trials and tribulations of rescuing!

[DBlain]

Teresa the OP wound up getting good news, she reconnected with the breeder they received their first dog from, so they will be getting a puppy from her, I believe she posted a new thread on it, you might have seen it by now, but letting you and others know. I forgot what she called the thread, but she sounds very very happy

[seastheday]

I was thinking hte same thing. When I responded to your first post mentioning the same response (which was no response) we got when we tried to rescue. I never thought people were s passionate both pro and con about this issue. This was certainly a hot button issue.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by seastheday

I was thinking hte same thing. When I responded to your first post mentioning the same response (which was no response) we got when we tried to rescue. I never thought people were s passionate both pro and con about this issue. This was certainly a hot button issue.

It is very disappointing when there is no response at all...I know, because it happened to me.

I do think that rescues should respond to emails and applications. Just totally ignoring them is rude.

[Teresiana]

Originally Posted by DBlain

Teresa the OP wound up getting good news, she reconnected with the breeder they received their first dog from, so they will be getting a puppy from her, I believe she posted a new thread on it, you might have seen it by now, but letting you and others know. I forgot what she called the thread, but she sounds very very happy

Thanks Donna. I actually saw that new thread AFTER I wrote my reply on this thread. But yeah, I'm so happy for her! Funny the way things work out, huh?

[Buc23]

Originally Posted by seastheday

I was thinking hte same thing. When I responded to your first post mentioning the same response (which was no response) we got when we tried to rescue. I never thought people were s passionate both pro and con about this issue. This was certainly a hot button issue.

When I was looking to rescue I discovered there are more than 200 rescue organizations in Florida alone. Certainly the supply of needed pets is endless compare to the number of humans willing to adopt. This last fact makes me think we need a different approach, from rescuers, as for the needed pets to benefit more from the "not approved to adopt" list of applicants. Lets face it these candidates will, in most cases, adquire a dog anyways!

We may need more eucation or maybe even more involvement from the Industry's big players as to create bigger awareness. I. D. K.

One thing is for certain, this is as safe a place to have this discussions.

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by shannonNJ

So I've been on the hunt to look for a rescue pup via shelters and groups before I even try to commit to a breeder. I like the idea of rescuing a baby who has started out with an unsure future and welcoming him/her into my home with all the love left behind by my Max.

Here I am. Seven adoption applications completed & approved and no baby.

All were little Yorkie mixes, one, a Maltese/JRT mix however, all the shelters/organizations came back with several excuses, requirements, and/or "listed the dog as permanent foster". I've received, "you're a perfect candidate but so&so should go to a home with another dog" or "this puppy may be too small for your household"

Is it really this difficult?? I thought the point of rescues were to get these babies to great homes with lots of love. I wasn't even allowed to come see a few of the dogs or chat with the placement folks about my love of animals and my experience with my last dog.

It's so disheartening.

One was really a doll, too. One of six, the smallest, and he is the last of his siblings to be placed...he's still available too but they refuse to fully approve me because I don't have another dog.

I hear you. I went through the same thing. I am huge on rescuing. I can not see how people can toss away cats and dogs they way that they do. My kitties were rescues. I ended up going to a reputable show breeder. I have Galen. I can't not imagine not having him. Sometimes things are just ment to be. Good luck in your search

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Buc23

When I was looking to rescue I discovered there are more than 200 rescue organizations in Florida alone. Certainly the supply of needed pets is endless compare to the number of humans willing to adopt. This last fact makes me think we need a different approach, from rescuers, as for the needed pets to benefit more from the "not approved to adopt" list of applicants. Lets face it these candidates will, in most cases, adquire a dog anyways!

We may need more eucation or maybe even more involvement from the Industry's big players as to create bigger awareness. I. D. K.

One thing is for certain, this is as safe a place to have this discussions.

It is true, there will always be more pets in need than there are good homes to adopt them. But we as rescuers do all this as volunteers. This is not something we get paid to do. In fact we use out own money many times to help out other people's dogs in need. I certainly am not going to waste my time and money by allowing the wrong person or family to adopt. You can't take that chance to let the dog go back into the system, rescue, shelter or what have you. If the dog goes back, that's wasted time and money that could have been used to save another. However, I don't think it's right to say that it's rescuers that are causing the problem of not allowing people to adopt! It's not bc of us that are too many pets in need in the first place!

And yes, some of these people who are not approved will acquire a dog anyway. But not all of these people should have a dog in the first place. So how are these people getting their dogs? And what happens when it doesn't work out with the dog?

The reason why there are too many pets is bc there are too many people not spaying and neutering, too many bybs, mills, etc. We as rescue people cannot clean up the mess made by others. We try, but you have to consider why there are too many pets in the first place. So I urge everyone once again, please spay and neuter your pets!

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

It is true, there will always be more pets in need than there are good homes to adopt them. But we as rescuers do all this as volunteers. This is not something we get paid to do. In fact we use out own money many times to help out other people's dogs in need. I certainly am not going to waste my time and money by allowing the wrong person or family to adopt. You can't take that chance to let the dog go back into the system, rescue, shelter or what have you. If the dog goes back, that's wasted time and money that could have been used to save another. However, I don't think it's right to say that it's rescuers that are causing the problem of not allowing people to adopt! It's not bc of us that are too many pets in need in the first place!

And yes, some of these people who are not approved will acquire a dog anyway. But not all of these people should have a dog in the first place. So how are these people getting their dogs? And what happens when it doesn't work out with the dog?

The reason why there are too many pets is bc there are too many people not spaying and neutering, too many bybs, mills, etc. We as rescue people cannot clean up the mess made by others. We try, but you have to consider why there are too many pets in the first place. So I urge everyone once again, please spay and neuter your pets!

