An Awful Adoption Experience

[ShadowAceD]

If a rescue ever deems I am unable to properly care for an animal or be the perfect home for a given dog, I'm sorry, but they are grossly mistaken and I know the same that has happened to many people.

I've spent thousands of dollars on a dog I adopted for 75.00 from a kill shelter because he has a medical condition that is going to drastically shorten his life. I can only increase his years by a few, but I do it readily.

I spent hundreds more on a dog I adopted that had severe mental issues and ultimately had to be put down after I tried everything possible to help him. I had him for less than two years and because of that? I was denied another dog from a rescue along the Gulf Coast. No matter how I explained it to them and no matter the vet. records, they deemed I was not a fit future pet parent with one of their animals. This was three years ago and that dog is STILL not adopted because he was an older dog and is now nearing the end of his life span.

I kept a stray dog that knows tricks, is completely house broken, submissive and sweet that showed up at my house because she is heartworm positive and NO rescue between Florida and Louisiana would take her. Nor would they help me get her treated by their vet. for the cost they pay for heartworm treatment. Understand, in the state of Florida, where I found this dog, rescues cannot take in strays, only owner surrenders. So I had to make this dog mine. I had to go and pay for her shots and a wellness check BEFORE I could be told no one would take her.

I kept and paid for the shots, spay and training of an American Bulldog cross that I found at a dumpster as a five week old for six months before I homed her with my in-laws, knowing when I found the dog, I was not going to be able to keep her.

I have pulled stray dogs off the street during the winter and put them into my garage or laundry room with water, food and blankets so they could be warm and comfortable before I brought them to a shelter to be reclaimed by their owners or to find new ones.

I have volunteered at shelters for years to sit and play with dogs or walk them and give them a little bit of peace and love before the inevitable was to happen to them.

But no, I am not fit to adopt from some of these "rescues".

I did all of these things selflessly and will continue to do them. But do rescues ask about that? No.

Do rescues ask me for photos of my dog that was skin pulled over bones when I first adopted him and near death compared to now? No.

Do they even really ask about the animals I currently own besides what breeds and ages? No.

I have been turned down JUST because I had another male dog who was NUETERED and submissive while trying to adopt another dog that was submissive as well.

Rescues make too many assumptions. They decline people who are perfectly capable and willing to care for the animals they are trying to adopt based on stupid mistakes or simple bias in the application process.

I know you work for rescues and I respect that, but the system is largely screwed up and it is getting worse by the year. As stated before, I would sooner pull a dog from a kill shelter at this point then deal with the crap I've had to put up with for rescues again. Those animals will not be euthanized, so they can sit and wait until someone puts in the absolute perfect application while sneezing rainbows and butterflies.

 

[ShadowAceD]

I am not attacking you, by the way. This is just how I've come to feel about rescues and little is probably going to change it.

 

[SilverRaichu]

As a person who works in a rescue, i do disagree with some of these requirements for adoption ive read. However, be aware adopters, that as a rescue, it is their responsibility to ensure these animals are going to good homes, therefore they will not trust anyone until they have proof that they will take good care of potential adopted animals. Some of the requirements i do agree with when asking a potential adopter would be.
1. the food you will feed them
2. previous animals owned
3. veterinarian records of the previous animals owned.
4. where you live and if you rent or own your own property.
5. Home inspection (this depends on the species of animal being adopted).
6. If the animal is a small mammal or reptile, what their enclosure will be.
7. Personal information about you (I.E. phone number, address, etc....)
8. Why you want to adopt this animal.

Rescue's original intentions are all good, but how can you justify people like us who dedicate thier lives to their pets being denied adoption from rescues for reasons like "feeding blue buffalo" (which btw is an awesome food and i cant find any reason why anyone shouldnt feed it to their pets), "not neutering at the 'standard' age" etc?

1. the food you will feed them< NO I dont agree with this. If they want to know what we feed is one thing, but if they are asking this on an application, then there is clearly a chance that if they dont agree with what you plan to feed they'll deny you.
I work at petsmart, only for 2 1/2 years, i knew nothing about pet nutrition, my dogs ate grocery store dogs foods, alpo/pedigree/store brand etc, my dog lived to be 16 and didnt get sick until her last year and my current dog still eats pedigree as well as pro-plan and even nutro depending on my budget and my cats eat friskees cat food. My pets are more healthier then half the people who shop for the healthy food at my store, they come in saying "my cat needs this" "my dog cant eat that" "theyre allergic to whatever" not against holistic food, its just not in my budget, but my point is a dog could live healthy on less quality food, its no reason to deny a pet a home because of it.

