A Word of Advice to Rescue Groups

As of Thursday, November 18, 2010

My husband and I decided to adopt a dog from an animal rescue group in a neighboring county (we searched locally but did not find the dog that seemed like the right fit for us).

We immediately fell in love with a little dog and filled out the adoption papers, but were told that we could not adopt because the rescue group owner felt we were not good pet owners, simply because we had a dog that had not been spayed.

There were reasons our dog had not been spayed that I will not get into right now, but that did not seem to matter. We have a nice home and a fenced-in yard, and a lot of time to spend doting on our pets.

While I do not want to discourage people from adopting from these rescue groups, the animal shelter was much nicer to us and also seemed appalled that we were not allowed to adopt a homeless pet.

I beg the rescue groups to please visit homes; do not judge people who are trying to do the right thing. These animals deserve a chance. Do not encourage people to go to breeders.

Stephanie West

Carthage

More like this story

fatboy 2 years, 6 months ago

I had a similar experience at a rescue facility in Hoke County. I have a house on three acres in the woods on the outskirts of Moore County, and tried to adopt a small dog, which would have been an inside dog. I went through the adoption application process, and when I submitted it, they denied it because my yard is not fenced in. I left there convinced that they take these dogs in, and get attached to them and keep them. Then they use the monies that are received thorugh donation to feed and care for them.

3petz4us 2 years, 6 months ago

Yes I too have had the same experience with some of our rescue groups around here. I understand there are policies in place to keep these animals safe...but please dont turn GREAT families away because a problem...look into the problem, find out what the real story is! On another note The Animal Center of Moore County ROCKS with great service, they work with you, and do all they can to assure a great adoption experience. I recommend them to everyone I know looking to adopt!

srwest 2 years, 6 months ago

I totally agree the Humane Society and the Moore County Animal Control were GREAT and I do not want anyone to think they should not adopt a homeless pet because they are the best too.Just begging rescue groups to not make it so difficult.I LOVE my pets and would never do anything to make their life difficult.

TASKA 2 years, 6 months ago

Dear Ms. West:

I am so sorry that you waliked away from dealing with Cindy from Solutions with such a sour taste. You may not know Cindy they way that many of us do. I would like to take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about her. I have known Cindy for the past 5 years and she is one of the most sincere and devoted individuals you can ever imagine meeting. This woman runs a no-kill facility without funds from the government. She does this strictly by hard work and donations from the public. She puts in a 24/7 day week with no compensation other than finding her rescue babies a good home. I am sure that you love your pets and that they are safe and healthy. Cindy feels the same about her animals. She has devoted her life to rescue and rehabilitation. She has camped out overnight to trap/save an injured animal. She has picked-up and traveled many miles to puppy mills to save these poor creatures. She will, in a heartbeat, help anyother rescue group in need. This woman is without limits to who she will help. Cindy will review an application very carefully to ensure that the pet is compatible with the potential adopter and vice versa. Please take the time to put yourself in Cindy's heart for just one moment in time. This woman loves her animals and would want nothing more than to place them in a forever home. The process does take time though. When you put so much time, as Cindy does, into a dog/cat/pig/horse, you just can't let that animal go until you really feel deep down in your heart that everything is so right for that animal. When Cindy makes eye contact with an animal, it is at that very moment that she makes a committement to that poor soul to ensure that they will never be abandoned or hurt again. You and Cindy have more in common than not. You both love your pets without limits.

yellow3 2 years, 6 months ago

According to the Humane Society of the United States, 6-8 million dogs and cats enter a shelter each year. 3-4 million of those are euthanized. Where do you think those animals come from? Mostly irresponsible pet owners, who for whatever reason decided that Spot/Fluffy didn't fit into their life anymore. And a huge number are litters of puppies and kittens from people who didn't spay/neuter their pet - even if they never intended on breeding that animal. Accidents will and do happen.

