Ugh, animal adoption...

[Katy]

Quote:
That is so true!! I was turned down once when I tried to adopt a dog because I don't have a fenced yard. I live on a farm, on a dirt road, off the beaten track. He would have had a good life here, but I guess they think in a cage and probably eventually the gas chamber was a better life for him.

 

[poppycat]

I've seen it go both ways. We've adopted cats from a really good organization, and I wouldn't get another cat anywhere else.

But we were turned down for a dog because we didn't have a fenced in yard. Basically the lady told me that she thought I was too lazy to take the dog out on a leash whenever it needed to go out. So we ended up getting a dog fro ma breeder and guess what? I take her out on a leash. We would have taken good care of that dog too, just like we do all of our other animals.

The flip side of the coin is this: there is a family nearby who adopted a dog with the best of intentions, but some how it ran off after they'd only had it a day or two, and it killed a few cats and hurt another dog. The dog ended up being put down. So maybe a little more due diligence on the part of the shelter would have helped. Who knows?

 

[d.k]

Rizafrata god wannabees, wont let a kid adopt a rat. .ain't like its a KID, its like trainin. . .whats it comin to? OH! SORRY- still muttering away on the keyboard!! Adios

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

wont let a kid adopt a rat. .ain't like its a KID, its like trainin

Haha, I'm not exactly a kid though.​

 

[d.k]

* Thought I heard something about college?? Was that you? Or did I try to respond to too many topics again today??

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

I agree that the ARA people are getting way out of hand. I believe in the ethical treatment of animals. That being said, I think the people that run these rescue and adoption organizations are way too paranoid about animals ending up in testing labs, etc. And as for interviews and vet consults...well for heaven's sake, my dog hasn't been to the vet in two years because I vaccinate her myself and she's *gasp* healthy!! I don't have a fenced yard, either. My dog is trained not to leave my yard and doesn't go out without supervision. I'd be insulted if someone told me that they didn't "trust' me to walk my dog on a leash.

Oh, and just to show you what a poor animal steward I am

I was just asked to adopt a retired K-9 from California. They are paying to have him flown to me, because they want good homes for their retired dogs.

Wow, this is beginning to sound a lot like ranting...best hush up now!

 

[jjthink]

Hi guys, I couldn't read these posts as closely as I would like but gleaned that a fair number of them are lamenting the sometimes exhausting screening process. I agree that in some cases, such as a hoarding situation, this is very serious and must be exposed because the animals need rescue. I also agree that some shelters are just plain dopey with their criteria - such as adopting cats to indoor situations only. I would rather have a cat adopted by a loving family that spays/neuters it and lets it out sometimes than have that same cat homeless, on the streets, hungry and breeding. There are other good examples of wacky criteria in the posts earlier in this thread.

But now I am going to present another side to the screening thing that may shed light on why it can be critical to screen well, and dig deep. I have done a lot of critter rescue over the years and have met more nut cases than you even want to know walk this earth. People who come across as totally normal and nice upon first and even second meeting but who are exposed as violent or crazy or worse when layers of the onion are peeled back. It is a much larger percentage of the population than you may realize. Try to bear with me through these few examples which are merely the tip of the iceberg. The need for scrutiny should hopefully be evident. When I have adopted animals myself I have welcomed and expected close scrutiny - I would worry if there wasn't. I know too many places that give the animals away with few or no questions asked and I shudder to think what happens to these innocent beings. Illegal experimentation for one, torture...The folks engaged in the most horrid activities often come across as the most polished and appear to have all the right answers to basic screening questions.

Despite my careful screening, I have made mistakes in placements. Example: I thought I screened homes well for 2 young roos. The home I chose had the nicest people, the most glorious living accommodations for chickens, etc. I was convinced that after making hundreds of contacts seeking a good home I had finally found the right place for these roos (roos someone had dumped on me and that I couldn't keep because I already had a roo and he was so upset by them). Anyway, I was so convinced I had found a good home - an owner of a local feed store strongly recommended these people - that I skipped a thorough reference check. I had a gazillion things on my plate, and I thought it would be okay that one time. I brought the roos to them and they welcomed my continued initial visits to make sure it was working out (anyone that resists this is lacking in comprehension about all the nuts out there). I thought I had hit the lottery in terms of an adoption. What I didn't know because I hadn't peeled back all the layers of the onion was that the guy had a serious mental problem and would have long spells of unplugging from his responsibilities. He did that soon after the roos arrived and failed to shut the coop for the night (also failed to feed and water). A fox came and murdered all his hens except for 1, and the 2 roos were also okay. It was a bloody massacre, countless hens dead everywhere. The guy didn't even plug into this massacre - he was in another world - didn;t even register. All of this was discovered on one of my follow up visits. Had to take all 3 remaining - and traumatized - birds out of there and find them an alternate home.

