Well Intentioned Rescues Being Too Cautious » Big Dog Blog

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15 Responses to “Well Intentioned Rescues Being Too Cautious”

1. Greg H Says:
   July 15th, 2006 at 10:47 am

   I recently tried to adopt from a rescue. I filled out the three or four page questionaire happily. I was more than eager to get the call for the phone interview. I would have glady paid the $200+ adoption fee to know the dog was up to date on shots and had a good idea of its personality. I was glad to know they were taking care to put these dogs in good homes. Then the home visit was to be next. Three weeks and I was still waiting. I lived a few hours from the rescue and they were having trouble finding someone nearby. They didn’t respond to my offer to pay a vet or a trainer to do a home visit with the rescues guidance. I was told a visit would take place one weekend. Canceled plans for a no show. After all this time, I find out thai IF I am approved, They would decide which dog is best suited to me. All this time they were telling me to get this or that dog from a shelter that they couldn’t help. So, I’m not quailified to chose which one of their dogs I would do best with but I should drive to a different hours away for a dog no one knows anything about?
   Is it possible they get too attached to the dogs?
   Could they find great homes for 75 dogs a year instead of perfect homes for 40 dogs a year? Could the 35 other dogs that may run out of time have any home more suitable than the alternative?

   I ended up buying a dog from someone who had to move to a place where he wasnt allowed pets. the owners parents tried to keep him but they had two dogs already and a house up for sale. I won, got a great dog with a known history and all the paperwork. The dog won. Instead of an uncertain future, he gets a home for the rest of his life.

   I DO respect what the rescues are doing. I DO appreciate that they are giving a great deal of their time for these dogs. My experience just left me wondering if they aren’t overqualifying a lot of dogs out of good homes.

2. Anita J Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 11:31 am

   I agree with Greg. My husband and I have contacted several rescues and have been told that the underground fence that we have for our two Great Pyrenees is not acceptable. We are very concerned pet owners and take very good care of our animals as our vet and anyone else who knows us can vouch for. It seems unfair to us and to the dogs in rescue to not have a chance to adopt/be adopted because of a fence issue that currently works perfectly well. That said, understand that if the underground fence no longer works, we will without hesitation put up some other kind of fence but will not do so unless it is necessary and that should be our option, not the option of the rescue.

3. Greg H Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 1:26 pm

   I would like to hear the other side of this topic.
   What decisions go into approving an adoption?
   What criteia is used to say “OK, we can only help a limited number of dogs, so these are the requirements we want of owners.”?
   I don’t want to scare anyone away from pet adoption. It may make the process easier if the reasoning behind the some of the guidlines were better understood by potential adoptors.

4. mommadog Says:
   July 22nd, 2006 at 7:02 pm

   I also filled out the applications and had to submit picutres of our house to a rescue group. I fell in love with a large breed (pit/mastiff mix) puppy and knew that she was the one I wanted… however the group had other ideas. One of the questions that I was asked was “will your puppy be allowed on the furniture and bed?” Of course I answered no. Any of my large dogs aren’t allowed to jump on and off furniture until their bones grow and the possibility of injury is much less. I guess that wasn’t the right answer for them. They refused to let me adopt her. Not only that, they wouldn’t even listen when I tried to explain my reasoning for my answer. I was told that the decision had been made and I would have to look elsewhere for a dog.

   To get back to what Greg has said– It makes me wonder who is deciding on the criteria. I can’t help but think that perhaps a “guideline” of right and wrong answers is given to these “volunteers” and if someone answers wrong- the interview is over, not leaving any room for common sense. How do these groups know they are giving a dog to a good home instead of just a person with the “right” answers and no regard for the well being of the animal?

5. Monica Says:
   July 24th, 2006 at 2:46 pm

   Rescues want to save animals for life, not just put them in a home. We want to make sure you and the dog are a good fit, to reduce the chance of the dog coming back to us, or worse being dumped AGAIN at a shelter. Because typical rescue dogs get into a shelter as strays, we don’t want to take a chance on electronic fencing not working. So no, a home doesn’t have to be “perfect”, and most rescues will be flexible on some things if there is a good reason for it (common sense) but we want the best home for the dog, not just please the adopter.

6. kathie Says:
   July 28th, 2006 at 9:48 am

   “I breaks my heart more everyday that goes by without a dog in my life. Have no idea if I would qualify for one of your rescued dogs. Do know I have owned dogs most of my adult life” so Alexandra what happened to all those dogs?? perhaps THAT is why you don’t qualifiy - heck
   i’m only 49 and only on my 3rd dog! got my 1st at 19. They should last a lifetime, and rescue only wishes to continue that thought. too many acquire & dump for the least little reason. frankly if rescue doesn’t do it for ya, try the local shelter!! $200 is nothing, figuring on all shots, alteration PLUS they house & feed them, buy toys, crates, etc…….

7. Dave Says:
   July 28th, 2006 at 11:37 am

   I agree with a lot of what is being said here. I’ve been given the run-around by a few rescue groups, had appointments to meet dogs and have home inspections cancelled without any warning, and generally gotten the shaft from some people who frankly didn’t know crap about dogs.

