AAARRRGGGHHHH pet "rescue" vent

[Reijel's Mom]

Our local humane society is the strictest--it seems to be rare for them to adopt out a dog because they have such strict rules--when you visit their website the same dogs are there forever. They will only adopt dogs, even the biggest of dogs, to indoor homes....and those homes must have a fenced yard. Their adoption form says they can do a home check, either prior to adoption or after, even months/years after? I don't know if they ever actually do post-adoption home checks, but their form indicates that they can.
the local rescue also specifies indoor homes, but they are lenient on fenced yards--they prefer to have dogs hand walked as opposed to having them put out & left in a little fenced yard. You must provide a vet reference, and if you don't have a vet reference then they will do a home check. Their animals are all in foster homes, they do not have a facility of their own. The problem with them is--from what I've heard and seen from people that have looked at getting dogs from them--their foster care people are often not very good at evaluating their animals. As one example, a friend of mine went to meet 2 of their rescue dogs a couple weeks ago--she wants a dog that is similar to what we expect of a dog--obedient, hangs around while her people are out in the barn/doing chores, good with cats--was assured that these pups were fine with cats, good at sticking with their people...got there to see the pups (4 mos old) and they are kept in an apartment, separated from the cats by a gate, foster mom said that she knows nothing about dogs & has never had dogs before these 2 pups so doesn't know how to train them, when questioned about cats admitted that they are rarely around cats and "usually if they jump on the cats & they cry the puppies will back off & leave them alone but this morning they just keep jumping on the cats", the pups had basically no manners whatsoever...my friend decided that she didn't want a pup that has had that sort of a start in its "training" and so didn't even request adoption papers. She wants a dog that has had better training up to this point or else she'll get a younger puppy that she can train right from the start--she was very disappointed that these two puppies were so different from how the rescue advertised them.

Hmm. . .sounds like they need some more experienced volunteers - maybe you could help out??

 

[Reijel's Mom]

Having just went through the adoption process I can totally understand your frustrations. I did get the dog but it was a very trying process. I understand they want the best for the dog but they can be verry obnoxious and unreasonable. I filled out a 4 page application...had to give 3 references...which they did call and keep on the phone for 20+ minutes...called my vet...did a 45 min phone interview with me and an hour home inspection and strolled through my house opening closed doors and closets. I did not think I was going to be accepted because I don't have a fenced in yard...she kept bringing it up and I said....I live in the country! She made the comment that most people who live in the country do not take proper care of their dogs...I thought my husband was going to backhand her. She told me there were 3 other people wanting the same dog and I almost got fed up and said just give him to someone else. I think my adoption was even more difficult than the average because the lady coordinating the adoption was also the foster. This is also a breed specific rescue. That being said...next time I will probably just go to the pound. I do love my new dog though...he was worth the trouble!

I guess I don't understand why most of what you said was unreasonable. Right up until you said SHE opened closed doors & closets, that's a little wacky! And that wasn't a nice comment she made about people in the country (I'm a country girl), but I DO get where she was coming from - around here, MANY country dogs end up dead on the road.

I'm sorry, I just feel so passionate about this. I don't think you guys have any idea of some of the kinds of people that try to adopt animals - really! I process most of the dog applications for our shelter. It's amazing how many people "forget" to mention other pets they've owned and given away, or owned and died that never got vet treatment, etc. And those aren't even the horror stories

I do believe CMHR even has an application process, requires references, photos to be sent in, etc.

I do think it's completely 100% your choice if you'd rather buy than rescue.

 

[Miniv]

These rescues that are turning people down good loving homes like this are screwing up the future of the animals. I would suggest going straight to the top of each of them and speak directly to their manager or Board of Directors. Surely they are going to check references anyway so I don't understand why the problem has to be geographical. The animals are loosing fast and they need to all re-group. They can change their standards without lowering them.

I agree, Marty..........When we were looking for a rescue, there were REGIONAL locations, for the breed we were looking at. Perhaps not every breed has as many regions.

But, yes, we also hit roadblocks for adoption with all the forms, waiting periods, references, more waiting periods...etc. In the end we found our dog from another source.........and since then have adopted another dog directly from a shelter.

I can understand the organizations being cautious but there has to be a balance.

 

[Sonya]

I guess I don't understand why most of what you said was unreasonable. Right up until you said SHE opened closed doors & closets, that's a little wacky! And that wasn't a nice comment she made about people in the country (I'm a country girl),

She kept my references on the phone for over 20 minutes..that is unreasonable, she waited a week and a half to call my references (was suppose to be 48 hrs) so I emailed her that one of my references was now on vacation so I could give her a new reference if she wanted...I did not want her bothering him on his vacation, she called him anyway (she did get the email because she responded to it but didn't mention that she wanted another reference) and when he returned her call she was rude to him. She did walk through my house while I was playing with the dog (without my invite) and opened doors and closets. While talking to my vet (at his office) he finally told her "look, they are the best customers we have and take the best possible care of all their animals, I don't know what else you want, but I've got patients waiting for me"...It was alittle overboard...actually alot overboard! I do understand they want the best for the dog, but it's still overboard. I thought they were going to ask for a peepee or blood test. There is more...comments she made similiar to the country comment...like if I planned on buying the dog bottled water because my well water does not have flouride in it... and just her general attitude was a major turnoff...I would not do it again!

