I've been on the flip side... (rescue related)

Well, its official... I've been on the side with the rest of them. I've been denied by two rescues (well, technically only one - the other pretty much in a round about way discouraged me from applying)
Which is funny to me, because up until VERY recently, I've been fostering for a rescue that did a home visit, vet & reference checks and everything... And they give a wonderfully perfect reference. I still volunteer with them, doing transports, pulling from the shelter (actually doing one tomorrow) and all that...
Reason No.1? No fence=No dog I know we've been 'round the block with this one, but I think its really unfair. The rescue I volunteer for does a dog-people case by case basis.
Reason No.2? Too many dogs in the home :rofl1: I'm pretty sure this is the reason, from what was said to me. But not directly, which I would've rather wanted. This is because I was HONEST, and put that my roommates have dogs. Dogs under my care? 1. Plus their 2 = 3. But they are responsible for thier dogs... I mean, we do help each other out and everything, but if I go camping Maddie comes with me, and if the stay somewhere else their dogs go with them... anyways.....

So, as a pro-rescue-person/foster-mom, I can honestly say, I know how ya'll feel.

And it sucks.

And I can almost understand why some people would go to a BYB, just because it would be so much easier. Even cheaper, in some cases.
*sigh* oh well

*sigh* I hear ya. I get the denied rescue thing often because of my age (20), no fence, etc. It really does suck. But I won't stop trying. Rescues in the south seem to be more willing to just give the dog a good home, because they just have sooo many dogs down there.

I'm sorry. Everything happens for a reason, though, right? Maybe the perfect dog will come along soon.

I wish you could come adopt a dog from the rescue I volunteer with. They're the polar opposite of most rescue horror stories I hear on here. (Though, that might be bad, too) You can pick out a dog at an adoption event and leave an hour later with it. No home visits (except for "risk" breeds; pit bulls, rotties, etc. Not that the DOGS are risky, but the PEOPLE that might be interested in them need to be checked out, to make sure we have responsible homes for them..), only about 2 forms, then a 15 minute interview, and if you pass (which is incredibly easy to do) you leave with the dog.

Where is this rescue, if I might ask? I'm in MD.

I feel like this is eventually going to be why I end up with a dog from a breeder. Rescues turn me down for a myriad of reasons (for both foster and rescue) and I don't really want to just pull a dog from a pound that hasn't been in a foster home.

That's why I'm afraid to apply to a rescue. Good breeders are focused on finding good homes, too, but based on what I've seen, on a much more realistic level.

The AZ border collie rescue is very strict and I know just based on their application I most likely wouldn't pass. My portion of fenced property is small, I take my dogs off leash hiking, we rent, etc.

It really sucks, because there are so many awesome dogs in rescue, and I'm a better dog owner than what's written on paper.

Brattina: That totally sucks - I bet Jackson's Mom is right that rescues in the NE are stricter than those elsewhere since the overpopulation issue isn't as widespread there. Is there a reason you aren't adopting from the rescue that knows you?

Whisper (and others): Keep in mind that some rescues will put questions on their forms that aren't disqualifiers - that's what the ACD rescue I foster for does - so if you see a question that concerns you, you may want to email them to ask if they have any hard and fast rules rather than assuming. The ACD rescue I foster for says this on their site, "We evaluate each family and each dog separately. There is no one question or answer that is ‘make-or-break’."

I wouldn't qualify for some rescues myself - no fenced yard, hike off lead, etc. but the rescue I foster for is happy to have me as a foster home and I doubt that would change if I wanted to be an adopter, too. I just wish awesome rescues like this one were easier for people to find...

I foster for a cocker rescue, and I'm wanting a different, specific breed...
Though I would be open to a mix

I really would like to get an adult... oh why is it so much easier to get a puppy lol

but, Amber's right. Everything happens for a reason just don't know what that is yet

it kinda makes me a little sad, though. Look at how many in this thread alone that would adopt a rescue dog, and the dog would be I'm good hands, but they have to stay where they're at, it's too bad *some* couldn't be a little more flexable. What's the difference between 20 and 21? I like that I don't have a true fenced in yard - it means we walk, and bond, a lot more!

Sooo.... getting a new dog? What breed? eh eh eh? STOP HOLDING OUT ON ME!

Ok, I am done

Tell me? Plz? With ice cream and a cherry on top?

