I guess we're not rescuing

[masteneo]

I think we're going to the local shelter tomorrow to see if there's a dog there that we can rescue. Those dogs have it worse than the ones that are at least in foster homes.

Good, makes me feel good to know you are going to a local shelter. they do have it rough.

 

[Marrowshard]

@ Bloke: I'd wager it's the dog-fighting thing. Happens all over the place but the South's got a worse reputation for it. Neos aren't pit dogs but that doesn't mean some low-rent scum won't try it just because they look "mean".

With regard to the OP, don't write off ALL shelters. Private places can and will make all their own rules and a lot of the time it sucks but they're not always like that. The one we used for Ebony and Oscar had lots of paperwork to fill out with questions about "required" things like fences, spay/neuter, how much time you're home, etc. but they were also willing to be flexible if the rest of the details worked out. We had no fence and between my husbands and my goofy work schedules we sometimes weren't home for 10-12 hours during the day. The shelter knew this and they were cautious but we explained that 1) we're not fencing 5 acres and 2) the 10-12 hour days are rare and our intended dogs are giant-breed adults that can hold it that long.

It's sad that the Dane's shelter wouldn't listen to your reasoning for not neutering but yeah ... don't give up

~Marrow

 

[musicdeb]

Texas is horrendous for dog fighting rings. I wish they would all burn or better yet, we put them in the ring with the hungry dogs and rub the guys bodies in bacon or hamburger grease. F.I.'s!!!!

 

[Gunny]

We made our first trip to a shelter today and my wife was a bit taken back. It's the first time we'd ever been to one, and she was getting a little teared up at all the animals in the cages. What a sad sight, and it was hard to think we could only take one. We decided to think it over and decide how we're going to choose which one to bring home.

 

[musicdeb]

Yes, shelters are heart breaking that so many animals are thrown away. I volunteer at a shelter and it's heart breaking when they start issuing the code red list. Very thankful that you decided to go to the shelter...so many dogs/cats...not enough caring people who do not become hoarders.

 

[MsAcer]

In my area not long ago people were stealing dogs from people who had doggie doors. If they couldn't steal em they would toss poison meat in the yard. They were caught pretty fast.
I did rescue for about 20 years. Makes you kind of nervous.

 

[masteneo]

In my area not long ago people were stealing dogs from people who had doggie doors. If they couldn't steal em they would toss poison meat in the yard. They were caught pretty fast.
I did rescue for about 20 years. Makes you kind of nervous.

SAY What! do explain the thinking behind this.

 

[Elvismom]

My husband and I fostered for five years. I was surprised that they approved us but at the time they had a need for good fosters to take, and I quote, 'the more powerful and aggressive breeds'. It was tough taking in dogs that had been used for fighting or who had been abused but knowing that we did something good, made it worthwhile. Eventually, I might do it again, but right now just is not the time.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

I can understand your wife getting upset. I did a blanket drive last year for a couple of local shelters and when I dropped them off at one I made the big mistake of thinking I could go and have a look at the dogs. It took me all of 30 seconds to start to cry and I left looking like an idiot sobbing my heart out as I walked through the main reception and shop area. I hope this works out for you and you find the perfect addition to your family! Im glad you are not giving up.

 

[CynJ]

I ranted about this type of thing to my friends on FB recently. It's almost as if animal rescue has lost its collective mind. I know they want to place dogs in the best home possible but is a 10 page adoption application really necessary? If my vet gives me a sterling reference. my home check is good, and my current pet is healthy and happy does that not make me a good home? I was recently refused an application by a rescue group because they trolled through my Facebook account and found out that I had put my 12yr old boxer to sleep last year (with my vet's complete blessing I might add) -this particular group doesn't believe in euthanizing an animal under any circumstance. Another group wanted to see a copy of your last tax return so they can verify that you can afford a dog (sorry, I just don't give out that information). What is also very frustrating for people is finding a dog they like in a Petfinder listing, submitting an application, but by the time the application is processed, the group has adopted the dog thye wanted out already.

The rescue adoption process has become far too convoluted and subjective, it's turning people off of adopting at all and pushing them right into buying from pet stores and backyard breeders. There needs to be a way to streamline it and make it easier for good people to adopt.

