Well, I had a great experience with a rescue and am “friend” with several I did transport for.
I also love one local shelter who will put the time and money into training a dog and helping with other issues before it is put up for adoption (ie it took 5 months of intense training with one hound I knew from transport, for him to be adopted to a very dedicated family).
Personally, I like the rescues because they have assessed the dogs and have them in foster homes. My lab came to us at 7 mo and we were his 4th home!! (original family surrendered him because of allergies, second family was grandparents raising grandchildren and a young lab was too much to handle, then a foster family, then us). It was smooth sailing for us though. He is now 7 yo and I am still in touch with the rescue. They do wonderful work and their dogs do get adopted in great homes.
Another rescue will adopt to a farm (no fenced yard). It all depends on the location and the dog. The principal of that rescue is a horse owner and used to have a horse farm as a dedicated foster.
In other words, it all depends on the rescue/shelter. I sent in my email/application and had my dog within a week. References were called and home visit was done when dog was dropped off for a one week trial. No sweat at all. He owned the place as soon as he walked in!
I would not hesitate to deal with the rescues I do know (and most of their dogs come from US shelters by the way!).
[QUOTE=MistyBlue;6162224]
I’m sure I’ll get singed for this:
Go to a shelter. Dogs at private rescues have already been rescued.
And 90% of the time in my area…they’ve been rescued by crazy pseudo-hoarders who just know that nobody can EVER wuvs those puppies like THEY do. You don’t have a prayer of passing the criteria, background checks, phone taps, blood tests, etc. :winkgrin:
Breed rescues can be just as bad. You’ve probably got a 50/50 chance of them being sane.[/QUOTE]
I understand this perspective, but have to add how I see it. 
As a foster, my favorite day? When one of our foster dogs is adopted… Because that means we can go to an animal control and pull another dog. The adopters of our dogs are helping the dog they take in, by giving it a permanent home. They’re also helping to save the next dogs down the line by freeing up space in the foster home from which their happy new dog just left.
The benefits of going through a rescue organization also can’t be overlooked here. Adopters of our pets have our experience with that animal while it was in our care, as well as the accumulated experience in dealing with dozens, if not hundreds, of other dogs in rescue. We’ve evaluated the dogs, have done some basic obedience training and socialization, we’ve paid for and have overseen (ie aftercare) the vetting of that animal, including having it in our care for the required 2 weeks (required by dept of ag) for any health issues or sickness acquired while in animal control to surface. We are also there if the adopters have questions or training issues later on, and— more often than people realize— to take back the dog if unforeseen circumstances arise.
If someone adopts straight from animal control, they often don’t have a chance to evaluate the dog outside of the facility environment, may not know if the dog is ill or infested with parasites, still has to get the vetting, and if the dog isn’t a good fit, they’re basically on their own for rehoming the dog, or returning it to the facility… At which point the dog is considered an owner surrender and in many places can be euthanized that same day.
I will always advocate supporting animal control facilities… But for many owners, and for some of the dogs there, going through a rescue group is smarter.
There are a zillion rescue groups, adopters just have to find the one that is a right fit for them.
It depends on where you are of course, but small breed puppies don’t seem to be all that common in rescue. I just ran a search in my area, and there are some (mostly in private rescues), but it isn’t going to be as easy as adopting, say, a pit bull mix or a black lab mix.
If you really want to get a rescue, I’d say that it is just going to take some time. How much depends on your area. It is puppy season, but oftentimes small dog puppies don’t end up in rescue - they have small litters and little dogs are in much more demand than bigger ones. I would also watch craigslist, although IMHO it will be more expensive (even if the dog is free, you’ll probably have to vet him or her).
Flip side. At the hair-cutters the other day one of the stylists was poring over a local shelter’s list of available labs and not finding exactly “the right one”. I asked her if she’d tried other local shelters, rescue groups and Petfinder. Her response was similar to many here. Rescues were too picky. Non-goverment shelters charged too much. She didn’t want to have a home inspection, she didn’t want to prove she had a properly fenced yard, she didn’t want to have to provide references. She “just wanted to walk in, pay my money, and get a dog.”