If you can somehow justify that a rescue tells me i can adopt one of their dogs and never contacts me and ignores my efforts to contact me
then PLEASE be my guest, I'd like to hear it from someone who is in rescue

I support ShadowAceD's post

 

[Lucille]

Excellent post

sit and wait

And there's the catch. When a rescue becomes a bureaucracy, adopting by checklist instead of by personally checking out the adopter, it is the critter who suffers through the delays while the perfect home is sought. Just as in an orphanage for humans, the foster care may be adequate, but both kids and dogs want their own forever family to love.

Rescues make too many assumptions. They decline people who are perfectly capable and willing to care for the animals they are trying to adopt based on stupid mistakes or simple bias in the application process.
.

Exactly. There are some rescues which are excellent, but no one can argue that there are too many that are all procedure and no substance.

 

[SilverRaichu]

I also forgot to mention taht some of these rescues are asking things that have nothing to do with caring for a pet, like asking for a drivers license, so if I dont drive Im unsuitable to care for a pet? How about my local shelter wants my ssn#? Why would something like that be necessary?

I dont mean anything against you personally, Im still mad about what that rescue did and to this day I'm still getting no word, no closure. This is seriously irritating me, I agree with ShadowAceD, the system is severely corrupted and as long as it continues to get worse, then the whole "dont shop, adopt" cause will go to the ground.

 

[ShadowAceD]

The ACO who adopted Bruce to me cried when she saw this, but no rescue has ever asked me for it or even about hoow much effort I've put into him.

 

[SilverRaichu]

He looks awesome, ShadowAceD, so happy too!

I work at petsmart as I said and I work in the fish/repties/small animals/birds, and I deal with all kinds of people an trust me, you dont need to make someone fill out no 10 page paper work to see whos fit to have pets and who isnt, having a good 30-40 minute conversation with someone tells you enough.
If adoption was more 1 on 1/personal, I think the system would be much better.

 

[Shadera]

Don't get me started on petsmart. They're headed down that road with their adoption forms for small animals. I know they mean well and I know it's company policy employees may or may not agree with, but I'm sure there are people out there that are insulted/horrified when the employee turns around and looks you straight in the face and asks, "is this food for another animal?" Yep, did happen, when I purchased a mouse a couple months ago. No, he was not and is not food, fwiw.

Back to rescues. Most recent reasons for being told to take a hike: I live too far away, after I sent an email asking up front if they'd consider adopting as far as where I live, and their answer was, "fill out the application". Stupid me for thinking that meant sure thing. Why do we waste each others' time?

Next reason is that I live too close to a road, and my fence isn't the right fence. They want six foot chain link. Around all the acreage too apparently.

I give. There are plenty of other places to find a pooch.

Here's an idea, rescues - since you demand that we live within farting distance to adopt, why not ditch the informal, ugly questionnaires, and schedule an hour or so for us to come in, and we just sit down and TALK. I dunno, maybe bring in a pet of ours or two, so you can see with your own eyes what our level of care looks like. No job interview type stuff, either. Just a free-flowing conversation back and forth that lets you get to know us, and us to know you. You'd be amazed at what gut feeling will tell you about someone at the end of a short conversation like that.

It's not related to dogs, but I did ferret rescue back in the early 90's. Back then, adoption pretty much consisted of hey if your herd are vaccinated and all that, bring 'em on over and we'll see who they get along with and that's who you can take home that day. Things have changed, and not for the better.

 

[SilverRaichu]

Don't get me started on petsmart. They're headed down that road with their adoption forms for small animals. I know they mean well and I know it's company policy employees may or may not agree with, but I'm sure there are people out there that are insulted/horrified when the employee turns around and looks you straight in the face and asks, "is this food for another animal?" Yep, did happen, when I purchased a mouse a couple months ago. No, he was not and is not food, fwiw.

Not really talking in Petsmart's defense, but when the adoptions become available we do get a lot of people asking if they can take them to feed snakes because theyre having trouble finding stores that sell live. Even mice for sale people ask if they can buy it for food. We even had a guy once buy a mouse and buy cage, food, and he came back the next day and returned everything but the mouse. he said the mouse died but he didnt want to return it. So not sure what really happened to the mouse but its the reason we have to ask. Not sure about other petsmarts but we dont even ask most people unless they seem suspicious or something

Back to rescues. Most recent reasons for being told to take a hike: I live too far away, after I sent an email asking up front if they'd consider adopting as far as where I live, and their answer was, "fill out the application". Stupid me for thinking that meant sure thing. Why do we waste each others' time?