 

[Bloke]

The rescue adoption process has become far too convoluted and subjective, it's turning people off of adopting at all and pushing them right into buying from pet stores and backyard breeders. There needs to be a way to streamline it and make it easier for good people to adopt.

yes i agree 100%

 

[MsAcer]

SAY What! do explain the thinking behind this.

They were just idiots causing trouble. sometimes they would steal dogs then just turn em loose a ways away...

 

[Dakota Kid]

I too believe the adoption process is subjective. If its not their way, you are a terrible pet owner. My aunt and uncle were looking for another farm dog and were willing to work with one that had some issues, if needed, it just had to be an adult dog. Well they were turned down since the dog would sleep in their heated garage at night. I don't know any farm dogs that sleep in the house and I do not see a problem with it. So they got a dog out of the paper from a local family that had fallen on really hard times. I was also turned down from a rescue because I didn't have a fenced yard (I am in a rental house). It was that cut and dry, I couldn't use a leash to take the dog out in it's own back yard. I got a puppy instead.

 

[Tinga]

I was recently denied from a rescue simply because I didn't crate train Dillon. I was willing and currently use a crate for Natasha. But because I didn't with Dillon I was denied.
Dillon was 5 when we got him. He has full roam of the house 100% of the time. He doen't get into trash and up until we brought Natasha home, the cat bowl was right noext to his and he
never got into it.

If the rescues would be more objective about it, it would benefit the dogs. But when you have foster parents making up and applying their own set of "standards" as far as training methods and if you don't agree with them.... no go. AND, how many of you give shots yourself??? I do. So other than the annual check-up, rabies and heartworm I really don't see the vet too often. Some want a LOONG history with the vet. Kinda stinks for those of us with healthy dogs and shot ourselves.

I guess it all worked out in the end. We got Natasha.

 

[CynJ]

It really can be disheartening for people looking to adopt. And I wonder sometimes if the people processing the applications and being judge and jury could actually pass their own adoption process.

 

[Elvismom]

Thankfully it is not that hard to adopt here although they do require a fenced yard. As to the fostering part of it, I was never offered a say in anything other than what the behavior was while with me and health condition. I wished that it was easier in other locations because there are some really great people out there that would take care of pets even with no fence or self done shots.

 

[jfisher22]

It really is sad to see how many animals end up in shelters. The few times we were at the shelter to look at Tank, the only view out in the main hallway was the room with the cats, rabbits, etc. It's such a shame to see any animal given up under any circumstance. The second time I went to see Tank my mom and sister went and while we were talking to someone about him, they brought a Lab in who I believe was 9 years old. He looked so sad when they were putting him back in his kennel. My heart broke for him, but maybe a week later he wasn't on the website anymore which made me happy. He hadn't been there for too long either!

We think that the manager at the shelter kind of rushed applications for Tank. Apparently, when we put our's in, another application had already been approved but I guess the volunteers/workers were not aware of that. My mom wasn't too happy about that. But the manager called my mom back and said that she would give the other people until 4pm that day to say they would take Tank and when they didn't, we got the call saying that he was our's! One frustrating thing was that they called our vet and apparently needed full records of our other three animals. But the vet said they needed permission to release information from the owner, and the shelter didn't call us back right away to tell us. The vet asked my mom if they were trying to adopt a dog because they got a call from the shelter asking for records. So instead of the shelter manager calling US back, we had to call the vet to give them permission, THEN call the manager back and tell her that we talked to the vet. What a process!

 

[LauraR]