Great post and I so much agree with everything you said! So much time and energy is spent on each foster and the last thing we want is for the pup not to work out in their adoptive home.

Of course, ditto 100% about the spaying and neutering, bybs, etc.

[crazydoglade]

The only thing to help the overpopulation of cats and dogs would be mandatory spay and neuter laws and their enforcement. Make the fine high enough that it's cheaper to have your pet altered. If you want to breed get a license. Require standards to be met. INFORCE the standards. No reputable breeder or pet owner should have a problem with this. If you make the fines high enough that the local governments see they can make money they may go for this. Yes, some rescues are a bit ridiclous with some of their rules but unless you work with them you have no idea what the volunteers and the dogs go through. We use our vacation and sick days to take care of a puppy with giardia, to bottle feed a 4 day old puppy knowing it's chance of survival is slim, to sit on the floor with a puppy mill dog for 4 hours until it trust you enough to let you pet it. Last month alone I'm out $1000 in vet bills that won't be reimbursed. For 1 dog alone. If people would foster a dog they would understand. They would also get the joy of having an abused dog grow into a trusting dog that instead of hiding under a chair will climb on your lap because it now knows it is safe and will be welcome

[Buc23]

I keep hearing walk a mile or if people would foster a dog... The problem is willing candidates are not given the opportunity to HELP! For whatever reason rescue organizations do not take advantage of candidates who are willing to adopt. How many post, here alone, complaining about ZERO responses to their applications? If I was runing a rescue operation I would encourage my applicants to foster or even more, to go ahead and get involved with, even for short time, with my daily operations.
In short, my strategy would be to bring in as many candidates as possible as to increase awareness of the "problem" our society is suffering as to make people want to get involved. It certainly would not be to ignore candidates to the point of frustation. Frustation that most likely would turn them to BYB or mills and thus contributing to the never ending "problem" .

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Buc23

I keep hearing walk a mile or if people would foster a dog... The problem is willing candidates are not given the opportunity to HELP! For whatever reason rescue organizations do not take advantage of candidates who are willing to adopt. How many post, here alone, complaining about ZERO responses to their applications? If I was runing a rescue operation I would encourage my applicants to foster or even more, to go ahead and get involved with, even for short time, with my daily operations.
In short, my strategy would be to bring in as many candidates as possible as to increase awareness of the "problem" our society is suffering as to make people want to get involved. It certainly would not be to ignore candidates to the point of frustation. Frustation that most likely would turn them to BYB or mills and thus contributing to the never ending "problem" .

So, you would adopt to just anyone? How do you think that would solve the problem? Do you know how many of those dogs you would place to just anyone would end up either lost on the streets or in shelters?? The vast numbers of people who are "rehoming" their dogs because they have decided they cannot keep them because they are married and don't have time, have children and it is not fair to keep the dog, or are moving and cannot take the dog where they are moving are ridiculous. You would not solve a thing by recruiting just anyone. That is the problem now....backyard breeders, stores and mills don't give a darn who they sell to......and then we have all of the oopsies and the people who want to educate their children about the miracles of birth. Oh the list is endless of people who in my humble opinion should only have stuffed animals.

[ladyjane]

As for me....I am involved in rescue NOT to fix the problem of overpopulation. I believe that one day there hopefully will be laws that MIGHT fix that problem. It is not a problem that rescuers can fix. I can only fix it for the pups that *I* help....and I am NOT going to give them to someone who is at high risk of failing them. If I make a mistake and miss a good home every now and then, oh well. No apologies....I am making a difference in the lives of the pups that come to me....that is all I can do besides trying to educate about responsible pet ownership.

[crazydoglade]

We are in desperate need for foster homes. Have you called your local rescues to volunteer to foster? There is a need everywhere for homes. You just need patience and love. Everyone wants a "teacup", 1-2 years old, housetrained, perfect health, good personality and no bad habits. Those are already in homes. Fosters need someone to train and teach them. The persoal rewards are endless. And yes we do respond to Emails. People only want the perfect dog. Yes they need to be a good match. That is what fostering does. Search out your local rescues. They are everywhere. We do all breeds and always have yorkies, so do most rescues.

[Buc23]

Ok people what part of "no responses" and get "people involved in the ACTUAL care of a dog" you didn't understand in my post?
All I am saying is it would make for faster and better solution if rescue organizations could get possible candidates more involved instead of just telling people you can't adopt this particular dog. Instead of just rejecting an application for X or Y reasons have candidates involved in the care of a dog under the supervision of the rescue volunteer. Candidates will realize what it takes to care for any particular dog and decide this is or is not for me. In the mean time the rescue organization created awareness of the problem on the "flesh" of the candidate (actually went thru what volunteers go thru every day) and "free" labor from another person who did not volunteer before. All of those solutions would alleviate any rescue organization daily troubles as well as would probably produce more volunteers.

I am not saying give the dogs to the first one that call or email you. All I am saying spend a little extra time communicating with your potential " customers" and you will be in a WIN-WIN situation.

[Buc23]

Originally Posted by crazydoglade

We are in desperate need for foster homes. Have you called your local rescues to volunteer to foster? There is a need everywhere for homes. You just need patience and love. Everyone wants a "teacup", 1-2 years old, housetrained, perfect health, good personality and no bad habits. Those are already in homes. Fosters need someone to train and teach them. The persoal rewards are endless. And yes we do respond to Emails. People only want the perfect dog. Yes they need to be a good match. That is what fostering does. Search out your local rescues. They are everywhere. We do all breeds and always have yorkies, so do most rescues.

God bless you for what you do. A you can read in this thread, the frustration caused by lack of communication keeps people from helping. In a business if I ignore my customers' inquiries, as crazy as they can be, I would be out of business pretty quick.