Rescue Groups know all the different reasons these dogs and cats end up in a shelter. And their goal is to avoid that same fate for the dog/cat they are responsible for. Therefore, they screen potential adopters and they screen them carefully. What is the point of adopting an animal to someone if 6 months later, the dog/cat is surrendered to the animal shelter because "the dog can't be contained," "my daughter is allergic," "my landlord doesn't allow."

By not screening potential adopters adequately, many animals are just being "recycled" from one shelter, owner, rescue group to another, where ultimately they could be one of the 3-4 million animals who will be euthanized this year. We, as a society, owe it to dogs and cats to do better.

According to USA today (June 23, 1998), it costs taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to round up, euthanize and dispose of animals each year. Yet another reason Rescue Groups should make sure each animal they adopt out is going to a loving, responsible, forever home.

Pet overpopulation is a crisis and should be treated as so. There is no reason 3-4 million, healthy adoptable dogs and cats should be killed every year. So I suggest instead of criticizing rescue groups (or animal shelters for that matter) start looking at how you can be a more responsible pet owner and supporting these groups in what they are trying to accomplish. Rescue groups do their best to make a good match and I'm sure sometimes they make mistakes. But put your pride (and anger, frustration) aside and consider the 3-4 million animals whose lives depend on it.

AGalloway 2 years, 6 months ago

I know several people involved in rescue and have fostered myself. It is not an easy world to be in. You have your reasons for not spaying your dog, and I respect that. However, thousands of other people's dogs are not spayed and millions of unwanted dogs are put to sleep every year. Most rescues I know will accept a letter from a vet stating the reason your dog is not spayed. I had to do the same when adopting one time, but I had to specifically ask if I could do that.

The rescues keeping dogs they like and feeding them off of donations is a joke. Many of the people I know hand over thousands out of pocket to care for the dogs. Many dogs come in with heart worms and other issues that lead up to huge vet bills.

I understand how you feel, as I too have been turned down by rescues. However, I also understand the position they are in. The shelter is not in the same situation, as there dogs will get euthanized if not adopted. I know of tons of 'rescued' dogs from the shelter living outside on chains, or left out without a fence and get hit, and in worse situations. Not trying to bad-mouth the shelter, the one in Moore County is heads above many! It's just what will happen when you have so many dogs that have to go somewhere.

I think instead of writing about this it would be time better spent trying to educate on responsible dog ownership. :)

AnimalLover 2 years, 6 months ago

Ms. West: I am sympathetic to your frustration, but TASKA, yellow3, and AGalloway hit the nail on the head. Please don't criticize Cindy for doing what she thinks is best. Her motivation is strictly for the health and well-being of the animal in question. The only important part of this process is finding the right human for these homeless animals. I have not personally worked with Cindy, but I have heard of her and the excellent work she does as an advocate for those animals that cannot speak for themselves. She, and all the other animal agencies have one common goal, the welfare of the animal. Many of these animals come to these organizations because of neglect, abuse, or "good intentions". They may have physical ailments as well as psychological problems. There are a multitude of reasons that one might be turned down in his/her attempt to adopt. I won't pretend to understand why you chose to not spay your current dog, but spaying and neutering is one of the main agreements to adopt from these places. Without putting words in Cindy's mouth, why would she have any reason to believe that you would abide by the agreement and have your new pet spayed/neutered when you have not done so to your current dog? I am sure that you would likely be a loving, caring pet owner and I wish you well with future adoptions. But, spaying and neutering isn't merely a suggestion with these organizations. It is an absolute must, no exceptions.

pinewoodnc 2 years, 6 months ago

I am VERY experienced in the field of animal rescue. I will say that there are rescues that take in more animals than they can properly care for. I know that they love the animals, but you have to be able to be sensible about how many you can financially and/or physically give the care and attention they need at one time. Some greatly overextend themselves. Many of the animals have already gone through neglect, abuse or mistreatment of some kind.

I did encounter an individual that adopted from a local group and was given the animal in a sickly condition. I was appalled that the animal would have been adopted to this individual in the condition it was and would require expensive medical care from the new family. My sympathies went to them. I think it was another situation where overextending resulted in not proper vet care before adoption.