Dog rescue organizations often come under harsh criticism for their in depth applications and probing interview questions. Critics wonder how and why these organizations put potential applicants under such intense scrutiny for their adoptive dogs.
After all, isn't any home better than the alternative? So many dogs are in need...why do these groups care so much?
The simple truth is that these everyday rescue heroes see just how these dogs came to need new homes in the first place. The questions on the application and the eye-opening interviews help these groups to avoid getting the dogs in their care into that same "need help" situation again.
If you have been reading these stories for any length of time, you have most assuredly seen the dogs that are covered in mange, or suffering from eye infections, ear infections, mouth infections - or injuries....things that their prior owners did not treat. Instead, they dumped them at the shelter.
Many of the dogs featured in these articles came to an animal shelter in horrible physical condition because they belonged to an owner that chose not to seek a veterinarian's care for the dog. (Remember the German shepherd that was hit by a car and left at a shelter with broken bones?)
When a rescue inquires about veterinary history of prior pets for a potential applicant, they are trying to prevent their adoptive dog from becoming an animal shelter statistic. The rescue wants to know that the adopter is going to take care of the dog's physical needs.
By looking at prior vet care, they can make a pretty accurate guess at future care for a dog. Rescues do not want the dogs that they adopt out to wind up in a shelter with a disease or condition that was left untreated by a careless owner...to wind up in a shelter with that disease because their owner did not want to pay for treatment.
When the application asks where the dog will spend the daytime hours, it is not because the rescue is being nosy - it is because they want to know if the answer is going to be "left unattended in fenced backyard for 10 hrs day while I work", or "outdoor covered kennel 10-12 hrs/day and heated dog house at night".
Why, you may ask, is this a problem? Many of the dogs surrendered at shelters got there after a neighbor complained about a dog barking 10 hours a day in the backyard. Or, an owner stating "dog digs and barks".
Ensuring that a rescue organization's foster dog does not get put into the position to fail and wind up back in a shelter is paramount. Rescues ask these questions out of self-preservation. They do not want the dogs in their care to wind up in a home where problems will pop up again. The dogs in their care were saved by a rescue once...they might not be so lucky the next time.
Many rescues keep their dogs in homes while they are in foster care, rather than kennels. So, when critics state that "any home is better than the alternative", that isn't necessarily true. Rescue organizations have a vested interest in these dogs - they want what is best for them.
Rescues want to see the dogs in foster care get adopted to families that will treat them as part of the family. Tethering a dog in a backyard, or confining a dog to an outdoor kennel all day/night is simply not good enough. It is not better than the alternative (especially if the rescue dog is in a loving foster home until he/she is adopted).
Sentencing a dog to 10+ years in a solitary yard or kennel confinement just to "save" him, is not good enough.
A rescue that has taken on a dog - putting time, love and money into their care - has the right to make the decisions about where the dog will go - what that future adoptive home will be like. They want the dogs to have a successful, long-term adoption.
If you are a potential adopter and you are not inclined to jump through the many hoops that rescue organizations will have you jump through - don't despair. At any given moment, there are literally thousands of dogs sitting at animal shelters across the nation, all waiting for good homes. Take a quick peek at Petfinder.com and you will find most any type of dog that your heart desires.
To better understand the inner workings of a rescue organization, volunteer for one. If you are angered by the number of dogs in shelters, step up and do something about it.
Rescues are always in need of foster homes - there are always more dogs in need of saving than there are homes to foster them, so your odds of being able to help are high.
After you've worked with a rescue for awhile, you will most likely have a greater respect for their stance on screening potential dog adopters. After all, you will now have a vested interest too. Never criticize until you know the full story - you know the old saying...."until you've walked a mile in someone's shoes".....
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Comments
Penny, this is a really good approach to an issue that gets smacked around from both sides. I wonder if some of the problem isn't because rescues (and shelters) do a poor job of explaining why this is so important?
Maybe it wouldn't seem so invasive or "unnecessary" to adopters if they presented it like you just did.
Good article!
