SHELTER DOGS

Not a question, well and to be honest i'm kind of hoping to find a back country shelter with the dog I want so that he's not been overvaccinated or trained at all lol. And maybe just maybe one that doesn't do pediatric s/n since he's going to be a performance dog.

I have had 7 dogs in my life, all from shelters.  We do not do fostering at our shelter, but we do temperament tests, and just generally work with the animals.  If we ever feel any dog would be a threat, we have a dog trainer come in and assess the animal for us, and we listen very carefully to their feed back.  If the animal is not adoptable, it is put to sleep. 
 
We are a very small shelter, only 20 kennels, and we pride ourselves on our reputation and honesty.  We have had many people adopt from us a second or third time because they trust us.  And I am in contact with many other municipal shelters in our state and it is the same thing.  I don't think it's fair to judge all shelters on the bad reputation of a few.  Many shelters and volunteers work their hearts out to find homes for animals, and I hope people understand that good dogs and cats end up there, not potential monsters.

So the question is, would you?

Thanks for starting this thread!

To answer the question, yes and no.  Yes, because my first place to check will always be the breed rescue.  Why?  Because they help match you with the right dog, so you aren't picking based on staring at a dog in a kennel for 5 minutes and then deciding he looks cute.  But at the same time I have to say "no" because the particular breed rescue I went to gets many of their dogs from animal shelters.  They try to have foster situations because this lets them get a better picture of the dog.  I don't have anything against getting a shelter dog, but to be honest it wouldn't be the first place I would look.

My problem with getting a dog from a shelter is that most of the people I know who got shelter dogs got them because they felt sorry for it.  That's a very noble reason, but I don't think it should be the top reason.  You need to find the dog that is right for you.  If you get a dog simply because you walk by and feel sorry for it, it may not work out for your family and the dog is right back in the shelter.

Also, my answer is ambiguous because it really depends on the shelter.  There is a local shelter/rescue group that fostered dogs and cats and has a very strict application process.  If you get an animal from them, you know you're getting the right animal.  There's another rescue group that has so many animals they make no effort to learn the pros and cons of each animal and don't work on any of the behavioral issues.  Then there's the shelter I volunteer at that says one thing and does another [] .  So, it would really depend on how I felt about the shelter.

My father's second cat was adopted from a small, country, high-kill shelter. Very low funding, very bare bones. He is a GREAT cat, and we've never for a moment regretted getting him.

So yes, I am very pro-shelter. As with all ways to get a pet (breeders, shelters, rescues, fosters, etc.) there will be bad apples, and as with all aspects of life it is important to use careful judgment when making a decision as big as whether or not to open your life to an animal.

I've gotten all of my dogs from shelters, two of them from the kind of nightmarish rural shelter we frequently talk about. Not as nightmarish as it could be as it was staffed by people who did for the most part genuinely care, but the size of the place was just overwhelming and the time the dogs spent there was measured in days, not weeks or months.

Would I do it again? Yes, without hesitation, if....

If I remain with a lifestyle where I have no special needs in a dog. I think shelters definately fill a need and are excellent places to adopt from if you already have some dog knowledge (or are willing to tackle a very steep learning curve), do not have young children in the house, do not have physical special needs your self or live with someone who does, do not have definate plans to work the dog (ie, work or sport is not your primary reason for getting the dog but would simply be a nice perk if the dog shows aptitude). These are the reasons I'm glad there are also rescues, so that folks who have particular needs can also adopt and not have to buy if they don't want to.

But for people like me--no kids, some dog experience, no plans for sport or work, the shelter is an ideal place to adopt from and I'm glad they're there.

ORIGINAL: Liesje

[My problem with getting a dog from a shelter is that most of the people I know who got shelter dogs got them because they felt sorry for it.  That's a very noble reason, but I don't think it should be the top reason.  You need to find the dog that is right for you.  If you get a dog simply because you walk by and feel sorry for it, it may not work out for your family and the dog is right back in the shelter.

