Denied adoption?

Question

Has a shelter ever denied you adopting an animal? What was the reason? Did you think it was fair? I don't need a lecture-I am an approved adopter. I just am curious.

Answer 1

I've never been denied and don't personally know anyone who was. But I know some people who are involved with shelters and rescue groups, so I know some reasons why they've denied people's applications.

Gifts: people who want to take a critter as a gift for someone else who hasn't expressed an interest in adopting.

Seasonal motivations: puppies and kittens at Christmas, bunnies at Easter; people who seem to be caught in the mood of the season and lack long term interest and committment.

Prior surrenders: people who've previously surrendered animals for anything but the most pressing reasons.

Financial instability: people who seem to lack the resources to provide proper medical care.

Lack of safety and security: people who plan to keep their pets outside.

Housing: renters whose landlords won't accept pets.

Gut feelings: sometimes you can just tell that someone's an a--hole who shouldn't be trusted with an animal.

I'm sure there are other reasons, too.

Answer 2

My family was once by a stupid shelter. My brother was about 2 and we went and found a puppy we wanted. The people who were working that day couldn't approve or not approve an adoption??????? so they were calling someone and about 4-5 hours later, after we spent all this time with the dog and had pretty much fallen in love they said no because my brother would hurt the dog by trying to pick it up an dropping it???? Yeah, because my parents were stupid enough to leave them alone for any amount of time. Someone we didn't know who was there started complaining really loudly that they obviously were not really interesting in finding homes for the animals.
I guess there are people who would be like that but really, how can you say no without knowing anything about the potential adopting family.

Answer 3

I am a vet tech at a shelter and I can tell you we reject a LOT of people!!!!! Sometimes it is just how the kids interact with the animals. Sometimes it is the fact that people walk in, spend 5 min,point to a cat and say "I'll take that one"...having NEVER even touched it. Something seems "off" about that.
Then there are the people that ask if we can lower the adoption fee,if we have any pets "on sale", if we will let them wash the windows instead of paying.
People who said they "got rid" or the last pet,they let it breed,they never had it fixed and it "ran away". People who don't have a vet reference, yet have had "tons of pets before".
The list is endless on why people are refused adoption. We put a lot of work into the animals and most come from crappy situations to start with. It is the goal to prevent them from ending up in another bad situation where people either can't or won't provide them with everything they need.
People never take it well either!!!! Sometimes they get down right NASTY, but it is not a RIGHT to adopt!!!!!

Answer 4

i have and the excuse was just soooo stupid. I was told that because I didn't have my home paid off I couldnt have a dog. I have been approved before for animals from the shelter and am a very responsible pet owner. So, went to another shelter and was acceped the very next day for a dog. So, try going to a different shelter maybe in a different town nearby. Good luck, I know it's frustrating.

Answer 5

From my experience as an adoption counselor Mick has given you all the best reasons why adoptions are denied. Though I was authorized to refuse adoption I always referred the situation to the adoption supervisor if it didn't feel right to me.

You would be amazed at the people who have lost cats to cars who still will not consider keeping their cats indoors. People who have had cats in their lives and have no veterinarian to list as a reference. And of course those people who think they can "sneak" a cat past the landlord who doesn't allow pets.

Answer 6

You will be denied an adoption if you have another pet that is not spayed or neutered. The non profit company works to reduce the number of homeless animals and therefore want pets spayed and neutered. My friend was turned down at operation kindess while trying to adopt a kitten.

Answer 7

I don't know if they deny adoption, but they should to some people, because some people don't deserve a good animal.

It would be nice to have people checked out thoroughly like they do when one adopts human beings, unfortunately, that does not happen.

Best answer I know to give you.

Answer 8

Never happened to me, a friend was denied a dog because he didn't have a fenced in back yard. I think that's reasonable - they would have no way to know if the owner was responsible enough to take the dog out on a leash or not; and it's cruel to keep them on a chain in the yard.

Answer 9

Denied adoption is like, if you look real tough, they know you wont take care of your animal. That's what denied adoption is. Exmple: A goth might not be approved lol.

Answer 10

I have been denied....even though I am a Registered Veterinary Technician in my state. It was because I was pregnant and the shelter has a policy about small children and kittens. Sometimes, I think they can be a bit over-protective.........