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

[Doberluv]

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.

Outrageous!!! These people are clueless about dogs!

Sure, they can't adopt a dog out to any tom, dick or harry...they should be careful that the dog isn't going somewhere where he will be abused or neglected. But really....it is ridiculous how some of these places are. No wonder people go to byb...the newspaper, pet stores or breeders. After reading so many of your stories of being denied, I don't think I'd ever even try to go through a rescue or shelter. And they wonder why there are so many dogs without homes. Sheesh!

 

[Fran101]

I was denied for renting, my age, for being a student.. not once but THREE TIMES.

some called, 2 just emailed. saying "You are not an appropriate potential home"

I don't get it honestly, and yea, 2 of the dogs I applied for are STILL sitting in rescue a year later.

I think Romeo has a great life. His breeder took time to get to know me and see that, the rescues didn't. Its weird because the rescues have dogs that NEED homes to make space to save more. Yet most act like they have all the time in the world to be super picky.

 

[Jules]

Yeah... I can't see myself go to a breeder, at least not anytime soon... but rescues do have nerves sometimes. The reason why we stopped to foster with our bully breed rescue was because I dared to say that play groups with 15+ dogs might not be the best idea (especially with a lot of "fresh" rescues and pulls from shelters) and because I was down right ridicules because I said that I could not take another female foster because T-Bone turned to be same-sex aggressive. And because I said that yes, that does include puppies. The people at the rescue told me that adult dogs are fine with the same sex when they are young.

I am sorry you got denied. That stinks. I wish that a lot of rescues would be more down to earth and take a look at each individual owner instead of a couple attributes. We had one couple live on our street who adopted and rehomed 2 dogs and 2 cats withing 10 months. One of their dogs had to be rehomed because he bit a child through a fence (they left him out unsupervised even though he was highly territorial). Then they bought a puppy from a BYB and were able to adopt a dog from a rescue: they had a fenced in backyard. And that is where the dog spends one half of his day alone. The other half he gets to spend in a crate in the garage. Wonderful owners!

 

[Boemy]

I'm sorry you were turned down, that sucks.

Rescues have the right to make their own rules, I guess, but I wish they wouldn't pluck all the dogs of their breed out of the (usually less picky and less expensive) animal shelters. Some people are going to go out and find a reputable breeder if they can't find a dog of Breed X in a shelter/rescue, but others are going to head right off to a pet store or bad breeder. Does more harm than good to be sooo picky, IMO.

 

[Taqroy]

I just want to say that not all rescues are that ridiculous. Unfortunately most are, but the cattle dog rescue we were fostering with is very flexible. They do home checks but they are willing to bend if you don't have all the "necessary" requirements. For instance, our very first foster went to a guy who lives in a condo. No yard, no fence, but he's a long distance runner. The day he picked the dog up he was talking about doing their first 5k...lol. Perfect housing situation? No. Perfect alternative? Yes.

It really is depressing that more rescues won't bend instead of breaking. I know that when my sister was 21 she went to the humane society in our home town to look at dogs and the shelter manager chewed her out for even THINKING at having a dog. Apparently being 21 and in college makes you entirely too irresponsible to have a dog...

 

[stardogs]

Taqroy - maybe it's just the ACD rescues that are flexible? LOL JK - the BC rescue I reviewed apps for while I was in college also evaluated on a case by case basis.

Another thing I think that is being missed in these discussions is that rescues and shelters are often completely different animals. All the rescues I've volunteered with have much higher adoption fees and much more detailed screening/application processes. All the shelters have had lower adoption fees and looser screening, so don't rule them out!

 

[PWCorgi]

Another thing I think that is being missed in these discussions is that rescues and shelters are often completely different animals. All the rescues I've volunteered with have much higher adoption fees and much more detailed screening/application processes. All the shelters have had lower adoption fees and looser screening, so don't rule them out!

