[ShepherdsDog]

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/heav ... tion_.html

Quote:

People who rescue animals can be reluctant to believe anyone deserves the furry creatures. Some rescue groups think potential owners shouldn’t have full-time jobs. Others reject families with children. Some rescuers think apartment dwelling is OK for humans but not for dogs, or object to a cat’s litter box being placed in a basement. Some say no to people who would let a dog run around the fenced backyard “unsupervised,” or allow a cat outside, ever

Quote:

Applicants are sometimes subjected to an interrogation that would befit Michael Vick. After receiving this hostile treatment, several would-be pet owners told me, they got offended and gave up. Others push on, answering pages of questions (“As a dog ages, it often becomes incontinent and arthritic. How do you intend to handle your dog's age-related problems?”), supplying personal and veterinary references, and submitting to home inspections. Even after going through that ordeal, you can be told that you are unworthy for pet ownership, for reasons often left mysterious

Quote:

My friend M., who looked into getting a family dog when her children were 6 and 9, had a similarly vexing experience. After she and her husband decided rescue was the right thing to do, they looked online and found a mutt named Rusty. Rusty’s rescue group was having an adoption day and the family made the long drive to see him. Adopters were told not to mingle with the animals, but that specific dogs would be brought to them. While Rusty was otherwise engaged, M. asked if they could look at some of the other dogs but almost all were declared not suitable for children. As the family waited, the children sat on the ground and started writing in the dirt with sticks. A volunteer came over, alarmed. He reprimanded them, saying that if a dog sees a stick in a person’s hand it will expect that stick to be thrown, and it’s not fair to frustrate a dog

[Gunnair]

The bullshit 3rd degree I got from the SPCA this past summer when I got a puppy was infuriating to the point that I told them they either let me adopt the dog or I'll go online and get a a puppy cheaper. They backed down but I was still pissed.

[Unsound]

When we adopted our dog from a rescue organization it was great. We drove out to the farm where the dog was, sat and had coffee with the family while we petted the dog and all the other dogs we had there. My daughter took him for a walk to see how he was on leash and then we took him home.

Actually, I think they could tell he was meant for us. They had about 9 dogs at the farm, but when we pulled up he was the one that approached, and then jumped into, our jeep without any prompting. Kinda took it as a sign.

The nice part was we got an email about a year after we got him from the family just to say thank you for giving him a home and how happy they were that he was in a good place.

[Guy_Fawkes]

The SPCA in my area is INCREDIBLY ill informed on what is really required to properly take care of an animal or what really is neglect (this is going to be long):

Against my warning my wife fostered a dog which was seized from a puppy mill, it was a chihuahua which she was told on the phone "it may be pregnant." To be fair my wife was a trained vet assistant, so she knows a lot more than the average person. When she picked up the dog she immediately noticed it was going to be due within a month. The person at the SPCA said "How can you be sure?" my wife said "See that moving bulge near her stomach, that's a puppy." She told them they would need to get a ultra sound, and one was set up next week.

The dog was scanned and my wife was told by the vet, "Yup she is pregnant" my wife asked several questions on the status of the dogs and was told that the puppies were large and may have problems with the birth. My wife then went back to the SPCA and asked to have a caesarean for the dog and they refused she then asked for some emergency numbers when the dog gave birth.

3 weeks later the dog went into labor, my wife tried for three hours to contact the number she was given but on one got back to her, she even tried the vet who did the ultra sound but still no answer. One puppy was born under difficulty to the dog. The second was even harder and because the dog had spent so much energy on the first dog, it was still born. By the third puppy the mother had lost all energy and couldnt push anymore and the dog became lodged, so my wife rushed the dog to out vet. The puppy could not be saved.

The SPCA called my wife back two days later and asked how the dog was, after they were told they asked if we still had the still born. They wanted evidence against the puppy mill.

I used to give donations to the local SPCA, that stopped that day.

[Gunnair]

When I getting my puppy, they told me it could not be alone for more than four hours at a time and wanted assurance it would have human company. I explained to them that although I would try, there was no way two working parents would be able to leave work every four hours to look at the puppy and me saying would was just telling them what they wanted to hear.

Dog wasn't seen every four hours and he is a very fruendly well adjusted animal.

SPCA staff are idiots that spend time around animals for a reason - they ain't got good interpersonal skills!

[Guy_Fawkes]

I think they just grab who ever has the free time to volunteer, without any real training they just parrot what ever ignorant handout they are given.

[GRUMPY1]

I'm going through the same thing myself right now.At 54 years old I have always had a dog .They have been my constant companions And all have lived to be 13 to 16 years old Happy and healthy.

I'd like to adopt a dog, But now I'm being told by some 20-year-old kid That I am not appropriate or qualified person to own a dog....

I just laughed in their face and walked out the door....

[ShepherdsDog]

Quote:

my wife fostered a dog which was seized from a puppy mill, it was a chihuahua

You can't use chihuahua and dog in the same sentence.



unless you're contrasting them.

[Gunnair]

GRUMPY1 wrote:

I'm going through the same thing myself right now.At 54 years old I have always had a dog .They have been my constant companions And all have lived to be 13 to 16 years old Happy and healthy.

I'd like to adopt a dog, But now I'm being told by some 20-year-old kid That I am not appropriate or qualified person to own a dog....

I just laughed in their face and walked out the door....

Good. These idiots need to know they are simply driving people to pet stores and online purchases - the very things they don't like because you don't always know where the animals are coming from.

[DrCaleb]

You guys must be having the exact opposite experience to me. I had to put my good friend down a couple weeks ago ( still sad )and went out last weekend looking for a new pup. I just couldn't take coming home and not having some thing happy to see me.

I went to the Edmonton Humane Society, and any dogs or puppies ready for adoption were already gone by noon, and the ones that weren't were having their paper work written up. I thought that was awesome. People care enough to come and get one that needs a good home, rather than going to a mill. And the staff there are awesome! There is always an adoption sheet on the viewing room window, giving specifics on the potential friends demeanour.

I saw on the news that a rescue society was having an adoption event at a local pet shop, so I made my way down there. I saw the cutest puppy that was on the show that day, still one of 3 left waiting for adoption. So I filled out the application (nothing really outrageous on it) and walked out with my new buddy.

Easy like cake.

[Dragon-Dancer]

Edmonton Humane Society seems like a good organization. I know a few people from the kennel club that volunteer there fairly frequently and have good things to say.

[DrCaleb]

Dragon-Dancer wrote:

Edmonton Humane Society seems like a good organization. I know a few people from the kennel club that volunteer there fairly frequently and have good things to say.

I had heard great things about it too. I had never been there, because I knew if I went there I wouldn't leave alone. So I only went there when I did not plan to leave alone.

I have friends who volunteer there every weekend. It's a great setup, kind of like a petting zoo, but all the doors are open and you can go in and get puppy or kitty affection all day long. Nice setups too, waterfalls and hammocks and toys for everyone. My catnip mice were a hit.

[Canadian_Mind]

I have a friend who works there. Way different operation from what the SPCA normally has set up.

[BeaverFever]

Sometimes it does seem like rescue orgs are unnecessarily strict, but talk to people who work at shelters and they tell you about the revolving door where people get pets on a whim and then bring them back to the shelter a few weeks later after learning the hard way that a pet doesn't fit their personality/lifestyle. So I guess some places are erring on the side of caution. Rescue animals can sometimes be even more difficult, because they've often been traumatized and it takes them much longer to adjust to a new home.

Of course it can be taken to extremes, but a pet is always worth it if you have the time and patience. There's no amount of paperwork I wouldn't have filled out for my little rescue buddy.