I am all about rescuing and adopting. I bought my Merlot, but I don't want to buy another dog. Since then I have volunteered at various shelters and I have learned too much since then about shelters and dogs without homes to do so. I just wouldn't feel right about it.
Like many other people though, I have run into problems. I live in an apartment with a tiny yard and work full time, so I'm not seen as a good candidate. It doesn't seem to matter that I have a pet sitter and 90% of my free time is spent with my baby at home or various dog parks. I have tried several times and I will keep trying. It's frustrating, but I understand they need to be strict in finding new homes. If only they knew what a grand life Merlot has and my future furbaby will have! :animal36

Interesting question. I tried to adopt 6 times and was denied for the following reasons:

1) They didn't want the dog to be alone during the day while we worked
2) They wanted the dog to have another dog to be around

Therefore, we ended up getting a full breed yorkie who is happy as can be - he is the only dog and he is alone during the day and does just fine. He gets tons of love and affection.

I never could understand why the dog shelters in the SF Bay Area rejected us so many times just because we both work full time.

In today's world...how would they even expect you to take care of a dog if you don't work full time? And sometimes w/ some dogs it's NOT good to have another dog around.

I think they're just trying to find the best possible homes. Rescues usually take more time, and do not adapt as easily.

4dogs- you have gorgeous dogs!!!

Our SPCA is very strict. My brother wanted a lab type dog for his family of 2 boys ages 7 and 9. They wouldn't adopt to him because he had kids. My brother is a stay at home dad the dog would have so much attention from their family. ALL these dogs sitting in those cages familyless and they wouldn't let ONE go home with my brother. RIDICULOUS!

That's true, but w/ rescues having soo many restrictions, it's a very limited number of people who can adopt. Then people complain about overpopulated shelters. I think if they made acceptions here and there (like OK, you don't have a fenced in yard, but you ARE a stay at home mom, etc) then the problem wouldn't be probably half as bad. Also, for the dogs sake, I think they rather go to a family w/ no fence, or a family who works full time, or a family w/ kids instead of living in a shelter and being confined to a cage most of the time. I know shelters have the dogs interest in heart, but they need to realize that their being soo protective, that sometimes this can cause more harm than it does good.

Was it because of the labs tempermant? If it was known to be a biter, that's one thing..but if it wasn't then that's a real dumb excuse to NOT let your brother adopt it.

Do shelters get any sort of government aid, or tax breaks? I'm thinking, maybe they have to keep a certain number of dogs, and they get some sort of aid or something, therefore there real strict on who adopts just because they dont want anyone to adopt. The more I read about this, the more skeptical I'm becoming.

There was no particular dog in mind. They wouldn't adopt to him period. :mad:

He bought a beautiful golden retriever from a local breeder.

Wow...and don't most dogs love kids? Maybe theres been past issues w/ rescue dogs biting children, then the shelter getting sued :confused:

My family suggested that I lie just to get one (i.e. say I worked from home, etc.). I didn't want to lie so we guy are yorkie boy! I'm glad it ended up working out that way as I love him to death. Now that we have a dog, if we want another they might let us adopt! LOL! :D

Rescue
 

Hi there! I figured I'd post this in a rescue friendly thread. I've been looking for/researching yorkies for about 6 months. I'm pretty paticular about what I'm looking for - so it's been a while. Then - last Friday night I saw this guy on Petfinder. They said he was a Yorkshire Terrier. I've talked to them since and they said he's mixed with Papillon. He looks like he might be 25% yorkie - ears are definitely Papillon. I'm hoping I can still be a part of "the club" even if we end up getting this dog. Isn't he sweet??? I wonder what his coat will be like - when do yorkie coats typically get long??? He's 6 months. Let me know what you think.

Aw he's adorable!

He is a cutie pie!!! I have no idea what he would look like full grown, but keep us updated!

Megan, I agree with you completely. I think it's sad that we have such an overpopulation of dogs that any end up in a shelter for whatever the reason may be. I think it's sad that a lot of these dogs are there for bad temperament and cannot be adopted due to previous owners lack of knowledge, time, or inability to train. Or the people that so horribly mistreat their dogs that the dogs will never recover.

