Why is adopting so hard? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Aliadriel · 03-11-2016, 10:41 AM

Hi, I am helping my mother find a companion for her 3 years old, 5 lbs yorkie named Nala. We rescued her from a pet shop in Carolina, Puerto Rico when she was 2 months old. I've been searching in rescue sites, petfinder, adopt a pet, etc. for a perfect companion for her because even though she is very friendly and sociable she is afraid of dogs bigger than. She's even afraid of yorkies that are bigger than 5 lbs. We would like to find a puppy or yound yorkie around her age, that is as small as her, but there are so many restrictions for adopting out od continental US that I am losing hope. Our shelters in Puerto Rico have no yorkies. We don't want to buy because we would like to be able to save a life. I myself have two dogs and one is a rescue and he is my baby boy. We are more than willing to fly to pick up the dog, but it doesn't seem enough. I've given all her information, vet contacts, references,etc.

I don't know what else to do to get this precious girl a friend. Please help!

capt_noonie · 03-11-2016, 12:37 PM

I would suggest that when you fill out these applications you stop using the term "rescued from a pet shop at 2 months". What that tells me is you really believe getting a dog from a pet shop is rescuing, when in reality it is supporting the business of pet shops and in turn puppymills. It doesn't matter if the dog was drastically discounted (unlikely at that young age), bc the owner of the shop probably bought the dog for a very low price (another reason it is from a mill) in order to turn a profit.

And even if you don't use that terminology, if you get to the phone interview stage, the interviewer will know what questions to ask you to see if that is really how you feel (you rescued) or not bc they will ask you about your current dog and where you got her. Of course every rescue organization is different, but frankly I'm tired of hearing people say they rescued from a pet shop. They didn't, they bought. Unless you went in there and stole the dog, if money exchanged hands, you purchased the dog.

Rescues do charge for their dogs, but that is to help pay for vetting that has already been done. Dentals, shots, any other procedures needed. Also the training and socialization done by the foster parent, and that doesn't even cover food, toys, clothes, and leash/harness/collar. I usually send my fosters to their forever homes with loads of stuff for the dog. I never get paid back for that. Pet shop puppies have no vetting unless they are showing signs of distress.

Aliadriel · 03-11-2016, 12:51 PM

Thanks for the advice. I do feel that even though we got her from a pet shop we saved her. She was the first dog in the house, and we didn't even know about puppy mills back then. When we took her for her first vet check up, two days after getting her, we received the alarming news that she had a serious ear infection and was covered in fleas. My mother paid whatever she had to, to get Nala in good health. After that we decided never to buy in a pet shop ever again. I got my westie from the breeder Alborada-Valbonica in Spain, but after getting her I noticed I needed a companion for her because she would get separation anxiety that made her sick. That's when her trainer offered me to adopt a dog she rescued from the street. He is a chinese crested-terrier mix and is the most lovable dog I have ever met. The problem in Puerto Rico is that we are really behind when it comes to pet friendly places and also we don't have many shelters to adop from. Now I am alarmed every time I see people trying to sell puppies or see alot of dogs in the street. With this it has opened our eyes to adopt from now on and not to buy from anyone ever again. Dogs are so smart, and they show their emotions in such a way that I am amazed; but it's their unconditional love towards us the dog parents that leaves me in awe.

Aliadriel · 03-11-2016, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I would suggest that when you fill out these applications you stop using the term "rescued from a pet shop at 2 months". What that tells me is you really believe getting a dog from a pet shop is rescuing, when in reality it is supporting the business of pet shops and in turn puppymills. It doesn't matter if the dog was drastically discounted (unlikely at that young age), bc the owner of the shop probably bought the dog for a very low price (another reason it is from a mill) in order to turn a profit.

And even if you don't use that terminology, if you get to the phone interview stage, the interviewer will know what questions to ask you to see if that is really how you feel (you rescued) or not bc they will ask you about your current dog and where you got her. Of course every rescue organization is different, but frankly I'm tired of hearing people say they rescued from a pet shop. They didn't, they bought. Unless you went in there and stole the dog, if money exchanged hands, you purchased the dog.

Rescues do charge for their dogs, but that is to help pay for vetting that has already been done. Dentals, shots, any other procedures needed. Also the training and socialization done by the foster parent, and that doesn't even cover food, toys, clothes, and leash/harness/collar. I usually send my fosters to their forever homes with loads of stuff for the dog. I never get paid back for that. Pet shop puppies have no vetting unless they are showing signs of distress.

