Have you been turned down by rescues?

Been turned down three times.

Once by PAWs for not vowing to not hunt with the lab we were interested in.

The other was because I worked 9 hrs at a stretch 5 days a week.

The last one was because I had a dog house in the backyard.

Not personally but my friend applied for a dog two weeks ago and got turned down because she wasn't 30 and hadn't owned a dog before?? I guess it was an either or, because you totally have to be 30 to figure out how to care for a dog.

This is the same person who dogsits my special needs chi when I go out of town for a week at a time.

I got lucky with Tango, Sael trusted me from Chaz! I think when we're looking for Dog2 in rescue, it may be rough going getting approved.

Got turned down many years ago because I'd rehomed a dog in the past. Really stung, the dog had been in foster care for over a year and frankly my situation was perfect for her. Don't think I tried to adopt through a rescue after that, but I was approved to foster.

Not a rescue, but a shelter- they pretty much begged us to take this insane dog named Roxie.

We had no idea exactly how insane she was, lol, so we said yes. No home check, no nothing. Walked out with a dog in an hour.

Roxie's been my only experience so far, and I'm really hoping that I don't have any issues with my next dog (which will be a retired racer). I've heard quite a few horror stories about Grey rescues, so yeah... crossing my fingers, because it will kill me if I get turned down more than once. Especially if it's over something as stupid as me working.

Yikes. Which rescue was it, if you don't mind me asking? You can PM or Facebook message me if you want.

No proof of buying Heartgard when you work at a veterinary clinic? That's a little extreme.

All three dogs are "foster failures", so I didn't really have to apply to adopt them. I applied to adopt a specific cat from a local rescue (my previous pet food store job used to foster cats) because I really liked her, she had been with the rescue forever, and had some special medical needs. I was denied, and they listed the reasons in the email they sent me. They were concerned about my age (I was 21 at they time), about the number of animals I had (two dogs and a cat at the time, but an additional cat wouldn't have put me over the city limit), that I was in college, and that I didn't have a "reliable" job (I had been with the company for four years, working full time in a management position). They called my vet and all of my references, and basically said I didn't have the resources to care for a cat that may need more medical care then average (she had recurring urinary issues).

You bet I have, and just because I don't have a fenced in yard. Rescues are really strict!

I have an intact dog. I show him in conformation. He's the only intact animal (minus the puppy. I didn't have her at the time). I've tried to go through a couple yorkie rescues, a couple all breed rescues, and a couple standard poodle rescues. I've been turned down by all but one. The main reason is that Pirate is intact. Another reason was that I didn't have poodle owning experience. I replied with, "how will I get poodle experience if someone doesn't take a chance on me?" That could possibly push other people to go to backyard breeders, don't you think?

I contacted the Michigan Standard Poodle rescue and they said Pirate being intact wasn't a problem. I sent in an application but they didn't have any dogs available at the time and I've yet to hear anything from them.

I have fostered through Helping Pawz. My friend (and ex boss when we worked at the shelter) is the founder and she knows me well. She would adopt to me in a heartbeat but I haven't found any dogs that I want from her rescue.

Long story short, it really upsets me that rescues won't give me a chance. Just because my dog is intact doesn't mean that he's pumping out puppies. He's almost three years old and has never produced a litter. I have no plans to ever breed him. I've strongly considered neutering him once he's championed in both registries.

I told one of the poodle rescues that and she flat out said she didn't believe me. Why would I spend so much money on showing him if I'm not going to breed him? I replied with it's fun, like someone who takes a rescue dog and does obedience or agility with them.

I'll continue to try to go through rescues. If I'm not showing the dog in conformation, I'd rather not go to a breeder as they would be altered. I prefer to rescue but I have a feeling I'll probably either going the breeder route or a private owner rehome when I do eventually get a poodle. Our last two additions were private owner rehomes and I have no regrets. They're both great dogs who we got as older puppies.

I volunteer, used to foster, and I still transport for a cocker spaniel rescue and I have for years. I've fostered for other rescues in the past as well.

When I applied for a Sheltie at the local Sheltie rescue I never even expected to be denied. I knew one of the foster moms through my work (preschool teacher) and she's known me & Maddie for years. I had good vet, training club, grooming, rescue, and dog-sitting references. Maybe it was overkill but I didn't think so.

I was denied without explanation. When I asked, they finally said its because I didn't have a fence. I asked about coming out and doing a home visit, meeting me, making an exception because no fence does not equal bad dog owner. I got a firm no and also you're "too young" I think I was 23 or 24 and they wanted people 25 and up. Are. You. Kidding.

