over there.

[FairyDogMother]

Originally Posted by Sararee

All homeless dogs need homes.. so does it matter where they come from as long as they get a home in the end?? I guess looking at the greater picture.. the world picture and not just your state, province or country..

I dont see much wrong with it. Does it really matter what dog you help as long as your helping?

That's a great attitude. I really like the "world picture" too.
We are called "the BIG dog project". It's not that all the dogs are big but rather the project. That kinda fits. Thanks!

[Dauxside]

No animal deserves less than a wonderful home, doesn't matter where they're originally from...just as it doesn't matter where a child is from, love is love, it reaches around the world if people let it.

[whimzikal]

I said "other". I'd love to live in a perfect world and say save them all but it isn't realistic. There is alot that weighs in and I am not completely for or against it.
The world is vast with many different cultures and beleifs.
Just as the arguement is used in breeding it can apply here, for every dog who is homed from another country a US dog loses his/her life.
All the money spent on importing one dog (from transportation to health clearances) can help how many US dogs?
Will this create a new fad in rescuing... oh I got my dog from X country...

Again, I am on the fence because I feel they all deserve the very best humankind can give them and know so many get the short end of the bully stick. Many of our dogs behaviors are 'learned' and what we teach in American society to our four legged family members is not the way abroad.
In fact it varies in my own little town. My dogs sleep with me, lounge on the couch, get premium food and tons of toys... the farm dog up the street doesn't even go indoors unless you count the barn... the beagles live in kennels and live for the hunt or a treat of fresh rabbit... if I told you about the dobie across town you'd be furious (lol he eats from dinnerware, wears clothing, rides in a side cart with his daddy on the Harley, is never left for anytime home alone) It's a touchy subject and I can't seem to make up my mind. I'd love to say help our own first and when our problem is abolished, spread out... but then I see those eyes and melt.

[AtomicSkies]

i chose no opinion either way as im really unsure...i agree with sara in every way but at the same time i would be heartbroken if i couldent save a dog down the street because i had a dog from overseas...its a tough call...although i do feel that animals here have much more of a chance then those in other countries as a lot of other countries dont look at animals in the same way that we do

[Bclover92]

I said against but I should have chose other.

I agree with Whim, I want everydog to have a great life and love. BUT there are millions dying and suffering here. Why do we need more to come in? Expecially at the cost to bring them here.

You may think but the obly dog for me may be in thailand or wherever but really I bet there is a dog that is in the same sit or same breed or whatever right in your own state. So why spend so much money to bring more in when theres so many here dying?

I would love to home all the dogs in the world but I think to help others we need to solve our problems first. Then start helping others. Thats the only way we can really help.

I do think helping some dogs with bad medical cases and such that cant get treated there is fine as long as there not coming like in mass and theres someone here already that wants them or is gonna at least heal them. I know they cant get the same care there as they can here. As for healthy dogs I really believe that somewhere overthere is a home for them(just like there is a home for dogs here we just have to find them). Even if it doesnt sound what we like in a home its what a home is there. And as we all know dogs are happy as ever if they can work or be with there owners (even if they may live outside).

I dont think we can help there problem when we have the same problem in our own backyard.

[FairyDogMother]

Thanks for all the feedback thus far. One note to clarify somthing mentioned a couple of times.
They pay for everything. The receiving rescue pays nothing.
The rescues here lose a spot in foster care but not any finances.
Money was never an issue other than reglar feeding and care.

[golden&hovawart]

I chose against cos I believe that charity starts,at home!!.
Too many animals are being put to sleep,in this country,whether purebred or not!.
Why not help,here,first!.
I'm sorry,I sound hard but I would do the same,if I lived somewhere else!.
I wish i could help more than I do and be able to foster but I can't!.I can send a package from time to time and give some food but fostering will only happen when i own my own house.