Jumping through hoops to adopt - YorkieTalk.com Forums

QuickSilver · 11-27-2008, 05:58 PM

Okay, here's the dilly:

1) I would like to get another dog to keep my current one company.

2) I would like to get a puppy because I believe that maximizes the chances of strong bonding between the two dogs.

3) I would like to be sure that the grown dog is around the size of my current dog, who is tiny -- 3lbs.

Here's the kicker:

4) I would like to get a rescue dog.

Now, I don't care about whether the second dog is mixed breed, other than having some confidence about his size when grown.

The problem of course, is that I will NEVER be able to get a dog that fits that criteria! The other problem is that I adopted my boy from a friend and thus have almost no veternary history to speak of. I wonder if I would even be able to get a dog, period, if I didn't own one currently.

One of my friends wanted a Catahoula (sp?) leopard hound, and he waited months to get a dog - his family met three dogs and the first two went to different homes.

I'm posting partly to vent some frustration, and partly because I see the statistics on how many stranded dogs there are out there, and I wonder if it makes sense for rescue shelters to have such stringent standards. I understand it in one sense, because I volunteer at a shelter, and it is terribly sad when a dog is returned to us, and obviously that should be minimized.

On the other hand, I think of course people go to pet stores, because that's the only way they can get a dog. I would almost rather have a mutt, so it doesn't make a ton of sense to go to a breeder, though I might.

I remember growing up, everyone had dogs, and while there may have been some behavioral problems, I'd say all these family dogs were happy and loved. I wonder if shelters have swung in the opposite direction, to where it makes it impossible for decent people to responsibly aquire one.

Shouldn't the goal be to squeeze out puppy mills? It seems to me like the most effective way to do this would be to make it reasonably easy for people to get dogs through other means. It seems like some animal organizations have more standards around pets than children.

Thoughts?

krisknr · 11-27-2008, 10:39 PM

I understand what you are saying and agree. I know rescues just want what is best for the dogs but I do think they go over board. I know a lady who was trying to adopt a very small dog and was rejected because she didn't have a fenced in yard!!! For a tiny dog!!!!! WHAT!!! She was retired, owned her own home and wanted a companion but they said no because her yard wasn't fenced!!! Silly.

Breezeaway · 11-28-2008, 08:17 AM

I do know what your talking about, I tryed to adopt years ago from a yorkie rescue when I just had one yorkie, He was young and wasnt neutered at the time(which he is now)they turned me down. I had fenced in yard, no kids and lots of love. But they would not let me adopt.
Then I tryed to be a foster mom they said no because I had 2 yorkies. So now I do not support the yorkie rescues at all. To me it was like a slap in the face saying that I was not good enough to foster or get one of their dogs.

BobbyYorkie · 11-28-2008, 01:15 PM

I am so glad you are looking into rescuing! Thats wonderful. Here is a 6 month old Boy who weights 5lbs. Maybe you can look into him? He is a cutie

Adopt a Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie: NIKNAK in S.CAL: Petfinder

Ellie May · 11-28-2008, 02:05 PM

I agree.
Some rescues really irritate me.
I wonder also if I could ever get another dog without developing a relationship with a breeder or getting one from a puppy mill.

While rescues do need to be careful, some of their requirements are over the top. Most want veterinary references. Good idea and I would too but Ellie's vet knows me well and I still wouldn't want to ask her to be a reference. That is not her job. If all of her clients asked her to do that, she wouldn't have time to be a vet...

Then fenced in yards for Yorkies as a requirement I don't even understand...

One of the questions that they ask is, "Are the animals you have currently UTD on shots?" No, mine isn't but she has been titered and I don't want to overdo them. Does that make me a bad owner?

And my personally favorite, they seem to have a big problem if you currently have animals that aren't spayed or neutered. They say it is the responsible thing to do. So if I have reason to believe that it wouldn't be the best choice in my animal's situation and decide not to, I guess I'm not responsible and shouldn't be allowed to own animals?

Now I'm not saying that these requirements are all bad all the time but each case needs to be considered individually.

Thanks for letting me vent.
I think you'll have to go to an understanding breeder.

Bhikku · 11-28-2008, 02:26 PM

I don't rescue dogs for this exact reason.

I'll just be straight-up about it: almost every hardcore animal rescue person I've ever met has been a holier-than-thou, sanctimonious jerk.

