Rejected adoption application.

Some people take this over the top and have rules like "must have fenced yard"

I was considering a Pug or Boston at one time. There were a few in a rescue that would adopt to our state. But they would only adopt to a home with a fenced yard. This included a 14 year old arthritic pug with cataracts. You'd think maybe they could make SOME exceptions! How fast and far did they think that little guy would go?

Rescues really need to judge families on a case by case basis, just like they should judge their dogs.

There's a coonhound rescue who adopt to homes where both pet parents work outside the home. Now, come on. In this day and age, how many families have a stay at home parent throughout the entire life of a dog? Even though I have breed knowledge, a fenced yard and an okay income and credit cards to pay for vet care, and sterling vet references, I wouldn't be able to adopt from these folks because of that.

For me I think rescues would do themselves and everyone else a huge service by, instead of focusing on denying adoptions applications for various reasons, getting OUT THERE into the general public and educating people about the proper care, training and management of dogs, just in general. Because you can get around the no-fence or no-money or full-time-job thing if you are educated and committed to providing a dog everything it needs. Where we live now the yard is like a postage stamp and yes, it's fenced, but that's sort of a moot point because the dogs barely use it. We walk them twice a day every day. And as already stated, just because you do have a fence doesn't mean you know squat about a dog's needs. If more of the general public were truly educated about proper care of dogs, rescues wouldn't have to get so anal about their requirements because they could be reasonably assured that they could work with potential adopters around whatever less-than-perfect situation they have.

What I'd love to see at PetCo and PetSmart, even over Adoption Events with dogs and whatnot, is EDUCATION. Because the problem of homeless and neglected pets won't stop until there's more education. Everything else is sort of putting a bandaid on a decapitation. I'd love to develop a program, for both puppies and adult dogs, that "simulates" dog ownership the way that the ole Flour Sack Baby unit in middle/high school simulates parenthood.

Edited for a question to the people who do rescue: If you got an application in from a first-time owner who had a verifiable and interview-able "mentor", someone who was a long time owner and responsible dog person who would be working with them and their dog, would that make you view the potential adopters more favorably? I ask because we have friends who are thinking of getting a dog and they have a few strikes against them (young children, first-time owners) and I was wondering whether the fact that I'd be really closely mentoring them through the process would make a difference to rescues. Sort of like when your parents had to co-sign on your college loans. []

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

Some people take this over the top and have rules like "must have fenced yard"

I was considering a Pug or Boston at one time. There were a few in a rescue that would adopt to our state. But they would only adopt to a home with a fenced yard. This included a 14 year old arthritic pug with cataracts. You'd think maybe they could make SOME exceptions! How fast and far did they think that little guy would go?

Rescues really need to judge families on a case by case basis, just like they should judge their dogs.

Please remember the evaluators do not receive any special training or directions.  It is a very subjective process and an opportunity for one individual to judge based on personal standards and also to keep control of what happens, a power thing.  I also have not had good experiences with Dane rescues.  There is one that requires stomach stapling as a commitment before adoption.  On the other side when I had two families whose evaluations were identical and both good candidates to adopt my foster, the family that upped the ante by installing a fence got Sassy.

Ratsicles- I'm going to send you a pm so I don't hijack the thread.

ORIGINAL: houndlove

Edited for a question to the people who do rescue: If you got an application in from a first-time owner who had a verifiable and interview-able "mentor", someone who was a long time owner and responsible dog person who would be working with them and their dog, would that make you view the potential adopters more favorably? I ask because we have friends who are thinking of getting a dog and they have a few strikes against them (young children, first-time owners) and I was wondering whether the fact that I'd be really closely mentoring them through the process would make a difference to rescues. Sort of like when your parents had to co-sign on your college loans. []

Of course it would, and you as a resource would be more creditable if you were present during the meetings.  The evaluators want to be shown that the dog is going to be placed in a good home and the dog will be properly taken care of, loved-safe-and secure.  The family may not get the dog they want because of breed traits and known personality.  That is one advantage of going to a rescue-you know the dogs personality because the dog has been living with a family.  E.g. rescues for large breeds will mostly post that they will not adopt to families with small children because of the potential of a child being knocked down and injured. 

