Why is it soo hard to adopt a dog from the Humane Society?

Question

I went with my sister today to pick out a dog and it was the worst experience Ive ever had (and she even owns her own house)!
Normally I get my dogs from the county shelter its easy and fast but she wanted to go to a no kill shelter and these people were plain rude!
Especially if you want them to hold the dog 24 hours, its a nightmare! you would think they would want to be nice and accomodating so more people would be more likely to adopt their dogs.

Its almost easier to get a dog from a breeder!

Im just saying that I dont understand why they make it so hard to get a dog into a good home, I can see the adoption application, home inspection, and adoption fee but they seem so annoyed when you ask questions about the dog like your wasting their time.

Answer 1

They make it hard for a reason. They want to make sure you are willing ot put in the effort for this animal. They want to make sure you are the right home. They don't want this animal to ever be re-homed again. I know they seem rude, but they just want what's best for the animals.

Answer 2

I think if everyone on here complaining about the shelters and rescues went and volunteered at a shelter or rescue you would understand better. I am not trying to be flip about it but it is hard to explain unless you have been there.

You have to understand rescue volunteers have to be able to sleep nights. If we didn't do everything possible to find out if the home is good or not and the dog ended up abused - yet AGAIN for many - well that's hard to live with.

I agree in many cases the rules seem overwhelming and often unfair and I personally don't agree with all of them by any means. I have very good firends who I know for a fact are excellent dogs owners and they have been turned by numerous rescues. I think that is a shame and as others have pointed out, it is depriving the dog of a good home. Unfortuantely it will always be a struggle to balance being able to ensure the dog gets a good home to not going overboard and depriving the dog of a home. And there will always be people who shouldn't own dogs trying to adopt and lying on the forms and pretending they will give it a good home (when in fact they plan to sell it, or train it for fighting or plain neglect it or whatever hideous thing they do).

ANd sadly you are right that sometimes it IS easier to get a dog from a breeder which does not help either. Hopefully there are enough shelters and rescues in everyone's area that you will find one you are more in sync with and can work with. There is also petfinder too now which has been a great thing.

So it's a tough thing and a delicate balance but I think everyone should first volunteer before criticizing. Then maybe you can help define a better way :)

Answer 3

There are a lot of mean people in the world, and it sounds like you just had a bad experience. Most shelters, esp. no-kill shelters, are just in a rush to get a dog out of the shelter and into a home so they can open up that space for a new dog. They tend to get annoyed by good people that try to ask questions, because honestly, most of the people at the shelter CAN"T answer your question, and they are too busy doing a million other things. I personally worked with a no-kill shelter for several months recently. This shelter was the same way: rude, uninformed, overworked staff members. At adoption events, I found myself being the only person that would answer questions about individual dogs, dog behavior, etc. because the staff members just did not know the answers to the questions. Additionally, I was the only one willing to take the time to answer them, as I firmly believe that a dog must be MATCHED with an appropriate home. When you just let dogs go home with anyone that walks up, you end up with dogs getting returned to the shelter.
FInally, remember that for the amount of work they do, shelter people don't get paid much...not much more than minimum wage. Most of them don't necessarily like their jobs, but do it because it is the only thing available to them and they aren't happy with other jobs they have the skills/ability to do.

Good luck on adopting a dog, and please, don't go to a breeder while shelter dogs die....thanks!

Answer 4

Soo Humane Society

Answer 5

I'm a volunteer for the CT Humane Society- and like Emily said, most shelters don't take just anyone. I had to be interviewed and was given a strict set of rules for handling shelter dogs. But all in all, it is a rewarding experiance. I'm not sure how "fun" it is- while it is nice to see the dogs, it is absolutely depressing because so many have PTS (put to sleep) marked on their cages. The problem with the high volume shelters like the humane societies accross the United States, is that they don't give a whole lot of time to individual dogs. I remember specifically two puppies that were euthanized for "nipping"- and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Once a dog is on PTS, the dog MUST be euthanized. It is a hard thing to see.

Answer 6

I agree with that. A year and a half ago I adopted my dog from our county shelter. It was one f the worst experiences I have had. We had a written consent from our landlord, a HUGE house and 3 acres. We had the money, and time to devote to the dog, but we kept getting told that because the yard wasn't fenced, we could not have him.
I fought for a week for this dog and spent at least 2 hours a day on the phone talking to the next higher person I could. I couldn't believe that it was so hard to adopt an animal. It seemed like it was easier for them to put him down instead of giving him to us. After a week of fighting we finally got approval. We love our dogs, and never take him out off the lease even though he is trained for it. This dog gets every Saturday dedicated to him by going to the doggy park and river. To think that he was almost put to sleep instead of having this life is just wrong. People wonder why some don't pursue animals in the shelter, and I think this is one major reason why. We have to fight to save a life from the so called "Animal Rescuers".
By the way, in case you were wondering, no, it was no a dangerous breed. He is a lab/border collie mix.
Good for you for adopting! More people should.

