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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.