Adopting a doodle

[Ann Kendig]

For the past month or so I have been checking websites for doodles that need rehomed. (Golden, Lab or Aussie) I have been talking to a breeder about a 11 week old puppy but I would really like to adopt. I must say that any of the doodles I have been interested in have anywhere from 2 to 8 applications. Even though it makes it difficult for me to find one that needs adopted I am glad someone wants to offer them a good home! Alot of the doodles live so far away there is no way to even consider them. Has anyone else had a hard time finding a doodle to adopt? I'm going to try a little while longer....maybe I'll get lucky!

[Ann Kendig]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to my question and share your stories. I was getting a little discouraged but I am renewing my hope of another doodle to love! After reading some responses I checked a suggested web site and filled out an application. I'll keep my fingers crossed. His name is Beppe. Hopefully he will find his new home with us! This is such a wonderful group to belong to with so many great and caring people. Thanks again!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Beppe Doodle has been available for awhile...and he's such a cutie....Good luck to you!

[Susan]

Ann, the right doodle will come up for you! I searched for months till Marlow came up and I was lucky enough to adopt him. It is hard but you have to be persistant to find the doodle right for you!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Were all here to have happy healthy doodle dogs and to rescue one doodle at a time is worth more than words or money can ever tell or buy.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Not for a doodle or IDOG but yes, I became very frustrated with the whole process. Unanswered phone calls and missed meetings. I too, felt I had a lot to offer but did not meet all of the qualifications. I was offered dogs that certainly were not for me or my family. Not a good match at all, but yet when I inquired about the ones I was interested in there was always some reason we were not a match. For example I was a match for a 5 year old, non-housetrained pitbull, but I was not a match for yea old chocolate lab that was misplaced due to the owners death.
. I appreciate the intense screening, the time, the energy of what foster programs go through--I fostered in the 1990s but I felt things had changed. Yes there are GREAT stories of rescues out there what I am commenting on is the process is difficult and slow.
Another example--I applied last October and got a call 2-days ago. I also realize that many of these organizations are volunteer and timely placements may be difficult but for someone looking to adopt today--6months is a long time to wait. So Yes Ann, I have been on the other end and sympathize with your rejection and frustration.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's true that many rescues are staffed by a few unpaid volunteers with major time constraints. Patience is definitely a requirement for the doodle adoption process.
The strict requirements for adopting dogs through rescues & shelters are necessary, because these dogs have already lost one home; whoever adopts them absolutely has to be a position to keep them for life. While it is true that a great number of us are terrific, devoted doodle parents without having fenced yards or owning a home, living situations are one of the primary reasons doodles are relinquished. A dog that has to be walked is more likely to be given up if the owner becomes incapacitated; many of the doodles in rescue are known to have had bad experiences with electric fences, or have escaped an unfenced yard. "Not enough time" is more likely when a dog has to be walked or supervised by a busy person than if they can just open the back door and let the dog out into a secure yard. These are just a few of the reasons for the requirements.
It is really important, as Adina said, to apply for a dog before you actually see a doodle you want. Apply at private rescues near your home, IDOG, and any shelters in your area. You are under no obligation to take any dog that may be subsequently offered to you; it just puts you in line when a possible fit comes along. In my case, I had applied for dogs with a private rescue & a private shelter in my area. I lost out on one of them, and the other was not a good fit for me. But afterwards, I got calls from both groups about new dogs who came in. When Jackdoodle was relinquished, I was called immediately to come see him. I adopted him before his photo ever made it onto Petfinder.
I would like to add that the application to adopt Jack was 4 pages long, and made IDOG's look very short & easy. I had to answer questions about what I would do in every possible situation...from digging in the yard to losing my home to what I would feed him. I didn't resent these questions a bit...if I ever had to give up a dog, God forbid, I would want them to be as thorough and careful as possible in choosing a new owner for him.
I paid $300 to adopt Jackdoodle, and had to also pay a $150 training deposit, and a $250 fence deposit...our yard was not completely fenced, and after we finished it, and they came to verify that, they refunded my deposit. Jack had never had a problem with running off or fences, but that was their policy. He also had no behavior issues, but they require training for all adopted dogs as well, to help make sure the dog is not given up again. I took him to a training class, and when I sent in my certificate of completion, I got that deposit back, too.
It was all worth it. If you want to adopt a dog, you have to look at it from the point of view of what is generally best for the dog. None of it is personal.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN ADOPTING FROM A RESCUE ORGANIZATION ARTICLE
http://doodlerescuecollective.ning.com/group/soyouwanttoadoptadog/f...