Having been a rescuer for many years, my experience has been that those who hate the questions the most are the least "fit" parents! Potential forever home people will sit and diligently answer 2-3 pages of application info. It's also good to donate an extra amount directly to the shelter or rescue organization for their own education/adoption programs!!
MY FAVORITE BREED IS A RESCUE!
Owning a pet is a privilege, not a birth right. Any rescue or shelter asks 101 questions to be sure you & the pet is a perfect pair. They do this to protect the pet & the human.
Great article Penny! So true that putting a dog into a backyard alone or a garage for 10+ years is not "saving" them. Let alone a rescue "saving" a dog only to be put in a crate or garage for days or weeks and sometimes months on end until they are adopted is not sufficient either. I belong to a small rescue group and we make sure before taking on a dog that we've got someone sufficient enough that will spend time with these dogs, indoors,teach them manners, help them become more adoptable! So they do not end up in the system again. One at a time I say! There are alot of groups out there looking for help so anyone please volunteer your home and time. If you can't foster go to your local animal shelter. Those dogs are on borrowed time. They would really appreciate you coming and showing them loves and snuggles:o)
I'm all for extensively checking out the potential adopter. I'm with Maria. Being guardian to a companion animal is a privilege not a right. We've always adopted from a shelter or rescue group. There have been times when our newly adopted furkid wasn't always in the best of health through no fault of their own, so we did what we had to do as any responsible pet parent would do----get him/her to the vet, have the pet checked out and get him/her whatever medical attention (including specialists) that animal needs. After all, they have a right to a happy and healthy life too.
Amen, Sister! Thank you for this story!!!!!!! We rescuers need the good press. We are careful for a reason, and if someone doesn't like our process, they can go elsewhere!
As someone who has both done foster/adoption, and adopted, it's definitely concerning when someone isn't willing to put in the time/effort to go through an adoption process. Maybe you don't like paperwork, maybe you're just a private person, but to a rescue, someone's reluctance to jump through a few hoops makes us wonder - do you have time for a pet, or are you going to put as much time into your animal as you did for the paperwork: that is, little to none? If the paperwork or questions are a big hassle, what will you think of a a sick or bored dog/cat? Finding and paying for pet friendly housing? YOU may know that you're the prefect, loving home, but the application process is the only way a rescue knows that a total stranger is going to be a healthy, happy home for an animal!
I think this is a wonderful article to explain why adoption is such an important issue. There are people who cannot afford the shelter fee but who would be great owners/caretakers. This alone, is a issue as well. I've found shelters doing good work out there, I've also found shelters doing lousy work. It's not a black and white issue...Of course we want owners to do everything they can, but some cannot afford it in this economy. I believe some animals are denied good homes because the shelter fees are too high. Screening is very important ....but I wonder how many are being put to sleep without the sincerity, honour and better understanding of this situation?
THIS NEEDS TO BE THE CASE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!
THESE ANIMALS NEED LOVING,CARING,SAFE FOREVER,FOREVER HOMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TO MANY DAMB PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE PETS TO
THE VETS UNTIL IT IS CLOSE TO TO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAYING, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO, BLAH,BLAH,BLAH!!!!!!!!!!
WHY DO YOU HAVE A PET/ANIMAL OF ANY KIND THEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
IF YOU ARE GETTING A PET, IT IS FOREVER WITH LOT'S
OF UNCONDITANL LOVE,PRAISE, FOOD, WATER, PLAYING,WALKING SO ON,AND TO BE TREATED AS PART OF THE FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR, THEY NEED TO GO TO THE VETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU DON'T DO THIS, THEN DON'T ,DON'T GET A PET DAMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As someone who only adopts through rescue organizations I have to say that it breaks my heart to see the condition some of our beloved dogs have come to us in. One of my brightest, most loving dogs was beaten so much it left a lump on his nose yet he not only doesn't hold a grudge but is a cuddler and openly loving and incredibly intelligent.
These "animals" are living feeling beings that love and deserve to be treated better, mind you, people need to treat each other better so how can we expect a society that treats each other with a lack of respect and disregard to treat animals with love and compassion.