About 6 years ago my cousin moved down here to Kansas City with his job. He bought a house and had a very nice, large fenced in yard(6ft privacy fence). He had wanted a dog since he was about 5 years old but his Mom had some pretty intense allergies and wouldn't allow it. He decided that he wanted to adopt a dog from an animal shelter. Knowing he had little experience, he did quite a bit of research, volunteered to walk dogs in his neighborhood and even did some volunteer work at a few of the local shelters. He was working as a consultant and had the ability to tailor his schedule to make sure he had plenty of time to spend with a new dog. As he became more experienced, he began looking for a vet. He did quite a bit of looking before finding one he felt was a right fit. He then went to the shelter HE VOLUNTEERED at and they denied him because he had never owned a dog before. He volunteered at that shelter for almost a year and they denied him because they thought he lacked experience. He tried two more shelters and ran into the same issue. Finally he saw someone post a link on facebook of a dog that was at a shelter in KC that had less than 24 hours to be adopted before he would be put down. He rushed down there and this time they turned him down because they did not approve of his vet being more than 20 miles away from his house. That dog didn't ever get adopted and was killed because some idiot decided that having a crappy vet less than a mile away is better than having the best vet 20 miles away. Not even 2 days later that shelter was featured on the local news pleading for people to come and adopt because they were over crowded. What a joke!
Fortunately this story has a somewhat happy ending. One of the guys he was doing some consulting work for had mentioned the troubles he was having with his dog. It had bitten one of his small children and even though the dog was provoked(the kid wouldn't stop pulling on the dogs ears and then the kid BIT one of them and in turn got a nip on the face that didn't even break the skin), his wife was pressuring him to have the dog put down because he was "dangerous". The next time my cousin saw him, the man had mentioned how he was going to be taking the dog in at the end of the week to be put down. My cousin offered to take him and the man gladly accepted.
My cousin has now been living happily with his new best friend for almost 6 months without any issue

Moral of story, if these shelters want to work on the over crowding issues then they first need to take the sticks out of their asses and be a little more realistic about pet owners. Not everyone is perfect but every dog deserves a chance and no dog should be put down just because some guy with a god complex felt the prospective owner just wasn't good enough.

 

[LauraR]

So my brother just read my last post over my shoulder and wanted me to tell you all that he also tried to adopt a dog from a kill shelter about 2 months ago and they denied his application because he feeds his Boston Terrier a raw diet. He called and offered up vet records, articles that have been written about the health benefits and so on and they just were not willing to listen to any of it. They told him he needed to keep "their" dogs on a strict diet of only Iams for optimal health. What the heck is wrong with these people?!?!

 

[bearlion]

Don't give up!!!! Unfortunately, many rescues and shelters have developed "rules" regarding placement, instead of looking at each individual situation. Some rescuers end up so jaded by what they have seen, nobody is good enough. Some end up control freaks, lording over their "kingdom", losing sight of the point, finding good homes for dogs. I once dealt with a rescue that chose to keep a difficult to place, adult male GSD in a crate 24/7 for 6+ months rather than allow the dog to be adopted out of state, even with vet refs, personal refs, adopter willing to pay expenses for home check and random check after placement, references from a professional trainer with a commitment to work with adoptive family/dog, to a family with GSD experience, stay at home mom, big house on fully fenced acreage. They could not find a home for this dog, who was living in crate at the vets office where he was dumped, but would not consider being flexible, even though it would have been a great placement, and there were no other placement possibilities. That being said, it must be incredibly difficult to have the responsibility for placing a dog that has already suffered due to human failure. As imperfect as rescues/shelters can be, at least they are trying. (Mostly) I know I could not do it. I foster, love every second, but could not be responsible for choosing homes. I would be one of those who finds no one good enough!!
We too went the rounds when we decided to adopt an EM. It took awhile, had some disappointing experiences with LA shelters, (a whole other story), but we finally did find the perfect girl for us at a shelter in NM.
Don't give up-there are many, many rescue groups and shelters. There are many run by caring, competent people who look at each situation. There are some who will understand and approve of your choice with Gunny, recognizing a family who bothers to learn about their pets and care for them accordingly. Don't give up on a dog that needs you and will bring you joy because of, once again, human failure.
Your new fur kid is out there somewhere, waiting for you!! Don't let someone's ignorance stop you!! Unfortunately, shelters/rescues have learned if they don't spay/neuter before a dog is adopted, it won't happen. Preventing more unwanted dogs comes before what is best for individual dogs. They judge everyone the same, and end up twisting altering dogs really young out of necessity into altering really young is best. It is not best to spay a 6-8 week old dog. Maybe better than not spaying at all and allowing pregnancy at first heat, but not best.
Don't let the fact that some people are not terribly educated and/or unable to make thoughtful decisions, resulting in the need for following an adoption checklist complete with iron clad "rules", stop you.
I wish you the best of luck in your search! Remember, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a prince.