Help me understand...

[Brandi]

A few years ago a very good friend of mine decided she wanted a Siberian Husky.  I forced her into doing plenty of research on the breed so she knew what she was getting into.  She was a novice dog owner and she always loved how magical the Husky's looked and fell in love.  After months and months of research, she decided the Husky was the right dog for her.  Having 2 younger children, she did not want a puppy, but wanted younger adult dog.  She and I searched many rescue sites and found a few dogs that sounded like they would fit in her home. This rescue was a very large, very well known rescue about 3 hrs from where we live.  She called several times asking about the application process and emailed the lady that runs the rescue.  About 6 weeks later, no response.  She called and emailed a few more times and finally got a return call.  The lady emailed her the application and my friend had it filled out and emailed back to her the next day with pictures of her home, fenced in yard that she just had fenced in and her whole family.  Another 5 weeks go by with no response.

 So on the phone she was, calling, calling, calling.  The lady did call her back 7 weeks after the time they received her application. She told my friend that she was approved pending the in home investigation. She also kind of nastily said to her " you know we all do this as volunteer work and we are very busy"  The lady said she would call her and set up the home visit.  Another several weeks go by and nothing.  No call, no response.  Soooo, my friend again called and emailed and got no response at all, and I mean still to this day, no response and that was over 2 yrs ago.  Are they soooo busy that they can't even do a follow up on applications??  My friend got fed up and went through a breeder and ended up getting a puppy anyhow.  Now through this whole process, the husky's she was looking at, had many status changes on their website, like "needs a home ASAP, rescue is paying a kennel to keep them, because they are sooo full, they have no room"   and similar stories. Now let me ask you, if you are running a rescue, and you have so many dogs who need homes and are paying a kennel a daily fee to keep some of them, why wouldn't you follow up with applicants??  My friend was extremely aggravated with the whole process and gave up with the rescue group.

Now, I have a sickness of creeping around on petfinder for doodles. I found a doodle I fell in love with and thought maybe, just maybe I knew someone who would adopt her. I did some calling around found a friend who would be willing to drive 800 miles to go adopt her, but she was told no. "will not adopt to out of state", or "must live within ( X) amount of mile" etc. WHY?? I understand the concept of making sure the dogs go to a good home and everything, but, if you have someone willing to drive 800 miles to go adopt a dog that obviously needs a home, why wouldn't you at least consider it?? With technology today, they could do a video interview or something to at least get the feel of a person before you just tell them NO, with no questions asked. When you limit your space with these adoptions, you are limiting your adopters I would think. I know there is alot of dogs and puppies out there needing homes badly, but I feel some of these rescues out there almost make it impossible to rescue a poor baby in need. Help me understand, I just don't get it.........

 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

i dont get it either.  I was looking for a rescue for my MIL (not a doodle though) and found some perfect dogs for her - but they wouldnt adopt out of the area (or country - we are 45 min drive from the states). Like you say, with video calls you can show them your home and chat, and someone who is willing to drive a long way to gewt the right job is obviously someone  "in it for life" and serious about the adoption. 

My MIL ended up getting a dog from our local humane society - where they didnt ask any questions - they just took the money and handed over the dog. 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I know I feel the same way. The no out of state kills me like you said there are ways of checking on people! If you really want to adopt they should let you and not ignore you. I feel sory for the dogs there that the process is too much for them right now. Maybe they could get more volunteers to catch up?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm hoping someone more experienced with rescues will answer you question, but Im sure there's a reason as they wouldn't be doing the job they are doing if it weren't in the best interest of the dogs. Having said that, it does seem a bit too complicated and lengthy a process for those who want to give The dogs a good home and are willing to put the energy into adopting. Sorry no answers here.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do know that some rescues will not ship dogs but if someone were willing to pick up the dog you would hope that would be sufficient.

[Carol Brand]

Rescues often play the run around game when they don't want to adopt to a person.  It may be hard, but they should bite the bullet and just say no. 

