Why do Rescue Organizations make it so Difficult?

Question

We are owners of a 11 month old English Bulldog and are wanting to get her a playmate. Instead of going back to our breeder or a petstore we decided to try our luck at rescue organizations. I have checked many of these places and they basically want your first born to adopt a puppy/dog that no one else wants. I understand that they want to find a good home, but why so many regulations and stipulations? Most of the online sites say will not adopt out of the area or state.

I am also in Ohio

JR~ You are the reason why so many of us decide against rescues and shelters. Not to be rude but once I adopt the pet it is none of your business what happens after that. I have had pets my entire life and feel that no one needs to interview me or check my home out. This is the reason so many of us do go to breeders and petstores

Answer 1

I just wanted a kitten & went to a rescue place. There was so much info they wanted & has to visit, & I don't mind that too much, but the info they had to have before they would even talk to me! I found a stray for free, who is spade & has base shots & is fine.

Answer 2

The reason so many animals end up at the pound is because people buy a dog on a whim and don't have the time for it,
the energy for it,
the space for it,
the money for it,
they don't understand the breed they are getting and want to turn something like a border collie into a lap dog
their landlord won't allow them to have the pet,
they get sick of the pet and want something new,
they bought a puppy and had no idea how big it would get,
the old pet doesn't like the new one so it gets tossed out,
they can't deal with all the fur and grooming requirements,
the dog is too hyper because they don't bother to exercise it,
it digs up the yard because it is a terrier,
they don't want a spayed/neutered puppy and then it goes and gets pregnant,
etc...

Or some people that get pets hoard them, do tests to them just because, sell them to a research group, fight the pets, etc.

People that work in animal shelters have the animals best interests in mind, and want the animal to go to a GOOD home with a family that understands what it takes to own it.
If you don't want them to come to your home, there are other places to adopt that might not do that.

If anybody thinks that a little over $100 is bad for adopting a dog, guess what....the dog most likely comes microchipped, spayed/neutered, and vaccinated.

Buy from a backyard breeder or puppy store, and you may end up paying thousands because they are a crappy breeder who didn't bother to carefully select the parents to create a litter to help better the breed, or the puppy came from a puppy mill.

Want to understand why they have these rules? Volunteer at a shelter.

Answer 3

I agree. Rescue organizations, breeders and even shelters have become absurd. Too many of them have gone over the top in onerous requirements and, IMO, sheer bullying of prospective owners.

This is why puppy mills and pet stores can still sell animals.

I can understand the sentiment of wanting to place a pet into a good home but no one can predict the future and there is a risk in having animals available for adoption. I think there are plenty of well-meaning people but there are also some slightly crazy ones who bully people because they can. There really is no excuse for that kind of rudeness as it serve no purpose for the pet.

The ones who suffer are the unadoptable pets.

I would never adopt a pet from someone who reserved the right to enter my home at anytime in the future. That is ridiculous.

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People confuse education with nosiness and bullying. You cannot investigate anyone enough or bully anyone enough into treating a pet well unless they know what that entails. I do not see rescue organizations or shelters offering much more than a pamphlet or two to the new owners.

People should spend less time poking into a person's life and more time educating said person into what that individual dog needs. Instead of driving everywhere, they should offer a couple of hours of education and be available for questions should the need arise.

That would be more useful, more pleasant for everyone including the dog. I see breeders with these huge contracts but with zero information (give the new owners a breed book for goodness sakes) beyond a couple of copied pages regarding basic puppy care.

That makes me question the actual intent of such people. Call me cynical but some of these people are just over the top.

Answer 4

To answer your question, let me provide an example. There was a dog who was given up to adoption that was rehomed by a rescue organization. A person at that organization had a bad feeling after the people adopted it and went for an unscheduled visit to the new home. The dog was in the back yard ripped open by another dog and the new owners were doing nothing although they acknowledged it had been there since the day before.
Another rescue dog i know of was adopted out and the owner was trying to 'train' the dog to not bark by using a hot curling iron to 'correct' the dog when it barked (by burning it).
These are examples of why rescues do so much work in trying to make sure the home they choose is a good one. These rescued dogs have often already been through one hell, they don't need to be rehomed into another.

Answer 5

The intent is to "stop the cycle". Rescue groups and shelters usually have 3 missions: to help the current homeless/abused/neglected animals find loving forever homes, educate the public that a pet is a HUGE responsibility and NOT to be taken lightly, and stop the cycle of out of control breeding/adopting and then surrendering.