Great article Penny!! Thanks so much for explaining the importance of the adoption process to everyone, it can only help all the loving animals waiting for new homes.
KUDOS PENNY! Wonderful article and I hope many many rescues read this story as well....as a transport coordinator, we try to catch problems even earlier than at the rescue level. Protocol is followed, apps need filled out and requirements need met. I can't tell you how many times I hear "I've been doing rescue for such and such years now, everyone likes me". Well, that isn't a reference and we screen a rescue asking for help moving a dog as closely and critically as we expect them to screen potential adopters. Sadly, many consider this unfair; we consider it watching out for the best interests of the furbabies from the very start of their new life.
Great information. This article alone might weed out some potential poor-adopters.
Thank God for the rescue groups and the care they take when adopting out their dogs! There are too many thoughtless people out there who either don't "understand" or don't care that their dog is being mistreated. Unfortunately, there are too many sources where these thoughtless people can obtain animals, and their animals are the ones who wind up at shelters, or worse living a life of neglect or abuse. And as harsh as it may sound to some....if you can't afford the fee to adopt, you can't afford a dog. Caring properly for a dog will take a good chunk of money each year. I believe all shelters should carefully screen any potential adopter, and send a big THANK YOU to the rescue groups who make sure their animals go to good and caring and well informed people!!
I will happily fill out several pages of an application for a pet. I've done it many times over. Just ask our two rescued dogs (a pit bull and a German Shepherd) and our three rescued cats.
That said, I have read in the past where rescue organizations are so strict they refuse to bend their rules even a little.
This is just one I read about on a blog, but a woman who had a rescued AIredale applied for another dog. She was turned down for lack of a fenced yard, but she lives in an extremely rural area on several acres. She already had an obviously well cared for dog of the same breed, but the rescue refused to make an exception.
A rescue I got my pittie boy through helped me place another pittie I found. They, too, require a fenced yard, but the people were renting and the yard was unfenced. The rest of their application was so awesome they approved the people. Fifteen months later, they are all living happily together, in spite of lack of a fenced yard. Any responsible person who doesn't have a fenced yard will simply take the dog out on a leash, as these people do.
I also heartily agree with the questions being asked. Some things should never have an exception made, like someone who says the dog will be penned/chained all day, etc.
Thank you Penny. As the Director of an organization that provides rescue this rings so true. We dont get much complaints of our adoption process with most people, but from time to time it does happen. I remind them that we are the dogs advocates... and our dogs in our program are safe and getting healthy in a foster home until the right family steps up for the dog. For us...
Its not just about saving a dogs life, its about providing a QUALITY life.
I have rescued from both shelter and rescue group, and love the time, attention, and care that rescue groups offer. So they are excellent organizations to support (and I volunteer at shelters, yet will probably continue to adopt from rescue groups). It's also possible to "foster to adopt" from some of these groups, which is an excellent way to determine how a new companion will "fit" into your household. So this article really rings true to me as well.
That said, I have seen the other side of rescue groups that won't look at individual situations - taking the individual dog and household into consideration. I've both heard and experienced this first hand (old dog in his last probable year of life, and us not having a tall enough fence while it's unlikely he could even make it over... and would he even try when it was primarily or entirely just used for potty breaks as exercise would be on walks?) A dog-experienced responsible friend couldn't find a single rescue or shelter allowing him to adopt because he had young (but dog experienced, well-behaved, responsible) kids. I was lucky and just went to the next place to adopt, but he had to search for a year to find someone to allow him to rescue a dog (I think most people would have looked to purchase well before that!). I digress - I just hate hearing of people being driven to Craigslist and breeders when they are top-notch adopters. All I do hope is that those rescues, and they are a minority of groups, will consider individual cases or work to match a family with a different dog (etc) when they fit most of the bullets but are maybe missing one. Because regardless of what happens, those (good) families are sure to tell their friends, the internet, etc etc about their negative experiences with a rescue that can definitely be influential but in a negative way ("wow, ___ is such a great dog person, and they were denied? how would I ever be able to rescue? I'm just going to go on craigslist and support a backyard breeder" and so on).