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I know for me, I like to keep my rescues fairly close because we do a home check and are still small and growing and don't have the people to go do it. Larger rescues should be able to find people to home check. But I know even some of the largest who will not adopt out of the area to be able to check in from time to time. Mainline (in PA, of Oprah Puppy Mill Fame) will not adopt outside a 50 mile radius.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Brandi, sometimes it depends on the dog.  After a dog has been fostered for a period of time.  The FM knows if that particuliar dog would be able to handle a long trip or not.  Also, if there is another applicant that can provide just as good of a home.  If they are closer the rescue usually (not always) goes with the family living closer to where the dog is located.  It is much easier on the dog going to a new home not having to travel so far. 

Some rescues are very strict on their policies wanting to do home visits before placing dogs in the home.  If it is a local rescue and ran by volunteers.  It is a lot to ask of them to travel several hours to do a home visit with the possibility of not placing a dog in that particuliar home. 

By the time a dog or other animal has reached a rescue most of them have had rough start, some more than others.  So its all about whats best for the dog and not the adopter.  It may seem or sound harsh.  But if more people considered what was best for the dog in the beginning, there would be less dogs in need of rescue.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I can see this from both sides. It is a matter of rescue policy and time - especially time and volunteers.  People who apply often think they are ordering up a rescue dog like a pizza - I'll have a medium, apricot, non-shedding female who is housebroken, good with children, has NO issues, is totally obedience trained - oh yes and could be a service dog because I have special needs....       Get Real, folks!

We tried to contact Springer rescues for years with no response - EVER.  From my standpoint this is rude and I agree that how can there be rescues needing homes so badly and here I am wanting one, and I know that I would have met any qualifications.  My mom tried to contact Westie rescue and while she got the application, she never heard a thing back. Admittedly, she probably didn't qualify because she was old, and was too specific in her request.  But a rejection response would at least allowed her to move on.....

People who apply in cyber-space deserve a response that their application was received.  I appreciate the auto response ability of technology that lets you know that your cyber application was at least received.  Rescues are mostly run by volunteers and there are never enough volunteers to do everything. It would be wonderful if a follow-up response could be sent to applicants telling them 1) that their application was rejected (this is very hard, but perhaps someone in this world could design a polite blurb); 1) that their application was received/approved and will be filed (and that the applicant should periodically send an update request so that it doesn't get buried); 3) their application was received and they are being reviewed for a dog right now.  But again, there are not enough volunteers to do this kind of stuff.

As to the distance thing, rescues are quite worried about more trauma to the dog, but I agree that if the applicant is willing to travel to the dog for the final meet-up approval with the thought that they might not be going home with that dog, it should be allowed.  That is the great thing about cyberspace, we can reach out to so many more people.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

There's two sides to that, too. I made it a policy to answer all inquiries and send "Thank you but..." notes and some people will get all huffy and upset when you don't agree that they are the most wonderful family in the world, and they had x number of dogs already trained on an e-fence with no problems and what's wrong with adopting in NYC and it has now gotten to the point now that I have on my applications: "If you match the needs of the dog, you will be contacted. If you do not hear within 2 weeks, it is safe to assume you do not." I just don't have the time to deal with all the inquiries and I don't know of another rescue or shelter who does.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I certainly understand Lynne. You don't have time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Regarding adopting out of state, there are very few rescues with the resources to have volunteers throughout the country. Even if someone is willing to drive 800 miles to get a dog, what happens if the adoption doesn't work out? A person may be willing to drive that far to get the dog, but would they be willing to drive that far to give him back?

Regarding a video interview, that might show you what the potential adopter wants you to see, but it doesn't show you what they don't want you to see: The junked car in the backyard (we have seen this twice on home visits), the section of missing fence, the broken gate, the 18 cats in the basement, the hyperactive 6 year old screaming, etc.

