Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject: Those darn rescues with all their questions & rules, WHY
READ THIS ONLINE AND THOUGHT IT WAS SPOT ON SO SHARING WITH YOU ALL
If you have tried to adopt a dog, you know what I'm talking about. Dog Rescues - so many in-depth, personal questions; just to adopt a dog! For goodness sake - do they really need all of that information?
After all - aren't these homeless dogs? Wouldn't any owner be better than being a dog, lamenting in rescue? Than being homeless??
Nope - as a matter of fact, those questions and in-depth applications have a purpose. The individuals who run these rescues have seen quite a bit of dog stuff in their day. They have seen the circumstances that brought these dogs into rescue in the first place.
There are a few "real" cases where a dog needs the help of a rescue because the owner has died or fallen gravely ill (please see the article "cancer leaves 2 dogs without an owner"), but the majority of dogs in rescues are there because they had owners who did things all wrong.
So, why does the application ask the names and ages of those in the household? Because they need to know if there are kids in the house that might be at risk if an inappropriate dog is placed in the home.
Why does the application ask you where the dog will be at night, or while you are away? Because many of the dogs in rescue are there because a prior owner had to get rid of them after neighbors complained about constant barking.
Why does the dog rescue care about training? Really, if it is your dog, shouldn't training (or not training) be your decision? Nope. Many of the dogs in rescues are there because nobody took the time to train them.
The dogs become unruly, hard to own and guess what? Dumped at a shelter or in a rescue. The dogs become somebody else's problem. Unfortunately, at that point, they are often out of control and require considerable work to even become adoptable.
Why should the rescue know about your prior dog-ownership? Is it really their business? Yep. If you had a couple of dogs that you got rid of after they peed in the house, or because you were having a baby, or god forbid - moving, the rescue needs to know.
You see, rescues would not function if dogs were not re-homed. There would be no need for organizations to exist if all owners kept their dogs, no matter what. If all owners altered their dogs and prevented unwanted litters of puppies. If all owners kept their dogs safely indoors, instead of out in a kennel or yard where they might bark, or even get out of a yard and possibly injure someone or something.
The questions on the application (and if you're lucky enough to get that far, those asked of you in a phone interview) have been designed to weed out the bad owners. Is the system perfect? No. Nothing is perfect. However, the situations that the rescue organizations have encountered through the years has given them a pretty good idea of what to ask in order to find exceptional homes for the dogs.
Why are exceptional homes needed? So these dogs do not end up without an owner again. So the dogs don't end up at a shelter where they might be euthanized. The rescues aren't able to take in every dog that needs a place to go. Too many dogs are in danger at the shelters.
So the next time you are looking to adopt, be prepared to complete a lengthy adoption application and to spend some time chatting on the phone with a volunteer. Don't be offended or annoyed - be thankful that those rescue-minded individuals care enough about the dogs in their care to ask the questions that need to be asked.
Rescue organizations find some phenomenal homes - amazing people are out there. That being said, so many of the dogs in rescue are amazing too. They are worth the time and effort and they deserve the exceptional home. They deserve a home that will keep them until the end of their days.
And a final note - a bad owner is not better than getting a dog "out" of rescue. Getting out of rescue, only to be left in a kennel for 10 hours a day or chained in a yard is not better than sitting in rescue. Those "sitting" dogs will eventually get adopted and the new owner will not be keeping them in a bad situation.
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
Completely agree Nat, I must admit when I first applied to MTR to adopt Suzie I was gob-smacked at all the questions, I even jokes that I could adopt a child easier However when I actually thought about it in depth it all made perfect sense. After all the dogs welfare is at stake and they need to find the best possible home for the dogs.
____________ Jayne, Suzie & Millie
Watched over from the Bridge by
Nikki, Beauty & Katie
Whilst I agree there are some people who are turned down for the most ridiculous reasons. A very good friend of mine lived on a farm, the farm was down a VERY quiet lane, the only people to drive down the lane were her family and the milk tanker. They already had a dog. They had a fenced garden. They said the dog would spend time lose as well as jn the garden as it would be a farm dog along with their other springer, it would go back and forth with the farmer (her dad) and spend most of the day outside, although they never shut their front door so it could go in if it fancied. They didn't want any specific dog....springer or springer type ideally. They were turned down by two rescues because the property spread over a road....instant no....no account for why, other info etc. Another one turned them down because the dog would not get a specific walk each day it would get them yes but not a regular thing - it would go out to do the cows and go off while he mended fences etc (probably more than most people walk).
They gave up. They bought a puppy. The puppy has a wonderful life but it could have been a rescue. How many homes come up with someone a home 24/7? With all of that? I'm surprised they even tried 3 rescues and didn't give up at 2. They didn't even get past the initial info.
So whilst I do agree and many of the rescues on here appear to take each case on it's merits. I just wish more had a slightly more flexible approach to each case rather than rigid rules based on answers to questions.
Rant over
I have been told to F*** off by a "gentleman" who lived in sheltered accomodation because he can only get around with a mobility scooter, the communal area is unfenced, the site is on a main road. He was after a 10 week old collie pup.
I mentioned before the JR who went to live in sheltered accomodation, not on the main road but with just a communal area and a gent who has mobility problems - but the home was ideal because the dog also has mobility problems if he over exercises (he has settled in well, is adored, does lots of "brain" work play).
Last week we rehomed (on lifetime foster) a 8 yr old 3 legged westie to a lady in her 80s who is awaiting a hip replacement - she has the use of a field just down the lane, she has a massive garden, and her old collie had trained her to throw balls. Another perfect match!
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However when I actually thought about it in depth it all made perfect sense. After all the dogs welfare is at stake and they need to find the best possible home for the dogs.
