I think both sides have a valid argument. From the rescue's pov they have invested time, money, and love in each and every animal. They want to be certain they are going to go to a good home. A friend of mine evaluates & trains dogs for a rescue in our area. She told me a story about a dog who she worked with for 6 months. When she met the dog he was fear aggressive, etc. Through hard work and training he became a sweet loveable pet ready for a new home. The rescue placed the dog. The family continued to take him for training with my friend. During one session she mentioned how he had really come a long way. The new owner's asked her to tell what he had been like in the beginning. She did. They were apparently upset by his past (even though he had worked through those behaviors). Without saying anything to her or to the rescue they stopped on the way home and had him euthanized!!!
Needless to say my friend and the rescue workers were very upset.
Another example is my little guy Bernie. He'd been through a lot. Other families had been turned down because they did not have a fenced yard. This rescue doesn't always have this requirement, but this little guy had spent nearly 11 weeks in a crate after getting hit by a car. They wanted to keep him as safe as possible. They were attached to him and cared about his welfare.
Often times the little ones in rescue have already been through so much!
Now, from the adopters pov I can see how the rules sometimes seem ridiculously strict and the waiting period can take forever. It can be heartbreaking to set your sites on an animal just to not complete the process (through no fault of your own) in time.
All of that being said, I think it's important that people don't give up. The dogs in the rescue DO get adopted out!!! Eventually they all make it to a home, and most stay for the rest of their lives.
Hang in their if you're going through the process, and let us know the outcome!