I can't speak for other rescue groups. There are very few rescues that have the resources to be national, like IDOG and the DRC. Most rescues start out with one or two people doing whatever they can in their spare time. It is always difficult to find good volunteers, wherever you are. What needs to be done for one single homeless dog is as follows:

1. Identify dogs in need. 

This requires hours and hours spent on Petfinder, Craig's List, and other sources of listings. It also requires sorting through dozens of emails from people trying to rehome their dogs, and other shelters and rescues who have a dog that they would like you to take. This is turn then requires extensive interviews with the owners or shelters to get the information on the dog, and then extensive phone calls and emails to find a foster who can take the dog, and more phone calls and emails to arrange transport, in many cases. This is all before the dog even gets into the program.

2. Once all of the above is done, the dog has to vetted: Spayed or neutered, vaccinated, checked for parasites, examines for general condition or health, HW tested, etc.. Arrangements need to be made regarding payments, and usually a low-cost vet clinic or a vet who is willing to work with rescues on price has to be found. More endless phone calls to fosters and vets.

3. Evaluate, take photos, (which usually also requires grooming) and list the dog. This requires communication between the foster and the person who will post the listing, which is a much more complicated process than most people understand. You cannot just post a listing on Petfinder like you can on CL.

4. Screen applicants. The DRC can easily receive over 80 emails in a single day from people who would like to speak to you about the dog before they will even fill out an application. No matter how much inforamtion you post about a dog, or about your adoption policies, people do not read. You cannot imagine the requests people make.

"Hi, I saw Whosie on your website and I am in love. I can be at XYZ airport tomorrow, can you ship him? I will pay for it." I'm not kidding. It is also hard for me to understand why people do not read the adoption procedures or policies before shooting off an email asking to be called.

There is no possible way to respond to all of these people, regardless of how much time or volunteers you have. When you do call someone, the call is almost always at least 30 minutes, if not more. People who are desperate to adopt have lots of questions and lots of things they want to tell you about themselves. There are only so many hours in a day.

5. Read actual applications carefully, call the references for those that look promising, forward application to foster mom, discuss, contact potential adopter. Find someone to do home visit if the previous interviews go well, make arrangements for that. Follow up after home visit. Again, lots of time spent  calling, emailing, etc. How many questions and how much inforamtion would you want if you were adopting a dog, or if you were the foster mom choosing a home? How much time would that take?

There is so much more to this than I am even posting here. Dogs have issues that need to be discussed with fosters, trainers, vets, etc. Treatment decisions may need to be made.

As you read all of the above, keep in mind that the people who are doing all of this are just volunteers with their own homes, jobs, children, dogs, and lives. This perhaps may help explain why a rescue group doesn't respond to an application or inquiry from any given individual.

Again, I can't speak for all rescue groups, but unless a doodle has extreme health or behavioral issues, there are always dozens of qualified applicants who want him, and therefore, it is never a case of depriving a dog of a good home because of rules or policies.

But there is nobody who wants to adopt a doodle, and I mean nobody, who does not think they woiuld be the best choice and would provide the best home, and certainly nobody who would accept any suggestion that they are not qualified to adopt. Please believe me that there is no possible way to tell someone, no matter how kindly or carefully you word the message, or how many reasonable explanations you give, that will not cause someone to become offended. Many people then often become verbally abusive. No volunteer is going to try to find extra time to set themselves up for that. So rescue groups have policies and they are posted on the group's website and/or in the dog's listing. It is up to the individual to read them carefully before applying.

When placing rescue dogs, the whole focus has to be on what is best for that particular dog. There are no third chances. The dog has to be placed in the home where they will have the absolute best chance of never having to go through losing a home again. So a good rescue has to focus on the needs of the dog, and nothing else.

Sorry this so long, but believe me, it could have been a lot longer, lol. I hope this helps clarify things.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I knew you'd make it clear. In my grand total of two home visits, one a drive by for the DRC it's clear you can't always believe the potential adopting family. The drive way was to check fencing. I really didn't think fencing on 3 sides of the driveway with the driveway side wide open was exactly what the DRC had in mind.