shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Nov 29, 2012 14:27:48 GMT -5
Like Molly I am involved in rescue. We currently foster for an organization that specializes in old and sick dogs. A lot of the dogs our organization takes in are never going to be adopted, and are basically just getting a soft place to land (foster homes) for the last days/weeks/months of their lives. (Sometimes that extends to years.) I believe that the animal deserves the right home and that the home deserves the right animal, so I don't have issues with people who get their pets through ways other than rescue, as long as they take good care of them once they have them. This is not to say I support puppy mills- I don't. I believe they are gross animal rights violations and should be shut down. But I'm not going to blame the person who walked into a pet store and fell in love. I've walked into shelters and fallen in love at first sight.
For the most part, rescue organizations are trying to balance putting the right pet in the right home and preventing returns. For those whose lease states they can have pets (without deposit), that would certainly qualify you to adopt. It's easiest to say proof of pet deposit, but proof of no pet deposit required generally works too. However, despite how well you have treated your pets, if your lease states no pets, then no, no organization is likely to adopt to you. Why? Because you can't legally provide the pet a home. The pet is in constant danger of being returned to a shelter or released as a stray if the landlord decides to take action.
I will say, there are rescue organizations that I would never adopt from or work with. These are the ones that go over the top, that never bend on their rules. For most organizations, their rules may say "fenced yard", but it's a rule they will break after talking with the potential adopter. We also don't have a fenced yard, but have never met a rescue worker who wasn't at least willing to talk to us about how we intend to exercise our dogs or take them out for potty breaks. And considering how many people I know who live in apartments that have dogs, that is not a hard and fast rule. What they mostly want to know is that the dog will get sufficient exercise and potty breaks, but also be safe while doing so. I think the most important part of adopting out dogs is simply talking to the adopters and making sure it's a good match all around, and not someone falling prey to "OMG CUTE!".
to the person w/ the 10 month old Beagle: It gets better. It will be a while- likely close to another year, but it does get better. We got our Beagle at 6 months old, and she was 18 months old before she really stopped being in the chewing phase. But now at 3.5 years old, she mostly just likes to hold blankets in her mouth. I mean, I can't leave a pen or pencil where she can get it, and silverware or anything that has touched/held food needs to be kept out of her reach, but I'm no longer constantly replacing everything. She was the first dog we crate trained- we had to to keep her safe when we were out of the house (losing a dog after surgery to remove intestinal blockage will make you paranoid about what your dog is eating). She LOVES her crate. I know some people think it's cruel, and it can be if done wrong (our Aussie was crate traumatized by his first owners), but if done right, it becomes a safe haven. Dogs like to den. Junebug's crate is her den. It's where she can go to get away from us or from Larry dog. We don't ever put her in it and close it anymore, but it still lives in our room (with the door removed) and it's her safe place.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Nov 29, 2012 15:17:20 GMT -5
I am currently looking at dogs with a couple of small dog rescues in our area. We have a home visit scheduled for tomorrow, because we have our eye on a Maltese they have. We might be moving to a place without a fence, so we wanted to get the home visit done while we still have a fenced yard. I didn't know that they cared about that, but it seems like some are more picky than others. I'm surprised at how picky they are and how expensive it is to *rescue* an animal!!
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 29, 2012 15:20:02 GMT -5
"I can't remember if I told this story here or not, but my sister was turned down by a rescue group because of the dog food brand that she had fed her previous dog." That is utterly ridiculous
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Nov 29, 2012 15:21:15 GMT -5
Shit, we feed our dog the step-above-generic food (Dad's?). I'll get Pedigree every now and then if it's on sale. Our dog came with the house, though... hopefully no one will take her away because she's been fed sub-standard food all these years.
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CarolinaKat
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Post by CarolinaKat on Nov 29, 2012 15:30:17 GMT -5
There are also adoption agencies thaput in the contract that you don't officially 'own' your dog and they can take it back at any time. Clauses like that turn my stomach. My animals are my family members so I don't want to fall in-love if you come and yank them because a feral cat had kittens under my barn and put me over the 'threshold' for number of pets.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Nov 29, 2012 15:31:10 GMT -5
I have a friend who volunteers with a local rescue that is much more friendly than some of these stories! I would prefer to take one of their dogs, but all they've been getting for months now are a breed that I don't really care for. She's been looking, but no luck. I think potential owners need to 'interview' the rescue organization before looking at (aka getting attached to) any of their dogs, to avoid the crazy ones!