Answer 7

If they make it easy then people who adopt on a whim get critters who wind up back in the shelter or under the wheels of a car. I know from experience that more often than not anything one holds for people never gets picked up. A great home now is worth much more than a maybe home tomorrow. It is easier to get a dog from a poor breeder. A reputable breeder is as much "hassle", they want to know their dogs are going to responsible homes. I worked in a shelter for 4 years and reg. have to deal with them while rescuing dogs. Some are helpful and some are a nightmare. When I wanted to adopt my own dog 2 out of the 3 shelters that I deal with wanted me to bring all my dogs to the shelter. They knew me from releasing rescues, they didn't want, to me w/o caring where they went or the dogs they would be around. I went to the director and she agreed I could adopt a dog w/o bringing my 6 other dogs in. I adopted a great field bred choc Lab. He was worth the hassle. If you ever worked in a shelter and had to kill healthy dogs and cats because irresponsible people got them w/o knowing how much work they were, or let them have a litter because they were too lazy to neuter their animal and now it is the animal's fault it got pregnant, or bought a Great Dane and it got too big, or let their kids treat the dog like a toy and now it bites from fear or their kids went to college and now their 7 yr old s/f blond cocker spaniel is too much bother or their older dog needs more care or or or you would know it is not an easy job.

Answer 8

The Humane Society and most no-kill shelters are looking for what they call "forever homes" for the animals they have. Too many people get pets on a whim, realize that it is an actual responsibility, and dump the animal. Pets, especially dogs, have a VERY hard time adjusting to changes, so the fewer changes they have, the better. Because it is a no-kill shelter, they have the luxury of time, and they can be more choosy in who they allow for adoptions. Any kill shelter will be happy to get an animal off their hands, so that they don't have to deal with putting it down.

We have one purebreed dog that we bought from a breeder, and two mutts that we rescued. All three are amazing dogs, but I am convinced that a rescued dog KNOWS that it has been rescued, and will always work to repay you for your kindness.

Answer 9

Because there are so many animals at the shelter, most people there are volunteers and they are worked to death. Mine was the same way - and I can't fault them to some extent. They live off volunteers, and with that, you get some pretty stupid, uneducated, low people skill people.

Just keep thinking - we are saving a life - we are saving a life. Even though yours is a no kill shelter, I learned today that simply means, when the doors are full, they won't take an animal - people desperate to get rid of their animals oftentimes just drop them off on the side of the road - where they get hit by a car - oops - inadvertant killing shelter. Or, they ship animals out to other shelters, which are kill shelters so since they send them there, even though they aren't actually the ones killing them, they are killed.

So head up - it will be over very quickly. Sigh - be patient - smile - they are overworked, often unqualified and many times not even getting paid. When it's all over - you saved a life

Answer 10

I have adopted a dog - and two cats from my local Humane Soceity and they were wonderful, polite and very helpful
They do require that you go through the adoption procedure, which is certainly good for the animals - most have been through enough without going to a bad home.

If you think about, it is necessary and a very good thing that they don't just hand animals out, they could go to some horrible places, so they make sure the adoptive home is good and will take care of the dog or cat.

When I adopted my dog from them, they held her for 6 weeks quarantine and had her spayed before they gave her to me. While I hated waiting, it meant that the dog was well and could not be bred - both things that are for the benefit of the adopter and the dog.

They are good people, most all volunteers who care very deeply for the animals they save.
I work with them here in my county, they invite me to adoption expos with my rescue (I belong to a breed rescue) and are absolutely honest and willing to cooperate to save an animal at any time.

Good people - I'm sorry your experience was negative, but the Humane Society looks out for the dogs and cats, you should be glad to help them, and appreciate their hard work, not be critical because the adoption procedure wasn't fast enough to suit you.

Answer 11

I adopted my dog from the Humane Society.

I paid a $15.00 hold fee so they would hold him for me for 24 hours. It was easy and didn't take very long at all.

The only problem I had was that I was told the $15.00 would be applied towards the adoption fee and it wasn't.

Other than that, the experience was very good and I carried home a wonderful, loving dog.

Maybe your experience was bad because the person you were dealing with was having a bad day. Try to overlook them and try again, possibly at another Humane Society.