Do you think these are appropriate questions to ask on a dog adoption form?

Question

I was filling out an adoption application for a dog I was interested in adopting.
The application asks these two questions : How much is your yearly income? and what education do you have (high schoool,college etc)
Do you think these questions are necessary or are they just being nosy?
Your thoughts on these 2 questions on an adoption application for a dog.

I dont mind answering the questions, I just dont really see how the education part is all that relevant in taking care of a dog. For example my grandfather never finished high school,but he takes great care of his dogs. They are well cared for and loved.

I make $165,000 a year and I have a PhD .
Does that make me a better owner ?

For me , I dont think education and possibly income varies directly with common sense and compassion. My friend lives pay check to pay check and just got her GED ,yet she would spend any money she has on her dog , she would rather live in her car with her healthy dogs then give them up and keep her house. My cousin on the other hand is very well off and he has a masters degree, yet I cant picture him forking over $2000 on vet bills for his dog. He thinks its a waste of money to spend that amount on a dog but he does have the funds available. Just because he is able to ,doesnt mean he will. Whats next asking for my IQ?

animal artwork and dobiz
My point exactly

Answer 1

No, I think they are highly inappropriate. I would also question why in the world someone who is selling a dog, not giving you a loan or hiring you for a job, would need to know such things.

They may want to know but why in the world would you give such information out to a perfect stranger? First of all, they have no idea whether the answers you give are accurate so they have no real need to ask the questions. Second, will they then start asking for credit references, bank statements, a letter of recommendation from your employer, your social security number from which they can then run a credit check?

Answer 2

I volunteer with a rescue group, and we do not ask either of those questions. However, we do ask about an applicant's employment, and in some cases will talk with their supervisor. We also ask for both personal and veterinary references. And, there are other questions we ask that some may consider too intrusive. But given the breed we work with, (Akitas) we feel a very deep responsibility to ensure that an adoptive home is both knowledgeable and responsible and capable of managing the dog properly, and that the dog will not be used in a way, such as fighting or trained as an attack dog, that would present a public danger or bring bad publicity to the breed.

There is always a fine line between getting the information you need to make an informed decision about someone's suitability to own the dog, and being too intrusive into a person's personal life. At the same time, if a person is unwilling to be somewhat self-disclosing, that in itself may be a red flag that says Do Not Adopt. I'm sure everyone who works in rescue wishes there was that one, single, easy magic metric that would predict with 100% accuracy whether someone will be a good owner or not. So far, nobody has developed it.

If you think it's an easy matter to decide, I invite you to work with a rescue group for a while. I guarantee you will find the view from the other side of the fence much different.

Answer 3

No, I don't think either question is appropriate anymore than I think asking for an appraisal on your house or asking your sexual preference. Education doesn't translate into common sense or wealth into taking better care of an animal. I was a single working mother for many years, had two dogs, and without exception always managed to find funds for food and care - we all loved the dogs. Many years ago I was turned down by a breeder for a pup because I was divorced. Go to a different shelter, there are a lot of dogs out there needing good homes.

Answer 4

I totally disagree with both questions. I do understand why they are being asked though.
As an volunteer and a former board member of a 501(c)(3) rescue, I saw the danger in those questions. People tend to jump to conclusions as you so accurately put it. Only the wealthy can afford dogs and only those with advanced degrees would make good pet owners. That's just not true.

There are plenty of ways to get similar information - or at least the information we'd need out of an applicant to see if they'd qualify. For instance - How much do you plan to spend per year on food? How much do you plan to spend per year on vet care? How do you plan to handle an emergency if one comes up? I think you have to be smart enough and creative enough to ask differently and to learn to read people.

Any independent organization can ask whatever question they want. It's their prerogative. I know they want to protect their dogs and find the best homes possible for their dogs. But I truly believe you have to look at every family as an independent entity. Stereotyping people is wrong.

Answer 5

I think on the yearly income they just want to make sure you are financially able to care for the dog, but I think asking for you actual income is more info than they need to know. I don't think your schooling has anything to do with a dog adoption. You're not trying to get a job! Anybody can love and care for a dog that has any common sense whether you graduated from high school or have a PhD. I think I would ask them why they need this info.

Answer 6

Yearly income gives the adopter an idea of how easily you can afford food and vet care for the animal, so yes, that's a useful question. Educational level - It could be argued that education gives the human an advantage by virtue of accumulated knowledge, though not necessarily common sense.

A lot of kids on this board ask questions about whether it's normal for a cat to bleed from its eyes and whether it should be taken to a vet. Common sense dictates that bleeding of any kind is highly abnormal, but yet they still ask this. Undoubtedly, these kids do very well in school.

Answer 7

As far as the income question i think it is totally appropriate! A few days after i adopted my pup from the shelter a few weeks ago it became very sick.....It only took 3 weeks after i got the dog to accumulate vet bills over $2000 from meds, fluids, blood work, and emergency clinic bills.....someone with a low income could not afford an unfortunate situation like that. As far as the education question...im not sure...maybe they think if your educated you have a little more sense on how to care for a dog..who knows!

Answer 8

1. Yearly income- This question is asked to determine whether or not someone has the discretionary income (spare money to blow on fun stuff ) to support a dog. If someone is living paycheck to paycheck they may not be able to afford emergency veterinary care (say the dog swallowed a toy... emergency surgery is about $2000... can they afford that?)

2. Education- Completing schooling says things about someone's ability to finish things that they are responsible for.. which can indicate whether or not they will be responsible for a pet. It also indicates whether or not someone is capable of researching and following through if there is a training or veterinary issue that needs to be addressed.

Edit: In response to your addition regarding an income of $165,000 and a Ph.D. ... no.. it indicates you have discretionary income and some problem solving skills. Realize that these questions are merely PART of the puzzle for selecting a good home for a dog. Personally, I go off of gut instinct combined with the answers on the questionnaire... someone's attitude, especially defensive or argumentative, will turn me right off. I make ABSOLUTELY no apologies for turning people down for the dogs I place... my responsibilities are to the DOG and not the person.

Edit x 2: Its all just part of the puzzle... no one answer means anything... its the sum that makes a difference and part of that sum is who the person is as a person...

Answer 9

Well... I can understand them asking your income because someone who barely makes enough to care for themselves can hardly care for a dog but I don't really get the education thing? I don't think having a college education makes you a better pet owner. I'd ask them what the revelence of it is- maybe they are doing some type of survey.. Will they say you can't have a pet if your not educated?

Answer 10

I have a Beagle Lab and let me just say he has one REALLY HUGE appetite!!! And he goes through toys like CrAzY, Vet bills can get expensive, and pups are much like babies in a since...

They need lots of love and plenty of food...
As to the education part, kind of odd, but still it may have something to do with "Where your adopting from"...

IF you adopt just let me say, be prepared.... The cute lil face will really require lots of TLC, That is also said train, train, and train them with love and care....