I've noticed that as well. Unfortunately, with my next dog I need to be super picky for both myself and for Frodo, so I'd prefer to go with a rescue dog that has been in a foster home than through a shelter where the dog is in a run. :/
If I didn't have Frodo I think I would definitely be looking harder at a shelter, but there is only one shelter that I know of in my region that has their act together, and they have strict requirements, lol. I can't win :lol-sign:

 

[misfitz]

Outrageous!!! These people are clueless about dogs!

Sure, they can't adopt a dog out to any tom, dick or harry...they should be careful that the dog isn't going somewhere where he will be abused or neglected. But really....it is ridiculous how some of these places are. No wonder people go to byb...the newspaper, pet stores or breeders. After reading so many of your stories of being denied, I don't think I'd ever even try to go through a rescue or shelter. And they wonder why there are so many dogs without homes. Sheesh!

This about sums up the attitude of most animal rights sympathetic rescues, I think. It's true that some rescues are down to earth like the ACD rescue mentioned above, but it seems to me that the majority of them are based in an AR worldview. Which tends to follow the line of thought that nobody is qualified to own pets, except themselves. And actually, we shouldn't be "owning" them anyway, or so the rhetoric goes...but I digress.

And also the people running many rescue groups don't seem to have much actual experience with dogs, behavior and training. I suspect their involvement in rescue springs from an emotional reaction to the perceived problem of (fill in the blank - pet overpopulation, irresponsible owners, puppy mills, animal abuse, etc etc.) In other words, less of a consciously thought out "I have experience training\caring for dogs, and I can use that to help them by..." and more of a "OMG cute fluffy puppies are dying! Save them!!!!" Ok, that's simplistic, but you get the idea.

Again, this isn't all rescues, but it sure seems to be a lot of them, at least around here! I'm sure location makes a difference.

The reason why we stopped to foster with our bully breed rescue was because I dared to say that play groups with 15+ dogs might not be the best idea (especially with a lot of "fresh" rescues and pulls from shelters)

Now this is insane! It illustrates the double standard though. If an individual dog owner were to put their dog in a situation like this, they would be called irresponsible. If an owner HAD 15 dogs, they would probably be labeled a 'hoarder' and the dogs taken from them. Yet this is OK for a rescue group? That is supposed to be *helping* the dogs? Sadly, these dogs could have easily have been 'rescued' from homes that were much quieter and probably less stressful, but maybe the dog was tethered or the owner had 'too many' dogs, or some AC person thought the dog was being neglected because it wasn't free fed. I can't fathom how a 15-dog play group (with strange dogs no less) could possibly be a better situation.

 

[Whisper]

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.

I live in Vail, which is a bit outside of Tucson. Vail is small enough that we do shopping in Tucson, because Vail only has a couple stores. Cold Wet Noses is one of the first shelters that shows up for me on Petfinder. Thanks for that info!

 

[Brattina88]

What surprises me is the RUDENESS with rescues you guys have had experiences with. And the lectures. That is just a huge no-no! We have to put on a nice, professional manner. And believe me, that is NOT always easy!! I just had to do that, last month with Sadie and Sabrina (owner surrender)... they were in horrible condition, we were lied to. Kayla said I was using my "nice, phone voice" with the lady, but in reality I wanted to .... well... you know
Educating is one thing, but being condescending while trying to educate is simply not okay....

Sure, they can't adopt a dog out to any tom, dick or harry...they should be careful that the dog isn't going somewhere where he will be abused or neglected. But really....it is ridiculous how some of these places are. No wonder people go to byb...the newspaper, pet stores or breeders. After reading so many of your stories of being denied, I don't think I'd ever even try to go through a rescue or shelter. And they wonder why there are so many dogs without homes. Sheesh!

This is what I was thinking, too :< I can see how some people would just be like "oh well" and get the next pup they see in the newspaper. Probably costs the same and way less hassle.

