Great Thread!
 

Here are pics of my 4! (sorry about Robbie's pic - one of his quirks is that he hates to have his picture taken!)

I've typed a response to add to this thread 8 times now - each time it goes on forever! Shortened version: I believe strongly in rescue and haven't heard yet a good reason against it for most families. Just like breeders - there are Excellent/Good/Fair and plain awful rescue organizations - you need to do your homework. If you get turned down by one organization - try another. Even after 30 years of rescue dogs/cats - I'm sure I wouldn't necessarily be considered acceptable by some organizations for one reason or another. (I have big dogs - I have small dogs - I have cats - I have a 6 ft fenced yard - but it's a custom picket style.... etc...)

There are a lot of misconceptions on both sides (between a rescue group and a prospective owner) - I'd love to hear more ideas and thoughts on how to improve the process. One thing I'd love to see is a more standard application form (at least for the pups listed on Petfinder) because some organizations ask more poignant questions than others. For example - asking if a person has a fence is simply not enough. If I have a 4 foot fence - that really isn't enough to contain a GSD and on the flip - a 6 foot wide spaced picket isn't going to made a bit of difference to a JR or yorkie!

And yes, I agree that even asking this question doesn't always mean diddly. Many owners with out fences make more effort to take their dog out and supervise them than some with fences!

We can all do something to help turn the tide for all animals but setting a good example for all pet owners. Spay/Neuter - take your dog to obedience training - socialize your animals appropriately and take good care of their health. Even if you can't provide a home for a homeless animal just now, please do everything you can to make sure your animal never ends up in a shelter! Many of us learn by the examples of those around us.

J

OK - so it turned out long again (but I swear it's shorter than the first 8 times!)

did this thread move?

I THINK there were two similar postings/threads because I remember reading some postings about people not wanting "used dogs" etc. but a dog of their own..... I think the other thread was under the Rescue discussion.

So, no, I don't think it moved.

J

DITTO!!!

I have no problem with a shelter dog. I have adopted many in the past from my local pound even if I couldnt keep them I paid to release them, Fostered and usually found a great home for them, I didnt get a shelter dog this time because there were only HUGE dogs and I dont have room for a huge dog. The small ones always were spoken for, I knew what I wanted and waited it out. The process is a bit difficult for little dogs with families and the bigger dogs were not an option with their unknown histories,. I have adopted larger older dogs and they have proved unfit for families with kids. Nearly every one of them had agression or nippiness towards kids.
Bonnie

I'm trying to understand your post, but having trouble. Are you reffering to rescuing little dogs w/ families and rescuing bigger dogs w/ unknown histories? Because unknown histories can come w/ any dog, regaurdless of size. And a lot of bigger dogs are good w/ kids. Toy breeds have a reputation for being snippy. Not all are like this of course, though. You can't judge a dogs aggression on their size though. Don't let the large dogs you adopted make up your mind on all large dogs, a lot of them, atleast majority of the ones I know are great w/ kids!

Actually, Rocky snaps a lot when he's eating or humping something, he can get pretty nasty, so were working on that w/ him. My bigger dogs, excluding one, have not been as bad as him when it comes to eating or playing w/ toys.

I know just how you feel!

I got replies like " There are 200 applications for this dog, BUT we have a......" yea, yea. If I wanted that other dog I would put that dogs name on my application.

And have you read those contracts! :eek:

Home inspection now, later, surprise inspection, and the dog is never yours, if you move, have surgery on the dog, you must get permission first or charges can be brought against you..... and on and on. :mad:

Forget it! my search went from 1 month to about 6 months, I gave up and got one from a breeder.

