Response: You are one day too late. [insert dog name] is going to a rescue group. She is scheduled to be moved next week.
_____________________________________________________________________
I have been a huge advocate for shelter dogs. In fact, my very first dog that I owned was a rescue. He has since passed. I am now surrounded in my home by beautiful spoiled rotten rescues (3 dogs and 2 cats) of one type or another. Many dogs and cats have called my house home for long enough to rehab and go to a new home. Rescuing is in my DNA. I have helped every critter that I could ever since I could imagine. I have promoted the fact that my furry babies are rescues. I have recommended and networked for rescues/shelters. You get the picture...I am BIG on rescuing!
However, my love affair with rescues/shelters is growing cold. I have seen way too many inquiries and responses like the one above. It seems to me that shelters have become a 'shopping' ground for rescues. It's like those people who have consignment sales (yard sales) but the first day is only for certain people and the leftovers are for everyone else...but worse, because these are little lives!
In addition, I have frequently seen people inquiring about adopting an animal only to be told that the animal is being shipped north for adoption. In fact, one of our local "rescues" doesn't even show up as in the area for adoptions on sites like Petfinder. Why? Because they list the northern location where they want to find adopters...not the actual location of the pet! I am so sure that they are thinking of the animal's welfare by subjecting it to a long transport to a strange place. I have actually seen them go as far as to discourage local adoptions by being negative to interested persons by indicating that northern adopters are better than local ones. And they base that assumption on what??? Those adopters sending a smiling picture when the dog arrives? Because I doubt there is much contact after that in most cases.
There are those who would say that moving them to rescues is the best for the dog because rescues can screen the potential adopters better. Yeah. They ask lots of questions and make you sign something that says you are telling the truth. Then there is the vet reference. If you never vet your animals, then you make a great first time owner, right? Shall we continue to the clause that REQUIRES if you don't want the dog anymore that you return it to them. Ellen Degeneres got on the wrong side of this clause which made big news. They adopt the dog to you...give you ownership, with strings attached. I have a problem with that. If I own the dog, then I am responsible for his/her welfare. Am I responsible enough to take care of the animal or not? One of the dogs in my pack has lived in three homes in my family...but he is home with my family! All of the other homes cared for him, but he found the right fit in my home.
Perhaps that is why they do home visits. The irony of the home visit to me is that I look at my home (which is usually in some form of disarray between photography, homeschooling, acting, extra school activities, etc.). Then I look at other homes (all beautiful in their decorating and cleaning). I am not saying that it is fact but I do have to admit that I would be somewhat hesitant of a home visit because my low-key lifestyle cannot compare to the more high-key lifestyles of others that I know. However, I also know that the love of a pet cannot be judged by lifestyle. My babies are much more cared for (and spoiled) than many of the animals of others with more outwardly better lifestyles and more financial resources. While this step in the process is done with their heart in the right place (I believe), it may discourage those who would be uncomfortable opening their homes to such scrutiny...not to mention, it limits the area that the rescue can cover...which brings me to the next gripe.
I hear over and over again that, no matter what breed of dog that you want, you can find them in a shelter/rescue. This attitude is heard often to encourage adoption over shopping (buying from a breeder). Unfortunately, this is true and false all at the same time. True: You can find most breeds. Less True: You can find purebreeds (sometimes not always)...There are LOTS of dog breeds and some of them are quite obscure. False: You can adopt them. FINDING an animal does not mean ADOPTING an animal.
Years ago, I was searching Petfinder and found a dog that was exactly what I was looking for. The drive would have been a few hours. I contacted the shelter and talked to them about the dog. I was ready to make the trip. However, they adopted on a first-come, first-served basis. As I was making plans to make a trip, someone else adopted the dog. (Thank goodness I contacted the shelter before leaving!) I have actually never found another dog like that dog within a decent distance. It's a good thing that I moved on and opened myself to something new. (I adopted a beautiful girl that I felt an immediate connection with using Craigslist.) It would be hard to be looking for a certain breed and driving long distances to visit shelter after shelter only to be told that the dog was already gone.
This is where rescues score points. I notice many of them have online adoption forms. I would be inclined to deal with a rescue that offered this option. (This would lessen the investment if I wasn't going to "pass" the initial process anyway.)
Many people complain about the cost of adopting from a rescue. I, too, at one time thought that was expensive. Then I calculated the cost of buying, getting shots and spaying/neutering (a must for me) a pet. By that time, the cost (within reason) wasn't so bad. So, with that hurdle crossed, I started searching to see what I could find. My hubby's dog is very old and declining. He has often told stories of a certain childhood dog and mentioned that he wanted a similar dog someday. So, I went on a search. The breed was apparently quickly snatched up by rescue groups which wasn't a problem. The problem was that the rescue groups required home visits (with a certain radius). That one won't work. The other one outright said that it didn't service anyone outside their immediate area. Ok...Moving on. Wait...That was it. Those were the options.
OR was it?
I could buy from a breeder! I actually know a man who responsibly breeds his animals. I'd never considered this option as seriously before. Breeders are made out to be such bad people for overpopulating the earth with unwanted dogs. But there are some responsible ones out there!! And there are some reasons for using them.
People with allergies have to be careful with what breed they choose.
People who cannot find a specific breed to rescue in their area. Let me stop here for a minute. Some people whine that there are lots of dogs in shelters to rescue and people shouldn't be so picky. I disagree! Picking a dog to fit your specific lifestyle requires the elimination of certain breeds. There are several breeds that do not work with our lifestyle. For instance, we had a certain breed dog one time. She became increasingly agitated as she grew older. We were giving her exercise, discipline, affection, etc. She was still destructive and unhappy. We finally visited a lady (along with our dog) who had worked MANY years in rescue and talked with her about our dog. Her conclusion: The dog would not be happy where we lived. The dog needed to live in the country. We were heartbroken but when the dog went to live in the country, she was happy. We kept in touch and saw her transformation.
Every dog doesn't fit every lifestyle. So, yes, we are picky when we add a new family member...because we want happy forever pets!
Whatever way you bring a pet into your home, my advice is:
Do your homework.
Find a pet that fits your lifestyle.
Search your options.
If you can rescue, do. If you can't, buy responsibly!
And, most of all, LOVE YOUR FUR-BABIES like the precious loving creatures that they are and enjoy your life together!!! We all deserve a love like that! ♥
