Ugh, animal adoption...

[DuckLady]

I totally understand JJ. Keep up the good work!

 

[SpottedCrow]

I hearya too Judy!

OMG on the nutty video lady...ay chihuahua!

I had a lady come into the petshop that I work at and wanted a guinea pig for her kids.
She had NO IDEA on what one of these needed...
Not just as in a cage, but ANYTHING! When I was going to adopt Grovyle, a special needs Chinese Water Dragon, I went on line and I searched and researched what he might need before I even considered taking him home. I found out that I wouldn't be able to have a big enough set up for him, so I passed on my little buddy.
But I did MONTHS of research first.

We all make mistakes, Judy...at least you were able to keep the roos and the kitties safe before anything happened to them.

I can see an involved form, but some of the questions are ridiculous.

The RESCUERS should have half a brain when evaluating potential adopters though. I filled out 4 pages including all former pets, vet we use etc...
They did vet check and were told that one dog had not been seen in 2 years, was listed as DEAD at 18 years of age, well since I had not continued to bring that dog, but the living one and cat only, I was not a good potential adoptee. I explained the fact the dog was dead, they said if I didnt have it verified dead then I couldnt adopt from them(I know that the dog was dead he wasnt breathing, I dont need to spend $45 to have a vet tell me my dog is dead) I am sorry but when I can go get a PUREBRED puppy(not a older mixed breed) and only have to show up with $$(27 less than the adoption fee) and after talking with breeder and interacting with puppy for little while, get to bring home a puppy. I did have to sign a I will bring back dog if I decide to get rid of it agreement.

P.S. the dead dog still has not been to the vet, so I guess no adoptions for me.

This one just KILLS me, Marlinchaser!​

 

[Rosalind]

I can see wanting to do some checking, but here's where it gets silly:

Local cat rescue: Wanted to adopt a couple of cats. Filled out application explaining why we had a vacancy (two extremely elderly cats had died of being old), provided vet and personal references, declared our home ownership (that is, we didn't have a landlord who would object), explained status of current cats (indoor, neutered, middle-aged), explained views on declawing and that we had had cats as pets for both my and DH's entire lives. Provided adoption fee. Visited both cats twice. Cat lady dropped by my house to ensure that I was not lying about it, in a scheduled and polite manner. Behold, about 10 days later, new cats were chillin' in my office while the older cats got to know them. This was a happy adoption.

Local dog rescue: Wanted to adopt a particular large breed dog from a breed rescue. Filled out application. They lost it. Filled out another application and faxed it instead of emailing it. They lost that one too. Filled out a third application, sent by snail-mail, which they finally received. Mayhap they were under the mistaken impression that you can't make emails with delivery notifications, but I knew perfectly well that they had indeed received the first one and opened it. Then I heard nothing, although previously they had answered emails within a couple days. After about two weeks, I called to ask if they had received the application. Left a voicemail message, since no one answered. No call back. Another week went by, emailed AND left another message. Still no response. Sent another email asking what was going on and to please let me know if I even had the right contact information. Still no response. Sent another email asking them to please let me know the status of my application ASAP, or if they did not approve it for some reason then to please let me know so I could look elsewhere. Nothing, not a word.

So about a month and a half or so after contacting this breed rescue, I gave up and started contacting breeders. Found one that volunteered with the national breed rescue who put me through her own purchasing screening--which included all the same questions, references, etc. as the local breed rescue. She emailed me back and forth a few times before I submitted the application, called me back after receiving my application to discuss it further and make sure I understood the breed requirements and was prepared to deal with a stubborn, barking 150 lb. dog. We made arrangements to meet, and she agreed to sell me a puppy, who is currently a very happy and healthy snoozing puppy tuckered out from playing ball with DH. The breeder commented that she knew the local lady had hoarding tendencies.

A full month after I purchased my puppy from the breeder, 2 1/2 months after contacting the local breed rescue, the local breed rescue lady calls to say that she has decided she can find someone to arrange a home visit. Gee, thanks, but I'm all set for dogs for the moment. And she had the nerve to be annoyed by my assumption that she wasn't going to approve my application and gave up on her--after four emails and two voicemails!

I understand the need for screening, but ferthaluvvagawd...a little civility and professionalism would be good, too!

