Originally Posted by For My Coby (Post 1808712)

First, it was rude. Yes, not everyone has the same social skills, but when going into a field of work that would benefit from some, I hope people at least try. Funny that the same conversation routinely revolves around responses to threads here on YT. ;)

Matthew, you are so right! My first and only dealing with a Rescue was positive, enlightening, and educational. They went far and above - having lots of contact and creating a 3-legged journey out of me, the foster mom, and volunteers. I naively thought that's how all rescues were. Since joining YT, I've learned that sadly there are so many of these "loosely" titled rescue operations.

Not trying to hijac the thread, but how does someone become a "rescue". Is that an official title that is appointed, are there inspections, paperwork, etc.? Or can I just take in a couple strays and suddenly call myself a rescue?

Originally Posted by jrsygal37 (Post 1809247)

I'll make no bones about it I am a BIG supporter of rescue but I do not agree with the NO CHILDREN NO EXCEPTION RULE. I feel that every home should be judged independently for one another. Rescues generally will say No children under the age of say 12. Well, I have seen many 5 yr. olds behave a lot better with animals then some 12 or older kids.

In so far as quiet homes for puppymill rescues. I have to say that in MOST cases the rescue is right. As posted above these dogs are different then any other dog you've had as a pet and require a much different home then may be tolerable with a dog that did not live his life as they. AND, MOST people are not able to be a family for a puppymill rescue. This is the truth believe me. Yes, if they are rescued early on they will come out of it sometimes fully sometimes not fully but certainly enough to make them a good family pet but sadly very few older puppymill rescues get over what they have gone through. Noel came to us under a year old. She had been beaten and she is now almost 4 yrs. old. Keep in mind how young she was when we got her. 1. It took six months before she'd allow my husband to pet her. AND, it took up till now almost 4 yrs. later before she will slowly approach anyone outside our immediate home and that is with diligently working with her. NOW imagine an older dog who has lived it's ENTIRE life in a cage producing puppies, who has no concept of human contact, no concept of grass or noises other then other dogs barking and fighting them whatever food is thrown their way. This is why rescues will state QUIET HOME - No Children or no other dogs etc. The no other dog policy is hit or miss - some will not state that as a requirement - some will. They will usually gage that on how the dog was with other dogs while in foster. Remember some have had to fight for their lives while in puppymills so no other dogs are not playmates to them. Anyway, I just wanted to post a few different views. AND, yes just like people and homes there are good and bad rescues too. You have to investigate and not just jump because they call themselves a rescue. Elaine

Originally Posted by Matthew (Post 1808643)

Having just tried to find a rescue that would take in an abandoned dog in my neighborhood, I have to say that I was more than a little disappointed in the responses, which included: "We don't take intact males", "We are full", "I don't have enough money to take him in", and "You get him to the vet, neuter him, get all shots and a checkup, and I MIGHT consider it...if you bring him to me."
MAN!
What I have found is that, SEEMINGLY, the rescues I contacted were individuals taking in lots of pets, or a loose network of people taking in animals. And this is not a bad thing at all. God bless 'em for doing it. But at the same time, doing this does not elevate one to a higher plane of existence. I have definitely sensed a "martyr complex" in some of my dealings with these folks. A few were kind, refusing and wishing me well. But the others... almost an attitude of "I am overburdened, overworked, under appreciated, and a SAINT. I cannot deal with one more thing" (placement request). So I did my own "rescue" and found Bam-Bam a loving home, which seems to be working out great for him.
Yet you do have to jump through hoops to not just surrender a pet to them, but to adopt one as well. It is as if they know "what's best" for the animal, and have lost sight of objectivity. For me, my animals are part of my family, but not substitutes for people.
Maybe I am loosing my objectivity. But I worked briefly with a "trap and spay/neuter" organization in New Orleans for feral cats. I liked the work, but found the attitudes of some of the volunteers to be just obnoxious. Treating the general populace like they were ignorant jerks- rather than using them as resources to locate colonies.
Again, IMHO- persons do this for a reason, and should know what they are getting into. No one forced them to begin a rescue.
My final beef is that the "professional appearance" of a website for a rescue is NOT indicative of the level of "professionalism" when contact is made. Websites should be updated frequently, and a large notice should be displayed with the basic "ground rules", and especially if they are full, and temporarily not taking in any more animals. They should note this clearly, and shift the focus to adoptions.
I just talked with my neighbor, who was denied a dog because she did not have a fenced in yard. She has two other dogs she treats like gold...but since we rent here, a fence is a costly proposition to just leave behind when one moves. So yes, some of the "rules" are a bit much at times. Others are there to weed out the bad apples.
If I had gone to a rescue to try and adopt Stanford, I would have most likely been turned down. I don't have fenced yard. I have a larger dog. I have two cats.
I guess the point is: If rescues are overworked and overwhelmed, then focus on being ADAPTABLE and looking at all aspects of a potential family's life. If not, then do not complain about the situation... and go get more volunteers to spread the work out.
Again, I am sure not all rescues are like the ones in this thread, or the ones I have experienced. So no offense meant if the brush stroke seems a bit wide.
Thanks all for letting me rant.
Back to your regularly scheduled programming.:rolleyes: