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Prancer is a beautiful staffy/boxer cross who is currently a long term resident at Birkenhead Kennels,(staffy sized) she is approximately 2 years old and loves interacting with people. She really enjoys her walks with the volunteers and is good on the lead when out, she will sit and take treats nicely.
She would need to be the only dog and cannot live with cats.
Please remember we are a stray facility and not a rescue, thanks.
Birkenhead council kennels, Corporation Road, Birkenhead.

0151 606 2003

(PRANCER WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP ON MONDAY 24TH MARCH IF A LOVING HOME IS NOT FOUND FOR HER AS BIRKENHEAD KENNELS HAVE HAD HER TOO LONG NOW AND NEGLECT IS SADLY GROWING MORE EACH DAY THROUGHOUT THE BOROUGH AND MORE DOGS ARE BEING BROUGHT IN!)

;(

Perhaps the RSPCA will get involved and help save the life of this dog----then again they probably wont as they cant really take wirral council to court to fine them for cruelty in killing an otherwise healthy dog

Just rang about this dog offices are closed till monday morning left details at an emergency number got to call back monday morning i will try my best to save this poor dog let you know how i get on

Good man, keep us posted.

Fingers crossed there Fisherman

Great work Fisherman on behalf of Prancer and all animal lovers on here Thank You sooooo much x

Aww Great Stuff Fisherman! Looking forward to hearing your update mate.

I hope the Council kennels will do whatever homechecks normal rescues do to ensure this dog gets a permanent good home. I can understand the desperate feeling the kennel staff must have , but when you advertise that a lovely looking dog has two days to live before being killed - it puts pressure on peoples emotions , but emotions dont guarantee a good dog owner .

(Dont take offence Fisherman, Im not pointing at you,I think its great you are applying, you may well have being about to take on such a dog anyway, but you will not be the only person who hears about Prancer , others may well beat you to it in applying to take her on ,and as a knee jerk reaction/heart strings job, having no idea what they might be letting themselves in for.

Staffs and crosses (this one looks mainly Staff in the pic) especially when background is unknown, can be a handful if you're not used to them . Apart from normal teething problems with a new rescue dog like toileting, barking , training etc, many rescue Staffs, havent been socialised properly so react badly in dog company.
Its not relaxing for instance walking a dog that will spar with anything it meets , so you have to keep it on a flexi most of the time, and keep your eyes constantly on stalks. You cant tie it outside the paper shop, and out walking you have to be confident to deal with a nasty spat if another dog runs up to yours making it attack and its not a dog you can let the children out with alone.
You have to be super vigilant in your home and garden to not allow the dog to escape if it is one that could fight. Holidays are difficult as few people even family may not cope, so kennels would be essential. You're often shunned by the public , and cant share walks alongside friends with other dogs.

No dog of course should be taken on lightly , but Staffs,especially ones that need to be kept 'as a single pet' need a well prepared owner , geared up for all the possible and quite probably downsides. Not every Staff will be as described above, but a large percentage will . On the good side, they can be loyal loving and fabulous companions so Im not trying to stop people taking on these sort of dogs, Im just offering some things to think about.
Sorry - I know I sound like Im lecturing and that Ive got a down on these dogs --I havent, far from it . I love the breed having taken three rescue Staffs in , one at a time over the years. Im just speaking from experience in the hope it will actually get this dog a prepared and permanent home, for its own happiness AND the owners. Thanks for listening .

If no permanent home can t be found maybe a foster placement would be better than nothing.

Absolutely snowhite as long as the fosterer was warned how careful they needed to be -- it only takes one moments lack of concentration by a well meaning inexperienced person for one of this breed to get out and about , and maul,even kill someone elses pet --or if loose, to get picked up by the dog fighting fraternity etc and end up chained in a back yard somewhere,covered in bites. Im not saying this particular dog is like that, but the risk is there.

Sadly there arnt many foster homes around for these poor dogs as willing 'animally' people tend to have a pet already(like me). You're right though, fostering would buy time , if someone who doesnt maybe want to permanently deal with a dog requiring a constant eye, but was prepared to cope just for a while stepped forwards , it would be great.

Thanks for everybodys input can you be made aware i have not got the dog yet but will be trying my best to give this dog a loving home i had a "staffy" for 10 years and am well capable of looking after a dog

Fisherman Hope you can save Prancer and give him the home he deserves.

Hope and pray things turn out well for you and prancer.good on you fisherman.

Good man fisherman keep us updated he`s only young too so am sure he will soon settle in

Everything crossed for you fisherman , and for Prancer . She looks a lovely dog.

Fingers crossed Fisherman. Oh such a happy doggy woggy she could be. I think we have all made up our minds that she's yours.