   I rescued a Bouvier Des Flanders from a family who couldn’t keep their dog. They had contacted Bouvier Rescue before I took posession of the dog, and the rescue group tried unsuccessfully to take the dog from me, claiming that I couldn’t handle this difficult breed. I’ve been training dogs for 8 years. I run a successful dog daycare and boarding facility. I’m married to a veterinarian (ok, she was still in school at the time.) This dog spent the whole day with me every day. She really could not have had a better second chance at life. They wanted to put her into a series of foster-homes until they found the “perfect” new home. Luckily for my dog, they never got their hands on her.

   About a year later, I started looking for a second dog, and, after deciding on a bulldog-type of dog, I began making contacts with rescue groups & shelters. I had several contacts with well-meaning people who were a little too protective with their charges. After a couple of months of this, I found a wonderful Olde English Bulldogge who was wearing out his welcome at his second home. I found him through some of my clients, and after “fostering” him for a couple of days, offered to keep him. He’s been with me ever since.

   My bouvier passed away 5 years ago, an untimely death due to serious stomach cancer. After a couple of years, My bulldogge seemed to be missing having a companion, so once again we began soul searching about what kind of dog would fit our family. We decided on a border collie, which I intended to train for SAR work. Once again, I began contacting rescue groups and perusing the internet in search of the right match. I finally found a young female who seemed just right. We had already been vetted by the rescue’s home inspector. The dog was going to be brought down to meet us over the weekend. Friday night the rescue folk called and said that they weren’t coming. They had adopted the dog to someone who had just applied to the program. The reason they gave was that the new applicant had a fenced yard, while I did not. Nevermind that I jog 5 miles a day, and intended to take the dog with me. Nevermind my plans of giving this working dog a real, valuble job. Nevermind that I had been corresponding with these people for 2 months, or that my home was previously judged to be adequate. This was, and will be, my last interaction with a rescue group. I found a border collie breeder who bred from working dogs. She’s everything I hoped for, and a great companion for my bulldogge, bringing back some of his puppylike behaivoir. I wanted to help another dog in need, but the groups I’ve dealt with made it impossible.

   I do believe that these people are trying to do the right thing. I don’t think they are doing the dogs a service by maiking their standards so impossibly high. I don’t know the answer to this problem, but I can tell you that while I will continue to try and provide a home for an unwanted dogs in the future, I will do it without the ‘help’ of breed rescue groups. I’ll just network through local shelters. Those people know me and know how my dogs are treated, and would not hesitate to place a dog with me.

8. rescue Says:
   July 28th, 2006 at 11:43 am

   er, Kathy, I think she kills them. Are you an idiot? Not all rescues come as newborns. Just because you chose puppies, she may have decided to change the life of an older dog. You make me sick.

9. Melissa Says:
   July 28th, 2006 at 12:51 pm

   Monica, posted a wonderful reply on 07/24/06. We in Rescue are looking for a home that will suit the dog. We foster theses dogs, we live with them, we love them. We know what issues they have, if they need a yard, or can go to a home with no yard or fence. We know if the dogs need a dogie buddy or can be adopted as an only dog. We want to place these dogs in homes where they will fit, and where they will be part of the family. We look for famlies that will love the dogs, and care for them as we do. If you are turned down, it will be for a good reason, not just a whim of a foster parent.

   I only know about the Rescue Group I foster for, but we do not give people the run around as some of you have described, if we have a problem with your application, we will let you know.

   For the most part, people that are turned down by rescue groups want to keep the dog outside, or they have other dogs that are kept outside. People will be turned down if they have a history of questionable pet ownership, acquiring pets and dumping or giving them away, or letting the get out of the yard and lost or hit by a car.

10. Joy Says:
    July 28th, 2006 at 1:13 pm

    This is a good topic…I live in California and haven’t had too many bad experiences with rescue organizations. We have a purebred Basset Hound we bought from a breeder and now we are looking to adopt a friend for him, so I’ve been in touch with lots of rescue orgs and finally we decided to foster and see what it’s like having more than one dog before we adopt.

    Although I was bummed at some of the experiences some people had with rescue groups from this blog, I wanted to bring up another issue and that is the pricing of adoptable animals. Some of the ones I was looking at was at $450-500 and i think that’s a little too high. Not that the life of the dog isn’t worth it, but I believe pricing prevents more good families from being able to adopt. We bought our puppy for $450, and that’s with papers and no history of abuse or neglect or any of the extra work you might have to put in to an adopted animal. I know there are financial, physical and emotional costs involved in fostering and running rescue groups, but that’s also why they are allowed to accept donations. I think the first consideration for adoptions are the people and the kind of love and life they can give the adoptee and the money should be secondary, and maybe based on the family’s income. I know great people who could adopt right now, but currently don’t have $300 or 500 to fork out on top of all the things one would need to buy for a dog…crate, food, initial vet visit, shots, toys, etc. It’s sad, and I think there should be adjustments made on pricing for those who can offer the love and home, but not necessarily the money. After all, isn’t the goal the victory in finding a good home for these little orphans. It’s a shame that money/opinions and stict organization criteria’s are preventing a faster turn around in getting animals adopted so that there’s more room in these organization to get animals out of high kill shelters.

