Dog rescue group vent! How was your experience?

[mep319]

Okay we have decided to adopt a dog. We rescued our last two dogs, a lab and a boxer. Both lived long happy lifes. Well, it has been about 2 yrs since we have been dogless and I refuse to purchase a dog at a pet store or from a puppy mill in Lancaster Co. So I go online to search for a rescue. Now I am looking for certain criteria but don't feel they too restrictive. Fairly young and either a small or medium size dog. I'd really like a Shiba Inu or Cairn but I am exploring everything...most every group I've emailed has been ridiculous in their requirments...dogs not to be left along more than 4 hrs a day, must have a 4ft fence, must have vet (which I don't have..I haven't had a dog in 2 yrs!) and personal references, which is fine. We have to have you meet the dog...I get that but then we must do a home inspection and 2 follow ups at 1 mo and 6 mos...am I adopting a dog or a baby!!..I know some kind of controls have to be made but come on! I didn't have to go thru all this when I adopted my last dogs. I've gone to the local SCPA and they seem only to have large, older dogs right now. I said I would never buy a puppy when there are plently of needy dogs out there but I tell you I'm about to hang it up a call a breeder. Do they realize or care that they are sometimes driving people in utter frustration to just go buy a dog??!!?? These people want you promise your first born, swear on you life, jump thru hoop and then still hand the dog over to someone else! I very frustrated...anyone else have similar problems!!

 

[CookieGVB]

They're trying to be sure the dog doesn't come back to them, but I agree, some of their restrictions are very off-putting.

Try www.petfinder.com - you may have better luck that way.

 

[vettechick99]

I can feel your pain. we are in the process of adopting a rescued basset and I just got the paperwork in the mail today. among other things I have to promise to:

1. never take dog off leash, never stake or chain outside for any duration
2. provide indoor sleeping
3. not transport dog in an open bed truck
4. fence the pool so the dog won't drown
5. notify them when you move

most of these are no brainers...but I still laughed at a few. I guess they have to cover every topic just in case someone is being a little dense. wherever you get a dog, I'm sure you will love it as much as you did your others!

 

[issa]

I looked through rescue groups...once I was asked for bank statement (acct number blacked out) and last 4 paycheck stubs..as well as the home inspections... I decided to look elsewhere. I looked extensivly on petfinder btw

I was also told I could not adpot a grey hound simply because I have a child under the age of 8. I love GH and my last died at age 16yrs. My question is..if they wont adopt to people with younger children...what are they suppose to do when adopters HAVE children of thier own after the dog is thiers...are they suppose to give up the dog?!

I have always had dogs, I belive dogs and children can work together with the proper parent involvment. I also belive the right breed and temperment play a huge role. I almost gave up searching and started to look for breeders.

I have since rescued a GREAT beagle mix. The family had to move north because thier 6yr had lukemia and they could not take the dog with them, a family friend took in the dog..a friend of thiers told a dog groomer , asking if she knew of any good homes...dog groomer told me and we all went and met the dog.

OMG I couldnt have found a better match for our family..he is a perfect 1.5 yr old baby!!!! My older daughter loves him and is going to start OB classes with him (more for her than him) and my baby is constanly licked and cuddled by this loving pooch. My husband has found a new playmate and life seems wonderful with a dog in our home again. I am thrilled

We have since named him Taco!!! ( he stole a taco shell and munched quite happily...the name stuck) and I see no reason why he would not be with us for the next 15 yrs. I have found my new family member and we are all so happy to have him..and to give him a home.

I have a good home for a dog...to bad rescues eliminate homes as well as fend off the bad ones.

 

[Chicago526]

a "private" adoption may be the way to go. That's how I got my Missy. Her former owner lost her home and had to move to a small apartment. She already had two other dogs and a 5 year old boy, and there just wasn't any room. Missy was also the largest of the bunch (48 pounds) and the owner thought that would be too big for a little place (both for the dogs comfort and the owners). The former owner's best friend is also a good friend of mine, and hooked us up.

Take a look in the local paper, I'm sure someone has a dog "free to a good home" or for a very low amount of money. You're still saving a dog from the pound or being put to sleep or abandoned, so it's a good thing you'll be doing.

As for the rescues requirements, those are way too strict. One near me only restricts puppies from homes that the owner will be gone more than 4 hours at a time, older dogs are fine for that.

 

[mep319]

Believe it or not I am primarily using petfinder! But most of those listed in my area are rescue groups...the kicker is I finally find a Shiba about 1 yr old in a shelter in Jersey (I live in PA). It is about a 2 hr drive..no big deal. I call she is there but they are only open 11-1 daily...today I call in route and I'm told she is being "held" for a rescue group! And they will "call" me if they decide not to take her. The rescue group isn't even coming till tomorrow!! I was soooo angry!

