Im annoyed!!! I have been calling the shelters and rescues in my area and they are just ugh! I have to fill out pre approve forms then wait till i get approved. Then i get to look at the dogs. If i dont get approved i can't even look at the dogs. They want me to come in 2 times to look at the dogs, then some require home visits. Then it just gets better. I have to bring my dogs in for them to see and to make sure the dogs get along. And if nobody has on record their shots are up to date forget it. I only take my dogs to the vet for life threating things and to get fixed! I do the rest myself. So i might as well not bother. This is very flustering for me. I would rather save one but i may have to buy one. Thats just sad. And thats just for dogs their worse for cats. What are the shelters like in your area? The one down in Nashville where my friend got hers you walk in pick them out and leave. I may have to fly down there. But by the time i do that i could have bought a reg purbred with the money.
That's one reason why I just buy a dog as a puppy and raise it up the way I need it to be- no surprises and no hassles with "well-meaning" people that way.
I also dont take my dogs to the vet unless its life threatening, I do everything else myself. No fencend in yard but I do live in the country on a farm. Id rather buy one than go thru all the hassle.
When we were first looking at adopting a dog we ran into the same problem. Some of the adoption fees were several hundred dollars, then you had to fill out an application and they had to approve it, then there were home visits and you had to have the dog spayed/neutered before such and such a date...too much hassle. I understand completely that they want the dogs to go to good homes, but a lot of people don't adopt from shelters because of all the hassle.
Remember that rescue/shelter people are well-meaning, and because of the nature of what they do, they see A WHOLE LOT of dogs messed up or doomed by having gone to bad homes. It is not surprising that they should want, very very strongly, to avoid having their adoptees go to another home that will work out badly in one way or another. Super-picky-retentive my-way-or-the-highway adoption criteria are not necessarily the best solution. But it should not be so hard to understand how it can get to be that way out of only the best intentions, you know? (Whether it's worth finding shelters etc whose policies are more in line with your style of pet ownership depends partly on whether your reason for wanting to adopt is just to save MONEY, or whether you want to save a DOG.) Pat
My shelter is way more relaxed than that. I think the dog adoption fee is $100, covers spay/neuter, shots, etc.
Because the state run facilities are liable for animal abuse if they adopt to someone who doesn't meet strict standards and private rescues are only in it to make sure the animals go to an outstanding home. If your animals aren't up to date on rabies and distemper, then I can honestly say I wouldn't adopt out to you either. Minimum requirements should be met to maintain health BEFORE life threatening emergencies occur. It does seem very excessive to have home visits, multiple on-site visits, etc. That sounds more like private organizations vs humane societies and SPCA's. While it is easy to say "my animal, my care plan" the people whom are adopting out are looking for "perfect homes". Most responsible breeders of animals are looking for the same thing. HOWEVER, some breeders are only in it for the money and will sell anyone a dog or cat and never give that animal another thought. From our experience, our breeder still calls and checks in on all her pups. We love it. Knowing that she stands behind the animal 100% is great. More often than not, breeders who sell to anyone don't usually do their genetic homework and you are chancing what kind of animal you are getting for the long-term. Good luck on finding another friend. You could always try petfinder.com and look under the "classifieds" section for animals available in your area.
