Rescue is all about the dog; not the adopter! (Rant)

I understand your frustration. When we started looking for a rescue, I was fully prepared to be questioned and felt it was appropriate considering the importance of finding the right home for the dog. Some people, like you say, don't see it that way.
 
Is it a form they are filling out, or are you asking these questions over the phone? If it's a form, does it have a little paragraph at the start explaining WHY all the questions are necessary? That might help. Just a pleasant bit to the effect of "These wonderful dogs mean the world to us and we want to make sure they will fit right in your family. Every dog is unique, and since we've had the chance to get to know them, we like to ask potential adopters some questions to make sure this dog is right for you. blah blah etc".
 
If, upon reading the explanation, they still don't want to fill it out - I would say that person is too impatient or arrogant to take your foster dog!

I do agree with you to a extent.  I agree that there should be an application process that they should be required to "fix" their pet, that they should be required to vaccinate their pet, that they should not have the pet if they plan to keep it outdoors at all times, that they should not have a pet that obviously does not fit their lifestyle.

But...I do think that some shelters go overboard with their requirments.  I have 2 examples.

Example 1: In April of last year DH and I were looking to adopt a cat.  We went to a local no kill cat shelter.  We really liked a big male tabby male cat.  When we inquired about the cat the shelter volunteer adviced us against adopting him because he sprayed.  Here's the problem, this cat shelter does not for any reason adopt a cat out to be an outside cat.  Hmmm. the cat sprays [8|].  Wouldn't this cat be best as an outside cat?  Not to mention that cat has been living at that shelter for 5 years and was stinking up the place and making it unhealthy for all the other cats living there.  Wouldn't this cat be a great cat for someone living in the middle of no where on a farm, with a warm barn to sleep in?

Example #2: My grandmother worked at one of the first humane societies in this country.  At that time it was called Lolly Pop Farms.  She lives on a farm and wants/needs a dog to chase the deer away from her crop and garden and to chase the foxes and coyotes away from her chickens.  She want a large dog with a big bark.  It will be inside the house at night and when it's cold and raining, but not during the day because, as she says "it'll get under my feet."  She lives in the middle of no where with very little traffic.  She lives on 20 some acres and except for the horse wire, is not fenced in.  She was denied adopting a dog at the same shelter she used to work at 30 years ago.  Why? She doesn't have a fenced in yard.  Her last dog she adopted from the same shelter that denied her.  Cookie lived for 15 years and died of old age.  

That stinks! I wish all rescues were as upfront and honest about the potential needs of each individual dog as you are. My only stink about rescues is when they make blanket requirements for every dog even if the requirements aren't necesssarily appropriate for some dogs (fenced yard for example). It sounds like you have Mason's needs as priority here and that's what's important. Hopefully, you'll find an adopter who has Mason's needs as a priority just like you.

While I understand how frustrating it can be from an adopter's perspective, I don't feel either of those 2 examples were out of line.
 
For example 1, the shelter clearly had a policy that they were not willing to budge on and I respect them for that. I know from expereince that making exceptions is a very slippery slope. It's their cat, and they've cared for it for 5 years (and undoubtedly saved it from being euthanized) so it's their decision to make.
 
I completely see the issue with example 2. I would NEVER adopt one of my fosters out to a home that planned to leave them unsupervised in an unfenced yard. It only takes one car to kill a dog, so "very little traffic" is not an excuse, and that#%92s not the only danger.  It shouldn't matter whether she was a previous employee or a complete stranger, the rules are put in place to help ensure a dog's safety.
 
If someone has a problem with the way a shelter or rescue is operated there are more than enough dogs needing homes from animal control, the general public and more lenient rescues for them to find something that suits their needs. []

I agree about the homes having to be a perfect fit but I am guessing that so many good homes are being passed up because of the adoption forms.  It is easier to go get a pup or an older pup, watch the paper for a give away or ?  I see this as a vicious circle... can't adopt from a rescue so than buy the pup from a byb (as ethical breeders also have questions) so than it keeps the byb in the business of supplying more dogs....
 
Very sad....

I applaud you people who can be foster "parents" till a good forever home can be found for an animal. []   That is so nice of all of you who are willing to do that. Without you's there would be no Rescue's.
 
Rudys Mom (Dawn)

 

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

Is it a form they are filling out, or are you asking these questions over the phone? If it's a form, does it have a little paragraph at the start explaining WHY all the questions are necessary? That might help. Just a pleasant bit to the effect of "These wonderful dogs mean the world to us and we want to make sure they will fit right in your family. Every dog is unique, and since we've had the chance to get to know them, we like to ask potential adopters some questions to make sure this dog is right for you. blah blah etc".

If, upon reading the explanation, they still don't want to fill it out - I would say that person is too impatient or arrogant to take your foster dog!

There is an online application, which does have a preface that explains why our process is the way it is. The rescue president is very clear about our mission.  She explains to every single applicant that even if it is determined that they aren't a good match for a particular dog, that they may very well be perfect for another.  When she returns a call,  she explains that the procedure is not to say if their home is good or bad, but more to make sure the dog in question will fit in there.  Then there is a required home visit, where the rescue leader or substitute arranges to come out and meet the potential adopters and to take a look at the home environment.  The things we find out during this visit are things like, how secure or tall the fence is (if applicable), what the neighboring distractions are (for example, some dogs are dog aggressive and if the neighbor has a dog running the same fence line, we may need to discuss that with the adopter to see if they are prepared to deal with that.  Some dogs are a flight risk and will actively look for ways to escape, especially during the initial transition and before bonding to the new owner, we've had adult applicants that live with their parents, and it is important that the parents are on board with the adoption.)  There are things in and around the home that may stick out to us that an average applicant may not have even thought of.  If we can at least bring such things to their attention for discussion or advise them how to handle them, we have given the dog a better chance at keeping this home once he/she is placed. 

One of the potentials did not agree with our policy to do the home visit without bringing the dog.  The reason for this in her case was that she has 3 children under the age of thirteen.  We felt that it would be unfair to the kids to let them fall in love with him and think that the dog would be staying there before making sure everything was clear with the primary care taker and environment.  As it turned out, their mother did indeed change her mind because we "insulted her ability to take care of an animal".[8|]

Had she not already gone through the process, that would be one thing, but she was already approved.  The home visit was done, the references were already cleared.  There were a few things about the enviroment that did concern me, but was hoping she would be willing to let me help her through them as they came up.  She was scheduled to let her kids and her existing dog meet Mason this past Saturday and if all was good, she was going to take him home.  I just can't understand changing your mind after going through all of that because of your own ego.  She made it clear that she wouldn't be willing to take any advice with him anyway, and those are the people that usually end up surrendering the dog again [].  Those that think they know it all and don't want to listen to someone that already "knows the dog".

Yes, heidandseek, it truly is very sad; but I cannot relate to those who think these applicable questions are "too personal". 

What's so personal about providing the name and number of your vet?  Or telling us about your past pets and what happened to them (if they were all hit by cars, or given away or put down for behavior issues or housebreaking problems, I think I have a problem with that adoption).  What's so personal about asking how old your children are and what you would do with the dog if anyone should develop an allergy to him?  Why shouldn't we ask them how long the dog will be left alone and where they are planning to keep him while they are gone?  And oh my goodness, we must have went overboard when we asked where the trash was kept![sm=blush.gif]

but I am guessing that so many good homes are being passed up because of the adoption forms.

yup. You know how many rescues automatically say "no" to people who work full-time? or don't have a fenced yard? without even considering that it's possible for such people to provide excellent homes for dogs.

 

ORIGINAL: Rudys Mom

I applaud you people who can be foster "parents" till a good forever home can be found for an animal. []   That is so nice of all of you who are willing to do that. Without you's there would be no Rescue's.
Rudys Mom (Dawn)

Thank you Dawn.  It is very rewarding when you bring a dog in as a big brawly, young, hyper, and unsocialized nut, and then as you begin to teach him trust and spend time training and bonding with him, you watch him become "what a good boy" before your eyes.