 

[jjthink]

Marlinchaser's example of the absurd kills me too! And Rosalind, you have good reason to be frustrated. SHAME on those breed rescue folks - they are doing an injustice to the animals when they are so flipping incompetent. Whole brains would be good for adoption agencies to have. It is one wacky world. Don't let me count the ways.

Spotted, your guinea pig lady was wackadoodle. If only she had done a fraction of the research you did about the water dragon. Sigh.....

One group of people that came to see about adopting kittens I was fostering astonished me with their lack of knowledge. She was a dental hygenist at my dentist's office and the rest of her family, I don't know what their life experience was. After wanting to play catch with the kittens (I didn't let them, of course:/) they asked in all innocence if you feed cats by throwing slabs of old meat on the ground for them. I nicely suggested they do some reading and learning before adopting and sent them on their way. I pray they took the advice.
JJ

 

[Cara]

I'm going through this lunacy too at the moment. I want to adopt a cat, and so I had to fill in a two page form asking for my occupation, income, two personal references, vet references, previous animals etc. If this is approved, I have to have a personal interview, and if that is approved a home inspection. Only then will they let us actually meet the cat, and it's in a shelter, not someone's home! I just hope he's worth it.

 

[sweetshoplady]

My GSD, Major, I got from a rescue group. I didn't mind the application process. It was a couple hour drive for me to go up and meet the dog, then go back and pick him up after he was neutered. He has turned out to be the best dog I have ever owned.

The nice part was that I was able to call the people for help/advice on issues specific to an abused animal. And they helped me.

In fact when I went up to meet them and the dog, one of their foster dogs got loose and ran after the son as he left for work in his car. We got in my car to go after him. When we got down the dirt road we found him, he had been hit by a car. We put him in the back seat of my car and drove to the emergency vets. It was about a 45 min drive. I stayed with the girl til her mom and dad could get there. That dog ended up having to be put down. But I do think that them seeing how I reacted to the situation helped these people see that I was a nice animal person. I cant tell you how sad I was for that dog that I barely knew. I got to know some nice people that day.

 

[jjthink]

Cara, Thank you for wanting to adopt. The process you describe does not sound out of line, except for the part about not being allowed to meet the cat. I don't see the harm in meeting the cat earlier in the process. Anyway, if you can endure it, read my long post above and you may come to understand why potential adopters simply should not be given the benefit of the doubt. For every Cara out there, there a a boatload of wackos and the good adoption agencies will make a determined effort to sort out who is who. Think of the examples of hoarders who adopt - when home inspections aren't done......they just collect animals right and left from shelters etc. I have seen homes that are right out of horror movies - rotting stuff all over - filth like you can't believe - yet the people initially presented as model citizens. Try to think of it as an effort to find the Cara's and weed out the wackos. It's inconvenient for the good guys but if we can try to think of it as a way to dig deep enough to flush out the bad guys before they get their hands on some little innocent.....then it's easier to endure. The only lunacy would be to skip these important steps, and sadly, it is often what happens.
There is a feed store near me where anyone can go in and adopt precious little kittens, virtually no questions asked. Gives me nightmares. There is no doubt in my mind that some of those kittens went to a living hell.

sweetshoplady, thank you for trying to help that poor dog. So sad.
JJ

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think many adoption organizations would not let me adopt a cat because I no long vaccinate my cats. I have three indoor cats that never go out, and are never exposed to viruses. I know the argument could be made that they could get out, get into a fight and become ill. But I had a beloved cat die due to a vaccination related cancer, and I don't want to risk the others. My kitties get high quality cat food, are neutered, get toys, love and live happy lives. My Doozy cat made it almost 20 years. But most rescue operations would just see that I don't vaccinate and they wouldn't adopt to me. But almost every cat I've had has just come to me, strays or abandoned kittens.

 

[texaschickmama]

I saw a great thing from a "rescue". They said they would donate the adoption fee to a agility trainer and other appoved type trainer (for dogs). I just thought that was a great idea.

 

[SpottedCrow]

There's a lady on another site that I go to that wants to adopt a Ragdoll kitty...
She's been doing the telephone, fax, email tag too and now she's given up...
It breaks my heart knowing that there's TONS of animals that need loving homes..

I even adopt fish! LOL
I have 2 Zebra Danios, a Bronze Cory and 2 Black Neons. I even adopted a Puffer.