Thank you for the advice. Even though we got Nala in a pet shop I still think we rescued her. As soon as we got her we took her to te vet and she had a serious ear infection. We were alarmed of this and my mother paid what was necessary to get her into good health. We didn't know what puppy mills were or how to detect them then. After that we never searched for a dog in a pet shop again. I got my westie from an international recognized breeder and when I saw she needed a companion due to separation anxiety, cause she would get sick, her trainer offered me a dog she rescued from the streets that is a chinese crested- terrier mix who was a perfect fit for her. That's when we decided to get Nala a companion as well and now being more aware of rescues and adoption, we decided we would never buy another dog again and that we would rather adopt to save a life. I am amazed at how smart dogs are and how greatly they express their emotions; but what amazes me the most is how unconditional their love is for their dop parents. My dogs are my kids with 4 paws and I know Nala is my mother's baby as well. If the volunteers and caretakers of these rescues would give us a chance we could show how well this new family member would be taken care of.

MissPixi · 03-11-2016, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I would suggest that when you fill out these applications you stop using the term "rescued from a pet shop at 2 months". What that tells me is you really believe getting a dog from a pet shop is rescuing, when in reality it is supporting the business of pet shops and in turn puppymills. It doesn't matter if the dog was drastically discounted (unlikely at that young age), bc the owner of the shop probably bought the dog for a very low price (another reason it is from a mill) in order to turn a profit.

And even if you don't use that terminology, if you get to the phone interview stage, the interviewer will know what questions to ask you to see if that is really how you feel (you rescued) or not bc they will ask you about your current dog and where you got her. Of course every rescue organization is different, but frankly I'm tired of hearing people say they rescued from a pet shop. They didn't, they bought. Unless you went in there and stole the dog, if money exchanged hands, you purchased the dog.

Rescues do charge for their dogs, but that is to help pay for vetting that has already been done. Dentals, shots, any other procedures needed. Also the training and socialization done by the foster parent, and that doesn't even cover food, toys, clothes, and leash/harness/collar. I usually send my fosters to their forever homes with loads of stuff for the dog. I never get paid back for that. Pet shop puppies have no vetting unless they are showing signs of distress.

Aliadriel · 03-11-2016, 01:05 PM

Thank you for the advice. Even though we got Nala in a pet shop I still think we rescued her. As soon as we got her we took her to te vet and she had a serious ear infection. We were alarmed of this and my mother paid what was necessary to get her into good health. We didn't know what puppy mills were or how to detect them then. After that we never searched for a dog in a pet shop again. I got my westie from an international recognized breeder and when I saw she needed a companion due to separation anxiety, cause she would get sick, her trainer offered me a dog she rescued from the streets that is a chinese crested- terrier mix who was a perfect fit for her. That's when we decided to get Nala a companion as well and now being more aware of rescues and adoption, we decided we would never buy another dog again and that we would rather adopt to save a life. I am amazed at how smart dogs are and how greatly they express their emotions; but what amazes me the most is how unconditional their love is for their dop parents. My dogs are my kids with 4 paws and I know Nala is my mother's baby as well. If the volunteers and caretakers of these rescues would give us a chance we could show how well this new family member would be taken care of.

capt_noonie · 03-12-2016, 12:23 PM

I just meant it as, I would perhaps leave out that wording "rescue from pet shop" from your applications. Just put you have X amount of dogs and two are rescues. Then when you get a phone interview tell the truth of how you got the one from the pet shop and say you found out they are from mills and vowed never to purchase again. That is pretty much what happened to me. I got Uni from a broker, which is just as bad as a pet shop. The dogs are bought wholesale from a mill and unlike shops, brokers usually don't even have a store lease to pay, just sell in person or online, so in a way, even worse. And if something happens to the dog, you can't go back to the store and demand your money back. We got SO SO SO lucky with Uni not being sickly. She does have grade 2/3 LP though. Hopefully she does not require surgery when she gets older. Good luck to you.

Aliadriel · 03-12-2016, 12:31 PM

Thank you so so much for your advice. I really hope someone in the US gives us a chance to give a yorkie pup a good home. We are never buying again, that is certain. I'm even trying to find a way to see if I can get evidence to have that pet shop closed.

