Can I please get some opinions?
 

Last Monday, I filled out an application for a rescue to adopt a dog. I got a call on Friday night stating that my application was great! She said they had a few other great applications, but those applicants were out of state and not local like me. For many reasons, they prefer to adopt locally. She asked if Rory was a "teacup" as this dog was not - and I said no she was a bigger yorkie, and I was not expecting a "teacup." She asked if I'd be available to meet on Sunday, and I said I'd like to bring along Rory and my boyfriend who lives with me - she said that would be great. She was located about two hours from me and suggested a central meeting point which would be about a one hour drive for each of us. Anyways, the conversation ended with her giving me her cell phone number and I said so I'll call you tomorrow (Saturday) with a time that would work for us.

Saturday I call her around 10:30 and left a message saying we spoke on Friday, discussed meeting on Sunday, that such and such a time would work for us - please call me back and let me know if that would work with your schedule and also if there was a particular park or Petsmart where she liked to meet.

I don't hear anything all day Saturday, so I call Sunday around 12:30 with no answer. I call again at 2:30 on Sunday and again no answer. I call one more time later in the day Sunday and leave a voicemail again (just in case she never received the first one - I didn't want to look like a flake) stating we spoke Friday and that I had left a message on Saturday, but had been busy running errands that morning (Sunday) and just wanted to make sure our wires hadn't crossed. I said we were still very interested in the dog assuming they were still interested in us as adoptive parents. I left my home and cell number and said that I hoped to hear from her soon.

At this point, I already feel like a stalker, so I know I need to let it go. I keep playing our conversation over in my head - I can't imagine what I possibly could have said to offend her and why, if I had, she wouldn't have given me her cell phone number at the end of the call instead of the rescue's general number. I know there are a million reasons why I might not have heard anything, but I guess I figured rescues were probably somewhat used to having to reject people. I just wish I would have received a phone call saying we found a home, or we no longer want to meet or whatever. I know she is extremely busy running this rescue in her spare time, but I am disappointed and can't help but think I might have done something wrong. :confused:

I am perfectly content with my sweet little Rory, but I was excited about getting her a playmate. She seems like she is the perfect age, but I know if it's meant to be it would have happened. Like I said - just a little disappointed. Sorry, I know that was long winded.

Well it's not necessarily they decided against you...perhaps she didn't have a convenient time to meet you on Sunday...or maybe something came up.

Hope so anyway....

I don't think you did anything wrong. I would think if you did, she wouldn't have wanted to meet with you. Maybe she had some emergency or something and couldn't get back with you yet. Maybe she will call soon. :confused: Good luck!!

I am so sorry the have treated you like this. I just hate when people cant call a person back. If I were you I would look for a better working rescue to go to. There are lots of them out there looking for someone like you.

Thanks everyone. I think I just was surprised when I didn't hear back - even if it was to say we have found a great home that isn't you. I would have been disappointed, but I don't think I would be taking it so personally. I can't help it - I am just that kind of person!

Like you said, there are 100s of reasons why she might of not returned your call. If I was in your position then I would call the rescue directly today, explain that you spoke to someone on Friday and that you discussed meeting on the Saturday and you were unable to get in contact with that person. If they have found a home already then I think it's bad manners to not contact you and let you know... maybe it's just a misunderstanding or a mix up.

I seriously doubt that you said anything wrong.

Is it a legitimate rescue organization that you are dealing with? What type of adoption fee are they expecting. Was the idea to pay that fee first and then get the dog? Could this possibly be a scam?

I know I tried to adopt a little yorkie and never heard diddly from the organization. I have rescued many dogs and NEVER been turned down. Why this particular organization rejected my application I will never know since they never bothered to tell me. They took my application fee without a second's thought though. I think that is a really bad flaw in the way they do business.

I went threw the same thing But with a Guinea pig rescue
She even picked when the Guinea pig would come to me
I didn't hear from her again So i emailed back She said oh i didnt get your application (which was a complete lie) So i sent it again Didnt hear back from her Waited 2 months emailed again She said oh she has been adopted!

I think this is why alot of people just go to a breeder or even petstore.

Hmmm...I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet. I know that the rescues are very busy and maybe they had to deal with another adoption or taking in more. I know she should have called you back at some point over the weekend, but maybe she just got so overwhelmed with 'whatever' else was going on. If she truly doesn't call you back ever, well, then something isn't right :(

I believe it is a legitimate rescue. They are all over Petfinder and adopt out many different breeds of all ages. The rescue website looks legit too. I actually looked up them up on the Secretary of State's website and everyting checked out (what do you expect when I work in legal ;))The adoption fee is $600 but for a purebred puppy I think that is more than reasonable. All the other fees seem to be in keeping with the age and breed of the dog. I have not paid a penny or asked about if I had the money, etc. - I really didn't get the scam vibe.

This is what I am so afraid of! I will be heartbroken if it goes to another home because I "didn't respond." This is the reason I left the second voicemail for the one in a million odds she never received my first one. I'm sorry that happened to you.

The way all the information about this rescue reads it seems they all work full-time jobs and volunteer in their spare time. I think this may be why I didn't get a call until Friday night about my application (thinking her work week may have been over). I did try calling the general rescue number yesterday, but there was no answer and no answering machine picked up.

I think I've decided I'm not going to throw in the towel just yet (aka spend said allotted money on Christmas gifts instead of an adoption fee) until the end of the week, but I won't hold my breath.