He is beautiful and intelligent; and someone gave up on him without appreciating those traits once before.

He deserves the best; and I will keep nourishing him until we find him the best.[]

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy
You know how many rescues automatically say "no" to people who work full-time? or don't have a fenced yard? without even considering that it's possible for such people to provide excellent homes for dogs.

I can't speak for all rescues; but ours does not discriminate against people that work full time.  For goodness sakes, most of us do need to work full time to pay for our pet expenses if nothing else![] 

A fenced yard is not a pre-requisite for ALL dogs in our rescue; however, it is a German Shepherd Rescue, and it sure is desirable.  Of course, some dogs can clear a 4 or 5 foot fence with no problem anyway, so what's the point in requiring a fence unless you're going to get really crazy and require a 6' privacy fence; now that's what I would consider making it too difficult to adopt!  We ask the questions, but base our decision on the BIG PICTURE.  I don't think we are unreasonable in our placement decisions. 

It is more desirable not to place the dog in the first place if your gut isn't in it, then to have to dog come back into rescue a few months later when that foster home may now be full now, etc.  It's very stressful for the dogs and it sure doesn't help any behavior or SA issues that they may already have.

You know how many rescues automatically say "no" to people who work full-time? or don't have a fenced yard? without even considering that it's possible for such people to provide excellent homes for dogs.

 
You know how many rescues, shelters, pounds, and individuals with dogs for adoption have no problem with someone working full time?! or don't require a fenced backyard?! There are so many options available for someone hoping to adopt a dog that it's ridiculous to blame individual private rescues for sticking to the guidelines that their board members have agreed upon.
 
Running a non-profit rescue is INCREDIBLY time consuming, especially considering that the majority of volunteers have jobs, families and pets of their own to deal with. Many rescues choose to make a blanket policy in an effort to avoid having the tedious process of thoroughly investigating every "exception" people want them to make. Trust me; when a rescue is dealing with a litter of puppies with Parvo, foster dogs with behavioral problems, sorting through hundreds of emails and applications and trying to raise enough funds to cover it all, the LAST thing they have time to deal with is a potential adopter complaining because they don't like the rules. [:'(]

Sorry, but I'm going to side with the potential adopters. Tzumommy, when you mentioned the first potential adopter, I thought all the hoops she was having to jump through were definitely unreasonable. Adoption forms, personal interviews, trial weekends, being required to continue the same obedience classes, etc. It's not reasonable to put a person through all of that. [:-]

I understand that you feel responsible for Mason since you rescued him, but at some point you're going to have to just TRUST someone with him. Right now you're trying to have so much control that you might as well keep him. [8|]

Adoption forms, personal interviews, trial weekends, being required to continue the same obedience classes, etc. It's not reasonable to put a person through all of that.

 
The rescue I volunteer with has the exact same requirements, and these are all very common. It's no different than what I'd expect from a responsible breeder. We don't do it because we're "control freaks", we do it to minimize the risk of the dog being rehomed as best we possibly can. If someone isn't comfortable with that, most city pounds and shelters have no or very few requirements. No one is forcing them to adopt from a particular rescue.
 
Didn't you recently return your puppy to the breeder because it wasn't a good match? Don't you think that situation could have been avoided if the breeder had been more thorough in getting to know exactly what you wanted and allowed for a trial period to see if you "click"? I think that's a perfect example of why this type of screening is so important. (sorry if I got you mixed up with someone else! [8|])
 

I think a trial weekend is a good idea for everyone involved (especially first time owners). For starters, it's the only way you'll really get a sense for the dog's needs.... whether it's something you can handle, and whether this dog is a bit too much for you. If you have kids or cats or other dogs, it's a chance to see how they interact (a preliminary view, for what it's worth). And I would imagine it's mostly up to the adopter to decide how the trial went and whether they want to adopt the dog - I mean if things went fairly smoothly all parties would be in agreement.