Why is it easier to buy a dog then save one?

[ninny]

I would like to say thank you to everyone for keeping it civil.

If you work for a shelter or rescue Thank You for your job is a hard and thankless one.

 

[tailsnfeathers]

Dogs are being put to sleep. I adoped two children, and had trouble getting a dog from the pound!? ? ?

 

[Shanay235]

WALKSWITHDOG
Thank You so much for taking the time to write out the flip side to this story. As a former shelter employee, I've been there, seen it, and couldn't agree with you more.

 

[Namaste Mama]

Quote:
Yes but, the rescues in my area demand you call them first and/or email them to look at animal. I couldn't even look at a pet I wanted because no one would return contact.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I worked for a dog and cat rescue for many years. We adopted out alot of dogs. All were taken to the vets for shots, and any medical needs. I also fostered dogs for the organiztion at one time I had 12 including my own dogs. They were strict in the paperwork and had a vet that would do the spay or neuter at a discount so we did not have to much trouble adopting them out. We did however have followups and they had to sign a paper stating they would return the animal to us if something happened. I had one poor old jack russell who was adopted out 5 times but he kept coming back. He was toothless as he had been kicked by a horse and left to suffer. When he was adopted out he had separation anxiety in all his new homes.When he was at home with us there was no problem. We finally gave up on trying to adopt him out anf kept him as one of our own. When we moved away, years later I tried to adopt an old yorkie through a rescue group. He was 10 years old. I did not qualify. They didnt like the idea that I lived in the country and had livestock. We do have a small farm but we also have a very large fenced in yard that our large dogs use. It is separate from the "livestock". I would have given that dog the love and attention it needed but I was not qualified.

 

[Iceblink]

walkswithdog - thank you for your posting. I agree completely. As a shelter volunteer and a PBR (Pure Breed Rescue) foster mom, I definately want to have complete confidence in the family that my fosters go to.

I have never had a problem adopting from a rescue group, I am happy to have home and follow up visits, and knowing what caring for and vetting all the homeless dogs costs, I have never found an adoption fee unreasonable. Just try pricing a spay, microchip and full vaccines at a regular vet. It would be upwards of $750 at the vet I worked for. Those adoption fees look like a bargain.

To the origional poster, and other posters who have had trouble adopting, here is something that has worked very well for me: I have made a book (binder) of all my dogs paperwork. Here are some of the things in it;

All her vaccine records

a letter from the vet explaining her vaccine reactions and which ones she can't have

Her most current license recipt

letters of reccomendation from my vet, past and present dog trainers, landlords, doggie daycares, and my teachers at school (she goes to class with me) [You could also include letters from petsitters, groomers, ect]

I also have her CGC certificate and 'diplomas' from classes we have taken

I have made up a 'lost dog' poster ( with a clear 'copy-able' picture) just in case she should ever get lost

her microchip certificate

copies of her bloodwork and titers

adoption certificate

instructions about her daily routine, food, training cues, ect. in case something should happen to me and someone had to care for her

and some fun stuff like a couple pages of pictures of her doing her favorite things, doggie daycare report cards, her nose and paw prints, ect

Like walkswithdog said, rescue groups can't see into your heart or the dog's future, but by having 'proof' of how good a home your current pets have, it will give them an idea of how you will treat your new animal.

Edited to add: to the people who give their own vaccines, take a look at the 'American Animal Hospital Association' website. They have a list of all vaccines given to dogs which ones are recomended for specific dogs, and which types are better than others. Some 'cheaper/older' vaccines are now known to have pretty awful side effects. Vets usually stock the new safer versions, but you can still buy unsafe ones from feed stores and catalogues. Also make sure they aren't expired, and have been kept constantly chilled. With vaccine reactions and auto-immune disorders on the rise, its only smart to tailor a vaccine schedule to your dogs specific needs.

 

[ninny]

Quote:
Wow 750 dollars! I can get my dogs chippped fixed and up to date on everything for less then 200. Where do you live?
Thats why i have such a hard time paying the fees in my area. They usually want around 500 for the dogs. It doesn't have to cost that much to get your vet work done.



The tip about the the shots was a good one thank you.



I am leaning more towards getting a puppy now. We babysat two adult dogs this last week and it was not fun. My dogs did not settle and my older female was not happy at all. I had to take her on some car rides just to get her away from them. She doesn't mind puppies but older dogs upset her to much. I have to respect that.

Im glad we babysat them so i know how that will go now. Some day i would like to get a pound dog. But looks like Maddie as usually as the final say.

 

[Betsy]

Glad that I'm not alone in my frustration with shelters and rescues! I always wanted to adopt a dog. Last year I moved into the apartment we have attached to our garage and decided to adopt a dog. I gave up several months later. The shelters and rescues that had dogs I wanted had crazy adoption regulations. The ones that had decent adoption policies didn't have any dogs I wanted, or were too far away-I have a friend in Tennessee who just opened her own animal rescue who would have been overjoyed to have me adopt one of her dogs. I finally gave up on the area shelters and found a puppy from a breeder via a local ad paper.

I understand that the reason some shelters and adoption agencies have their adoption policies is because they've been betrayed. But in their case, they shouldn't let a few betrayals lead to policies that will turn away many good homes. Just because someone doesn't have a fence, doesn't vaccinate according to the standard procedures, only takes their pet to the vet in emergencies and doesn't want to divulge all the information the adoption agency wants doesn't mean they won't give an animal a good home.

When the time comes to get another pet, I will look into adoption again...and just might make that trip to Tennessee

 

[EggCentric]

If adopting from a rescue, the dog should already have been spayed/neutered and have a microchip in place. That's how the rescues around here operate.

I'm talking about the smaller rescues, not the Humane Society or the ASPCA.

 

[asher]

Quote:
I think most do run that way or the adoption fee includes a certificate for them to get fixed free at the local vet.

HOWEVER, I drove the kids by the rescue on my route yesterday and the lady was out with pups. Kicking myself, but fell in love with a pup. Should not have asked to hold it!

Anyway, it was a "designer breed" so they were charging more for adoption b/c they knew they could get it. I totally understand that b/c they have $3k in bills right now that they owe the vet from getting animals taken care of that they find. However, $150 for a designer/mixed breed not including spay or neuter is just not something I'll be doing right now from a rescue or anywhere else. She was precious, but I have no doubt at all that she and her siblings will find homes quickly so I had no qualms about walking away even though I would have loved to take her home!

(I did find out things we can donate and do while I was there to help the rescue and she also let me know some prime spots on my route that are notorious for drop off sites so I'll keep an eye open. So the visit definitely wasn't for naught.)