I recently did a home visit to a family with an autistic child that was interested in adopting my shepherd mix foster.  I disclosed everything about the dog including the fact the dog herded children and was leash reactive.  IMO, they did not have any dog experience and did not know what they were getting into.  With the help of this forum, I was prepared to give information about service dogs and their eligiblity to get one for free.  Despite having all the information and references to do homework and make an informed decision, they immediately decided they wanted to adopt because Sassy was so cute and the children adored her.  Since there was another family interested in Sassy, the organization did not respond immediately.  Luckily, this family looked at the material and then decided to wait and go the SD route.  My rescued organization offered to help get them a SD and they accepted.

The volunteer said that they would have to think about it since they weren't home for 8hrs.

 
I hope they're prepared to be "thinking about it" for a long time!  MOST people work for a living and MOST people have jobs that take them away for at least 8 hrs. or longer.  That's a fact of life.  Those same people who work also have to find childcare for human children, therefore, taking care of a dog shouldn't be all that diffilcult to figure out! 
 
I have only had one "rescue" group adoption and it went smoothly.  However, we did have to drive our entire family + Kato to their foster home to meet the dog.  Then, they came to our house to make sure we had the property we "said" we had.  They required a fence (which we have) and they were visably happy when I said I was home everyday M-F, and dh is home all weekend.  The fact that the 2 dogs got along so well was the clincher though.  Clearly, if the dogs didn't like each other, it wouldn't have mattered if we lived in the Taj Mahal! [] 
 
I understand the need for screening, but at some point the rescues need to let their dogs go to forever homes when opportunity is knocking!! 

ORIGINAL: DPU

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

Some people take this over the top and have rules like "must have fenced yard"

I was considering a Pug or Boston at one time. There were a few in a rescue that would adopt to our state. But they would only adopt to a home with a fenced yard. This included a 14 year old arthritic pug with cataracts. You'd think maybe they could make SOME exceptions! How fast and far did they think that little guy would go?

Rescues really need to judge families on a case by case basis, just like they should judge their dogs.

Please remember the evaluators do not receive any special training or directions.  It is a very subjective process and an opportunity for one individual to judge based on personal standards and also to keep control of what happens, a power thing.  I also have not had good experiences with Dane rescues.  There is one that requires stomach stapling as a commitment before adoption.  On the other side when I had two families whose evaluations were identical and both good candidates to adopt my foster, the family that upped the ante by installing a fence got Sassy.

 
stomach stapling?? what do you mean?

ORIGINAL: Mastiff

The volunteer said that they would have to think about it since they weren't home for 8hrs.

I hope they're prepared to be "thinking about it" for a long time!  MOST people work for a living and MOST people have jobs that take them away for at least 8 hrs. or longer.  That's a fact of life.  Those same people who work also have to find childcare for human children, therefore, taking care of a dog shouldn't be all that diffilcult to figure out! 

I have only had one "rescue" group adoption and it went smoothly.  However, we did have to drive our entire family + Kato to their foster home to meet the dog.  Then, they came to our house to make sure we had the property we "said" we had.  They required a fence (which we have) and they were visably happy when I said I was home everyday M-F, and dh is home all weekend.  The fact that the 2 dogs got along so well was the clincher though.  Clearly, if the dogs didn't like each other, it wouldn't have mattered if we lived in the Taj Mahal! [] 

I understand the need for screening, but at some point the rescues need to let their dogs go to forever homes when opportunity is knocking!! 

 
I know, they said Dani would be only going to a house who didn't have someone gone for more than 5 hrs. Well, good luck on that guys. Loool. Some things just need to be loosened. Separation anxiety can be fixed, and she doesnt need someone home during the day, since thats not fixing anything. To be honest now that I've met a few of the arf volunteers, it doesnt look like their interested in adopting them out, they all seem pretty attached!

stomach stapling?? what do you mean?

 
Stomach stapling can be done in dogs that have had bloat or stomach torsion (twisting) in the past (and survived it!).  It would prevent it from happening again.  Since Danes are prone to this, they are requiring potential adopters to do this.  That seems absurd to me, and again, good luck adopting any of those dogs out! 
 
I wonder how they go about finding a vet to do that procedure as part of a pre-adoption agreement??  Many breeds are more prone to bloat than others and therefore why aren't they all required to have this done?? 
 
I'm starting to think that rescues and fosters are getting attached and not wanting to let go.