Mayzoo · 03-16-2016, 10:18 PM

It should be much easier to rescue if you are not set on a purebred dog. Shelters and rescues here are overflowing with awesome dogs that are mutts, but are still deserving of a wonderful home. Mutts come in all sizes, so you should be able to get one the right siz fairly easily.

Mario is not a purebred. We got him from a pound and he has been one of the best dogs we have ever had purebred or not. Now we pretty much exclusively adopt from rescues or shelters.

Aliadriel · 03-17-2016, 03:32 AM

I don't a mixed yorkie, the only thing is that it can't be any yorkie mix due to allergies. Nala doesn't produce any allergies to any one in the family, but a yorkie mixed with a chihuahua might. We are also considering morkies, yorkie/s**t zuh and yorkie/ poodle mixes. The major problem we are having is that no one will adopt outside continental US. I lost count of all the applications I have filled and all the emails I have sent to different shelters and rescues. Basically no one will give us a chance because we are in Puerto Rico.

yorkiemini · 03-17-2016, 06:50 AM

Have you check any rescue places in Florida?
You could get online to Yorkie Haven in Houston and see if they have any rescues available.

It is great that you want to give another pup a loving home!

Aliadriel · 03-17-2016, 07:01 AM

I have checked all USA and most people won't give us a chance because we are in Puerto Rico. I don't if everyone in the USA knows we are a US territory or not. I have been checking adopt a pet and pet finder and almost everyone says the same thing. If we could adopt any yorkie or yorkie mix it would probably expand our choices, but woth Nala being so scared of bigger dogs than her we can't even apply to adopt a 7lbs pup. This has become very discouraging.

03-11-2016, 10:41 AM	#1
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	Why is adopting so hard? Hi, I am helping my mother find a companion for her 3 years old, 5 lbs yorkie named Nala. We rescued her from a pet shop in Carolina, Puerto Rico when she was 2 months old. I've been searching in rescue sites, petfinder, adopt a pet, etc. for a perfect companion for her because even though she is very friendly and sociable she is afraid of dogs bigger than. She's even afraid of yorkies that are bigger than 5 lbs. We would like to find a puppy or yound yorkie around her age, that is as small as her, but there are so many restrictions for adopting out od continental US that I am losing hope. Our shelters in Puerto Rico have no yorkies. We don't want to buy because we would like to be able to save a life. I myself have two dogs and one is a rescue and he is my baby boy. We are more than willing to fly to pick up the dog, but it doesn't seem enough. I've given all her information, vet contacts, references,etc. I don't know what else to do to get this precious girl a friend. Please help!

03-11-2016, 12:37 PM	#2
capt_noonie www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County Posts: 17,408	I would suggest that when you fill out these applications you stop using the term "rescued from a pet shop at 2 months". What that tells me is you really believe getting a dog from a pet shop is rescuing, when in reality it is supporting the business of pet shops and in turn puppymills. It doesn't matter if the dog was drastically discounted (unlikely at that young age), bc the owner of the shop probably bought the dog for a very low price (another reason it is from a mill) in order to turn a profit. And even if you don't use that terminology, if you get to the phone interview stage, the interviewer will know what questions to ask you to see if that is really how you feel (you rescued) or not bc they will ask you about your current dog and where you got her. Of course every rescue organization is different, but frankly I'm tired of hearing people say they rescued from a pet shop. They didn't, they bought. Unless you went in there and stole the dog, if money exchanged hands, you purchased the dog. Rescues do charge for their dogs, but that is to help pay for vetting that has already been done. Dentals, shots, any other procedures needed. Also the training and socialization done by the foster parent, and that doesn't even cover food, toys, clothes, and leash/harness/collar. I usually send my fosters to their forever homes with loads of stuff for the dog. I never get paid back for that. Pet shop puppies have no vetting unless they are showing signs of distress. __________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12

03-12-2016, 12:23 PM	#7
capt_noonie www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County Posts: 17,408	I just meant it as, I would perhaps leave out that wording "rescue from pet shop" from your applications. Just put you have X amount of dogs and two are rescues. Then when you get a phone interview tell the truth of how you got the one from the pet shop and say you found out they are from mills and vowed never to purchase again. That is pretty much what happened to me. I got Uni from a broker, which is just as bad as a pet shop. The dogs are bought wholesale from a mill and unlike shops, brokers usually don't even have a store lease to pay, just sell in person or online, so in a way, even worse. And if something happens to the dog, you can't go back to the store and demand your money back. We got SO SO SO lucky with Uni not being sickly. She does have grade 2/3 LP though. Hopefully she does not require surgery when she gets older. Good luck to you. __________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12