I think it's sad that people purchase dogs from breeders they don't research and when they find out they are not "perfect" leave them (that's how I got Simon) or people use babies for breeding and then abuse them (that's how I got Hallie). I suppose we are a site of extreme animal lovers so for us it's easy to see all of the destruction and unfairness in animal treatment. I will say though, selfishly, I would really like to have a puppy that was healthy because I have never had that experience. Please don't get me wrong I would NOT change a thing about my babies but I would consider buying from a breeder so I could assure a long, healthy life.

So, yes Megan, there is so much sadness going on and I agree with everything you said :) but I can also see the other side of the issue too.

Of what I have read on this subject, No one has mention the cost. I did look into adopting through a recue organisation for a yorkie. And i think the cost is to high. I wanted an yorkie so bad to replace my baby that had past. I did not care about the age. it just had to be a yorkie no bigger than 6 pounds. $350.00 for a dog that is sick and old. I saved and now I have to pups .
I have adopted dogs from the humane society and it did not cost us over $150.00. Why would they have the cost so high?. that people can not afford to take a chance on an older dog.i know it cost them alot to recue. I donate to these causes all the time. But a loveing home is cheaper than keeping them in the shelter. Don't you think

They charge because of the care, which you already mentioned, but I think I remember reading on one site (when I was going to rescue) that they mentioned "If you can't pay the $350, you won't be able to afford the rest of the care for the dog" or something on the lines of that, just worded different. I see your in Michigan, what yorkie rescue did you go to? I was checking out one in Indiana.

I always look at our local shelter's site for dogs. Before we got Loki, I looked for 6+ months at the shelters for a Yorkie. I think I ended up finding and applying for two. One I never got called back and when I called they said I lived too far away (it was like 40 mins) and other people lived closer, so they could do a home visit easier. The other one needed to be adopted with his "brother" another type of dog. I have allergies so I couldn't take the other dog too. Plus, we don't have a fence and only wanted one dog. In 6 months those are the only Yorkies I could find.

Recently our local shelter (www.adoptpetshelter.org) found a hoarder/breeder with 22 yorkies and silkies. They announced it on their website but didn't end up putting many up on their website for adoption. The ones they did put on there (so far) have training/social problems (fixable!) and stated that they can't go into a home with another dog, or with kids, or with kids under a certain age, etc. MOST of the dogs on their website say no kids under 8. Well, since my husband and I are a young couple, without kids YET, we are out of the question. My husband is even home ALL day because he works from home, but we don't have a fence because we live in a townhome (Loki is NEVER off leash and never unsupervised outside and we walk every day.) So that is another strike against us. Every time I see a dog I fall in love with, the restrictions take me out of the running. :(

My other problem is that I HAVE to have a Yorkie. I have allergies and I have had problems with friends' dogs that most people are OK with, even poodles and bischons. Yorkies and shih tzu's I'm great with, and hubby doesn't want shih tzus :) Yorkie lover that I am, if I had no allergies I'd have a black lab. ;) And I would have gone to vet school! (Those cat allergies are the worst!) So for all of Loki's craziness that I deal with, I love him so much more simply because I can have him!

I don't know what he is, but he is freak'n adorable!!!!!!!!!!! :D Yorkie, or not...welcome to YT! :thumbup: :p

i put in an application on that pup too :). He is darling. I've been getting so frustrated with the whole rescue thing lately. For about the last month I've put in applications and shown interest in rescue dogs and I'll be darned if any of them even bother getting back to me. I have all the required things...ie; fenced yard, no kids, home all the time....and still no replies. I can only hope it is because there are so many people trying hard to give the dogs a new home. I think they should at least aknowledge a person's application.