As was the case with Wally and his frequent returns i'm sure.

So to correct any misunderstandings i may have created... NOT ALL SHELTERS ARE BAD. I did NOT say that. i did NOT blanket the whole country by not reccommending a shelter as a good place to find a pet. As i stated before.. my mom got her dog from a shelter. They wouldnt let her adopt her until they evaluated this dog. It took a day to do that.... is that good or bad? the dog also had a UTI and was covered it tangled hair and fleas. They couldnt find the source of the UTI but i did. while grooming the knots out of her hair i found that she had several knots on her stomach and a thumb sized knot covering her entire private area. that was more the fault of the vet than the shelter i know.

regardless, since this thread has been started then lets discuss ways for JQP to tell if his local shelter is a good one and safe to adopt from.
What would you say makes a good shelter? there is more to it than cleanliness and daily walkings, obviously. temperament testing is good, but what else would you say should be a factor?
I prefer a breed rescue too, as well as foster homes, but not all dogs have a breed and a lot of people dont like purebreds. So while they assess the quality of the shelter, how do they also assess the quality and stability of the dog?
I know how to do that, but lets educate some lurkers and tell them how. whats your method besides the cute sad faces?

What would you say makes a good shelter? there is more to it than cleanliness and daily walkings, obviously. temperament testing is good, but what else would you say should be a factor?

IMO, a "good" shelter would be a "yes" answer to ALL of the following:

• Does the shelter temperament test dogs?
• Does the shelter employ or at the very least seek frequent consultation from a professional behaviorist?
• If you already have a dog or a family, does the shelter require a supervised visit with all other dogs/family members before you are approved?
• Does the shelter require obedience training for dogs that need it?  (For example, at our shelter you have to sign up for one of their classes or provide proof you've signed up at another location before you can adopt certain dogs)
• Does the shelter provide you with papers/records pertaining to the dog's history (when possible) and all health records?
• Does the shelter spay/neuter, vaccinate, and test all animals for diseases and parasites?
• Does the shelter walk the dogs at least daily and provide opportunities for the dogs to interact alongside other dogs and with people?
• Do the kennels and runs look clean and adequately prepared (by prepared I mean every dog should have a full water bowl, toys, and a bed or blanket)
• Does the shelter require an application process and adoption interview before an animal can be adopted?
• Does the shelter have special requirements for certain dogs?  (examples being "6' fence or higher", "no children under 15", "single pet home")
• Is the shelter a "kill" shelter?  (If not, what does the shelter do with animals that cannot safely be placed in a home?)
• Does the shelter provide resources for answering questions about training, vaccinations, basic care, etc? (Resources meaning pamphlets, consultations with the behaviorist, obedience classes, etc)
• Does the shelter disclosed specific information for animals when relevant? (For example, will they tell you if the dog you're looking at was returned already and has bit two volunteers?)
  

do not have definate plans to work the dog (ie, work or sport is not your primary reason for getting the dog but would simply be a nice perk if the dog shows aptitude).

To that point - I'm getting my next dog as a performance dog for agility competition and he will be from a shelter or rescue, so the above point doesn't really hold true unless you don't have the skills to assess a dog for the characteristics you need, which probably isn't the case in someone looking for a very specific type of dog (i.e. they know exactly what drive and body type and personality they need before they step foot in a shelter).

As a long-time shelter volunteer, my last three cats have been rescues.  I recently talked a friend into adopting a hound mix that I personally trained at our shelter.  She has a four YO and, until last week, two cats (one cat was just put down[]), and DH.  Earl has been the PERFECT dog for them.  He adores Rachel (their daughter), gets my friend out for daily walks (she is diabetic so she MUST get exercise) and watches over Mom and child when Dad isn't home.

Yes, there are some shelter dogs who should NOT be adopted out to ANYONE.  The same holds true from rescues AND breeders (BYB AND reponsible). These dogs SHOULD be euthanised to make sure that dogs who are capable of being good citizens  are adopted out.