03-16-2016, 10:18 PM	#9
Mayzoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 534	It should be much easier to rescue if you are not set on a purebred dog. Shelters and rescues here are overflowing with awesome dogs that are mutts, but are still deserving of a wonderful home. Mutts come in all sizes, so you should be able to get one the right siz fairly easily. Mario is not a purebred. We got him from a pound and he has been one of the best dogs we have ever had purebred or not. Now we pretty much exclusively adopt from rescues or shelters. __________________ Mario was adopted May 2015. Now he is a service dog and brother to Bailey the Airdale mix

03-17-2016, 06:50 AM	#11
yorkiemini Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,285	Have you check any rescue places in Florida? You could get online to Yorkie Haven in Houston and see if they have any rescues available. It is great that you want to give another pup a loving home! __________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car

03-11-2016, 12:51 PM	#3
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	Thanks for the advice. I do feel that even though we got her from a pet shop we saved her. She was the first dog in the house, and we didn't even know about puppy mills back then. When we took her for her first vet check up, two days after getting her, we received the alarming news that she had a serious ear infection and was covered in fleas. My mother paid whatever she had to, to get Nala in good health. After that we decided never to buy in a pet shop ever again. I got my westie from the breeder Alborada-Valbonica in Spain, but after getting her I noticed I needed a companion for her because she would get separation anxiety that made her sick. That's when her trainer offered me to adopt a dog she rescued from the street. He is a chinese crested-terrier mix and is the most lovable dog I have ever met. The problem in Puerto Rico is that we are really behind when it comes to pet friendly places and also we don't have many shelters to adop from. Now I am alarmed every time I see people trying to sell puppies or see alot of dogs in the street. With this it has opened our eyes to adopt from now on and not to buy from anyone ever again. Dogs are so smart, and they show their emotions in such a way that I am amazed; but it's their unconditional love towards us the dog parents that leaves me in awe.

03-11-2016, 01:05 PM	#6
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	Thank you for the advice. Even though we got Nala in a pet shop I still think we rescued her. As soon as we got her we took her to te vet and she had a serious ear infection. We were alarmed of this and my mother paid what was necessary to get her into good health. We didn't know what puppy mills were or how to detect them then. After that we never searched for a dog in a pet shop again. I got my westie from an international recognized breeder and when I saw she needed a companion due to separation anxiety, cause she would get sick, her trainer offered me a dog she rescued from the streets that is a chinese crested- terrier mix who was a perfect fit for her. That's when we decided to get Nala a companion as well and now being more aware of rescues and adoption, we decided we would never buy another dog again and that we would rather adopt to save a life. I am amazed at how smart dogs are and how greatly they express their emotions; but what amazes me the most is how unconditional their love is for their dop parents. My dogs are my kids with 4 paws and I know Nala is my mother's baby as well. If the volunteers and caretakers of these rescues would give us a chance we could show how well this new family member would be taken care of.

03-12-2016, 12:31 PM	#8
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	Thank you so so much for your advice. I really hope someone in the US gives us a chance to give a yorkie pup a good home. We are never buying again, that is certain. I'm even trying to find a way to see if I can get evidence to have that pet shop closed.

03-17-2016, 03:32 AM	#10
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	I don't a mixed yorkie, the only thing is that it can't be any yorkie mix due to allergies. Nala doesn't produce any allergies to any one in the family, but a yorkie mixed with a chihuahua might. We are also considering morkies, yorkie/s**t zuh and yorkie/ poodle mixes. The major problem we are having is that no one will adopt outside continental US. I lost count of all the applications I have filled and all the emails I have sent to different shelters and rescues. Basically no one will give us a chance because we are in Puerto Rico.

03-17-2016, 07:01 AM	#12
Aliadriel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Bayamon, PR Posts: 22	I have checked all USA and most people won't give us a chance because we are in Puerto Rico. I don't if everyone in the USA knows we are a US territory or not. I have been checking adopt a pet and pet finder and almost everyone says the same thing. If we could adopt any yorkie or yorkie mix it would probably expand our choices, but woth Nala being so scared of bigger dogs than her we can't even apply to adopt a 7lbs pup. This has become very discouraging.