I really did not want a puppy, because of all work needed on the first year.... they are a lot of fun and a lot of responsibility and work :) . at the end of the year its all worth it and you want to do it all over again....LOL ;)

:thumbdown

Ok back to clarify....
It is hard to find small dogs that they will allow you adopt when you have kids.
As far as th big dogs go,, I am not judging all dogs by the few I have adopted but everyone of them were rough or aggressive. The difference between the big and small dogs was I can pull a small dog away from my child before he is mauled, the large dogs are much harder to control.
That has not stopped me from keeping them it has just curtailed my adoption further of them. I hvae had from a Great pyranees down toa chihuahua and the pyranees that went after my grandson was just as scary to him as the chihuahua to us but, when I ran after the Pyr he was like a bull in a china close the chihuahua well... a little easier to deflect.
Therefore I went on the search for a small dog, knew what I wanted and looked at rescues. Never had luck so I purchased.
Just my own personal preference that fit my family
Bonnie

I think they ask way to many personal questions! Plus I have a daughter now. We adopted years ago before my dd was born. We adopted two HUGE senior dogs. One was a sweetheart and one couldn't be trusted. So I would hesitate now to adopt older dogs. If the questions weren't so personal I would try to adopt a younger dog if I could. Seeing as that I have a huge dog at home now AND a daughter they wouldn't let me adopt anyway. So for me I have no choice but to go to a breeder.


Michelle

I have 3 rescued and never had real problems with them . Peoples often make all sorts of excuses for not rescuing . I admit that a puppy is much cuter than an older dog . From my experiences It is not true that an older dog can't learn new things . If the older feels comfortable in his or her new home , he or she will learn very fast .

I rescued a 7 year olds that never have been potty trained , It took a few months and the dog never had an accident in the house .

I WANTED to rescue a dog
 

When I got Edie, I lived in Maine. The pound had only pit bulls and pit bull mixes. I did not want one of those breeds--they can be unpredictable and I had a small yard so I wanted a small dog. I found Edie through a newspaper ad.

After I got Edie, I met one of the directors of the local Animal Refuge League. I told him why I had not adopted from them, and he agreed with me....the ARL was full of pit bulls. He said the small dogs got adopted almost as soon as they came in the door.

Maine is a very humane place. I NEVER saw an outside dog. The winters are cold and all dogs live indoors. Also, everyone spays/neuters their dogs, so there is a SHORTAGE of dogs to be rescued. In fact, they bring them up from the south (Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas) so they will have enough dogs to adopt out. I wish all places were like that.:thumbup:

Turned down
 

For those of you who were turned down from a rescue for a BS reason, what was your response? I know if they turned me down because I'll be living in a townhome I would definitly came a comment about their rescue being overisized because of BS rules.

Come on you guys!

I think a lot of people are hesitant to get a dog from the shelter -- simply because they have never made a tripo to the shelter to see the wonderful dogs that are there.

My granddaughter and I aren't looking for a dog - but we go by the shelter occasionally just to see the animals there. And - don't think we don't see a lot that I'm sure would make wonderful pets.

Puppies are great - but puppyhood flies by before you know it and we all end up quickly with a dog that is a year or two old --- just like a lot of the pets at the shelter.

Even visiting the shelter, we can certainly tell which dogs are frightened or shy, but still sweet - and, of course, it isn't hard at all to find the ones that are friendly and outgoing.

I think it would help a lot if more people would just visit their shelters....certainly not always because you want to get a dog, but just to see the facilities and the different animals that are there. This would be a real eye-opener for a lot of people. I think a lot of us would quickly realize that there are a lot of wonderful dogs there - all ages and all sizes.

And - for those of you who believe the old adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." This isn't true at all. Dogs of all ages are eager to please if they are in a good home and receive loving care. For sure being consistent and knowing how to train is the real key - at any age.

I taught my 5-year-old Bichon a couple new tricks last week (because I was also teaching them to my 10-month old Yorkie). I think my 5-year-old learned the tricks faster than the pup did.

Visit the shelters in your area - not just once - but occasionally. You'll wish you could take a lot of them home. This will help you become better informed and perhaps be better able to encourage prospective dog buyers to visit the shelter also.

Carol Jean

I agree with what your saying, but I know if I had kids of my own, or kids coming over to my house a lot I would be hesitant to adopt an older dog from a future who does have a bad reputation for biting. Sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks, but not always. That is definitly a risk NOT worth taking when children are around.