Me and my mother were considering rescuing a shepherd mix pup from a local rescue group to replace our dog who had been put to sleep the summer before. Our old dog had been picked up off the side of the highway, and she's still the best dog I ever owned..

Here's where the problem came in: not only did they want the dog to be homed with its two brothers, they also wanted them all to be inside dogs. Excuse me, but who in their right mind would adopt three shepherd puppies (who would easily get up to 70 pounds apiece) at the same time to live indoors???? That's ridiculous.

Last time I checked, the puppies were still at the rescue (adult now), living out their lives in a kennel. Hm, do you think the pups would rather be split up into loving homes or housed in a rescue run together for the rest of their lives?

In the same span of time (still optimistic) I went to look at a Chow mix puppy at a different rescue. We decided to adopt it, but before we could sign the papers, I went to pet the dog across the back and it tried to bite me. This was not a puppy's play bite, this was an aggressive Chow-style snarl/snap. I told the rescuers I didn't want the dog on this basis (potential aggression issues) and they told me that it was my fault the dog tried to bite me, because I didn't ask it for permission. Uh, what???? Dogs are pets. I shouldn't have to ask a 7 week old puppy its permission to pet it or risk getting my fingers gnawed off.

Needless to say, I had words with the rescuers and did not adopt the dog.

We ended up buying a golden retriever from a BYB and she's been the best dog we've ever had since Rosie, the good-ol-dog we were replacing.

The last dog I had, a 10 year old cattle dog, I rescued as a senior from the humane society. He was a heartbreak, and I only had him for three months before having to have him put down for health reasons.

And this is why I bought my yorkie from another backyard breeder. I don't think I'll ever rescue a dog again, unless I find one on the side of the highway somewhere. Rescue organizations just make the process too difficult, and their attitudes completely turn me off the experience.

QuickSilver · 11-28-2008, 05:40 PM

Thanks, BobbyYorkie! Funnily enough, I had been looking at him the other day, and wondering if I should apply for him.

What do you think about the price? Is that reasonable?

Bhikku, why on earth did they want the shepards to be inside dogs? That's crazy.

Wabbit · 11-28-2008, 05:43 PM

I know you want to adopt a dog very close in size to your first one...but I have dogs of ALL sizes and everyone of them play together!! I have an 80 lb. Mix Dakota...that adores my 5 1/2 pound yorkie!! And has never hurt her...and a 40 lb border collie..and she plays with them all as well..

...My 1 1/2 pound baby Tulip LOVES all my dogs...and her and Daizy play all the time...which is 5 1/2 pounds.. even Dakota plays with her...just hoping you'll be more open minded to a bit larger dog!!

Otherwise you will Criteria-orize yourself and your current Furbutt out of a wonderful experience! That is my made up word..lol it fits!

QuickSilver · 11-28-2008, 07:27 PM

Thanks, Wabbit. My current dog is scared of dogs larger than him, so I thought getting a smaller dog would increase the chances of them bonding. That's also why I would like a puppy. I guess if they grew up together, my first boy might not care how large the second one ended up... I know it's silly, but I feel bad he could lose his alpha position. He's so small, I want him to feel big somewhere. He's got a total Napoleon complex.

Is it true that the "teacups" are really unhealthy? Someone just told me my current dog would probably only live to nine years old!

Bhikku · 11-28-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Is it true that the "teacups" are really unhealthy? Someone just told me my current dog would probably only live to nine years old!

I knew someone with a 15 year old yorkie who was really small, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

BobbyYorkie · 11-29-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Thanks, BobbyYorkie! Funnily enough, I had been looking at him the other day, and wondering if I should apply for him.

What do you think about the price? Is that reasonable?

Bhikku, why on earth did they want the shepards to be inside dogs? That's crazy.

That price does seem to be a bit high. You might want to look around more. I work with a rescue and I am currently fostering a yorkie mix. You can see the babies that my rescues has available at yorkies.petfinder.com. I dont think any are that small though.
Good luck I hope you find your rescue baby very soon and I admire anyone who will give these precious babies a second chance that they deserver

AndiMarie · 11-30-2008, 02:06 PM

I got my yorkie from a rescue. He was born at the foster home as his mom was the rescue, in fact. I adopted from Yorkie Haven Rescue and it was a great experience. They have yorkies and yorkie crosses. I flew from Canada to Texas to pick up my little baby and they were wonderful. They do have some puppies now. I would encourage you to chat with them. I could write a novel about why to rescue and why I would rescue again and would be happy to share that with you if you are interested