I'm starting to feel like a desperate ex-girlfriend who just can't take a hint! :rolleyes:

I would really appreciate the follow-up call if the puppy has been placed with someone else! I think I need some closure. Heh.

I would call today/tonight to the general number and explain that you really are interested in the dog and if someone else adopted her you just would like to know so you can move on. I wouldn't give up and I don't think you are being a stalker!!! Good luck

I think so too, unfortunately. I have two rescues: one from a petsmart adopt-a-thon and one (Izze) that my friend abandoned. I have tried going to those breed rescues... but it's so long and complicated... I know it is for the pet's own good. However, I have encountered many rude people who have a nasty tone or say they will return--or don't return my calls. So for me a breeder is easier or the pound.

This sounds like an awful strange rescue. First, if they rescue yorkies, they would never refer to a yorkie as a teacup, because there is no such thing. nexty, if they are a trud rescue and contact you, they would never not return a call if they felt you were a good home for one of their rescues. What rescue organization is this that you applied to? This just does not sound right.

I have heard all the bad stories about rescues myself, which is why I was, quite frankly, surprised when she called me after I submitted my application online. I was expecting to have to call/e-mail and inquire about the status, etc. :(

This is not a yorkie rescue - I see everything from a Newfoundland to a Chihuahua mix in the available pets section. I know there is no such thing as a teacup, but I got the impression she was asking to make sure I wasn't expecting a teeny tiny dog and was maybe "dumbing down" so to speak since I know all of us YTers know there is no such thing as a teacup, but I wouldn't say it is widely known. Like I said earlier, everything checks out on the Secretary of State's website with regards to the organization, but obviously this isn't sitting right with me or I wouldn't have posted! You can see part of a child in a lot of the pictures of the available dogs, which is another reason it made me think it was legit.

I think I was secretly hopeful I would get a call tonight from her with some reasonable explanation, but it's looking like that isn't the case. I'm toying with the idea of just emailing the generic email address, but I don't want to seem totally desperate. I think I got my hopes way too far up after the initial call!:mad: I would just expect after my second voicemail that she'd have the courtesy to call me and give me some kind of excuse even if it wasn't a very good one or simply that they had found another home for the dog.

I think you should email them. Its not desperate, it just shows your dedicated and would be a good mom. :)

I've gotten calls back--- just nothing happens after that. So don't feel bad.
And I have excellent vet and friend references. I have watched other peoples dogs and everyone knows that I love animals so much and I'm smarter than the average petowner at these things :)
I have also volunteered at rescues from age 14-21. I had to quit due to a family emergency. I have a house and a yard. I "fit the bill" and yet it is still "not good enough" (which i don't believe for a second).
So don't take it personally---you'll find the right one.

I adopted my Addison and I understand the emotional process. I wish you all the best, I am positive the perfect baby will come your way soon. Wishing you the best of luck...:)

Ashley,

I would try to find the name of the director of the shelter/foster group. Explain to them that you would love to adopt the puppy, and you can give vet/day care refs if necessary. It is worth another call!

Thanks. I think I needed to hear that. I think the bottom line is she changed her mind about me and for whatever reason has not followed up to let me know.

Thanks!


I'm 99% sure based on my research (err, stalking) that the girl I talked to was the head of the rescue. My application listed all my vet references: 2 "normal" vets and one specialty vet where I treated my bullmastiff for cancer for nearly 2 years. I also had the daycare on there as a reference, so they have all the information. They do not have a facility. I think all the volunteers foster the different dogs at their homes. The main rescue number gets no answer and hasn't had a machine pick up so I could leave a message. I'm considering just emailing the generic rescue email, but I'm also a firm believe in if it's meant to be, it'll happen. I don't want to force something if that makes any sense...

If she is the director, then she sounds like a flake. She probably had a friend who wanted the Yorkie, or she kept it for herself. It's very unprofessional not to give you a call back.

Don't worry about the stalking, I would probably be at the rescue waiting for her when she came to work this morning. HA!

OOPs, I see there is no facility. I wouldn't go to her house, since that really would be stalking. I am so sorry that she treated you this way :mad::thumbdown

Thanks for all your advice, Amy. There were actually two different yorkie puppies both rescued from the same "breeder." I use the term breeder loosely since they are from two different litters at 2 months and 3 months old seemed like litters that were awfully close together to me. She surrendered them to the rescue because the little boy had a severe respiratory infection and the little girl had coccida, or at least that is what I was told.

I know - I have to learn where to draw that line! :p I believe all the volunteers work full-time jobs and do the rescue on the side, but I still don't think it takes that long to make a follow-up phone call. I think Rory will be content as a spoiled rotten only child for now. Maybe I'll try again next year with someone else!

Here is the thing: I got Cooper so Baxter would have a playmate (Ok and because he is cute too). Baxter was really devastated, for about 2 weeks, and then he accepted him. They do play together, but even Hubby says Cooper changed Baxter's personality. He became less playful, I think it is because Cooper is so dang competitive, and can run faster, so Baxter just gives up. If I sit on the floor to play fetch, Baxter lies in my lap, or brings me his bully stick to hold while I play with Cooper. That is the "special" time he wants! I think Baxter would have been A-ok with staying an only dog.

I think Rory will be fine with it, too. Especially since she gets all that great playtime at daycare!

Your special pup will come, in time, if it is meant to be, like you said :)