Another example: I thought I had found the perfect home for one of my cat rescues. The guy was polite, concerned about the cat's needs, came over and met kitty twice and was wondrous with him. I was so convinced by this guy that I did not peel pack all my usual layers of onion - multiple reference checks etc. Wrong move. When I brought the cat to his place to meet with him and check out the place before turning the cat over, the guy was fallen down drunk on his front lawn and was cursing at me and yelling at me to "throw the cat" in his house. OVER MY DEAD BODY. No way, no how. I took that sweet cat back home with me and continued my search for a loving and STABLE home for him. The guy that had seemed so gentle and sensitive to the cat's needs was gesturing and shouting to/at me all while trying to climb on a tractor and drive it, only to fall off and land in a heap on the ground.

That was the last time I failed to be an absolutely picky detective when it comes to my adoptions. The animals in my care have only me to depend on when it comes to picking their fate. Humans can be camelians.

I could tell dozens upon dozens of stories that would have you think not just twice, but 100 times, before turning over an animal to anyone you don't know very very well. And would have you militant about good screening by others. One of my rescue cats was very pregnant and had kittens shortly after I got her off the streets of Trenton NJ. I did countless interviews before I found acceptable homes. Most of the people seemed okay at first but in truth, most weren't. I thought I had found the nicest lady in the world to adopt 2 of the kittens. She was sweet, visited often, gentle, and then we got to the part where I innocently asked where she would be keeping the cats. To my surprise she honestly answered and with conviction "in the basement in the dark because that's where black cats are supposed to be". I had almost turned over little wondrous joyful loving beings to this crazy person, where they might have been sentenced to the dark for 20 long years. Another lady and her husband came to see the kittens - she was as nice as could be -she and her husband gentle spirits - they were passing my tests - but toward the end of the last visit she began talking to one of my VCR tapes in earnest. She really thought it was one of the kittens (granted, both were black, but....). I had visions of her trying to insert one of the real kittens into her VCR! You just can't make this stuff up. I did not give them a kitten. Another couple looked as clean cut and innocent as they come. Two visits and they were marvelous both times. When it came time to check references the husband got terribly violent and began threatening me day and night via phone and e-mail, demanding that I turn over the kittens. He was an out of control maniac. Of course I did not give him any kittens but you know what? I'm sure a less discriminating person or shelter did.

I never again will adopt any living being out without a thorough reference check, initial home visit and follow up checks. Anyone who is unable to understand the reason this kind of careful approach is necessary has a lot to learn about the grizzly side of this world - remember, the person adopting out the animal doesn't know you from adam so no one should take it personally. Anyone that does get defensive is too insecure (epidemic of that on this planet and it's getting old) and needs to think of all the poor animals out there instead of themselves. My most welcoming adoptive homes also understood the animal would benefit from seeing someone it knew and had trusted and they wanted that joy for their new pet. They were not offended, but rather they were glad that someone else cared. Such homes saw me only for a brief time because it was those very homes where the new pet adapted most quickly. I also always promise to take the animal back if any problems should arise.

If I go on any more this post will be the world's longest so I'll stop here!. Sorry to go on so long. Hope it's a little bit illuminating. I wanted to take the time to write all of this because while there are certainly wonderful people out there - many BYCers for example - there is also a plethora of bad, sick, careless or deranged people walking this earth who no furry or feathered being should ever have to endure.
JJ

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thought I heard something about college??

Yeah, I am in college, but I wouldn't consider myself a kid!

 

[Katy]

I agree they shouldn't just be handed out willy-nilly without any kind of background check. All it would have taken tho was a phone call to my vets and they would have found out my animals get better health care than me and are very well taken care of despite the fact that 2 of my 3 dogs are outside dogs and don't really spend any time at all in the house. They were not even willing to consider me when they found out I didn't have a fenced yard. Sometimes I think they are the same as animal hoarders.....keep them at all costs since they don't trust anyone else to give them a good home.

 

[apbgv]

Well put JJthink.. I know where you are coming form been there done that.