Next reason is that I live too close to a road, and my fence isn't the right fence. They want six foot chain link. Around all the acreage too apparently.

I give. There are plenty of other places to find a pooch.

Here's an idea, rescues - since you demand that we live within farting distance to adopt, why not ditch the informal, ugly questionnaires, and schedule an hour or so for us to come in, and we just sit down and TALK. I dunno, maybe bring in a pet of ours or two, so you can see with your own eyes what our level of care looks like. No job interview type stuff, either. Just a free-flowing conversation back and forth that lets you get to know us, and us to know you. You'd be amazed at what gut feeling will tell you about someone at the end of a short conversation like that.

It's not related to dogs, but I did ferret rescue back in the early 90's. Back then, adoption pretty much consisted of hey if your herd are vaccinated and all that, bring 'em on over and we'll see who they get along with and that's who you can take home that day. Things have changed, and not for the better.

This exactly what it should be.
But for some reason people feel lots of paperworks tells a lot of about people

 

[Shadera]

I apologize for the back-to-back posts, but I'm feeling surly now.

We bought this place a couple months ago. We don't intend to start adding our farm animals until next year, so the land is lying, unused. It's great pasture, nice and healthy and well irrigated compared to a lot of what I see livestock grazing around here. We thought hey, we should call up a horse rescue, and volunteer the use of our land and barn for the winter/spring. All we'd ask in return is that they send out a couple volunteers to help us fix the roof on the barn so it doesn't leak. I can't quite do it myself and Shawn is handicapped. Montana has a horse in every yard, and much like many dog rescues across the nation, horse rescues are always overflowing and desperate.

So we finally find a rescue nearby, and hubby talks to them on the phone. They say it's fantastic of us to offer, and getting someone out here to get the barn roof fixed is no problem. The lady is practically crying with joy. She wants to know if she can swing by in the next few days to have a look at the fencing and meet us. At that time, we'd just bought the house, and I was driving an hour each way every day to go paint and other small jobs. I said sure, just give me a call. I was down at the house daily for the next two weeks, and nothing. Not so much as a phone call. Found out from the next door neighbor that she'd been by her place so they could go out to dinner, though.

So we decide to forget about them. I'm not chasing anyone anymore.

Two weeks later, I get a phone call from a different lady at that rescue. They're desperate for a place to put these two young horses who need to be moved, yesterday. Sure I say, as soon as someone comes out here as promised to look at the fence, and the barn. I've been around the property line once, and can't remember offhand if there's any barbed wire in there. She says the fence is the bigger issue, and she's not sure they can come up with people to help fix the leaky barn roof anyways. I'm getting frustrated but I'm still trying to be a decent human being. Whatever, I say, come check the fence yourself, make sure it meets your standards. She agrees she'll come that evening. We wait around for them. No one shows, and no phone call. I get a call three days later, she wants to come by that afternoon. Sure, we say, and wait around some more. Again, no show and no call.

At this point, we've completely written them off. They had horses they were so relieved they'd be able to help with our "donation", and they couldn't be bothered to get off their butts and go see what was being offered. Now tell me, whose best interests were forefront in mind with those folks?

 

[hhmoore]

Some of the requirements i do agree with when asking a potential adopter would be.
1. the food you will feed them
2. previous animals owned
3. veterinarian records of the previous animals owned.
4. where you live and if you rent or own your own property.
5. Home inspection (this depends on the species of animal being adopted).
6. If the animal is a small mammal or reptile, what their enclosure will be.
7. Personal information about you (I.E. phone number, address, etc....)
8. Why you want to adopt this animal.

1) While I understand that there is a lot of low grade dog food out there, I'm not sure I agree with this question's relevance. For one thing, what I plan on feeding a dog may not be what I end up feeding him. I've had to change brands in the past due to a dog's tastes or tolerances...and you won't know that until you've sorted it out. Besides, are they going to follow up to make sure I feed the brand I say?
2) Relatively benign, until they start asking questions, lol. Then, anything you say can - and will - be used against you.
3) Requesting/requiring veterinary records opens up a huge can of worms, IMO, and I would certainly not grant access.
4) Not wholly unreasonable...but renting shouldn't be a disqualifier, either. I don't have a problem with requiring written permission from the landlord.
5) One answer - off. Not happening. Not prior to adoption, and definitely not after. It's amazing to me that people actually go along with clauses that agree to random home visits (including drive bys), especially when backed with statements that indicate if they see anything they don't like, ownership of the animal is forfeited to the rescue. (and, yes, I've seen numerous contracts like that...though, admittedly, the absolute worse was from a backyard breeder).

