Petmatchmaker.org ??
 

I hope a moderator posts this where it should be....does anyone know if this is a legit rescue organization. I have been approved to adopt a 6 month old Shorkie puppy from them and just want to make sure they are a rescue and not just pretending to be.

I have no experience in knowing where to adopt a dog from. My yorkie, Biscuit, was given to me by a neighbor from her litter....and he was just a wonderful part of our family.

If anyone know of this organization, please let me know. They require a $100 deposit (which goes towards the adoption fee) to hold the puppy and remove it from their website & petfinder.com - they will also refund the deposit if I decide, upon meeting the pup, that she is not a match for me. They also claim that they will refund adoption fee within 2 weeks if you find the puppy/dog is not right for you.

Any suggestions?? Anyone know anyone who adopted from them???

Help please.

Not sure, but it kinda sound ok :) They are 501 too ;)

Please, don't just take the fact that they are a 501 k non-profit as proof that they are lagit. The "rescue" I got Barley from (K9lifesavers) sounds a lot like what this group is saying to you. They were also a 501 k non-profit. They told me over the phone that Barley would be fully vetted and micro-chipped. When I picked him up they didn't have his vet record for me and he was in horrible shape. I let the rescue know that he was sick and no microchip was found during the scan at my vet's office. They said that person I spoke with was a volunteer and gave me the wrong information. They didn't stand behind her mistake and pay Barley's medical bills. A true rescue group wouldn't have sent him home with these problems.

I posted on here about this before. If you like I'll find the link to it so you can read about what I experienced let me know and I'll find it for you. He's wonderfully healthy now, but has aggression issues. A true rescue would be there for the adopter, but Barley's isn't.


My advise to you is if you are set on this dog then look at this adoption as if you're going to the shelter and getting it from the shelter, as you are still rescuing it.

BUT if you want to support a true rescue then I'd look into this petmatchmaker closer. I haven't heard of them before, but I'm concerned for you as they sound a lot like the "rescue" that Barley came from. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat more about these things. Gen.

Please don't be fooled by the "non-profit" status that they post. People who work for non-profit groups are often paid a salary too....that salary is often counted into the operations expenses for the non-profit company. This continues to count them as a non-profit. I didn't know this until recently myself and was shocked to learn such a thing but it's true. I use to wonder how people could do nothing but volunteer and still afford normal living expenses.

:thumbup: Sadly, this is true. While it is a tool to measure with, you still cannot be 100% positive they are legit. Having a 501c3 merely means that the IRS has granted them non-profit status. I am sad to say that some rescues are not reputable.

Some things that struck me as odd about them......

They seem to do a lot of mass shipping of dogs, both air and ground. Below is from their website regarding ground transportation:

PETS LLC, a transport service consisting of an air-conditioned horse-trailer travels from Little Rock, Arkansas travels to New England almost weekly. (Excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years weekends and some other weekends throughout the year.) We also use transport from Got Orphans located in Arkansas and Road Dogs out of Jackson, Tennessee.

They say their "fosters" are located in shelters and foster homes throughout the US. Why would anyone need THEM to get a dog from a shelter for them?

Those are only a couple of things....I am sure if I took the time to peruse the site, I woud find some more red flags.

They could be legit, but I have never heard of them....and for being such a supposed large organization, it seems to me someone would have heard of them.

The red flags I mentioned above is enough for me that I would not use them.

Boy this is a tough one...I did do a search on guidestar and they do have a 501K (anyone can write they have one, so it is important to look up) at:

GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses

The website says it is 3 friends doing this but I find it odd myself they would be shipping from the south to new england...and one of the group is in california.

The whole thing is just strange..could be on the up and up but it is one of those things I am just not comfortable with. I did look at a lot of the dogs and they certainly were a mix group so who knows.

Just exactly what kind of dog are you looking for? Do you own your own hosue? HOw old are you?

I do not know any rescue that would put their pups in horse trailers....air conditioned or not.
That was enough for me.

Good catch...and I totally agree..

I am so grateful to everyone here at yorkietalk. I guess it all sounded a little off to me and that is why I posted.

I thank you all for your input and I am going to contact Libby Williams also.

I think I may have to pass on this pup since I am uneasy. They required that I fill out an application and provide vet references etc. etc. But that really doesn't mean anything.

To answer your question: I am really looking for another yorkie - I absolutely loved my yorkie! He was given to me by a neighbor who lives across the street whose yorkie had puppies (she wanted a litter). Therefore, I have no real experience adopting. I do own my own home and I am 47 years old and live with my husband and two children (15 & 17).

:animal-pa

OMG...I missed the entire section on transporting in a horse trailer....how can this be allowed. I was going to pick the dog up so it didn't have the additional trauma of shipping......but a horse trailer!!:(

Have you done a search on Petfinder? Sometimes there are yorkies in shelters on there...and they SO need homes. I have seen a few lately in NY.

There are groups in the East and Northeast. One is in Massachusetts...which is not all that far from you. They are: www.yorkiesinc.com They are a very reputable group. If you adopt from them, there will be no surprises. That is also important when you speak with rescues....ask them what vetting is included in the adoption fee...AND what medical issues the pup may or may not have. A good group will have taken care of all medical needs, including spay/neuter and shots...and dentals if needed.

Some of the national rescues also have foster homes in your area.....look on Petfinder and if you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck in your search! :)

I'm so glad everyone come on and added their expert advise! Thank you all for helping her!!!! I'd hate to see her have the same experiences I had with my two. I hope to hear very soon that teacup0819 has had a wonderful experience with a reputable rescue group!

I am so sorry you had such an awful experience. Thank YOU for letting people know about it.

Just like there are good and bad breeders, there are good and bad rescues.

Thanks again to everyone who has posted. I did find this puppy on petfinder.com but still had a strange feeling when I communicated with this organization.

I will keep on my search for our newest family member. Thanks for the advice and the good wishes.:animal-pa