Janey
17-11-08, 20:05
I truly understand and appreciate rescue groups wanting to screen potential adopters, but I find it unbelievable that with so many homeless dogs they can put people off so much. Several of my friends have abandoned adopting a rescue dog because it was much easier and less intrusive to buy a puppy.
About a year ago we wanted to adopt a dog. One rescue worker interrogated me on the phone for about 45 minutes. She asked what type of food I would feed the dog, and I said " A mix of good commercial food, home cooked and raw". She said "Ha! No! We only feed raw food! Don't you know commercial food is poison! You'd have to sign a contract to say you'd feed raw food only!". She wanted to do a home inspection and when I mentioned we had a lot of weeds in the back yard she said I would have to fix it. It's a lovely, big, fenced backyard with loads of room to play. She also said I couldn't choose which dog we adopted, she would tell us after the home inspection. And it wasn't acceptable to leave the dog for more than 2 hours in the day.
As I said, I can understand them being picky. But a dog in a shelter with no home - surely, if you asked that dog, they would rather a loving home with a big yard, warm bed, good food and walks every day than being in a shelter? I don't think that dog would mind an owner who goes to work, or a messy backyard?
Anyway, I found another rescue group that had me fill in a 3 page application, do a phone interview and then they checked my pet history with vets we've used in the past. I was absolutely fine with that. They helped me pick the most suitable dogs for us, making suggestions. We ended up taking home 2 brothers, I'm home most of the day so they have lots of company and a walk and brush every day. They eat good food, and shock occasionally it's commercial, but mainly raw and home cooked. I think of dogs who have missed out on homes because of some rescue groups and it makes me sad. What's been your experience?
About a year ago we wanted to adopt a dog. One rescue worker interrogated me on the phone for about 45 minutes. She asked what type of food I would feed the dog, and I said " A mix of good commercial food, home cooked and raw". She said "Ha! No! We only feed raw food! Don't you know commercial food is poison! You'd have to sign a contract to say you'd feed raw food only!". She wanted to do a home inspection and when I mentioned we had a lot of weeds in the back yard she said I would have to fix it. It's a lovely, big, fenced backyard with loads of room to play. She also said I couldn't choose which dog we adopted, she would tell us after the home inspection. And it wasn't acceptable to leave the dog for more than 2 hours in the day.
As I said, I can understand them being picky. But a dog in a shelter with no home - surely, if you asked that dog, they would rather a loving home with a big yard, warm bed, good food and walks every day than being in a shelter? I don't think that dog would mind an owner who goes to work, or a messy backyard?
Anyway, I found another rescue group that had me fill in a 3 page application, do a phone interview and then they checked my pet history with vets we've used in the past. I was absolutely fine with that. They helped me pick the most suitable dogs for us, making suggestions. We ended up taking home 2 brothers, I'm home most of the day so they have lots of company and a walk and brush every day. They eat good food, and shock occasionally it's commercial, but mainly raw and home cooked. I think of dogs who have missed out on homes because of some rescue groups and it makes me sad. What's been your experience?