Dumdog, by your criteria, Earl should NOT have been adopted simply by the virtue that he is a shelter dog. He was picked up as a stray and, through no fault of his own, ended up there.  He was evaluated (by ME), trained (by ME), vaccinated and neutered. I am very careful when recommending a dog (or any other animal) for friends; I want to make sure the adoption is PERFECT so that I don't lose a friend due to a mis-match.

Should all puppies that are born in the shelter be euthanised since they are shelter animals as well?

How do you feel about shelter CATS? Should all cats that arrive at the shelter be euthanised since they are "damaged goods"? How about kittens? 

Making such a blanket statement is damaging to the animals who are great pets-to-be, but who are painted with the same brush as the dog who has bitten three different people and been returned, only to be adopted out again (which should NEVER have happened).  Please rethink your stance.

We had planned on getting a dog through rescue because I was nervous about a shelter dog.  I wanted the luxury of having the dog not be a "mystery."
 
*insert this forum, and some research*
*insert karmic chain of events*
 
We "gambled" and got our dog from a shelter, and I would do it again.  I think that adopting a dog from a shelter is not any different than getting a dog from anywhere else.  If you've done research (into breeds, temperaments, cues) you can do just fine, and EVERYONE should be doing that research.  The shelter we found Jake at did not temperament test, but they came right out and discussed that with us.  Not every shelter has the resources to do that properly and I'd rather they not do one at all than do an improper one.

I think that adopting a dog from a shelter is not any different than getting a dog from anywhere else.

I respectfully disagree.  I volunteer at a shelter and I try my damnest to get to know every dog, but the shelter environment is just so unnatural and stressful for them, even the staff will admit that it's impossible to get a clear picture of the dog's temperament in this environment.   I'm not saying it's better to get a dog that is fostered, but I will say that I firmly believe that getting a foster dog means you will have a much clearer picture of the dog's temperament and behaviors.   This simply isn't possible in a shelter environment.

 The next dog I get will definitely be from a shelter or breed rescue. And no, I am not hesitating a bit to consider getting a dog from a shelter or rescue. I don't need a dog for stockwork, other jobs, or showing or anything so I feel I have no need to have certain lines, I just want a dog that fits into my lifestyle and I want to go to a rescue.
 There's some "taboo" about rescue dogs being risky or problems uncovering themselves after bringing the dog home. A good rescue does temperament testing along with many other things that help them get to know a dog and match them with potential adopters. There are excellent rescues that are good at finding the best matches possible for their dogs and avoid these situations. There are tons more requirements for a good shelter as posted above.
 I'm going to look long and hard for the right dog for me; taking a living creature into your home is a big deal and should not be taken lightly. The breed rescues I have checked out are much more careful with their selection of people to adopt a dog.
 I would need evaluations including how the dog is with other dogs, most importantly to have a meeting with my own dogs, and how the dog would react to people.
 
 
 Other than being afraid of issues arising, and preferring a dog with certain lines, another reason people I know that have avoided shelters is their requirements. One of my friends cringed when I told her what information and requirements rescues need and said she's go to the pound or get a dog from a friend's litter or something. *sigh* Many others I know are afraid of being turned away. Does anyone know people who think that shelter requirements are too strict?
 
 
 

So far, I have got my dogs from breeders. I freely admit that I am picky and somewhat a snob when it comes to my dogs. However, I do think that my next dog will be from an aussie rescue. I have fallen in love with the australian shepherd breed. This is definitely the perfect breed for me and I've spent quite a bit of time lately looking at the aussie rescue sites. There have been a few fosters on there that have just pulled at my heart strings and if I didn't have 2 dogs already I would have called right away. So, when my husky passes I will most likely find an aussie rescue shortly after.
 
I will most likely never adopt directly from a shelter unless a dog pretty much falls in my lap that I can't resist. There are just too many unknowns for my comfort level and it is a life time commitment.
 
I will adopt cats from a shelter though.

So the question is, would you?

 
Yes.