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 29, 2012 15:38:30 GMT -5
I volunteer with a local rescue and also adopted my cat from them. Sometimes I don't think they screen enough. Their main goal is to make the entire city "no-kill" and they almost get a little too gung-ho about adopting animals out so they can meet their goal. I personally would want to adopt from a rescue because there are so many good loving animals out there that need homes. I LOVE Corgis and would like to have one some day (when I get out of an apartment) but I really don't want to go to a breeder to get one. There is a Corgi rescue about 2 hrs from where I live so I probably would try to adopt from them and I am okay with a Corgi mix as well.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Nov 29, 2012 15:41:29 GMT -5
Our dogs eat the Kirkland brand kibble from CostCo. It's ingredient list is just fine, despite not being a "high end" brand. I will admit that only half of our dogs calories come from kibble and the rest come from sweet potatos and chicken, but I would never judge someone based on the brand of dog food they use.
Rocky Mtn: You would, in fact, be surprised as how expensive it is to rescue an animal. Our foster dog has to go to the vet every 3 months for urine tests (he's at high risk of developing bladder stones), has had a double ear infection, and gone in for a major teeth cleaning, including two extractions. We're over $2,500 for him since January in vet bills and he's one of the healthier dogs the rescue has taken in. Even for rescues that don't specialize in older dogs, they often take in dogs that have had significant health problems (which would make them unadoptable in a standard kill shelter time frame) and get them healthy. And even if you're adopting a dog that's been relatively healthy, the rescue is still paying on other dogs. One of the rescues we considered working with is actually very upfront about this kind of thing. They specialize in small dogs, and often get "designer" breeds from puppy mills that have been raided and the like. For the dogs that they know will be in high demand (small, white, fluffy), they specifically mention that their adoption fee is higher to help pay for dogs who might not be in as high demand but have had significant health costs (like a pup we considered adopting who'd been brought to LA from Mexico, then from LA to our area, who needed major surgeries). Vets will often give discounts to rescue groups, but they can't afford to do all the work for free, and it adds up quickly. So yeah, you might want to rescue that dog and think it's silly that is costs $300, but considering that every dog in the rescue's care has probably cost them anywhere from $100-10,000 in vet bills, the rescue is still losing money, and happy about it. And none of that even counts what the foster families spend out of their own pockets.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Nov 29, 2012 15:51:59 GMT -5
What I do like about the smaller, private rescues is that the want to pair the dog with the right owner, not just find a home. Where as the shelters are mostly interested in getting the animal adopted out.. period.
When we were looking for a dog, the local shelter had one we were interested in. When we went down, she would have been really good for us she was a border collie cross, and I wanted a new agility dog. The lady that worked there almost cried, because the dog already had a hold placed and we "would have been a much better home for her".
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Nov 29, 2012 15:54:37 GMT -5
We got our first dog from a pet store. It was weird though because he wasn't purebred (back before specialty mixes were popular) & he was only $20 with all his shots. We never figures out if he was a puppy mill accident or someone had just brought in some puppies for the pet store to sell. He was a great dog though & I miss him Never got one from a pet store since because there are plenty of good & cheaper pets at shelters. Although I will say with my last dog I was really disappointed with the local shelter & employees. We were lied to about the dog's origins (not that it matters, but why lie) & the people working there didn't seem to like animals. When the woman brought us the dog to see she outright said "I don't like this dog, he jumped on me" WTF? A 1 yr old husky that has been locked up in a tiny cage gets excited when someone takes him out & you think something is wrong with him? I was surprised at the costs now too. Some of the dogs in there were priced at $300 or more. Apparently it is based on the dog though because the one we got was only $150, when a nearby, older husky was priced at $300.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 29, 2012 15:55:03 GMT -5
Slightly OT but my aunt called me last weekend to say they have a new dog. She lives out in the middle of nowhere and said that some idiot tied this dog up in the middle of the field . What the hell is wrong with people? Why the hell would anyone leave a dog tied up in the middle of a field to either starve to death or be attacked/eaten by another animal. Anyway, she and her husband happened to see it when they were driving by and rescued it. They went around to the neighbors close to the field and no one claimed it, put up signs, etc. and after a week decided they were keeping her. They took her to the vet and apparently she is in good health.
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CarolinaKat
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Post by CarolinaKat on Nov 29, 2012 15:59:33 GMT -5
Slightly OT but my aunt called me last weekend to say they have a new dog. She lives out in the middle of nowhere and said that some idiot tied this dog up in the middle of the field . What the hell is wrong with people? Why the hell would anyone leave a dog tied up in the middle of a field to either starve to death or be attacked/eaten by another animal. Anyway, she and her husband happened to see it when they were driving by and rescued it. They went around to the neighbors close to the field and no one claimed it, put up signs, etc. and after a week decided they were keeping her. They took her to the vet and apparently she is in good health. The same thing is wrong with them as the people who think it's okay to throw cats out of moving cars in the country. A 5 week old kitten isn't going to make it very long, neither is a pregnant mama that only weighs 4 lbs when she's supposed to weigh 8 ETA Spelling fail
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Nov 29, 2012 16:04:27 GMT -5
Angel: Maybe she was a cat person assigned to work with the dogs that day? That also seems odd to me. Dogs jump on people. Some people just don't seem to "get" it. Our Aussie was surrendered because he had too much energy when they let him out of his crate at the end of the day. Really? A 9 month old herding dog has energy after being crated for 8+ hours? Who'd've thought. At our shelters, they do also have different adoption fees, though usually puppies cost more than adult dogs.