Oh, and my favorite denial? I wouldn't be allowed to take the dog to daycare with me. I even explained that a) I would be working there most of the time the dog was there, and b) it was a very small daycare that is run by a woman who does a fantastic job of grouping dogs and only accepting dogs that should be accepted. The answer was still no. And I wasn't even looking at a generally DA breed!

If I'm interested in a rescue I have given up on filling out applications and generally just call so that I don't waste my time and can be denied faster :lol-sign:

man, there's something really wrong with the system when an excellent dog owner feels that way. imagine how hard it is for an average dog owner to rescue :-/

"don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"... but we won't actually *give* you a dog because you don't meet our arbitrary guidelines for acceptable pet ownership.

i dunno if i'd be approved by rescue or not. i chickened out on applying to bc rescue and just went to a breeder (i wanted a puppy anyway).

That stinks. I was checked out throughly for my foster group, but I don't think either of those things would have precluded me from them. Well, if you ever have interest in my rescue group, PM me and I'll put in a good word.

Before I owned my house and rented with roommates, I think I would have had a terribly hard time adopting as well. The funny thing is, with how quickly life can change, that even those who are in the 'ideal' spot, may not be in a handful of months.

Nope, not getting another dog ... I did get denied you know :rofl1:

I'm going to take my time... I don't need a dog Right now, today or even a month but I am looking for the Right one For me.... And Maddie.

agree 110%!! that's why I think it's also important to have a back up plan... For example, if the owners sold out and the new owners changed the pet clause I have a place to go (WITH ALL of my pets, regardless)

I understand that rescues have to be diligent at finding dogs the best home possible. Volunteering at the shelter I saw the importance of that firsthand.
But they are often too trigger happy on that "denied!" button.

The reactions people get from rescues often turn them away from rescue permanently, which I assume is the opposite of what they want to do.

It actually alarms me that so many fabulous chazzers have been turned down, when based on my knowledge of them over the years, they could have been the perfect owner for the dog they wanted.

I tried to adopt a deaf "pit bull" a little over a year ago. I've had 4 deaf "pit bull" rescues and tons of APBT/"pit bull" experience as well. I wasn't just denied, but was given a lecture to.

Why? Because I don't let my dogs play with each other....because I don't believe DA is just bad behavior but rather something to be managed and not something that can be trained out of a dog.

Let's just say that when I was finished, I'm sure I'm on their DNA list.

As for the pretty little gal? She finally had a sob story written under her picture about how after almost a year of being in the shelter, no one wanted her and they were finally forced to euthanize her.

We have adoption events all around Northern VA every weekend, and I'm pretty sure our adoption area covers MD.
Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation - Home

What breed are you looking for? And which rescues turned you down?

I can't push Walker on you because you would hate me eventually He is cute but I swear he is bipolar. But we see so many come through and ones we just hear about and can not take.

I think some of the people at erie shores approve just about anyone,and others are very rude. My cousins foster was kinda pushed on her, had no training,and generally had her house in a mess for weeks. The one lady called saying someone was interested and wanted some info. My cousins was honest and this lady made it sound like she should have had him trained into perfection by then

I have not had a fence once in my life. Multiple dogs. Never had one hit by a car or one run off. I know many people with to much faith in fences that have dogs dig out and get lost or hit. I hate that fence rule.

I feel your pain... I had the owner of a rescue be quite rude to me, and it is really sad because it completely turned me off rescue.

I saw a dog on craigslist that I thought I might be able to take in temporarily (the owner made it sound really urgent) and rehome myself. Anyway, when I posted the dogs picture on another forum asking about opinions on the breed, the owner of a local rescue chewed me out. Turns out the owner of the dog neglected to tell me that the dog had a bite history... So the rescue person belittled me for not being qualified and not being prepared to handle a dog and basically, for ignorance... And fair enough, I was NOT aware the dog had a history, but I had good intentions and I just wanted to help. I just felt really unfairly attacked for trying to do a good thing.

I know that there are great rescues and stuff out there... I just think there are definitely a few people that make wanting to adopt, volunteer, help out, etc really tough.

What part of AZ are you in? We used to foster for Cold Wet Noses in Tucson, they are extremely accommodating/flexible and they do get border collies in. Just something to look into. The dogs in foster care change almost daily as well, because once an opening comes up they look at the daily kill list for Pima County Animal Control and pull dogs off that. They specialize in dogs with kennel cough, as it's highly treatable and once a dog gets a sniffle or runny eyes in the shelter they hit the euth list that day, regardless of how sweet or otherwise adoptable they are.