the aspca is supposed to do tempermant tests on the dogs before they adopt them out at all it's squarely on their shoulders how are you to know what happened to that dog after he left your possesion! that's ridiculious! poor dog but why did he bite all of the sudden? maybe he was stressed from what all he has been through medical and moving between homes! i still don't think it's your fault at all i don't see how you could be held responsible! i would definatley fight it tooth & nail! the aspca should know how dogs like that may act in a new strange home and informed whoever adopted him about it and maybe the new owners were inexperienced! you can't just adopt a dog like that and expect it to be a great happy touchy feely dog imho the people who got him didn't know much about dogs in general!

That is really awful. Did you do any training with a professional who could vouch for his disposition? It's possible that the new boyfriend reminded him of someone who abused him and it's also possible that the new people did something where he felt he had to defend himself. (Not that you don't have enough going on in your life, but if you can read "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell.) You don't know that what these new people did to make this dog bite.

He could very well have had a trigger that was never set off in the environment of your loving home. If you can, I would contact someone who has studied animal behavior and could explain how this sort of thing happens. Perhaps they could prepare a statement or testify for you as an "expert".

In the past I had always been a part of the use the local humane society or rehome. I had also done a rescue myself and ended up keeping him until he passed away. I am well known by my vet as always taken in the injured and getting them on their feet until I could find them a home. These animals must know a softie from miles away because they would just show up and what do you do, call the humane society? If it's a cat chances are pretty high it would be put to sleep. But I could always find a home.
Most recently and very unexpeditely Phoebe passed away. She was given to me by the people that I puppy sat her for. She was a yorkie and they gotten her at the pet store. When they got her she had PARVO they did not know it, they bought her because they thought she was cute. But after 1 year realized that she did not fit in life style.
Long story shortened.....right after her death I said to my family that is it no more animals. 2 days later I decide I really need another. I knew that I really wanted another yorkie. I started researching. I actually looked at rescue first. Truthfully for me I won't do that after what I saw. Most of the dogs I saw all had serious health problems. On some of these dogs the rescue had already spent over $3000 in vet bills on one yorkie and they still needed on going medical. Medical seemed to be the majority of why they were with the rescue. Some had been abused and neglected but those numbers appeared to be way lower than the ones that had medical issues. It has been my expericance in the past that you can bring back a neglected dog, but one that has been abused they usually never really come back.
You honestly do not know what you are getting when you rescue, the same could also be said about getting a new puppy.
I chose to find a breeder and that I have. I have probably driven her nuts with all of my questions and such. I also had my vet involved in this and contacted her vet. But at least she knows that her puppy will be going to a good home.

I am just curious, dosen't the ASPCA test the dispostion of the animal before
placing them even after they are returned? If they do then they can't hold
you responsible!

I think you should be asking the shelters this question, NOT me, as this is the response that I saw on a SHELTERS website...

Look at it this way though, take a BMW for example. Expensive (well some) car, and very expensive to maintain. If you cant afford a BMW in the first place, how can you afford to maintain it?

I guess w/ shelters, because they are so inexpensive, a lot of people probably assumed it was a cheap way to get a dog, and it was all they could afford.

It makes sense to me, and it doesn't mean that anyone who adopts can't afford the cares of a dog. I can't explain it any simpler, so if you still don't understand than I don't know what else to tell you.

Rescuing
 

Okay - I have to post once more about my rescue situation because it's bothering me more every day. The people that have posted on this thread about working rescue - have really opened my eyes. I guess I'm not sure what to do.

Here's the deal with the rescue we used.

1 - They said he was purebred on the listing - on the phone said he was mixed (we all knew he was mixed anyway).
2 - They said he was up to date on all shots - we (my vet's office) had to call the vet of the previous owner and there's no record of the dog at all.
3 - They said they had used Frontline on him - but we got him 4 weeks from the date they did and he still had fleas - and we weren't told.
4 - They said he doesn't bark except to be let out to go potty - not true - has serious separation anxiety (peeing and barking).
5 - They said the previous owner had the mom and dad - the paperwork I saw said he was from a petstore.:(
6 - They said we would be given free 30 day insurance from sheltercare - when I called sheltercare - they said petfinder dropped the program in May but that my shelter could call - I emailed and they haven't responded.:mad:
7 - They said over the phone he was 2 or 3 lbs - and he's 7 (I'm actually glad about this one - but if I'd gone intending to find a 3 lb dog - I'd have been upset).
8 - My vet said he's not 6 months - he's more like 8 or 9 - she could tell from his teeth. This wouldn't be a huge deal except he was just neutered - and now we won't have the benefits of early neutering (curving humping & lifting leg).
9 - This rescue had oops puppies! This means both were not neutered! I saw my dog's sign and he was advertised as "unaltered" though she did neuter him once she knew he was leaving.

Could this be a hoarder???

Now - why didn't I walk away? We had driven 5 hrs - but I was prepared to walk away - need be. Much of this I didn't know until after we got home. Please don't flame me for making a bad decision. I knew I was taking a gamble - was I ever! I didn't know how much stress this whole thing would cause me. Does anyone think I should do anything about this? This shelter has 150 animals - all on a woman's property. They are outside in dog runs most of them. She has no hired help - just her son and daughter.

I just hate for other people to drive hours or days to this place . . .

Jodi

p.s. - we love our dog - it's just been stressful.

confirmed
 

Hi y'all! I confirmed our rescue pup's birthday was in November. So, he's 9 months old. He is such a love. Housebreaking has just been a BEAR!

