Sketchy Rescue shelter??? How do I know if a Rescue group is on the "up & up"??? I've gotten a weird vibe from this lady and don't know if I should apply. Ok,so I have been considering adopting a rescue dog & have been looking the last couple weeks at a few shelters. I stumbled upon a schnauzer-mix last night on Petfinder. There wasn't much info so I emailed this shelter for more info. But this lady seems very unwilling to give me ANY info about this dog. She didn't answer any of my questions, basically just sent me the application form. I then re-asked my questions & explained that my current dog has a few issues & I need to know if this dog would get along well with mine before I apply. She again just tells me to fill out the application, that the schnauzer is "fine with all". I feel like I don't want to waste my time & theirs (& my Vet for a reference) by applying only to find out that this dog wont be a good match for mine. I don't want to give all my personal information (& my references personal info) with nothing to go on. I realize the application process is quite extensive, but I want to know what kind of dog I'm applying for in the first place. The website says all the right things about "taking the time to consider whether the dog is right for you before applying" but then she's refusing to give me any info at all. I would think they would only want applications from people that are serious. This lady just gives me a bad vibe, but the website seems ok, and I can't find any info against them. so how do I know if this rescue group is what they say they are? I don't know whether to apply or not ? any suggestions? Has anyone else ever adopted a rescued dog? |
I would go with your instinct. |
I ran into the same thing with a rescue here in WV. They wouldn't answer a thing until I "complete the application". I was like you, didn't want to give out personal stuff with no outcome. I would trust your instinct. She doesn't need to be rude |
Since private rescues are staffed by volunteers, their time is precious. Most require that you fill out an application so their time isn't wasted on someone who doesn't quality or isn't serious. It's similar to real estate agents prequalifying you for a mortgage before they show you homes for sale. If you want to check and see if a rescue is legitimate, go to your Secretary of State's website, corporations division, and verify that they are non-profit. |
Thanks for the replies, yes something's just not quite right. I emailed other shelters when I had questions & they were more than willing to provide any info they can. I realize they are busy to, but when I've said my own dog has issues you'd think they would try to help me out as best as they can. Thanks Lady'smom for the suggestion, I'm in Canada tho, I'm not sure where to go for that kind of info here. They are a registered charity, but I don't know.... it just doesn't seem as detailed as the other shelters. I just don't feel right giving out all that personal info with nothing to go on other than "she is fine" lol |
I would think twice about that one. Most rescues want to give you as much info. as they can. |
Go with your gut feeling. One BIG HUGE red flag with "sketchy shelters" is if they want you to pay an "application fee" with no refund. What they will do is charge these fees and then deny adoptions just to get money. |
That's so sad. I don't believe that our rescue does that....we are also all volunteers, but we try to answer all the questions we can. Could be with craziness of Thanksgiving week that the rescue is just stretched with all the personal stuff going on. But I personally wouldn't fill out anything or pay the application fee until I got basic questions answered about the animal in question. I wouldn't want a slew of apps (regardless of the money it generates for the rescue) just because folks had questions. :( Seems shady to me......and we have adopted 2 rescues....Quacker Jack and Zander Mander. |
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**Remember rescue dogs may have special needs-my Scoober the rescue described as 'takes a minute to warm up to you' but happy healthy and they also said he wouldn't be over 10 pounds...Scoober was afraid of everyone and everything, had been beaten, forced to live in a cage, tortured, and even at 5 months old still carries the issues from it-he's also 21 pounds now. Do I regret any part of getting him-NO I KNOWINGLY TOOK THOSE RISK-OH! Just a little funny part-Scoobers was listed as a girl-I went out and bought a ton of pink items after my adoption was approved-the day before I was to get him he was altered-the adoption supervisor politely called me back to inform me he was a he, and was I still interested...oh well some things work out for the best. **On another note you said Schnauzer mix-read about schnauzer personalities-Scoobers is a Schnorkie (Yorkie/Schnauzer hybrid). Schnauzers are not like Yorkies-they are stubborn, very stubborn (motivated by food), independent and they have serious endurance, they are herding terriers-unlike Yorkies who while stubborn are motivated by attention, need to be the center of attention, and are often delicate lap dogs who were originally ratters-in house rodent killers and lap dogs and have explosive and ending energy patterns. I have a Schnorkie, Yorkie and Miniature Schnauzer here now-its a wild bunch trust me. **Beware social, behavior issue and health issues are a risk you take from a rescue dog-there's a reason we say how noble it is of people to adopt from a rescue-but it can all be perfect and fine-or it will be a lot of work...I wouldn't recommend it to everyone especially if it is your first dog-but if not and you can PLEASE DO. best of luck to you. |
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Well I checked with my wife (she is on the Board of Directors for the rescue we volunteer for). I asked about your situation and asked if the process was the same for our rescue. I posted this out to the rescue group as a whole via email. Naturally, she responded via email (from the living room)....ah...modern technology! Ha! Here was her reply: Hi Dear, No, that's not our process. We answer any & all questions. We don't ask for an app deposit prior to taking the application, just once we complete the first step to move further. Many people have questions about the dogs or our processes & we try to answer them all to help them understand about the dogs or how we do things. Let me know if you have any other questions. :) |
i have heard stories of some puppymills posing as "rescues" before, but not too sure if this is true??? not too sure if this is the case, but I would be careful if you have a bad feeling about it... |
I guess I lucked out. I checked with several rescues before finding my latest additions. None asked for an app fee and none balked at answering any of my questions prior to filling out an application. Everyone was very very helpful via email and phone. I know the workers are overwhelmed but they were professional enough to not let that in any way hamper the process, doing whatever it took to answer my questions knowing that by doing so they were possibly moving towards finding a home for the dogs I was inquiring about. |
I have volunteered for a couple rescues and this was never what we did. We always gave good amounts of information about the cats and dogs and that is what I see the volunteers doing from both of the rescues I deal with on a regular basis. They get some genuine interest, some interest that doesn't follow through. Time is precious, yes, but finding these animals homes is also important. You get farther with honey than vinegar, and I would trust your instinct. |
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