Agile: Adopting from a good rescue wouldn't necessarily change that. The recues that refuse to adopt their dogs to any but the "perfect" homes are the ones everyone else is complaining about. If your goal is to actually rescue dogs, then you adopt to the "good enough" homes. Yes, it could mean that the perfect family are the next people to walk in, but more than likely, that perfect family won't show up for months or years (so far in the future that you will have forgotten the dog they were the perfect family for). No good rescue is ever going to stop a dog from going to a good home just because a better one might turn up.
almost40: How sweet of your Aunt & Uncle, and how nice that the dog is in good health.
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Bluerobin
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Post by Bluerobin on Nov 29, 2012 16:10:24 GMT -5
I got my last two dogs at the SPCA! Best dogs I ever had.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 29, 2012 16:13:16 GMT -5
I think some people don't really understand that having an animal does require at least a little bit of responsibility. I once had a co-worker who adopted a lab and was upset that he needed exercise and it required her to take him for a walks around the neighborhood. She adopted him as a puppy and didn't realize he was going to "require so much maintenance" (her words). Really lady CarolinaKat - that is terrible!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 29, 2012 16:16:03 GMT -5
Sounds like DH, he bought Midnight on impulse. However he does take good care of her. She's just way more than I baragined for. Same iwth my Aussie who showed up underneath my car one day and has never left. We love both dogs but honestly they are not breeds I would have considered getting if any thought had been put into it. It's hard to fit these breeds into our lifestyle. They aren't breeds I am keen to own again even though I love our individual dogs. If we ever get another dog I want another basset hound. All they do is sleep and drool all over your furniture.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 29, 2012 16:24:41 GMT -5
I like both cats and dogs but have only owned cats due to my current lifestyle. I see myself with a dog when I am older and working part-time or retired. I also see myself as one of those people who would probably take the dog with her almost everywhere
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Nov 29, 2012 16:27:59 GMT -5
[quote author=shanendoah board=offtopic thread=28629 post=1389324 time=1354223067Agile: Adopting from a good rescue wouldn't necessarily change that. The recues that refuse to adopt their dogs to any but the "perfect" homes are the ones everyone else is complaining about. If your goal is to actually rescue dogs, then you adopt to the "good enough" homes. Yes, it could mean that the perfect family are the next people to walk in, but more than likely, that perfect family won't show up for months or years (so far in the future that you will have forgotten the dog they were the perfect family for). No good rescue is ever going to stop a dog from going to a good home just because a better one might turn up.]
That is my point. The shelters have to deal in volume, and that is great that they are getting the animals rehomed. The dog we went to look at was very high energy and would be an excellent dog for the right owner. To an inexperienced handler, she would be a handful. SHe was eventually returned to the shelter, and they called me. But that was several weeks after we had adopted our other dog.
But the private rescue are concerned more with find the RIGHT home, which makes them more expensive and more hoops to jump through.
I have no problem with hoops. After all, I do run my dogs in agility.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Nov 29, 2012 16:36:09 GMT -5
Aww- someone noticed.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Nov 29, 2012 18:33:12 GMT -5
Slightly OT but my aunt called me last weekend to say they have a new dog. She lives out in the middle of nowhere and said that some idiot tied this dog up in the middle of the field . What the hell is wrong with people? Why the hell would anyone leave a dog tied up in the middle of a field to either starve to death or be attacked/eaten by another animal. Anyway, she and her husband happened to see it when they were driving by and rescued it. They went around to the neighbors close to the field and no one claimed it, put up signs, etc. and after a week decided they were keeping her. They took her to the vet and apparently she is in good health. One of the nicest dogs I've ever known was found tied up outside the Dollarama. Someone just left her there and for three days, she just cried. Everyone was too afraid to approach her, as she was a brindle pit. One kind soul couldn't take it anymore and took her home. Sophie is a real sweetheart.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Nov 30, 2012 11:53:07 GMT -5
Slightly OT but my aunt called me last weekend to say they have a new dog. She lives out in the middle of nowhere and said that some idiot tied this dog up in the middle of the field . What the hell is wrong with people? Why the hell would anyone leave a dog tied up in the middle of a field to either starve to death or be attacked/eaten by another animal. Anyway, she and her husband happened to see it when they were driving by and rescued it. They went around to the neighbors close to the field and no one claimed it, put up signs, etc. and after a week decided they were keeping her. They took her to the vet and apparently she is in good health. One of the nicest dogs I've ever known was found tied up outside the Dollarama. Someone just left her there and for three days, she just cried. Everyone was too afraid to approach her, as she was a brindle pit. One kind soul couldn't take it anymore and took her home. Sophie is a real sweetheart. so glad you were able to give her a good home
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