Dog "Rescue" center problems....anyone else have these problems trying to save a Dog from Death? I'm so angry!

Question

My History - over 13 years My Hubby & I have rescued 4 English Pointers from Hunters who wanted to kill them because they were 'gun-shy'. All 4 have lived over 11 years. Which is old for dogs. Our oldest we had to put down last year after 2 surgeries. We have one dog left & have been attempting to adopt from 'rescue' centers. They either don't return emails or phone calls or have these idiot rules. We attempted to adopt an 8 month old puppy that was kept in a barn silo for her life. With no phone call or other email, they rejected our applications because "I" smoke. Here the dog has been in a silo for 8 months. We are offering them love, life, a companion, food, warmth, shelter and happiness in a non-abusive home and with no other inquiries said 'no' because I smoke. I could've lied...but I didn't. Our other four dogs lived long happy dog lives. Now this morning, after 2 weeks of phone calls with another rescue center.....

and having the required 'home check' done. I finally called the Rescue Center to find out the status and she pulls the 'home check' file and says..."Oh, your report says you have a beautiful home with a nice quarter acre yard. Perfect. Let me check on the status." Then she comes back and says.."Oh, I'm sorry...the dog's been adopted out." I was so angry. So....I then when on line and found a breeder...which I didn't want to do as we wanted to 'rescue' an abused unwanted dog to give it love and a family. But they gave me no other choice. Someone tell me what's wrong with these people at these Rescue Centers? It's like they really don't want to adopt them out. So.....Sorry....for venting. Thanks for reading this far if you haven't given me a 'nasty' answer for writing so much already.

Answer 1

I sure understand your frustrations! I was trying to find homes for 4 dogs of my breed, that were in the breed rescue..they were adult, about 3 years old..One person was turned down, as he worked 4 hours per day, and the dog would be alone..even though the man worked next door to his home..One family was turned down because they had two teenage children, and 'kids leave the gates open'...Another because she was coming from 600 miles to get the dog, and 'that is just too long for the dog to ride in a car'.... I was pulling my hair out! These people had been on my waiting list for years, and all had owned the breed before..
I decided there was just no way to work with breed rescue, as I assume they prefer to keep the dogs themselves....maybe just to stay important and complain about all the homeless dogs they are suffering to provide for..Go figure...sigh

Answer 2

I have NO clue why some rescue organizations have some of the rules they do. NO clue!

At a local pet store recently, I struck up a conversation with an elderly couple. They said their son was looking to adopt a dog, but the local animal shelter had refused his application.

The reason for the refusal? Because the man lived alone and worked an 8 hour shift outside the home. He wasn't home enough to take care of a dog.

WHAT??? HUNH???

The man wanted to adopt an adult dog. He was out of the house 8-1/2 hours a day for work, living 15 minutes from his job. But the local shelter wouldn't let him adopt a dog because they didn't feel he was home enough.

Give me a break. If the man DIDN'T work, how in the heck could he pay the expenses a dog incurs?

I have no clue why the rescues you are working with are such jerks. I know that, in addition to the specific story above, I have heard numerous other, almost unbelievable, stories about the requirements of some rescues regarding the dogs they place.

I do rescue work myself. I know that we would never refuse an adoption because the applicant smoked! (Well, maybe if the dog had a breathing problem...)

Answer 3

They mean well, but somewhere down the line they get tangled in details they think are important. Almost as bad as dealing with the government! It is really sad that so many potential good homes get snubbed because the rescue group had one bad previous experience with an adopter, so now anyone that does XYZ must be on the 'NO!' list. They need to access situations as a whole & be free to make gut instinct decisions on a case-by-case basis, not adhere to strict rules set by someone higher up, & quit looking so suspiciously at everyone wanting to adopt as a a potential animal toturer - then more animals and people would benefit.

Do you wonder if they ever stopped to think: what kind of quality of life is a pet having living at a rescuer's house, penned up nearly all day for weeks/months/years with 20+ other animals & not getting the individual attention it craves?