She said this shortly after ranting on about people who abuse, mistreat, and starve their dogs, or use them as bait dogs.
When I pointed out that the people who are trying to place dogs are asking these questions and setting these qualifications are trying to keep these dogs from being abused again her brainless reply was “But I’m not going to do that.” :rolleyes: Like the abusers all said they were planning on starving their dogs. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Knowing I had bred Jack Russells, she said if she HAD to, she’d buy a dog from a breeder. I told her politely that if she came to me and wanted to buy a pup from me we’d have a phone interview before she even came to look at the pups, and she would have to bring pictures of her home and fenced yard if I decided to let her come see the pups. She was flabbergasted. I said there are people who have litters of puppies, and then there are conscientious, ethical breeders. We’ll have more questions for you than you’ll have for us.
[QUOTE=Bacardi1;6162501]
Insist that, for the life of the dog, you have the right to show up on my doorstep any day, any time for unannounced surprise visits? NO!!! Good friggin’ grief. If after your thorough investigations you’re still queasy about me, then simply don’t adopt to me. Period. I’m not going to give you carte blanche to show up on my doorstep whenever you happen to be in the area to check up on what is now MY DOG. And a dog who’s being treated like a KING/QUEEN. [/QUOTE]
Seriously. (And I feel likewise regarding horse “adoptions.” You want the right to show up and inspect whenever you want, you can pay for its upkeep, too.)
I lucked into a Pembroke Corgi at the county shelter on the spur of the moment–I happened to come in to renew Puff’s license on the right day. Paid $100 and got $50 back a few weeks later when my vet sent proof she’d been spayed. However, while I did get a purebred, if I were dead set on a puppy of a particular breed, ie if I decide I DO want a Sussex or Clumber, I’ll just get on a waiting list from a breeder (those breeds both, in the US at least, have limited numbers of puppies and are hard to come by.) If I just want A Dog, I’ll hit the shelter again, where as long as I’ve got valid ID and my money’s good, they aren’t overly worried about it.
I think a rescue thread should be stickied so no one has to repeat their stories, good or bad. :lol:
I’m working with a great rescue now but it took a while to find. Four other dogs fell through, usually because something didn’t seem right to me. It was smooth as silk when I found the right one and now I’m doing some low key fostering for them. I have a fabulous dog and tons of support. A dog I fostered and re-homed 6 months ago is having separation anxiety issues. She is getting tons of support and a no-questions-asked offer to take the dog back.
There is a lot more to (good) rescue than just sending out dogs to their new homes and there can be valid reasons for not answering emails promptly. It might be as simple as a foster/adoption coordinator dropping out and the rescue not updating contact info for that dog. Always, always try to google AND “craiglist/kijii” the dog name and description and the rescue to see where else they are listed. Several of dogs I was interested in turned out to be from breeders or hoarders when I put all the pieces together. Vet the rescue before they vet you!
Vent away but please don’t give up on finding a rescue or shelter that works for you. They are out there and the aggravation will be worth it in the end.
[QUOTE=bits619;6162624]
I understand this perspective, but have to add how I see it.
As a foster, my favorite day? When one of our foster dogs is adopted… Because that means we can go to an animal control and pull another dog. The adopters of our dogs are helping the dog they take in, by giving it a permanent home. They’re also helping to save the next dogs down the line by freeing up space in the foster home from which their happy new dog just left.
The benefits of going through a rescue organization also can’t be overlooked here. Adopters of our pets have our experience with that animal while it was in our care, as well as the accumulated experience in dealing with dozens, if not hundreds, of other dogs in rescue. We’ve evaluated the dogs, have done some basic obedience training and socialization, we’ve paid for and have overseen (ie aftercare) the vetting of that animal, including having it in our care for the required 2 weeks (required by dept of ag) for any health issues or sickness acquired while in animal control to surface. We are also there if the adopters have questions or training issues later on, and— more often than people realize— to take back the dog if unforeseen circumstances arise.
