09/03/2025
So much goes on behind the scenes at KARAS Rescue. We're CONSTANTLY helping dogs. Every single day and 9 times out of 10 those dogs stories do not make it onto Facebook.
We have a Waiting List of dogs needing our help and we regrettably had to close this Waiting List a few months ago to allow us some time to catch up with the sheer amount of Kangals & Anatolians being surrendered at the moment.
It's ridiculous out there at the moment.
It is heartbreaking. Soul destroying and we just can't keep up so, we closed the Waiting List and we are slowly, slowly, working our way through.
Sometimes, we have been able to support an owner and they have been able to keep their dog after all, along with our guidance & support.
Sometimes, we have worked for hours & days trying to desperately source a space at another Rescue Center because the dog needing help is an "easy" dog and doesn't need our expertise or our rehabilitation.
Sometimes, after we've spent many hours communicating with an owner, answering emails, funding the cost of phone calls, Admin time etc and we find out that the dog was actually given away for free a week ago and no longer needs our help.
And then, sometimes, despite our best efforts, we hear that the dog was taken to the vet and has been put to sleep.
Then, in amongst all of the above we have the more desperate & urgent Pound dogs ... The Kangals & Anatolians that have ended up in the UK Pound system... The strays ... The ones where the owners aren't even trying to help them anymore. The ones that are at risk of being put to sleep after serving their statutory 7 days in the UK Pound.
Thankfully, most of our Pounds over here are pretty good and they will try their hardest to find a Rescue to take on their dogs. That's where we step in.
We just can't save them all unfortunately.
There are far too many dogs needing help and we just can't keep up.
*Q* "Why haven't you got any dogs in at the moment if there's so many out there needing help?"
*A* Because we are taking some time to work through the Waiting List. Its the only way we can operate fairly and help as many dogs as we can - just because you don't see the dogs on Social Media doesn't mean we're not busy, trying to help them.
*Q* "Why dont you share the urgent dogs on Social Media? If a dog is at risk of being put to sleep then why dont you post them on here and see if we can help?"
*A* Because this isn't how we operate. KARAS prides itself on having high standards and we support RESPONSIBLE re-homing practices .... Not just any old re-homing practices! We will not, ever, place an un assessed dog that was picked up as a stray (and therefore we have no history on & no idea of temperament or behaviour issues) directly into a home with a well-meaning member of the public who wants to help. We just won't do it. We dont operate like that. Never have & never will.
*Q* "So, you'd rather a dog be killed than let a member of the public save him?"
*A* Well, actually, no, we'd rather that no dogs were ever in this position but hey-ho, it happens. We only work with the really, really, good, decent Dog Pounds - the Pounds that won't release a dog to members of the public. The Pounds that support RESPONSIBLE Rescue. It's not our call. If a Pound decides to put a dog to sleep then we do not have any powers to prevent that.
*Q* "But I've owned these breeds for years and I could definitely help - please don't let that dog die"
*A* That's great! If you could offer a home to a dog that is ALREADY in a Rescue and has ALREADY been assessed and is ALREADY under the support system of a Rescue then that would be amazing! Please, apply to adopt one of those dogs and that would free up a space for the next Poundie who really needs us ....
Hunter - having some lovin' this morning and reminiscing about the days when he was picked up as a stray and found himself in the UK Pound system .... Now, living his best life 💕💕
https://www.kangaldogtraineruk.co.uk/karasrescue
KARAS Rescue is a small, non profit rescue in the UK which aims to rescue, rehabilitate & rehome abandoned & unwanted Turkish Kangals & Anatolian Shepherds