I want to emphasize I absolutely support having strong, thorough screening to find good families so that dog never ends up in a shelter or rescue/foster again. It isn't fair and is so rough on a dog. I just hope the minority of rescues out there causing the "ruckus" about rescues in general can improve their methods by looking at individuals more and either making a few exceptions *for good families* on non-critical issues (fences, children *if it's safe/kids are screened*, etc), or playing matchmaker to alternative dogs. This may help reduce people heading to backyard breeders, and help reduce this perception that all rescues are like that when it's only a few.
I agree with jdh's comments above. What rescues have to start realizing is that they won't be able to save many dogs if the people they turn away go out and get another dog anyway. In some cases they are just wasting thier time and the potential adoptors time in the "name" of "doing good" rather than actually doing good. Also since threads like this will be searchable for some time on the web, others wil view it and walk away from the rescue scene. They will "lurk" the boards, read the stories and vote with thier feet. The rescues just won't notice nobody cares until its too late. I think regular people will have the sense to say "screw it, keep your dogs". Some of you may not like that statement, but actions speak louder than words and regular folks are already saying this. It will only get worse for the rescues over time, if they don't change now. Word of mouth has already carried the negative stories to the masses.
These frustrations are real and rescues are doing NOTHING to educate the public about why these contradictory practices are nesassary. Thier lack of action to educate people leaves me with no sympathy for thier causes or frustrations. Attention Rescues!! read the comments on the various pet message boards, the villagers are gathering thier pitchforks. This is the view from the street, the common man, don't turn regular folk against your cause.
I think it's great that rescues are thorough. the only time U am dismayed is when a yard is required. there are people without yards who walk their dogs and give them lots of exercise. There are people with yards and the dog never goes anywhere, just spends his.her life in the yard. That's my only gripe as it is important to make sure that these animals are going to good hoes eith responsible people.
A good rescue should ALWAYS accept one of their adopted dogs back into their rescue at any time, always! The rescue should have a contract stating that and an stating that the adopter could be fined for giving the dog to anyone else, dumping their dogs in shelter, etc. I have turned potential adopters down for many different reasons, wanting a dog to be kept outside, wanting to turn the dog into a hunting dog, etc. The reason for the rejection to adopt a dog from my rescue is because I believe a dog is a family member and should be treated accordingly. If the people did not agree, I would ask them to please go to their local shelter! They always have that option and we rescues should recommend it at times....
I have been involved with shelters, fostering and transporting dogs for some time now. I think a questionaire and an interview is important, but some of the requirements that some rescues have for potential adopters are absurd. I know a lot of people might disagree with my statement, but I believe it's true. I have known people who have been turned down because they don't have a fenced-in yard, or the fence wasn't high enough. I know people who have been turned down because they have children who are younger than 8 yrs. old. I had someone tell me recently that a couple was turned down because they took their current dogs to rabies clinics to get their rabies shots and dhlpp shots (the rabies was every couple of years, and the dhlpp was every year) instead of having it done at their vets. The rescue said that they should have taken their dogs for a yearly checkup and to get their shots at their regular vet. Seriously, how many adults go for a yearly checkup at their doctor? These people's dogs were seen on average every 2 years by their regular vet, but the shots were cheaper to have done (by a vet) at a rabies clinic. Good loving homes are being turned down for absurd reasons.
I've had the pleasure of fostering and choosing a new home for an animal, it was very heart warming to be able to interview and choose the perfect pets out of my fosters for this family. Then the story of the dog Ellen DeGeneres adopted, he didn't get along with her animals so she chose to give it to her hairdresser, I think. After the family had bonded and settled the dog in, the rescue confiscated it and adopted it to another family. Yes, she should have returned it to the rescue under her contract..but the animal was already placed, so instead of upsetting the family who obviously wanted the dog, why couldn't they just leave him there and screen the family on the condition they might have to give him up? I understand both sides, but the outcome didn't make sense to me.
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