Why is adoption so difficult?
 

Why is it, with so many homeless cats and dogs, that adoption is SO difficult. As horrible as it sounds, no wonder so many people just buy from breeders and pet stores as opposed to adoption. Sure, you get gratification in the end, but the actual process of adoption is insane.

I am looking to adopt a kitten. About a block from where I live there is a small dog boutique that also fosters kittens for one of the local animal shelters. I had seen the kitten before, so I decided to stop by since I need dog food.

When I got in, she was loose so I was petting her and asking questions and every question I would ask, I would get the run around. I asked when she would be ready... they said about a month. I was said how that was fine.. I wasn't look to adopt immediately because I'm going on vacation soon. Then they said they would really like her to go home with other pets.. Uhh, what am I here buying dog food? I told them I had two dogs. Eventually she told me to check back in.... WHATEVER.

Over and over I got excuses! It was insane and really weird.

And I've had similar problems before when I tried to adopt a puppy from a rescue.. I was rejected because I didn't have a yard. I guess I am horrible to my two because I make them stay inside in the air conditioning and heat and when they go out they have to walk on leashes.



Sorry.. I just had to vent. :(

I am sorry adoption isnt going so well. I understand you frustration. Before I got Chachi and Jewels looked into adopting a yorkie but they wouldnt consider us because we had a 5 yr old child. Our home was perfect except for that. We own our home and our front and back yard is fenced and I am a stay at home Mom so I am home all day. It s a wonder that animals in rescues or foster situations get adopted with some of the rules. I found them to be very snooty too

I hear ya! When we finally moved into our new house in the country, we decided to adopt two kittens - to be "outside cats". I am highly allergic so we can't have them in the house but wanted some outside to keep away the critters. It's not like they would have a bad life outside. We had a very large kennel to keep them in at night while they were young - so no bigger critters could get them. Well, one shelter turned us down flat because of the fact that they would be outdoor pets. What in the world is so wrong with that? They'd rather euthanize these poor things than give them a chance with someone that really wants them. Luckily at another shelter, we were able to adopt two adorable kittens. They've done great outside - spent their first year getting put up in the kennel at night until they were old enough to fend for themselves. They are spoiled fat cats though! And they keep the little critters away for the most part!

Anyway, our adoption story turned out okay in the end but it was ridiculous the fight that the first one gave us.

Ive had the SAME experiences and eventually bought my 2 boys from a breeder as well. I also had it with a Rotty I tried to adopt! its very sad that the 'good ones' like us, are rejected for insane reasons, but I guess they really do need to make sure the people and home are good so the dogs dont end up back there. But I really think that a personal evaluation, rather than a home evaluation should be more important! I mean I could walk 10 dogs, 10x a day if I had to, so just bc I dont have a yard does not mean that my dogs do not get the exercise they need! WHATEVER! haha (sorry, I get a bit heated when I think of how many times I was rejected when I KNOW I provide a great home!!)

I TOTALLY understand where you are coming from..it seems there is always a reason I dont qualify for a rescue...and because of that I started my OWN small breed rescue LOL!! I have had to turn down a FEW people for obvious reasons but geez some of these rescue organizations are waaaaaaaaay too strict.

Dawn

Glad I'm not the only one who has had these problems.

Is it sad that they would rather turn down people for insane and unfair reasons isn't it?

Oh well! I'm gonna keep trying!

If you want a kitten we have four you can have, and I just posted about a lady whos dog just killed a stray momma cat and she also has 4 3-4 week old kittens.

Ugh, I know! It is soooo frustrating! Try going directly to a shelter instead, they'll probably be A LOT more lenient!