 

[Lucille]

As far as food being equated with care, I would like to point out that my father was lovingly raised by his grandmother during the Great Depression, and he had told me stories of a baked potato used to provide warmth under the covers at night and which was also breakfast the next morning.

There are bad times for many now, too, and because all people can't afford high dollar food does not equate whatsoever with how they care for their critters.

Feeding grocery store dog food in some circles is held to be the equivalent of abuse. It most certainly isn't, but advertising and exclusive groups of well heeled owners make corn the new four lettered word. Yes, there's better, but if the economy is bad and you are on a corn budget, the duck and pear will have to wait a little. Meanwhile, the dog could either be sleeping at the foot of a bed of some adoring kid, or sitting in foster care, waiting.

they can sit and wait until someone puts in the absolute perfect application while sneezing rainbows and butterflies.

Exactly.

 

[hadenglock]

I also forgot to mention taht some of these rescues are asking things that have nothing to do with caring for a pet, like asking for a drivers license, so if I dont drive Im unsuitable to care for a pet? How about my local shelter wants my ssn#? Why would something like that be necessary?

I dont mean anything against you personally, Im still mad about what that rescue did and to this day I'm still getting no word, no closure. This is seriously irritating me, I agree with ShadowAceD, the system is severely corrupted and as long as it continues to get worse, then the whole "dont shop, adopt" cause will go to the ground.

Im not attacking anyone personally and im not supporting what the other rescue did to you, i dont agree with it either. The food question regards to what king of food as in will you feed it table scraps, etc..... This is for the safety of the dogs health, Im not bashing any pet food brand although i personally some are better than others (FYI blue buffalo had a recall on there chicken for salmonella because their white meat is imported from china). Taking down a drivers liscense or other form of govt issued ID is just as important because some states restrict pets. do you know how many times ive had people living in new york city try to adopt an alligator from me?? NO WAY JOSE lol. Again im not supporting the rescue that did not adopt to you, but please understand that not all rescues are in the same boat as them!!

 

[hadenglock]

1) While I understand that there is a lot of low grade dog food out there, I'm not sure I agree with this question's relevance. For one thing, what I plan on feeding a dog may not be what I end up feeding him. I've had to change brands in the past due to a dog's tastes or tolerances...and you won't know that until you've sorted it out. Besides, are they going to follow up to make sure I feed the brand I say?
2) Relatively benign, until they start asking questions, lol. Then, anything you say can - and will - be used against you.
3) Requesting/requiring veterinary records opens up a huge can of worms, IMO, and I would certainly not grant access.
4) Not wholly unreasonable...but renting shouldn't be a disqualifier, either. I don't have a problem with requiring written permission from the landlord.
5) One answer - off. Not happening. Not prior to adoption, and definitely not after. It's amazing to me that people actually go along with clauses that agree to random home visits (including drive bys), especially when backed with statements that indicate if they see anything they don't like, ownership of the animal is forfeited to the rescue. (and, yes, I've seen numerous contracts like that...though, admittedly, the absolute worse was from a backyard breeder).

1. by vet records i mean proving all of the pets youve listed are being seen by a vet, and what vaccines their up to date on. (you shouldnt be worried about this if you have nothing to hide).
2. I never said a renter would be a disqualification
3. Home visit as in a one and done deal, this will ensure the animal is being kept in proper living conditions.

If you cant abide by the rescuers rules, then dont adopt from them..... no one forcing you to adopt these animals, you are doing it at your own will.

 

[hadenglock]

As far as food being equated with care, I would like to point out that my father was lovingly raised by his grandmother during the Great Depression, and he had told me stories of a baked potato used to provide warmth under the covers at night and which was also breakfast the next morning.

There are bad times for many now, too, and because all people can't afford high dollar food does not equate whatsoever with how they care for their critters.

Feeding grocery store dog food in some circles is held to be the equivalent of abuse. It most certainly isn't, but advertising and exclusive groups of well heeled owners make corn the new four lettered word. Yes, there's better, but if the economy is bad and you are on a corn budget, the duck and pear will have to wait a little. Meanwhile, the dog could either be sleeping at the foot of a bed of some adoring kid, or sitting in foster care, waiting.


While i agree with your point, i still think its important to know that food allergies are always a concern for pets. What if the you were trying to adopt a dog that had proven food allergies? wouldnt it be important for the rescue to at least try to assume you would feed him the right food?