Hope you do get her fisherman.I rescued Wanda as she was known there the akita now known as Misty.she was a long stayer & her time was running out quite a few people wanted her but the kennel staff wanted her to go to someone who had experience & I'd had one before.She was a handful on the lead at first but she is such a great dog.the trouble so many end up in kennels is back yard breeders & it's places like this that have to pick up the pieces when the owners get bored or they can't be bothered paying the reclaim fee

All the best for you tomorrow Fisherman.I am sure you can give prancer an ever loving home xx

Thanks for trying Fisherman even if she is not the dog for you.Hope it all goes well though

Opening times for kennels are Monday to Friday 11am -1pm and 2-4.30pm. To show interest in a dog you need to go to the kennels, meet her and fill in an application form. Dogs will not be rehomed on same day application is filled in.
Just copied the opening times as when you ring they will tell you to visit the kennels

afternoons are usually better to go down as they are usually busy in the mornings.

Surely you need to ring the second it opens just to say you are interested -even if you dont get to go down till later. Is there no danger destruction could begin not long after opening?

Even if this isnt the one for Fisherman.He could get Prancer out of there and hold onto her untill a rescue place comes up.At least he has still saved this dog from being put to sleep.It really makes my blood boil in situations like this,And more poeple let there dogs have pups and the pounds and rescues are choca-block with dogs desperate for homes.

Would love to hear your story about Wanda.On a different thread,Starkita.x

I did ring an emergency number saturday morning and the "Warden" that answered the phone assured me my interest would be passed onto the kennels first thing monday morning he took my name and address and advised me to ring first thing monday morning which i will keep you all informed Thanks

Great news Fisherman.keep us updated we are all waiting.

Its so sad - Last time I looked at the pound website, out of the 30 dogs , all but about 4 were Staff X's. Indicative I think that Staff types, often tend to attract the wrong sort of owners who see them as a status symbol amongst other staff owners of the 'wrong' type! Then its a race to breed badly, to get the biggest scariest looking ones. All the 'spares' get passed on for peanuts to even more irresponsible homes.Because these people got their dogs for the wrong reasons, they frequently lose or dump them after novelty wears off, or if they want a younger 'harder' looking one theyve seen. Result - Pounds full of them, and most, hard to home. Damn shame.

Venice, I looked at the 'Pound' website only yesterday, and it's the same story. Your heart goes out to them, although not knowing the history of most, it is the biggest gamble to take one into a home, where most people have children at some point, either living or visiting. We could never forgive ourselves for a wrong decision could we? It is very sad.

Dont know what the right answer is either Granny, and its getting worse all the time.
Hard on the dogs, but I suppose pounds and rescues could put to sleep all Staff types or large dogs, that show aggression to other dogs, for a start, rather than rehome. ( I know, Im a hypocrit)---and I think, or hope they already put to sleep ones with aggression to humans.
Somehow we have to get back to having a country of ordinary 'family' dogs, for human AND dog sakes

In a perfect world, youd try to rehabilitate these dogs as its not their own fault, often just fear ---but its too late , too many other dogs with scarefree lovely natures that also need homes .The pressure of numbers is huge! Maybe these should be the only ones homed on.


Some rescues say they never destroy a healthy animal. I definitely dont agree with keeping unhomeable dogs in boarding kennel situations for ever . That's no life at all so better they have 'no life at all' and get pts to stop their misery.

It's a world wide thing. Louis Thereux was on telly last night about dogs in LA. They were saying that the staff were on tranquilizers because of the stress of the job with putting healthy non-agressive dogs too sleep. It is so so sad an animal only wants to give love.

That program worried me Heswall -- dont you think the dog catcher bless his heart , nice dogcentric guy that he was, was a bit weird? His 'classes' to me seemed to be anything but designed to initiate cool calm responsible dogkeeping ! --and as for those other classes teaching dogs to be protection dogs !!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I felt awful for the staff of the shelter --although I feel it must be much worse for animal cruelty inspectors (in any country) who have to go out on cases, as often they have to view such awful scenarios and frequently cant actually do anything about it.
At least the shelter staff know that dogs cant worry in advance about dying, and once the staff put them to sleep, they arent going to suffer anything any more .

Update Went to kennels this morning 10.45 no record of me ringing on saturday regaring Prancer anyway mentioned to the "warden" i was interested in re homing the dog after what i had read on hear she said there is a lot of scaremongering going on and there was dogs there that had been there longer as for the dog it does have behaviour issues did not go into much detail we could see the dog at first then come back at 12.30 to see the dog with having two young children i am not prepared to take the chance sorry

Yes Venice I totally agree with you he was a bit strange. I thought that the guy who calmed the white alsation was very good though.

Youve done the right thing fisherman. Its when people take on dogs inappropriate for their circumstances, that problems arise.

Hey Fisherman don,t feel bad. You gave it a try and your children and indeed any childs safety is top priority.