I do really like the dog so it was worth it to me, but my husband said , never never again will he have someone be so nosey and pushy in a situation like that!

 

[funnybunny]

There are some good rescue organizations and some really wacky rescue organizations.

Neither group would want a dog to go to a bad situation, but on the other hand, some of the rescues have such an extensive application/approval process - recommendations, vet reference, home visit etc. I've heard some even ask for personal information such as income and social security number. I think that is an invasion of privacy when you're trying to do some good by giving a pet a loving home.

Some of their procedures would make you think you are adopting a child rather than a pet. No wonder some people go out and buy a puppy - even if from a puppy mill to keep from having to deal with some of those unrealistic rescuers.

 

[Wee Mite Miniatures]

I rescued a dog 1 1/2 years ago. I saw her picture on the web, sent an e-mail asking about her. I was leaving on vacation in 3 days and was told to get back in touch when I got back. When I got back from vacation I got in touch, they came out within 2 days do to a home inspection. They showed up on time, stayed about 30 min. They called me that night to let me know I had been approved. That the dog would be leaving Flint, MI, in three days, having 3 car transfers along the way. I picked her up at a park n ride as they passed through to deliver two other dogs.

I have to say I have no complaints about the whole adoption procedure. I was told the dog played to rough with cats, which worked out well since I have a cat that loves to play rough with dogs. I was told she was not suitable for young children since she was too big. LOL she is a mid size 45 lb dog. The rescue was used to dealing with toy breeds. She lived in a foster home with men, I had no reason to think she had issues with men and neither did the rescue. Yet she was afraid o men and takes time to warm up to them.

I have also gotten dogs from the local shelter. I have never had a problem and will do it again

I am sorry so many of you have had problems. I would try a different shelter or rescue.

The two I have used are http://www.sterlingshelter.org/homepage.htm and http://www.justatouchrescue.com/availabledogs.html . Just a Touch deals mostly with small dogs.

 

[Reijel's Mom]

I guess I don't understand why most of what you said was unreasonable. Right up until you said SHE opened closed doors & closets, that's a little wacky! And that wasn't a nice comment she made about people in the country (I'm a country girl),

She kept my references on the phone for over 20 minutes..that is unreasonable, she waited a week and a half to call my references (was suppose to be 48 hrs) so I emailed her that one of my references was now on vacation so I could give her a new reference if she wanted...I did not want her bothering him on his vacation, she called him anyway (she did get the email because she responded to it but didn't mention that she wanted another reference) and when he returned her call she was rude to him. She did walk through my house while I was playing with the dog (without my invite) and opened doors and closets. While talking to my vet (at his office) he finally told her "look, they are the best customers we have and take the best possible care of all their animals, I don't know what else you want, but I've got patients waiting for me"...It was alittle overboard...actually alot overboard! I do understand they want the best for the dog, but it's still overboard. I thought they were going to ask for a peepee or blood test. There is more...comments she made similiar to the country comment...like if I planned on buying the dog bottled water because my well water does not have flouride in it... and just her general attitude was a major turnoff...I would not do it again!

I do really like the dog so it was worth it to me, but my husband said , never never again will he have someone be so nosey and pushy in a situation like that!

Ok, agreed, she's got some issues

.

 

[Minimor]

Hmm. . .sounds like they need some more experienced volunteers - maybe you could help out??

Oh no, I'm not doing that. With my luck they'd give me the most perfect dog ever to foster and then I'd have a problem when someone came to adopt...I'd have to train it to act like Cujo so that it would scare off everyone and would never leave foster care

Besides, I haven't the patience....for the rescue people, not the animals...
As for the gal that did the home inspection and was opening cupboard doors & such...what did she expect to find behind those doors? OH! Nosy sort I'd say.

funny thing, my Sheba dog came from the humane society. Yep, back in 1998 I qualified as a good home for one of their dogs. Today....I'd never get one of their dogs. It's the same person doing the adoptions too, she's just gotten more and more fussy as time goes by.

Bottled water for dogs? Sorry, but I do not buy bottled water for my animals...what would the rescue people say about our dogs drinking out of puddles in the barn yard (dogs preference, it's not like they don't have clean water available!!) and eating horse poo???

 

[Sonya]

Bottled water for dogs? Sorry, but I do not buy bottled water for my animals...what would the rescue people say about our dogs drinking out of puddles in the barn yard (dogs preference, it's not like they don't have clean water available!!) and eating horse poo???

No kidding, she would probably die if she knew her foster dog loved rabbit and deer pooh...of course I don't let him eat it, when I catch him I tell him to leave it and he usually drops it, but it's all around here especially the rabbit pooh, a bunny set up resident under my deck and ate all my shrubs this winter because of all the deep snow. She was from the city/suburbs (the foster Mom, not the bunny...haha). And I'm sure they aren't all as bad as her, she was just very very picky (and nosey!).