WHAT ARE THE COSTS/FEES INVOLVED WHEN ADOPTING A SHELTER/RESCUE DOG? ARTICLE
http://doodlerescuecollective.ning.com/group/soyouwanttoadoptadog/f...


WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SHELTERS AND RESCUES? ARTICLE
http://doodlerescuecollective.ning.com/group/soyouwanttoadoptadog/f...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I agree that it is all worth it, and I think this is an IMPORTANT Debate and no offense taken. :)
This is also an awareness for both sides of the spectrum; those who are fostering dogs and those that are trying to adopt a pet because they feel it is the right thing to do.

As a "customer" to any foster or adoption agency we would like to let them know how hard it was to experience this process. I believe many more dogs would be placed in good homes if these agencies had more awareness of what we went through..

* Answer your phone--don't tell me " I just took this job over and I have 282 applications to call on. I am sorry you are angry it took me 3 months to call you". and then hang up on me.

* Don't tell me I am too old for this dog.

* Don't tell me I would be better off with the 3-legged untrained pitbull and you have NO other dogs at this time.

* Don't tell me the cost of this 9 month old homeless but healthy puppy is $1000.00

This was what we go through out here. I felt I needed to be rich and famous to rescue a dog.

Remember in my last posting I mentioned I worked for G.R. I. N. ( Golden Retrievers In Need ) in the mid 1990s

I have an awareness of the cost, time, and energy to bring an unknown dog into my home. I just want them to realize just because they are doing a good thing, does not mean they are doing it the right way-- There is always Need for Improvement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There is no excuse for rudeness; I think you see it more in the public shelters than in private rescue, because in the shelters, they are county employees who are just doing a job and don't really care.
There is also no excuse for a three month time lag. Three days, yes.
I have experienced some rudeness from private rescue workers as well, but that is probably just a personality issue.
The thing about adopting a doodle is that in many areas, there are far more applicants than there are dogs; the private rescues can afford to be tough with doodle adoptions because there is so much demand. In the southern kill shelters, anyone who can pay $60 can take a dog.
The price is a different issue, which we have discussed here on DK before. Many rescue groups will set a higher adoption fee for a puppy than an adult dog, and for a dog who is very desirable than for one who may be difficult to place. The higher fees offset the cost of caring for dogs who need veterinary care, and those who remain with the rescue for longer periods of time. It is a sliding scale type of thing.
In this capitalist society, I guess you'd call it the law of supply and demand, lol.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Charging a $1000 adoption fee for a dog is rediculous!.....I would question that organization's integrity.....A county shelter should be no more than $175 doodle or not.....A private shelter no more than $300-$375...Rescues will always take an opportunity to charge higher adoption fees for doodles......Because they are in demand, expensive when purchased from breeders and highly adoptable, charging higher than normal adoption fees for doodles helps them offset their operation costs to house, feed and provide vet care for their other perhaps less adoptable dogs.......I've seen rescues charge anywhere from $100-$600 for doodles.....IDOG however charges max $375......which is totally reasonable for a private rescue who provides complete vet care, spay.neuter, foster care etc....I also charge MAX $375 for my rescue doodles and it often costs me much more for vetting, HW tests, spay/neuter, grooming etc.....I just don't think it's ethical to charge more than that....Those who are in dog rescue for the right reasons will be raesonable with their fees...We are not in this to make a profit after all...We are in this to save dogs....Mainline charges NOTHING but Bill Smith personally puts prospective adopters through extensive vet, reference and home visit checks and will only adopt out within a 50 mile radius of Chester Springs PA......

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am not saying that it's right, I'm saying what it is. You and I both know of a private rescuer who regularly charges $1000 to adopt a doodle; and another whose adoption fees generally run around $600. I myself paid $100 more than the shelter's posted adoption fees; what was I going to do, bicker with them? It was still the greatest bargain of my lifetime, and that's even with the fact that his vet bills average $300 a month, and always will.
There is a lot that can be improved about the rescue system, whether private or public. But the good, IMO, outweighs the bad.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you for listening. This is a great place. I only wish I had all of you BEFORE as a support group asI spent hours on the internet looking at homeless dogs I could not seem to adopt.

Hopefully we can help more of those who wish to adopt and rescue.

I so much agree with the supply and demand aspect. I also think this is marketing--and a marketer needs to Know the Customer and be able to Supply a Product in order for Both to be happy. It sounds so horrible to use the term Marketing when it comes to helpless animals--but its the truth.