BUT, there are good ones out there Don't dismiss them! Ask around, word of mouth is the best way to find a good rescue (or breeder) IMHO... from what I'm finding, at least Hey, if you ever find yourself wanting a cocker, let me know :rofl1:

I was denied for renting, my age, for being a student.. not once but THREE TIMES.

some called, 2 just emailed. saying "You are not an appropriate potential home"

I don't get it honestly, and yea, 2 of the dogs I applied for are STILL sitting in rescue a year later.

I think Romeo has a great life. His breeder took time to get to know me and see that, the rescues didn't. Its weird because the rescues have dogs that NEED homes to make space to save more. Yet most act like they have all the time in the world to be super picky.

now THAT is what makes me so frustrated. If they would've taken more time to get to know you before you were denied - and obviously they had that time, if the dog/s still there a year later

Not even a phone call, wow.

Rescues have the right to make their own rules, I guess, but I wish they wouldn't pluck all the dogs of their breed out of the (usually less picky and less expensive) animal shelters. Some people are going to go out and find a reputable breeder if they can't find a dog of Breed X in a shelter/rescue, but others are going to head right off to a pet store or bad breeder. Does more harm than good to be sooo picky, IMO.

Oooh, agree!! When I was a kid, my Mom took me and my brother to the local pound to get the chihuahua we'd all been looking at, we visited him 2x and everything... it was the morning he was available to be adopted after the three day hold. There was several people there to get him, so we had to get put in a drawing. There were 4 people there, all from the same rescue. They each got a ticket. My mom got one, us kids weren't allowed. Of course, one of the rescue people got him. Us kids were very upset, my Mom voiced her thoughts -- they told her she could adopt the dog from the rescue... for like 100 or 150 (if I remember right). Pull fee from the pound? $29. *sigh*

Now this is insane! It illustrates the double standard though. If an individual dog owner were to put their dog in a situation like this, they would be called irresponsible. If an owner HAD 15 dogs, they would probably be labeled a 'hoarder' and the dogs taken from them. Yet this is OK for a rescue group? That is supposed to be *helping* the dogs? Sadly, these dogs could have easily have been 'rescued' from homes that were much quieter and probably less stressful, but maybe the dog was tethered or the owner had 'too many' dogs, or some AC person thought the dog was being neglected because it wasn't free fed. I can't fathom how a 15-dog play group (with strange dogs no less) could possibly be a better situation.

Yea -- seems like some of them had 6+ dogs, but I shouldn't apply because that would put more than 3 in the house?? hmm....



Wish someone would start a "Chaz Rescue"



Joce, I'll PM you

 

[PWCorgi]

Wish someone would start a "Chaz Rescue

:lol-sign: YES! I agree!!

I have thought about doing independent fostering, but I get so worried that the right home wouldn't come along, or about putting them in the wrong home.

 

[Boemy]

After reading so many of your stories of being denied, I don't think I'd ever even try to go through a rescue or shelter. And they wonder why there are so many dogs without homes. Sheesh!

Shelters are usually waaay less picky, at least around here. Especially if they have to euthanize for space. I mean, no, they don't want their dogs going to Joe who's been brought up on animal abuse charges three times, but they usually don't care if you have a fence, etc.

 

[Brattina88]

:lol-sign: YES! I agree!!

I have thought about doing independent fostering, but I get so worried that the right home wouldn't come along, or about putting them in the wrong home.

/Elects PW as leader

I have done that (self fostering)! I really like it... my biggest problem was "funding", though :rofl1:

 

[PWCorgi]

/Elects PW as leader

I have done that (self fostering)! I really like it... my biggest problem was "funding", though :rofl1:

Okay, I'll be the leader, but only Chazzers are allowed to adopt. How's that for limiting requirements? :rofl1:
Oh, and you can't be older than 30 and you can't have a fenced in yard or own your own home.

 

[Doberluv]

Okay, I'll be the leader, but only Chazzers are allowed to adopt. How's that for limiting requirements? :rofl1:
Oh, and you can't be older than 30 and you can't have a fenced in yard or own your own home.