I wholeheartedly agree with the OP.

I bought Mocha from a backyard breeder. I was an idiot and I didn't do nearly enough research...I knew not to buy from a pet store and to see what environment the mom and puppies were in, but that's about it. She cost more than the adoption fees at our local Humane Society to begin with, and only got more expensive after we found health problem after health problem. After $1500 in vet bills, we had a beautiful puppy who survived and is the apple of my eye. Do I love her dearly? Of course. Will I ever, ever do anything but rescues dogs again? Never.

When we decided to get a second dog, we knew it had to be small, non-shedding (as much as a dog can be), and it HAD to be a rescue, no exceptions. It was a rescue dog or no dog. So we adopted Panna, a 2-year-old, purebred Maltese with papers who was in danger of euthanasia. She was scared, as I expected her to be, but she's a doll. We do think she was neglected in her past (not abused), but we wanted to help a dog who had a tough past...we've had plenty of fosters through our door who have had absolutely no problems and were just happy dogs who needed homes. She's now been with us for a year and a half and we couldn't love her more.

Next we rescued Cannelle. We weren't looking for a third dog, but a rescue we foster for called us and asked us to take her...how could we say no? She's been severely abused, attacked by large dogs, she lost an eye, and, well, if there was ever a dog that needed love, she's it. She's come so incredibly far and seeing her transformation has been unbelievable. She's our miracle :).

Working in rescue can be sad, but it's far more rewarding. In June, I had a Yorkie X foster that had to be put down due to heartworm that had progressed past the point of being treatable. On the other hand, nothing beats seeing my fosters go into loving forever homes, especially when I see them a couple of months later and they're so happy and healthy.

I have never, ever been bitten by a rescue. My two are wonderful, not to mention that the support I receive from rescue is unbelievable. I mean there's different types of dogs with different temperaments everywhere, but I know that I will never go back.

Really, I figure that I won't support backyard breeders or puppy mills and the screening process is comparable for rescues and reputable breeders (a lot of shelters, on the other hand, don't have any screening process at all). However, I just can't buy a dog when there are innocent dogs in shelters, just looking for forever homes. Not to mention that rescues are considerably less expensive (which quite a few people seem very happy with!).

Jodiodeeo, that definitely sounds suspicious. Were the 150 animals well cared for? Have you thought about reporting them to your local SPCA so they can investigate? It's incredibly irresponsible for anybody, but especially a rescue, to have an "oops litter". I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, I hope this won't affect your opinion of rescues. Please let me know if you need any help with anything.

Thanks chocolatecoffee - I'm still having dealings with them so no I haven't reported them. They're actually in another state (I'm in CO - they're in Kansas). I suppose I should mention their name so that anyone searching threads can read about my experience. It's Silent Angels - near Leoti.

I wondered about the oops litter. Maybe she just can't afford to neuter them all right away???

I can't really say about how well kept the dogs are. Most of them are out in the hot sun - she has tarps tied over some of the runs but many are blowing in the wind. I'm sure they had water - but I was pretty focused on our guy. The trouble dogs are kept inside - and it looked clean but smelled really bad in her home.

I will always encourage rescue - but only for people who are experienced pet owners - it's been eye-opening to me.

Jodi

rescuing animals never came to mind when i wanted a dog and i honestly think it doesnt to most, only when you become introduced to the problem. for me, i saw a picture of a teacup yorkie and i wanted him badly but didnt know what he was at the time. my bf took the picture and asked around for what it was and found eventually found it from a breeder and surprised me with him.

its hard to rescue dogs because most people have certain breeds in mind. i doubt you'd find a teacup yorkie at a shelter. i believe each area is different with abused breeds as well. also, i think most people dont want to go through the long process of adopting. all the paperwork, tests, questions, screenings, etc.

but thats my opinion, if i had the time and money, i'd like to rescue one in the future and keep Remy company. :)

I would've adopted a rescue, but there are a lot of dogs for instance on petfinder, who the shelter says, no children... so I'm already cut from that, but if we were ever to get another, and there was one that would fit with us, and children were allowed in the home, I would.

In my new neighborhood theres a lady w/ a rescue pup. My neighborhood is mostly townhomes w/o fences, except for like 14houses in one could-de-sac (sp?). Anyways, since it looks like most shelters want the home to have a fenced in yard, I'm going to find out where this lady got her puppy from, and see if she is actually in a townhome or not over here. Hopefully I'm one step closer to finding a rescue for in the future :)

my thought on this... and btw i agree with you... is that alot of ppl arent aware of the situation until they have already gotten their puppy... i know that was the case with me
its sad... but i think it happens alot and you kinda live and learn
and its true too that rescues DO have alot of stipulations on their to-be-adopted pets that many ppl may not quality for
which is a catch 22 really.... its GREAT that they are really attempting to look out for the pet they are putting up for adoption and whats best but on the other end really good homes could be being filtered out due to thier regulations
sometimes it feels like a no-win
but i think alot of ppl do rescue... if they can and they truely care... once they are made aware of the growing problem

tooooooo sad
 

I rescued a maltipoo he is so great that my son
begged me for him they have been together ever since Im baby sitting him now and small dogs always get homes its the big dogs that dont but in all fairness you need a fenced yard and a lot of space most shealters wont let you adopt a large dog if you have children.

I'm wondering - maybe some rescue workers know the answer. . . once a dog has been in a shelter/rescue situation. . . what are his/her chances of going back to the shelter/rescue at some point in his/her life? I was thinking maybe that stat is high - and that's why they screen so carefully.

Jodi