Answer 4

I know how you feel. Some years ago I felt my kids were old enough(youngest was 7, oldest 15) for us to get a dog and we had recently moved and bought a house with a huge fenced yard and I only worked 4 hrs a day so we went to the anti-cruelty society to adopt a dog. I found an 11week old golden retriever/Shepherd mix so we asked to take the pup out and we had the pup outside nearly three hours. He loved the kids and vice-versa so I went to fill out the adoption papers and there were lots of questions(3 pages) for instance one of the questions was how much do I expect to spend on a dog. I left it blank b/c the way I figured it was whatever the dog needed he would get, well that wasn't acceptable (even after the explanation). Next was the age of my kids after seeing the age of my youngest the person told me the PUPPY was not good with children(C'mon Golden +Shepherd mix). I told them the puppy had been outside with us for 3 hrs and the pup was fine with the kids. He said it was a mistake and that the pup should not have been let out with us. They did not let us adopt the pup but said we could look at other dogs and we found another we liked and we could not adopt him either, not good with kids. The second dog was a 3 yr old rough Collie he was was put to sleep 2 wks later(I checked). None of the dogs at the shelter according to them were good with kids, We tried the city pound but after 3 wks of looking most dogs there were unsuitable for a family. My home would have been a good home considering the age of my kids , my work hours and the space we have but they did not see it that way I guess in their perspective it was better to put the dog to sleep rather then give it to a responsible home. I gave up on those kinds of places and sought out a breeder b/c it seems to me that they are not doing what is in the best interest of the dogs

Answer 5

I'll be honest. I have NO IDEA whether, should such a hypothetical situation arose, I would choose my dog or a stranger. And it's unlikely that I will know until it happens. Frequently, what we *think* or *say* we will do in a certain situation turns out not to be reality. I know what I should do (save the stranger). I know what I would like to do (save my dog). When the moment comes that I have a split second to decide, then I'll know what I WILL do. Although I strongly suspect that it will depend on the circumstance, because a situation where the two are EQUALLY at risk is incredibly unlikely.

Answer 6

I wish more people were as passionate about rescuing dogs as you are! i think it is very suspicious of these people who want to adopt out a pet to a good a home won't because you smoke. i have a 2 year old corgi mix and I smoke also and it does not seem to bother her. I know it Is a bad habit and all but come on! I absolutely agree with you it is so silly. Oh and I am also a dog trainer, and most of the pet parents know i smoke, and a lot of them smoke also. some one will see what a good home you can give a dog. Please don't give up! Good luck to you!

Answer 7

Many shelters are like that. Some even turn down people who aren't home 24/7. I know of a woman who writes a pet care column,and works out of her home, and she was turned down for this reason.

Some don't really care to adopt out the dogs and would rather euthanize than allow someone to have them.

Posters - The animal rights groups (HSUS inculded) do not WANT us to own dogs! Period! Why is everybody so surprised that they make it difficult to adopt? Shelters/rescues are overrun with animal rights people.

Answer 8

yes my hubby and I have tried to adopt a rescue dog too. Wealso fostered for a long time . Well when I wanted to adopt a foster they told me that ,that would close a spot for the rescue . What ? You think with us fostering that we would be the perfect pair as they know we take good care of the animals. Is nt that stupid? I mean come on so stupid is nt it ? I know now why these shelters have such problems is that they charge a good fair amount to adopt these dogs and then they have all kinds of silly rules no wonder ppl are going to pet shops and breeders to get their dogs and the shelters themselves have no body to blame but themselves . I so totally agree with you . good luck and god bless and happy holidays.

Answer 9

Good grief! It is easier to adopt a baby or child than a dog these days! Smoking? I don't care what others think, I have never caused my dogs to get lung cancer and Pepper is 12 years old!

Sometimes it really does not pay to be honest, and forces people to lie.. Shame on the rescue people who think they are GOD! And I have run into some really wacked out rescue people.

Have you tried the humane society? They don't have all those kinds of requirements as "private rescues" do!

Answer 10

Rescue organizations are private groups who spend considerable resources of their own time and money to save dogs from the kinds of situations you describe. It is completely up to their discretion where to adopt those dogs. I am sorry that you feel that you are getting the run around, and it may well be that the folks you are dealing with are simply not well organized, but keep in mind that these people are just people like yourself who are trying to make a difference. If they have rules about the kinds of homes where they will adopt their dogs, they have that right. I haven't heard of the "no smoking" rule anywhere, myself, but if that's their rule, it's just the way it is... it's not personal.

If you are continually having trouble with the rescues in your area, I'd suggest checking out your local shelters instead. Shelters will not have the same kind of stringent rules that a privately run, privately funded rescue will have.