If someone adopts straight from animal control, they often don’t have a chance to evaluate the dog outside of the facility environment, may not know if the dog is ill or infested with parasites, still has to get the vetting, and if the dog isn’t a good fit, they’re basically on their own for rehoming the dog, or returning it to the facility… At which point the dog is considered an owner surrender and in many places can be euthanized that same day.
I will always advocate supporting animal control facilities… But for many owners, and for some of the dogs there, going through a rescue group is smarter.
There are a zillion rescue groups, adopters just have to find the one that is a right fit for them.[/QUOTE]
Many wonderful points in this post. I’ve been super lucky with my adoption experiences in the past: 2 cats, a rat, and one dog. One cat was from Best Friends right after hurricane Katrina in NOLA, and another was from the Houston SPCA. One rat was from the SPCA. I knew I could handle what I was likely to get out of a cat or rat, so I didn’t need the extra back story.
When it was time to get a dog, however, I researched carefully for months and settled on a greyhound rescue. We were able to get a dog that had already been in a home for a year, was cat tolerant, potty trained, and overall just wonderful but had been returned to the group because of a divorce. I had a limited amount of free time, a small apartment, downtown environment, and two cats to consider, so I couldn’t just hope for the best, I needed a little more of a “sure thing,” not that there ever is one. Plus, if we ever found she wasn’t the right dog for us, she always always had a soft spot to land.
I think I’ve gotten spoiled with greyhound rescue, because the community tends to be pretty sane, as a whole, and pretty connected throughout the country. I volunteer with our local group, and they do a wonderful job. Yes, you do have to commit to an in office interview with ALL household members present, a home visit, say you won’t let them off lead (something you can determine on your own eventually, but it’s a good warning for people new to the breed), etc, but we still adopt to a very diverse crowd (old, young, rich, not so rich, kids, no kids, pets, no pets, yard, no yard), and every dog can be returned no hassle if it is not the right fit. Though there are not as many greyhounds needing homes as there are in some other breeds, the vast majority of retired racers move into great homes (and I believe there are something like 20,000 new ones registered with the NGA to race every year). Compare that to the early 90s when many people were just putting them down after they were done racing - the adoption force in that world has come a long way.
Overall, I think it’s great to rescue, but every rescue is not going to be a great match for every person. I love to see more experienced people with more resources (money, time, etc) adopt the more difficult cases from the high-kill shelters. However, I encourage new owners with less experience to seek out rescues with fostering abilities and well-established support systems so that they set themselves up for success.
Each rescue/shelter/animal welfare group is different. Our rescue director posted this blog in regards to rescues and checking up on them for transporting (when you see - URGENT! and a rescue in another state immediately says “I have room!”)
http://www.animalrescueassistance.org/blog/2012/02/25/A-Plea-To-The-Rescue-Community.aspx
And I wrote this blog post a few days ago about checking out potential animal rescues. Of course, all rescues are different (as has been stated time and time again,) but before you even consider looking at any animals a rescue has for adoption, please check them out first:
Great articles, hydro! I’m sending them on to my rescue friends.
Irresponsible rescues have the potential to ruin the reputations of all rescue groups- at least in the perception of the general public.
I have issues with any rescue who puts blanket rules on adoptions and refuses to see the individual situation. For example, summarily turning down anyone without a fenced yard, simply because they don’t have a fenced yard. If the adopter is willing to leash walk the dog several times a day for the rest of its life, then a fence is immaterial. Actually, that is probably a safer situation as no fence is infallible, and too many owners see a fence as an excuse to let the dog out and not supervise. Dogs can dig, dogs can jump. I would much rather see a dog being walked on a leash daily, taken to a dog park to run a few times a week than left unsupervised in a fenced yard most of the time.
I don’t mind a home visit and interview before an adoption, but afterward? Nope. Not to say I might not invite the dog’s former foster over for tea to see how he’s doing, but my house, my dog, my decision.