 

[Lucille]

While i agree with your point, i still think its important to know that food allergies are always a concern for pets. What if the you were trying to adopt a dog that had proven food allergies? wouldnt it be important for the rescue to at least try to assume you would feed him the right food?

Asking someone what food they might feed is putting the cart before the horse. If there is a specific need, or an allergy, inform the adopter. Then the adopter can make provisions to purchase the appropriate foods.

 

[hadenglock]

Asking someone what food they might feed is putting the cart before the horse. If there is a specific need, or an allergy, inform the adopter. Then the adopter can make provisions to purchase the appropriate foods.

Your thinking too hard about this question, a rescue just wants to make sure the animal will be fed properly (its a stupid question i know but there are stupid people out there, and the basis of the question is based on the rescues opinion, again if you dont like it, dont adopt from there). I wouldnt want to adopt a Cockatiel to a person who will feed it rabbit treats and potato chips!

 

[SilverRaichu]

Your thinking too hard about this question, a rescue just wants to make sure the animal will be fed properly (its a stupid question i know but there are stupid people out there, and the basis of the question is based on the rescues opinion, again if you dont like it, dont adopt from there). I wouldnt want to adopt a Cockatiel to a person who will feed it rabbit treats and potato chips!

Still.. there's usually always someone who will criticize your answer. Even some of the "best pet owners will offer something from the table at least once. I throw my conure a few chips here and there.. my co-worker's birds (2 cockatiels and a senegal) gets everything from chicken to pasta to sugary candy, and she says it all the time a rescue would never adopt a bird to her but she says its all in moderation and the vet agrees her birds are in perfect health don't fix what isn't broken. You can't penalize someone for not being perfect pet owners, doesn't mean we're bad pet owners either. And it certainly doesn't mean we're unfit to have pets at all.
Most of the people I know who do stuff like that are some of the 'best' people I know. They know their pets, the're consistent with their health and needs and will be the first to tell what their pet can and can't eat.

And unless your feeding timothy hay treats, you'd be surprised how many small animal treats and bird treats ingredients are the same

 

[SilverRaichu]

Im not attacking anyone personally and im not supporting what the other rescue did to you, i dont agree with it either. The food question regards to what king of food as in will you feed it table scraps, etc..... This is for the safety of the dogs health, Im not bashing any pet food brand although i personally some are better than others (FYI blue buffalo had a recall on there chicken for salmonella because their white meat is imported from china). Taking down a drivers liscense or other form of govt issued ID is just as important because some states restrict pets. do you know how many times ive had people living in new york city try to adopt an alligator from me?? NO WAY JOSE lol. Again im not supporting the rescue that did not adopt to you, but please understand that not all rescues are in the same boat as them!!

Blue Buffalo's meats are no longer imported and are made in the US, I know about Blue's recall and FYI, more holistic foods have been recalled then most other foods, every year Wellness gets recalled at least once. And holistic treats as well, canyon creek's rawhides were recalled due to dogs getting sick because the meats were imported but what people don't realize that not all the dogs were sick because of the imported meat, they were getting sick because people were feeding them as staple diets which isn't good because its just meat nothing else. Dogs can't live just on meat it lacks nutrition found in other ingredients in dog food.
You can't penalize a dog food because of an incident that happened years ago, no matter what you feed there will always be a risk of any dog food becoming tainted and recalled again.
I can see the license thing for exotics, but not cats and dogs.
I believe border collies are legal everywhere. So why do they need a drivers license?

Ande the vet records, again, if someone didn't take their pet consistantly to a vet for check ups or wasn't up to date on shots, are they unsuited to adopt? Even if their dogs were treated and medicated when they were sick?
There is a vet near me who is highly rated and has been around for over 30+ years. I took my kitten to him and he said that most yearly shots aren't nessecary. And explained about the pet's immunity system and how it works and it was great to meet a vet who was truly honest rather then someone telling me to give my dog or cat a bunch of shots they probably didn't need. How would that look on my adoption application? My pets do
See a vet regularly, sometimes I have to skip yearly appointments due to a fluctuating budget, in a section I feel something is wrong with my pets they are in a vet's office immedietly, but things like don't seem to matter or not good enough to the eyes of a rescue

 

[ShadowAceD]

If you cant abide by the rescuers rules, then dont adopt from them..... no one forcing you to adopt these animals, you are doing it at your own will.

You know what? That's the exact reason why I won't try to adopt from a rescue anymore, because their attitudes are pretty much like that.

It's not about what's best for the dog, it's about "their rules" and how YOU fit into them.

Got it.