My daughter is 8 and we have always had dogs...my entire family has dogs...my MIL who watches my daughter after school, in the summer etc..has 3! I grew up with dogs and there have never been any problems. I think having a pet is one of those life experience that kids should have...but I tell you some of these folks are crazy! Now I have a friend that does Doberman rescue and she says that don't go thru "all" that. But I'm ready to scream!

 

[mep319]

I have been looking in the papers...but many in our area will not let anyone post free to good home adds. I actually finally called a breeder of Shibas I got off the akc website and she said she would help. I'm going to meet her Saturday...but it seems positive.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that has had crazy experience.

 

[gallaj0]

We had the same problem with the town pound, of all places; it is actually run by a private group for the town, and they like jerking people around to show how they are in charge.

We did eventually get ourselves a greyhound, from a very nice rescue shelter on Cape Cod; we do have kids, and even if we didn't have a fenced in yard (which we did anyways).

If anyone in the area (Issa) is looking for any info, PM me.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

yes I did have a very frustrating experience once. I cannot remember the name of the place but they were in Colorado.
We had an elderly dog that had just died and I had a 3yo son and I was also about 7 months pregnant. I thought long and hard and decided that I wanted a Black Lab because I had one as a child growing up and she was the absolute best dog.

So we go to this place and fill out tons of forms -- questions about our house..how much did I think it cost per year to raise a dog etc etc etc. The lady who graded my paper said I was one of the very few people who realized the true cost that she had ever seen. Then they called the Vet we were using who apparently said yeah, good people immunizations up to date...whatever... and we were approved.

So we go back to the adoption area and there was this volunteer who was very young - I don't think she was more than 16 or 17 years old. She decided that I "couldn't have" a Lab because we had a big fenced yard that would be great for a larger dog. Nevermind that I wanted a nice house dog...I couldn't have that. She brings out this Husky/Chow mix. I look at her and said "3 yo child, baby on the way... now WAY do I want a Chow that somebody else has given up for whatever reason. I want a Labrador."

"But your yard would be perfect for..."

Anyway we went round and round for 10 minutes or so with my husband rolling his eyes. At one point this girl looks at me and says "The ONLY way you get a Labrador is if I SAY so and I won't let you have one."

at that point my husband told her that she was absolutely nuts and made me leave. He drove me over to the pound and we had our Lab within an hour. I still have the Lab now...she's about 11years old and still going strong.

 

[GoofyPrincess]

My DH called them the Greyhound Nazis. They were completely outof comtrol. We wound up going to a breeder that lives down the street from some relatives and got a beautiful female named Sneaky. Apparently, she had miscarried a litter and couldn't be used for breeding so the lady gave her to us!

She has been the perfect dog for us. Great with the kids, quiet and sweet. She still hasn't learned to go up steps and doesn't play catch very well, but she sure can run!

The lady told us to always keep her on a leash, but she got out of the house once by accident and ran like the dickens across the back field. I called her once and she ran like crazy back into the house!

 

[TigerBear]

I actually had a bad experience too - with an adoption agency through PetSmart. My boyfriend's friend tried to adopt a puppy and got denied because his house doesn't have a fence (its a beach house!). I went the next day and they totally suspected I would be giving the dog to my boyfriend's friend. They made up an excuse why the dog couldn't go home that day. It really was unbelieveable. Two physicians living on a quiet beach were not allowed to adopt a stray puppy. What a poor life that little girl would have had.

 

[mep319]

TigerBear...I see you have a Husky...are they as wild as everyone claims?? I had one when I was very little...I barely remember it and my dad always said it was the best dog we ever had. It got hit by a car.

 

[zurgswife]

I went through the rescue thing with my second dog .....most of it was ridiculous.....by chance I found a rescue dog with a group that wasn't a total group of nazis...no home visit....just talked with the vet and an application....

But most of the others I found in the paper on on Petfinder were a nightmare..

 

[phillybeth]

Ok, as a rescue volunteer let me give you the view from the 'other side'.
The group I volunteer with is national. The only way we can evaluate and get to know potential adoptors is through the application, personal and vet's references, and the home visit. We don't need a bank statement (how ridiculous is that!). If you haven't had a vet in 2 years, just list the name of your old vet of the one you are planning to use- you are not the only person adopting who doesn't have a dog right now. Our group does follow-ups but they are email or phone, just to make sure that everything is going ok- we are not trying to intrude on your personal life. We only require that someone be home full-time if they are adopting a puppy under 6 months.
Many rescue groups list on Petfinders, so that is not a guaranteed way of getting around any requirements.
We as rescuers need to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our dogs. Many many rescued dogs come from neglectful and/or abusive situations, and not every potential adopter is prepared to deal with those issues. That is why we are so careful in screening- it is for your safety and your family's, as well as the dog's.