Other ridiculous policies I’ve seen include not adopting to unmarried couples because they might break up. Yeah, and married people NEVER split up… I was actually turned down one time because where the form asked what I’d do with the dog if I became unable to care for it, I wrote that if my roommate at the time couldn’t keep him, my family would. I was turned down because the ONLY answer they would accept to that question was that the person would call them to take the dog back. What if the adopter dies and the family doesn’t know who the rescue was? Wouldn’t a dog be happier in the home it has always known, or at least with people familiar to it? I also suspect that some serious discrimination played a role in that one; I went with my roommate when we were looking at dogs (so we could get one we both liked) and I think the rescue thought we were a couple.
I also know of one who would turn you down for a dog is someone in the family was allergic to ANY animal, even if they were NOT allergic to dogs. Also one that would turn you down if you planned to hunt, work, or compete the dog in something like agility or flyball, even if it was a working breed that needed that kind of stimulation.
Any blanket policy that blinds the rescue to any other option is a red flag for me and I would NOT consider their organization. Plus, I will admit I would rather go to the county pound because if I find a dog that I would like to adopt, I don’t want to wait days or weeks while the rescue decides. I can see a day or two to check references, but any more than that is too long. If I go to the county shelter, I can bring home the dog right then. The best dogs I’ve ever had came from that type of shelter. No matter where you get a dog-through a shelter, rescue, or breeder, dogs take a level of commitment and skill similar to that of owning a horse, and in order to make that dog work out, you have to commit a lot of time and energy. Anyone not willing to do so should get a cat instead.
I am a Board Member for a rescue in the Atlanta area. I would never have considered had I not wholly agreed with the practices and ethics of this rescue. They have some guidelines for potential adopters, but each potential adopter is screened on a case-by-case and dog-by-dog basis.
The organization works off of a handful of selected and experienced foster homes so at any given time, there are less than five dogs for adoption. They do not “get in over their head” and know to listen to their head as much as their heart.
Because of the size of the organization, each dog in foster is able to get one-on-one attention and training, and when the time comes for the dog to be up for adoption, the ins and outs and every aspect of the dog is available for potential adopters: diet, eating schedule, eating habits, potty habits, potty schedule, gets along/does not get along with other dogs (same sex?) etc. It is their goal to make the animal not only as ready for adoption as possible, but they can also determine whether or not a home is suitable for the dog based on the history in the foster home. (Ex: You wouldn’t adopt out a dog with a high prey drive that chases/harms cats to an owner with indoor cats.)
Something else with checking out rescues…if they do a home visit, don’t hesitate to ask for identification when they come to your home! I provide a business card and my photo ID when we go do a home visit.
[QUOTE=HenryisBlaisin’;6165506]
No matter where you get a dog-through a shelter, rescue, or breeder, dogs take a level of commitment and skill similar to that of owning a horse, and in order to make that dog work out, you have to commit a lot of time and energy. Anyone not willing to do so should get a cat instead.[/QUOTE]
Some good points in your post for people to consider. However, though all dogs require a huge commitment, MANY require a lot more of some resource, whether that’s time or money or whatever. In my case, I knew I wouldn’t have the time or skill to work with a super difficult dog, so I wanted a little more background on the new addition. That seemed like the fairest thing for me and the new dog - if I couldn’t have that, it would have made more sense to wait. Instead, I was able to give a dog a home that otherwise might not have been so lucky.
Now, I certainly could have lucked out with a dog from the shelter. However, I felt much more confident working with an adoption group to find the right dog for our situation. We ended up with a dog that has literally been a 100% perfect fit with our lifestyle.
Some people just need the added resources a smaller adoption group can provide. Our group works with you to get the right dog for your situation on the front end, and then offers support if needed (and no, they don’t do any surprise follow up visits or anything, that would bug me too). If the dog ends up not being a good fit, you can bring it back knowing it will get another great home, and you are not blacklisted or shamed.
I love it when people go spring dogs from high-traffic shelters. However, I really don’t think that’s the smartest option for a lot of people. All dogs certainly require a huge commitment, but some require a lot more work than others.