At least you tried Fisherman that is very commendable and I totally agree your children come first.

There is a pic & her story somewhere on the pets thread,she looks similar to my avatar

I know this is a bit off topic but I took my dog out for a walk to ellery park at lunch time today and the amount of dog poo left was disgusting. I "rescued" my dog and since then I haven't ever left a single one. I also walked down from leasowe lighthouse to new brighton and again covered in poo. It's vile and if anyone reading here doesn't pick up pleasedo because I am sick of clean in it off my kids shoes!! Rant over.

Did anyone watch dangerous dogs last week on itv? It was one of the saddest things I have seen. I love the bully breeds not for the status or anything but because they are so loyal and responsive to training. I know that they can be dangerous but so can any dog. If I could I would rescue them all!!

Hello Mr Butty
Some things don't change. I left NB in 1967. It was no different.

Dog crap everywhere. Seems to me a lot of my country men and women have no self respect for themselves or where they live.

sorry....just seen this was off topic.

The more I think about it, the more Im worried that the kennels would even contemplate giving a dog with issues like Prancer to a person with young children !!!! Surely that should be the very first question people are asked when they telephone ? If they'd done that , they could have saved fisherman from a fruitless trip. Lord help us if they are giving bully breeds out to just anyone who they think is a kind home.

Hi Snowshoes,is the dog muck situation any better in Canada? If so can you tell us how they have managed it?

Thanks for trying to home this dog, When these irresponsible people get these dogs not only do they not train them or care for them, they don't socialise them either which is why they are so hard to rehome. Prancer has been all over face book as the longest stayer so I don't understand what was said to you The dogs who cant live with children or other animals do end sup staying the longest.I hope you find the right dog for you family and many thanks for trying

They provide 'doggy bins' in many parts of the uk, but apparently Wirral Council could never afford them, when I enquired about extending the idea to this area.
Miles of coastal regions have them dotted along the proms, for a start, but not Wirral. People who don't pick up in such areas, are pretty much pointed at. which in turn makes them pick up.

With reference to Prancer, it was noticeable the other day when I looked on the website, there where about 20 dogs nearly all of similar cross breed and none with such a nice a profile as Princer. Last night I looked and the were 4 dogs to view, Prancer was now top of the list.
Great shame it didn't work for you Fisherman, but no body will be expecting you to put a dog before your children.

Hi ludwigvan
There is no dog muck problem here. People (the vast majority) simply pick up after dogs. I think it comes down to self respect and respect for others.

Thing is Snowshoes, some of the 'nicest' people, also don't bother ! .......and it's nearly always big dogs.

Have you a link for this programme?

Gran..hope I'm not coming across as being on a high horse but I just don't get it. Somewhat related is dogs running loose. It should not be happening.

No you are not coming across that way Snowshoes. My point , with regard to this issue,is respect for others and decency for our communities is not only attributed to one sector of our community. They seem to come from all dog walks of life and would prefer to pretend it wasn't them. There are country lanes near to where I live, and some think this rule doesn't apply in lanes, (and woods)where no one can spot them.
There was a huge drive towards this problem a few years ago, and fines could still be issued, but hard to enforce.

Off Topic : Please keep this Topic "ON" Topic.

Sorry ..

Sorry..

Apparently Prancer has been rehomed.

it came on my fb that Prancer has been rehomed

Great news....I hope he settles in a Forever Home

Until it eats someone..
"the dog does have behaviour issues"

she more than likely will have gone to an experienced home,loads of people had gone for my dog but they wanted someone who had experience of her breed,I know 3 other people had gone for her but the kennel staff had said no & that was after JAWT had done the homechecks plus the chavs that wanted a status dog I'd had an akita before so I got her.The staff do know what theyre doing 7 have the dogs interest at heart

No home check done according to someone who works at the kennels, when asked if a homecheck was done reply was....

"Was from the kennels so no as they are unable to. But owners came to meet her then their kids were introduced (Prancer was amazing with them). Only thing kennels have in place is an application form that is filled in and the amount someone comes to visit the dog (not allowed to take a dog on same day as application is filed), if there is more than one applicant then best suited to dogs needs is chosen, any dogs already living are home need to be introduced (as many times as poss) as well as all family members within household"

Let's hope Prancer doesn't end up bouncing back

Or kids on the menu

Prancer all settled and enjoying the sun today in her fab new home.

Well done Kev!

She looks relaxed 'sunbathing', ours do's that .......Hope she is settling in ok ...

She looks so content and happy ! Long may it continue. Hope this is a permanent happy ending for both animal and people.

How are things going with Prancer,?

Great news.Pity more cant be helped from facing the death row,Still breeders and pet owners are letting there dogs have pups.Its madness.

yeah, money grabbing facebook idiots you mean snow.

Not real "breeders".

On another note, nice one Kev