I just had to chime in again and say it saddens me so many think rescue dogs are rejects or mean dogs. I know some recues just do what they do and don't know all the dogs that well, but I myself and I'm sure a few other rescues know my dogs VERY well before I let them go. I keep them months and months lots of times just to make sure of temperment. I can tell you LOTS about the dog you would be adopting and all it's good points and quirky things. I always tell adopters EVERYTHING I can think of to tell them about the dog... not just the silly little postings that get posted with each dog like"great little furball, looking for forever home" . We have a home full of animals and kids and BELIEVE me these dogs get socialized and I know who can take what... and so on. I also am REASONABLE with adoption fees. and adjust them for seniors and such. And also I would never deny a person an adoption based on income or fenced yard or anything like that. JEEZ I have a rescue and don't even have a fenced yard... and you know what... No Escapees yet:D

So sorry about the rant but I want to give the rescues a fair shake.

Why do some think if you can't pay alot for a dog you can't take good care of them??? This is really insultng. I have rescue so many sick dogs and have thousand of dollars wrapped in medical bills for my babies. this is a real awlful
stereo typeing.
I went over the internet to look for a homeless yorkie. there is a place some where in Valpo, In.

It cost me nearly $200 just to have Loki neutered. Not to mention pulling of baby teeth, shots, etc. The rescues have to charge enough to cover their costs. MOST rescues, if not all, at least spay or neuter their dogs before they release them. The younger ones need shots and such too which cost money. I'd expect them to at least recoup that so that they can have $ to go rescue another dog. Some older dogs or dogs rescued from puppy mills have all sorts of problems they need to treat, from dental problems to surgery or whatever. That will be reflected in the cost of the dog.

He's ours!
 

Wow - I can't believe another YT member put in an app on this guy. And you live in Seattle??? People thought I was crazy driving 8 hours round trip to get a dog in Kansas.

So. . . he is adorable. He is Yorkie/Papillon from what they tell us. Not much of the story I've been told about him has turned out to be true. We think he is 8 or 9 months (not 6). The rescue woman said he's like 2 or 3 lbs - he's 7. This is actually great for us - we needed a good sturdy dog. He went to the vet today - and his knees are great (I was worried because both breeds can get luxating patella). I found a flea on him last night :eek: and am completely freaked! We're frontlining him - but I am still freaking out.

He is much cuter than his pictures. His face totally looks yorkie (older yorkie) but his body and ears are all Papillon. I love his whispy bangs and I think his coat at least around his head and neck will get longer. We'll see.

He's only barked when he met our neighbor dog and this morning when he wanted out. My daughter can take away his bone - and he doesn't care - he hasn't growled or nipped at all. He's just a lovely dog.

He got neutered on Monday and I can't wash him until next Wednesday!!! Yikes! The place he came from was pretty crazy - I'll feel much better when I can wash him and make him pretty!

He is sooo cute. :) I love his colors.

This is such a great thread. Man, I thought I was the only one who thought the requirements that most (esp. private) rescues have are too strict. The hoops I had to jump through just to adopt a GUINEA PIG were outrageous...the woman from the shelter got into a huge fight over the phone with my vet b/c he felt like she was requesting info from him that was confidential.

I certainly understand them wanting a fenced in yard for a larger dog that is very active....and I certainly understand not wanting to adopt a dog that has proven to be highstrung or grouchy, to a family with kids.

But as has been mentioned, surely they can make exceptions, based on individual cases?

I do also think it's a shame that so many people seem to have trouble getting a simple RESPONSE from a shelter, when they've expressed interest in an animal.

Obviously there are some great privately run rescues out there, but I find myself hoping that this thread gets read by a few who need to be able to see things from the other side of the window.

Heeeey, I saw this dog on Petfinder the other day!! Did you keep his name "Pinto"?! I thought that was SOOOO cute!

Pinto
 

Hi! Pinto is a cute name - the shelter gave him that name - because he has the coloring of a Pinto horse. We are changing it - but can't agree at all!!! 3 out of 4 want Snickers. . . We'll see.

Oh - and Sassy's mom - if you don't get a reply from Silent Angel. It may be because he had over 250 hits on Petfinder (he was also on 1800saveapet) and the emails just poured in. Hopefully she'll email you because you did apply. She has over 150 animals - yikes!!!

Jodi

I rescued 3 Yorkies and I am very proud of it .

I think it makes perfect sense. If you can't afford $350 or however much a dog may cost, how are you going to afford unplanned medical expenses that come up later on?