Even better! Help out YorkieShadow, she has her hands full!

yes from what i have read..it seems that trying to adopt is a pain in the a$$...kekek

Sometimes it is unbelievable. We bought Misha from a breeder but we had to fill out a questioner.
How many hours a day are we away from home working?
If we would have answered more than 5, they would have never let us have her. I could have never left her that long by herself anyway.
They also asked if we smoked, because they didn't want her getting 2nd hand smoke.
The breeder lives on the other side of the state, & they hand delivered her to inspect our home.
I though this was a great breeder to make sure she had the best. She wasn't cheap either.
We didn't have a problem with all the questions, she turned out to be the most perfect little girl we could have asked for.

If only we lived in the same city!

If I was a breeder (which I could NEVER do- I'd get to attached and would never get rid of any puppies), I'd probably be just as picky! Haha. :D

i adopted a dog from a rescue after a LOOONGGGG adoption process. then evrey couple of weeks she would show up my house and "check up on things" she would DEMAND updated pictures by email, and would call me ALOT. thats why ever since then, ive bought my dogs from breeders, they do ask for pictures and want updates, but ive found breeders to be friendly and polite, not rude.

I tried for 9months to adopt a homeless Yorkie from animal rescues without even a response! Believe me any yorkie they had was deprived of a wonderful loving home because I worked I would assume. I filled out many papers telling them about my whole life and the past lives of my pets. One lived to be
17 and the other 16 both rescues. Buddy was bought from a pet store so
I feel I did save a life afterall. Regardless, they ignore many wonderful homes because people work or don't have a yard. No wonder there are so many
unwanted animals in foster homes. No one is good enough for these rescues and I know I'm not the only one that feels this way.

If you had obvious reasons , maybe rescue organizations have too to turn down peoples .

I got really frustrated and hurt by a group I tried to adopt from too. Why can't they at least let you know WHY you are being rejected. I have adopted several poor animals but never have I seen behavior like I saw (or didn't see) from that organization. Makes me want to stop donating cash too!

I agree that some people don't deserve a pet however I am not one of those.
I own my own condo have worked for the same co for 24yrs rescued dogs in the past, keep a clean house, spoil my pets to death, the best food and vet visits are no problem. I am dedicated to my pet and always was. There was
no reason in the world to turn me down or I should say not to even respond to me. The only reason possible they could come up with is no yard or stay at home mom! That is no reason to not place a homeless animal. If you look at some of these resuces these animal faces have been posted for at least 1yr.
I see the same faces week after week. Pretty sad when they can be in a loving home.

Most dogs that are available as a rescue have very special needs be it physical or behavioral. These are not like a dog that you get from a breeder. They can very difficult to house train and may not ever be completely housebroken. They can also be very standoffish and even aggressive and it is possible that they will never be a cuddly little lap dog. The rescue organizations just want to make sure that the dog goes to a forever home that understands what they are getting into and is prepared to give the dog a loving and lasting home no matter what happens.

You would be surprised at how many of these dogs are adopted out only to be returned or who have gotten lost. This is why most organizations are so strict, they would rather error on the side of turning down a good home than to place the dog in a home that is not prepared for it. These little guys have been through so much that they deserve the very best forever home possible.

So it's better to put an animal to sleep or have it live months on end in a cage rather than adopt it out to someone who has other perfectly healthy pets and also young children, no yard, etc. than taking the chance to adopt them out? That makes no sense to me.

Sure, some animals might get returned, but I know more find loving homes than those that get returned.

No, the rescue organizations that I am familiar with do not put them to sleep or keep them in a cage. Maybe you were referring to the humane society. I do not have experience with them and can't speak as to their practices. My experience is with the rescue organizations where the rescues live with foster parents and are cared for as one of their own.

As for few dogs getting returned, you would be shocked at the number. One organization that I know of saw over 1/3 of the dogs that they adopt out get returned because people did not know what they were getting into or get lost because they did not have a fence. This led to much stricter rules about who was eligible to adopt and the number drastically dropped. I'm not saying that anyone on here would not make a good home. On the contrary, I believe that you and the others on here would make a very good home. I only wanted to give some insight on why they were so strict.