. Check out their website at: Yorkie Haven Rescue

Love Andrea and Tobi, a Texas poochie in Calgary

11-27-2008, 05:58 PM	#1
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Jumping through hoops to adopt Okay, here's the dilly: 1) I would like to get another dog to keep my current one company. 2) I would like to get a puppy because I believe that maximizes the chances of strong bonding between the two dogs. 3) I would like to be sure that the grown dog is around the size of my current dog, who is tiny -- 3lbs. Here's the kicker: 4) I would like to get a rescue dog. Now, I don't care about whether the second dog is mixed breed, other than having some confidence about his size when grown. The problem of course, is that I will NEVER be able to get a dog that fits that criteria! The other problem is that I adopted my boy from a friend and thus have almost no veternary history to speak of. I wonder if I would even be able to get a dog, period, if I didn't own one currently. One of my friends wanted a Catahoula (sp?) leopard hound, and he waited months to get a dog - his family met three dogs and the first two went to different homes. I'm posting partly to vent some frustration, and partly because I see the statistics on how many stranded dogs there are out there, and I wonder if it makes sense for rescue shelters to have such stringent standards. I understand it in one sense, because I volunteer at a shelter, and it is terribly sad when a dog is returned to us, and obviously that should be minimized. On the other hand, I think of course people go to pet stores, because that's the only way they can get a dog. I would almost rather have a mutt, so it doesn't make a ton of sense to go to a breeder, though I might. I remember growing up, everyone had dogs, and while there may have been some behavioral problems, I'd say all these family dogs were happy and loved. I wonder if shelters have swung in the opposite direction, to where it makes it impossible for decent people to responsibly aquire one. Shouldn't the goal be to squeeze out puppy mills? It seems to me like the most effective way to do this would be to make it reasonably easy for people to get dogs through other means. It seems like some animal organizations have more standards around pets than children. Thoughts? Last edited by QuickSilver; 11-27-2008 at 06:00 PM.

11-28-2008, 02:05 PM	#5
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	I agree. Some rescues really irritate me. I wonder also if I could ever get another dog without developing a relationship with a breeder or getting one from a puppy mill. While rescues do need to be careful, some of their requirements are over the top. Most want veterinary references. Good idea and I would too but Ellie's vet knows me well and I still wouldn't want to ask her to be a reference. That is not her job. If all of her clients asked her to do that, she wouldn't have time to be a vet... Then fenced in yards for Yorkies as a requirement I don't even understand... One of the questions that they ask is, "Are the animals you have currently UTD on shots?" No, mine isn't but she has been titered and I don't want to overdo them. Does that make me a bad owner? And my personally favorite, they seem to have a big problem if you currently have animals that aren't spayed or neutered. They say it is the responsible thing to do. So if I have reason to believe that it wouldn't be the best choice in my animal's situation and decide not to, I guess I'm not responsible and shouldn't be allowed to own animals? Now I'm not saying that these requirements are all bad all the time but each case needs to be considered individually. Thanks for letting me vent. I think you'll have to go to an understanding breeder. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

11-28-2008, 02:26 PM	#6
Bhikku YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 274	I don't rescue dogs for this exact reason. I'll just be straight-up about it: almost every hardcore animal rescue person I've ever met has been a holier-than-thou, sanctimonious jerk. Me and my mother were considering rescuing a shepherd mix pup from a local rescue group to replace our dog who had been put to sleep the summer before. Our old dog had been picked up off the side of the highway, and she's still the best dog I ever owned.. Here's where the problem came in: not only did they want the dog to be homed with its two brothers, they also wanted them all to be inside dogs. Excuse me, but who in their right mind would adopt three shepherd puppies (who would easily get up to 70 pounds apiece) at the same time to live indoors???? That's ridiculous. Last time I checked, the puppies were still at the rescue (adult now), living out their lives in a kennel. Hm, do you think the pups would rather be split up into loving homes or housed in a rescue run together for the rest of their lives? In the same span of time (still optimistic) I went to look at a Chow mix puppy at a different rescue. We decided to adopt it, but before we could sign the papers, I went to pet the dog across the back and it tried to bite me. This was not a puppy's play bite, this was an aggressive Chow-style snarl/snap. I told the rescuers I didn't want the dog on this basis (potential aggression issues) and they told me that it was my fault the dog tried to bite me, because I didn't ask it for permission. Uh, what???? Dogs are pets. I shouldn't have to ask a 7 week old puppy its permission to pet it or risk getting my fingers gnawed off. Needless to say, I had words with the rescuers and did not adopt the dog. We ended up buying a golden retriever from a BYB and she's been the best dog we've ever had since Rosie, the good-ol-dog we were replacing. The last dog I had, a 10 year old cattle dog, I rescued as a senior from the humane society. He was a heartbreak, and I only had him for three months before having to have him put down for health reasons. And this is why I bought my yorkie from another backyard breeder. I don't think I'll ever rescue a dog again, unless I find one on the side of the highway somewhere. Rescue organizations just make the process too difficult, and their attitudes completely turn me off the experience. Last edited by Bhikku; 11-28-2008 at 02:28 PM.