*Getting a face lift and selling my home.*

 

[Snark]

Oh, and you can't be older than 30 and you can't have a fenced in yard or own your own home.

Is that physical or mental age? And technically, the bank owns my house... Dang, I do have a fence though! How about if I leave the gate open?

 

[Xandra]

Is that physical or mental age? And technically, the bank owns my house... Dang, I do have a fence though! How about if I leave the gate open?

As a requirement of adoption, everyone at the residence and everyone who may be visiting must eat 5 lbs of blueberries a day to boost their memory. You also must get 9 hours of sleep a night (but no more) and eat regular meals to ensure you are sharp enough to maintain the health and safety of their dog. This is important stuff. How dare anyone take animal ownership lightly.

Brattina, it sucks that you're being treated like an animal abuser or a degenerate of some sort. I hope you get your dog soon.

 

[Snark]

As a requirement of adoption, everyone at the residence and everyone who may be visiting must eat 5 lbs of blueberries a day to boost their memory. You also must get 9 hours of sleep a night (but no more) and eat regular meals to ensure you are sharp enough to maintain the health and safety of their dog. This is important stuff. How dare anyone take animal ownership lightly.

But... but... I don't LIKE blueberries! :cry:

And NINE hours of sleep?? My dogs won't let me sleep THAT long! I consider myself lucky to get 6 hours...

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Oooh, agree!! When I was a kid, my Mom took me and my brother to the local pound to get the chihuahua we'd all been looking at, we visited him 2x and everything... it was the morning he was available to be adopted after the three day hold. There was several people there to get him, so we had to get put in a drawing. There were 4 people there, all from the same rescue. They each got a ticket. My mom got one, us kids weren't allowed. Of course, one of the rescue people got him. Us kids were very upset, my Mom voiced her thoughts -- they told her she could adopt the dog from the rescue... for like 100 or 150 (if I remember right). Pull fee from the pound? $29. *sigh*

Wait... The rescue people were wanting to just pull him or adopt him? Because if they were wanting to just pull him... Why not let you ADOPT him instead? That way they could take an animal that didn't have as good a chance of getting adopted...

That makes absolutely no sense and is so stupid

 

[Miakoda]

This about sums up the attitude of most animal rights sympathetic rescues, I think. It's true that some rescues are down to earth like the ACD rescue mentioned above, but it seems to me that the majority of them are based in an AR worldview. Which tends to follow the line of thought that nobody is qualified to own pets, except themselves. And actually, we shouldn't be "owning" them anyway, or so the rhetoric goes...but I digress.

And also the people running many rescue groups don't seem to have much actual experience with dogs, behavior and training. I suspect their involvement in rescue springs from an emotional reaction to the perceived problem of (fill in the blank - pet overpopulation, irresponsible owners, puppy mills, animal abuse, etc etc.) In other words, less of a consciously thought out "I have experience training\caring for dogs, and I can use that to help them by..." and more of a "OMG cute fluffy puppies are dying! Save them!!!!" Ok, that's simplistic, but you get the idea.

Again, this isn't all rescues, but it sure seems to be a lot of them, at least around here! I'm sure location makes a difference.




Now this is insane! It illustrates the double standard though. If an individual dog owner were to put their dog in a situation like this, they would be called irresponsible. If an owner HAD 15 dogs, they would probably be labeled a 'hoarder' and the dogs taken from them. Yet this is OK for a rescue group? That is supposed to be *helping* the dogs? Sadly, these dogs could have easily have been 'rescued' from homes that were much quieter and probably less stressful, but maybe the dog was tethered or the owner had 'too many' dogs, or some AC person thought the dog was being neglected because it wasn't free fed. I can't fathom how a 15-dog play group (with strange dogs no less) could possibly be a better situation.

Can I get an A-MEN!! Great post!