11. Melissa Says:
    July 28th, 2006 at 1:34 pm

    Regarding the adoptiong fee, $300.00, $400.00 and up, may be a bit pricey. The group I foster for have an adoption fee of $175.00. For that fee, you get a dog that is current on vaccinations; has been altered, has received heart worm and flea preventative for as long as the dog has been in Rescue. If the dog came in sick or i njured, the dog has received appropriate vet care. If the dog is heart worm positive, the dog has been treated. Many, many times, we receive sick or injured dogs, and getting them well far exceeds the adoption fee. Heart worm treatment can run several hundred dollars.

    I have a dog that is a stray, that I am holding until her stray hold time is up. We have had her vaccinations, had her ears cleaned and she is being treated for ear mites - $75.00. Cost for heart gurad and Frontline, $30.00. She will be spayed next week, another $60.00. New collar and leash, $15.00. Total fees $180.00. Her adoption fee will be $175.00.

12. Val Says:
    July 28th, 2006 at 7:51 pm

    As far as the costs, it seems like the smaller rescues do have to charge more. Its about numbers. If you rescue 5 dogs a month and three of them have major medical issues, you would need to have the adoption fees be higher on the 2 healthier dogs to help pay for the sicker dogs.
    As far as being given the run-around. There is a reason a rescue may not disclose why you are not appropriate home for a particular home. I had a friend who was denied for a dog because she really is a bad owner, then on the next application she knew exactly what to write… and she got the dog. That poor dog.
    Yes, its more work to adopt from a rescue, but you really will get a dog with more background info. Plus, you wont have to go see all of the saddness at the pound. Its heartbreaking.

13. Samantha M Says:
    July 29th, 2006 at 3:02 am

    I tried to adopt from a rescue agency before i got my current dog. Im 19 live in apartment with my boyfriend and only work 2 days a week for maybe 4 hours each day. I was looking for a small breed dog to keep me comapny, to be spoiled and pampered, and go every where with me. I contacted a rescue group and found what i thought was the perfect dog she was a pom chihuahua mix. After i talked with them about the dog over the phone they said she was heart worm positive i said that was no problem and they said they would treat her before she came home with me, when we met up for the first time so i could meet the dog i gave this group 90 dollars to help cover some of the costs of deworming the dog,not part of the adoption fee, just extra money. well we stayed in contact through this process of deworming, then the home visit came along. they told me 2 weeks after that i was declined and could not adopt the dog from them because i did not have a large yard. I had already told them i lived in an apartment. these people are way to picky where they send these dogs. All i can say is i hope this dog ended up some where very nice.

14. pf Says:
    July 30th, 2006 at 2:11 am

    hi.
    I was also turned down by 2 groups, one as an adopter and one as a volunteer foster parent…

    reason: my 11 year old male dog was never neutered…he is the sweetest dog and I did explain that to the rescue groups, but alas, they are better qualified than I…I never fixed him, and he is a senior now so I think I will let him go out “intact”

    my dogs are 11 and 12, in excellent health, cats 9 and 7 excellent health despite a 3 years rabies vaccine causing cancer in the 9 year old…he is a amputee tripod but in good health.

    However, we are getting a new dog from out of state, this dog has not had a real family in a few years…we are excited to give her a new leash on life!

    for those of you who cannot get a dog from the rescues try the urgent kill shelters…you would be saving a life too!

15. anne Says:
    August 13th, 2006 at 11:05 am

    I rescued dogs for nearly 10 years and still foster occasionally.

    During the first 7 years, I visited the shelter daily (no kidding). I also spent a lot of time in obedience classes and fun things like agility.

    I worked out of a very high-kill shelter. We had to develop reasonable placement criteria and, of course, do follow-up and be there to take the dog back should the adoption fail.

    The only one of my adoption criteria that was the true “deal breaker” was the potential adopter’s willingness to train and to use one of the trainers I recommended.

    I had very few returns. I considered a failed adoption as a short-term foster home. And, apart from one party, I would place a dog with any of those people again. Sometimes, it just isn’t a good fit.

    I think that once rescue became accepted and shelters began to cooperate, it also became “standardized” and the standard vision of a good home is a very privileged one.

    I’ve known rescuers to turn down people because the dogs can’t sleep in the owner’s beds; they seem “low income” (black/latino?); they have children. Some rescues consider the more desirable little dogs “special needs” and therefore they get them before the public sees them.

    When I began rescueing, I lived in a studio apartment. There was a “no pets” clause in the rental agreement. Still, my landlord was willing to look the other way. I ended up adopting three dogs. That was 15 years ago and one of them is still with me - the other two recently died - they were middle aged when I got them and I had them for over 10 years.

    Now, given the prevailing adoption criteria, I wouldn’t be able to adopt those dogs. All of them were doomed -I adopted them on their last day, instead, they live(d) out their lives in this loving, inadequate home.

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