I continued to see that dog on PF for over a year after that and that made me sad for her. BUT I got Bailey within that year and that's one of the best things that has ever happened to me <3

But it was still heartbreaking and frustrating and a little embarrassing, no one who knows me in RL could even believe that actually happened to me. and I would guess that deterred some of them away from rescues as well


The local shelters though you basically walk in pick a dog pay and walk or or pick the dog up after he/she gets spuetered.

The dogs I've adopted have mostly been through shelter situations, just list an address, pay the fee, and you have the dog.

I did apply once for a 13 year old cat I saw in Petsmart with vision problems. I was denied because we had too many animals (we had like, 4 or 5 cats at the time). Maybe they thought it would be too much for that cat, but it was an ASPCA type shelter that euthanized for space.

I did foster through a rescue, 2-3 dogs, the girl I was mainly working through was aware that we had an intact dog but the rest of the rescue was not. Shrug. The rescue was pretty decent though and looked at adopters on a case by case basis. I turned down two families for a dog I was fostering (an older walker hound). The first didn't actually seem interested in getting a dog, but for whatever reason was applying for her, had a handful of kids (the dog seemed overwhelmed) and had given two of their dogs away when they moved. The second family, I look back and wonder if it was the right decision. But I was initially concerned because it was just an older couple, two teachers. They both stated they had really long work days (the dog would be home alone for 12 hours a day) and then they travel for the summer, which the dog would go to live with their daughter for 2-3 months. This didn't necessarily DQ them but their previous dog was not current on heartworm prevention. The dog was eventually adopted to a really nice older couple who had time for her and she did really well there.

I guess I'm a hypocrite because I don't love jumping through hoops either, but I do "get it" where you don't want a dog that came from a bad situation to go back into a bad situation. You don't want to place any animal in any bad situation.

I have been turned down twice, both when seeking a second dog (2008). Both times for living in an apartment. Both times because the dog I was interested in was deemed too high energy for apartment living by the shelter/rescue.

I have not been turned down by a rescue, but I've only tried to adopt once, and that's when I got Rowan. Now that I have a dog that is intact and will remain so indefinitely, I imagine that might change.

This is the most annoying thing to me, not only for the catch-22 you mentioned, but because poodles aren't some magical being unlike all other dogs. No breed is. Sure, every breed has their quirks and differences, but it's not like you never having owned a poodle means that you would be completely, desperately in over your head. Come on. They're still DOGS, first and foremost!

I was turned down as a foster and adopter numerous times due to Chase not being neutered.

Renter with no fence, so no dice. Now I have two hormonally intact boys, so there isn't a chance in hades.

I've never actually tried to adopt from a rescue before.

I was almost turned down for adopting my ferrets because my current ferret had never had vaccines. She waived that requirement for me, though.

I have been turned down for fostering because Abrams is intact. Which is why I fostered for a local high intake kill shelter vs the local rescues.

I was turned down by two assistance dog organizations for a puppy raiser because I didn't have a fenced in yard.

But I've never actually *tried* to apply to a rescue. They've all been private rehomes, strays, or shelter animals.

As I said in other thread I got turned down by a dog rescue because we had an intact female dog. The dog we enquired about was a neutered male.

I got turned down by a cat rescue because we had three dogs (all of whom had grown up with cats).

I gave up in both cases, I got a puppy from a breeder (I have an older dog from same breeder) and a kitten from an oops litter (mix of the two breeds they had) from a breeder. The kitten had to be desexed before we got her and they did ring my vet as a reference but that was all. Essie is now almost 7 years old. She has an awesome life, is very adored and loves her dog friends

I don't think I would bother trying a rescue again. We still have 3 dogs, two of whom are entire

We got turned down for a rescue - but not turned down turned down. They would not let us adopt a young, young adult or adult without a fence - but we could have one of their senior dogs if we so chose. It really made me angry because, I wanted a dog to do sports with, to go walking and build up to running with etc. We are young, no kids and tons of time to train. Agreed to purchase expensive high quality food (not that we wouldn't have fed that...but still). But, that didn't matter. I did not want an old dog, with old dog problems yet. I wanted time to play, learn, and have energy to do things. We own our own home, with tons of space in the middle of nowhere. There are plenty of ways to exercise the dog without a fence. We have a huge concrete and screened in porch - but they said a dog could get through screens.

They didn't bother calling us, or talking with references, nothing.

In the end, we got Addie. By what the rescue said, she shouldn't be here. You know, because we have no fence and a screened in porch and have a puppy. But surprisingly, have been complemented on our "well-socialized" and "obedient" puppy.

I am trying to talk DH into fostering, but he is afraid we would be foster failures...especially if a sable female came to live with us, lol.

It's crazy some of the reasons people get turned down... I don't get it... with the price they charge anyway, of course people will just turn to a BYB!

I only applied once and was accepted (that's how we got Tips). We had a 7 month old dog at the time, 4 cats, and a backyard. I don't think they even checked any vet records or references.