What is RBU
RBU or Rescue Back Up is an emergency service provided by all good rescues.
Sadie's pups- no names yet... So what is it?
It means when you get the dog it has been fully deflead, dewormed, had tick and mite preventatives, vaccinated and tested (including rabies) but once the adopter is legally that dog’s guardian they take over that responsibility. If they do not, then under RBU we can remove the dog for improper care.
It means when you get the dog we have undertaken the spay or neuter at our expense if over 6 months old, and if too young at the time of adoption, RBU means we ensure the adopter provably undertakes this necessary procedure, done at a good vet at their expense, and if not, under RBU we can remove the dog for insufficient care.
It means if an adopter puts a dog in danger by bad or no training, a home situation they did not disclose at house check, lying or omitting information at that house check, to our email or official charity page and Messenger chats/rooms, trying to give away, breed, or sell the dog, or breaking DEFRA rules, we under RBU can remove that dog because it is being neglected or is in an unsafe place.
It means if an adopter does not properly feed, toilet train, and walk a dog,or otherwise neglects the dog, and the dog starts exhibiting behaviours they will not correct and they don’t consult a professional if it is beyond their experience, we under RBU can remove the dog.
It means that if an adopter does not follow our rules on how to get the dog safely in the home, or do not use appropriate walking aids for a dog and they escape, that while we (and Petlog, to whom we register the dog’s chip) will help find the dog, and advise on decompressing after such an incident once the dog is safely home, then an emergency meeting will be held on if the adopter is allowed to keep the dog, and move it to a foster should we deem the adopter unsafe/unfit to care for a dog.
Jinx As RBU we also:
Provide a products list of both ESSENTIAL and RECOMMENDED items and terms and conditions adopters MUST and SHOULD purchase/learn to welcome, decompress, care for a dog properly, and walk it safely and securely/ collect the dog from the Bus, especially when it first arrives.
CAN and DO advise on feeding, cleaning and bathing supplies, herbal alternatives to chemical spot ons (etc), and correct/suitable equipment for your dog. All food, treats and equipment (such as walking/training aids or herbal treatments) have been tried and tested by us, the rescue. We are a raw feed, no over-vaccinate or over-chemically treat and NO grain rescue, are as eco friendly as possible, and have a list of banned products and food as result of years of experience with our dogs, no matter what country they were born in.
Why do we consider food, treatments and equipment part of RBU when many other rescues don’t? If you don’t follow that advice/our rules on this, coming back to us with an issue because you are feeding the dog something we don’t recommend, using harsh chemical shampoos and treatments and wondering why your dog is sore and miserable, or using equipment unsuitable to walk them, and won’t fix the issue? THEN it becomes an RBU matter and we can remove the dog. IT IS FOR THE DOG. IT IS SIMPLY AN EMERGENCY SERVICE INITIATED WHEN ADOPTERS DO NOT STICK TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Our Ts and Cs are there to protect the dog. And that is what RBU is.
Darcy RBU is NOTUsing us as a 24/7 Google service, veterinary service or professional training service
Expecting us to train your dog (sometimes even with no photo or video of the behaviours) when our advice beyond our Ts and Cs is strictly informal, and/or you have ignored our informal advice (that comes from years of experience) and let a problem escalate.
Never/rarely coming to our online contact points with updates (which we expect as part of our Ts and Cs) of a positive nature, and not sending photo and video updates when asked, but only coming to us with problems that are issues the adopter has let get out of hand by NOT consulting a professional.
If you have a medical issue- ASK YOUR VET If you have a behavioural issue- CONSULT A GOOD BEHAVIOURIST If you have a walking issue- FIND A GOOD DOG WALKER/PUPPY MEET UP
Izzy See how it works? It’s not there for you, it’s there for the dog. You are the human, you are responsible for all aspects of your dog’s care and if YOU don’t deliver, YOU don’t get to keep the dog. WE are the RESCUE, we care and prepare the dogs for YOU to carry on our good work. RBU only ever needs to happen when you messed up and/or didn’t follow our procedures. These procedures and rules are given in a document for ALL adopters to read, understand sign and return, BEFORE we let you reserve a dog and ONLY after a successful house check- and form part of the THREE PART set of contracts between us the rescue, and you the adopters.
Roxy If you make a mistake that’s fine, we’re only human, we’ve made mistakes too back when we first became dog owners and rescuers, but OWN your mistakes! Use them as an chance to learn how to be a better dog parent NOT as an excuse to activate our RBU under what are basically false pretences created by your error(s). And usually (deliberately) breaking our Ts and Cs to do it.