11-28-2008, 05:40 PM	#7
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Thanks, BobbyYorkie! Funnily enough, I had been looking at him the other day, and wondering if I should apply for him. What do you think about the price? Is that reasonable? Bhikku, why on earth did they want the shepards to be inside dogs? That's crazy. Last edited by QuickSilver; 11-28-2008 at 05:41 PM.

11-28-2008, 05:43 PM	#8
Wabbit Love my little flowers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: In Gorgeous Montana!!! Posts: 4,499	I know you want to adopt a dog very close in size to your first one...but I have dogs of ALL sizes and everyone of them play together!! I have an 80 lb. Mix Dakota...that adores my 5 1/2 pound yorkie!! And has never hurt her...and a 40 lb border collie..and she plays with them all as well.. ...My 1 1/2 pound baby Tulip LOVES all my dogs...and her and Daizy play all the time...which is 5 1/2 pounds.. even Dakota plays with her...just hoping you'll be more open minded to a bit larger dog!! Otherwise you will Criteria-orize yourself and your current Furbutt out of a wonderful experience! That is my made up word..lol it fits! __________________ Tam Flower babies: *Daizy Mae and Tulip Petals* RIP Honey Rose & Jasmine

11-27-2008, 10:39 PM	#2
krisknr Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 186	I understand what you are saying and agree. I know rescues just want what is best for the dogs but I do think they go over board. I know a lady who was trying to adopt a very small dog and was rejected because she didn't have a fenced in yard!!! For a tiny dog!!!!! WHAT!!! She was retired, owned her own home and wanted a companion but they said no because her yard wasn't fenced!!! Silly.

11-28-2008, 08:17 AM	#3
Breezeaway No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wildcat Country(KY) Posts: 2,114 Blog Entries: 26	I do know what your talking about, I tryed to adopt years ago from a yorkie rescue when I just had one yorkie, He was young and wasnt neutered at the time(which he is now)they turned me down. I had fenced in yard, no kids and lots of love. But they would not let me adopt. Then I tryed to be a foster mom they said no because I had 2 yorkies. So now I do not support the yorkie rescues at all. To me it was like a slap in the face saying that I was not good enough to foster or get one of their dogs.

11-28-2008, 01:15 PM	#4
BobbyYorkie Donating YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: california Posts: 629	I am so glad you are looking into rescuing! Thats wonderful. Here is a 6 month old Boy who weights 5lbs. Maybe you can look into him? He is a cutie Adopt a Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie: NIKNAK in S.CAL: Petfinder

11-28-2008, 07:27 PM	#9
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Thanks, Wabbit. My current dog is scared of dogs larger than him, so I thought getting a smaller dog would increase the chances of them bonding. That's also why I would like a puppy. I guess if they grew up together, my first boy might not care how large the second one ended up... I know it's silly, but I feel bad he could lose his alpha position. He's so small, I want him to feel big somewhere. He's got a total Napoleon complex. Is it true that the "teacups" are really unhealthy? Someone just told me my current dog would probably only live to nine years old!

11-30-2008, 02:06 PM	#12
AndiMarie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 25	I got my yorkie from a rescue. He was born at the foster home as his mom was the rescue, in fact. I adopted from Yorkie Haven Rescue and it was a great experience. They have yorkies and yorkie crosses. I flew from Canada to Texas to pick up my little baby and they were wonderful. They do have some puppies now. I would encourage you to chat with them. I could write a novel about why to rescue and why I would rescue again and would be happy to share that with you if you are interested . Check out their website at: Yorkie Haven Rescue Love Andrea and Tobi, a Texas poochie in Calgary