Keeping pets in the same area makes it easier for rescue groups to check into a person's living situation (i.e. for dogs that need large, fenced yards), to do periodic checks to see if the animal is being cared for (yes - some groups make you sign something that says they can come knock on your door and ask to see your pet), and ensures that if you are a serial adopter-then-surrenderer (or worse, someone who sells animals to science) they can better recognize your patterns and essentially blacklist you from obtaining more animals.

When you have the animal's best interest at heart then no regulations or stipulations an agency or rescue group (that I know of anyways) has is too much. Think about the big picture.

Answer 6

I don't know. I go to the Animal Control place, otherwise known as the dog pound and all they want to know is that I am going to neuter the animal by way of a form the vet has to send back to them or I get a huge fine. The animals there have about 3 days to get a home. It's hell to walk in there knowing that, but I feel they need the chance more than anything. I got the best kitten from there 6 months ago and will go there for a dog when the time comes to replace the one I have.

Answer 7

I think that it is a shelters right to who they adopt to. Transporting a dog is dangerous and requires a lot of money, and they won't get to meet the potential adopter in person.

These rescue places want whats best for the animal. They do not want to see a dog or cat in a worst situation than before, so they make sure that you are financially able, and that you understand what the dogs need. In breeds that are high demand, like English Bulldogs, they have their choice of adopters, so they can afford to be picky.

If you don't like the adoption agency requirements, find another one. Or adopt a dog thats closer to home - there are many good dogs, purebreds and mixed breed,out there, does your next dog have to be an English Bulldog? Also, many local shelters offer a waiting list for certain dogs. Put your name on it, and maybe you will get lucky.

You can also check out your newspaper, and craigslist.

P.S. for the poster who thinks 100.00 is too much for a dog- the spay or neuter alone would cost that in most places, not to mention the food, shots, toys, staff time, etc. Also, if you can't afford 100.00 for a dog, you can't afford a dog. 100 dollars is not a lot of money to middle income folks.

Answer 8

The reason why they have such careful screening is because they don't want to have to find a home for th edog a second time. I am surprised at how you described your experience with the rescue, the rescue I got my dog from was very kind not rude at all. My rescue did not say they could come back to our house at any time. They did have a home check however but it was not tedious at all. This is how we got our dog : went to petfinder.com and saw perfect dog! Filled out application and sent to rescue, had the dog come over for a "meet and greet" where we saw that we "clicked", while we played with the dog, they just followed us around to see that we had a fenced yard. They just scanned the rooms and didn't even enter most of the rooms. Then they left and we decided to adopt her. Then, the next day, the rescue brought her over and we signed and she was ours. That simple. They were perfectly nice friendly people, not rude. Plus, we can email/call any time for advice and knowledge! She came spayed, chipped, current on all shots! I am sorry that the rescue you went to was not so nice but keep looking and I am sure you can adopt one from a kind society! I had filled out a 6 page application! But, it was well worth the hassle!

Answer 9

First, I commend both the people who rescue pets and those who want to adopt them. Both deserve our praise and thanks - and prayers - and contributions.

The reason why most shelters are so picky is 1. Legal liability. 2. Legal liablity. 3. Legal liability.

You already own a dog. What happens if you bring Newbie home and Fido and he don't get along? Newbie gets returned.

You aren't able to financially support a pet at this time. You're a student. You're in a low-paying job. etc. etc. What happens to Newbie if you can't pay your own rent? Newbie gets returned.

You have children under 6. What's going to happen to Newbie when your kids gang up on him and he bites one of them because he was terrified? Newbie gets returned - and put down!

You don't have a fenced yard. So what happens when Newbie is let out to potty and gets hit by a car? Newbie is dead.

You - or a family member - believes that dogs belong outside and refuse to accept that chaining Newbie out in the back yard is the first step to teaching him how to be mean. Newbie becomes mean - gets returned - and gets put down.

These are actual and real situations I've run across when trying to adopt dogs. And believe me, there are billions of reasons for lawsuits these days.

Remember, each time a dog is adopted out and returned for any reason - is a black mark on his record - and makes him all that more difficult to place. And the shelter takes the responsibility for caring and placing the dog in appropriate homes - so they could easily lose their bonding and insurance and their license because of a few incorrect placements.

Now I will definitely agree that there is no excuse for nasty, rude behavior. None. So I will say you should be put off by that.

BUT please understand that people lie about their circumstances. They lie about where Newbie will live, who will take care of him, whether they have a job or not. People will lie. Considering that the shelter's existence is on the line, is it any wonder they are cautious about where they place their charges?