 

[ilovepcot]

It's good that people running the rescue groups are looking out for the welfare of the dog and person desiring to adopt. However, I discovered that AFTER DH and I fill out the necessary paperwork, provide personal references, references from my former vet, and have a home inspection....WHEW......we get the luxury of paying appromimately $600-$700 for a grown dog that may have physical or mental issues to deal with! Most folks, I believe, would prefer getting a brand new puppy at that rate.

By the way, it's a Papillon we were thinking of adopting and the cost of young healthy dog was $400 and shipping was approximately $250-$300. I read that if we chose a very old dog or one that had KNOWN medical conditions we could make a donation for the dog but would still have shipping to pay. I know people are doing their best to be fair, but it's turning out to be a very sad situation for everyone involved.

 

[phillybeth]

That is a LOT for shipping a small dog. My group ships occasionally and I think it is around $175 to ship cross-country.

 

[ilovepcot]

Indeed it is! For some reason though, it was the cost for a dog that no one seemingly wanted that shocked us so! DH and I thought we would be giving some poor abandoned dog a wonderful home and we really do have a great deal to give. I don't work, we don't have children, fenced acre to play, a terrace built up in the trees for fresh air with NO STEPS or way to get down from. (We built it special for our poodle years ago with safety in mind.) When the time's right, something wonderful will come along!

 

[mamajoan]

you may have already seen my thread... we got our Scottie yesterday from Scottish Terrier Rescue... and yes the application was long... and yes the home visit was made and yes the vet was called.... and yes at one point dh and I made comments "Holy smokes, we did similar paperwork when we did our Foster Care for CHILDREN Application" and yes, the Scottie lady did seem a little "intense".. and persnicketty..

I have talked to this particular branch of the Rescue Org many times. They have been very helpful with problems regarding Scotties that were living with us. They have seen some HORRID things happen to a breed they adore. They also HAVE HUGE LIABILITY ISSUES WITH PLACEMENT OF DOGS. (which I was completely unaware of until yesterday)
So I kinda understand where the Rescue people are coming from when the have soooo many requirements to adopt a dog.
Face it the Rescue dog obviously did NOT work out for another family/person... for many reasons... Not always the people's fault/not always the dog's fault. So, I think the Breed Rescues are trying to find good matches for available dogs.

I understand that many of you have been treated rudely, which is unfortunate. No one should have to be treated with disrespect.

 

[arminnie]

I have to add my very good experience with a rescue organization.

My first cocker spaniel Sundance died in July and by that fall I had decided that I wanted to get another dog. Sundance was the love of my life, but he was also a very problematic dog - hated men and strangers. I was devasted by his death.

I kept going to pet fairs but never found any cockers. Finally someone told me about the Cocker Spaniel Rescue group of Northern California. They took all cockers that needed homes from all of the agencies in the Bay area.

I called them mid-week. They initially told me that they held open houses on the weekend and that I could come then. I talked to them for 45 minutes about my first dog and how awful it was to lose him (all of the care he'd gotten etc.)

I must have impressed them because before we got off the phone they told me that they wanted me to come the next day so I could see the cockers before their weekend open house.

I went up intending to just look at the dogs and came home with my new cocker that night. His name was Spike and they made me promise that I would change his name - he is now Cody. He was exactly 1 year old when I got him.

Yes, I did have to fill out a lot of paperwork and sign statements about his care but it was not oppressive at all.

Tricia

 

[TigerBear]

Originally posted by mep319
TigerBear...I see you have a Husky...are they as wild as everyone claims?? I had one when I was very little...I barely remember it and my dad always said it was the best dog we ever had. It got hit by a car.

Harley isn't really too wild, although she has "caught" her share of critters. An opossum twice - both times playing possum thankfully. The funniest was a huge turtle. Not sure how that thing got in our backyard.

She was a little aloof as a puppy - prefering my other dogs to people. But now she is definitely a people dog. She isn't so much attached to me (like both of my mutts are) as she is to meeting other people - and other puppies. She went to the vet last week and would not stop whining because she wanted a woman to give her some attention. And then a puppy came in and she went crazy wanting to play with the puppy. She is a good girl!