Answer 10

I am a board member of a breed-specific rescue group in Colorado. We receive the majority of our rescues as a result of owners not fully researching or understanding the breed characteristics of their dog and now wanting to give the animal up. Or family situations change, the dog is not a good fit, bad behavioral traits, the list goes on. We also see many dogs who come from puppy mills (Please, please do not support Pet Shops who buy primarily from puppy mills - these mills are notorious for cruelty, overbreeding their females and doing anything for a buck - the stories we hear would break your heart - always buy from a recommended, reputable breeder) and who are sold to people without regard to whether their home situation is the right fit for that dog. Whenever we receive a rescue dog - either through owner surrender, the humane society or we have sometimes purchased puppies and breeder dogs from puppy mills (with the hopes of buying out their stock), we do veterinary medical tests, spay/neuter, microchip, and whatever else is necessary to bring the dog to health and to a place where he/she can be adopted. We foster and rehabilitate dogs that have health and behavioral issues - also to bring them to adoption capability.
My point in explaining the situations we face and the work our rescue group does is to advise how much effort goes into rescuing a single dog - some hard cases need much more work, effort and expense. As a result, we consider it our absolute duty, after contributing so heavily to the welfare and care of these dogs, to find the best possible home for them. We do not want to see this animal in the system again - we are looking to place them in a "forever home" where they will be loved and can happily spend the rest of their lives. As far as regulations and stipulations, you may see many rescue groups watching out for liabilities in the event of a poor placement - lawsuits can destroy a non-profit.
Our organization requires an application and a home study . We personally talk with our adoption applicants to make sure they understand the breed characteristics, often giving preference to folks who know the breed by ownership experience. We want to make sure they have a home environment and lifestyle conducive to the needs of our rescues. With our adoption system, we have placed well over a hundred dogs successfully. We certainly don't ask for your "first born", but the welfare of the rescue dog is first and foremost on our volunteer's minds. In addition, because we are a not-for-profit, we exist by the goodwill and generosity of our donors; we have very few resources we can spend on transportation - most of the transporting of our rescues is done by volunteers on their own dime. Finally, some of our rescues have literally been through the wringer - emotionally and health-wise. To transport them beyond certain geographical boundaries would only increase their stress levels, so we have limits.
Sorry for the length of this email, but I wanted to provide some insight into why rescue groups can be so selective. As rescue volunteers, we care deeply for these animals and are only looking out for the best interests of these dogs - we are definitely not in the business of finding a home for a "puppy/dog that no one else wants." Our philosophy is that the perfect home is just waiting for our wonderful rescues.

Answer 11

They really want to make sure that you, the adopter, want this dog and will always provide it with a good home. The reasoning is if you really want this dog then you wont care how many hoops you have to jump through to get it. Honestly its not that difficult to get approved. Most rescues have very similar applications. Youll fill everything out about your family, basic stuff about your lifestyle like how often youll be home with the dog, where the dog will stay, blah blah blah. They will ask for information on current pets, maybe information about past pets and their whereabouts and if youve ever owned this breed before. They always ask for references and usually the number of your veterinarian. They will then conduct an interview with you over the phone usually, its notthing very formal its more just to get to know you they will ask some more questions maybe ask you to explain something on your application but its very simple. After that they will have someone come and do a house check just to make sure you have the room to keep a dog and will see check your yard. Some rescues require you to have a certain type of fence for their dogs others do not. And pretty much that is the application process in a nut shell. After your home visit you will be approved and can then apply for a dog of your choice. As for the out of state adoptions that is to protect the dog, all rescues will take back a dog no matter how many years its been since you adopted it. If they adopt one out of state its a bit harder for them to keep tabs on because legally they cannot call you and ask you if you have the animal still. It is also harder to transport a dog out of state many rescues are volunteers only and it can be hard to get a group together to transport a dog somewhere several hours away. My suggestion is to go for it, fill out several applications to various rescues its not near as hard as you think.
-EDIT-
Im not really understand why you have such a problem with them interviewing you or doing a house check. Its for the animals protection. The people who are involved with rescue love these animals like their children and they honestly care about their welfare unlike BYB and pet stores who just want to make some dough. Conducting an interview and a home check is the same thing that adoption agencies for children do, do you think it is none of their business what you do with the children once you get them? Do you think just because a 20 yr old girl has grown up with several siblings she should be able to adopt a child? Its the same thing just because you have been raised with pets your entire life doesnt prove you know how to properly care for a pet. Im not trying to be rude but its absolutely ludicrous that you feel this way. I am also in Ohio and I know for a fact that the rescues here arent that difficult to adopt from. I think that if you feel like rescue groups are infringing on your right to privacy before and after the adoption maybe you shouldnt adopt a pet. Because to them by refusing the checks and interviews it is a huge red flag that you do not care about the welfare of the animal and that you do not understand that pets are NOT disposable. If you honestly wanted to help an animal in need then you would not be so defensive about the adoption process.