Feeling Frustrated

[WeimMe]

Well most did not even get back to me, and this is the home I had to offer:

Me home all day.

The dog can go in and out all day as he/she pleases.

Dog sleeps inside in my room on dog bed.

Never surrendered a pet.

Have had existing pets since pup/kitten - now aged 11 (dog) and 12 (cat). Both in good health for their age.

One child, aged 10. Quiet and has grown up with pets.

Large suburban yard, fully fenced and secure.

Vet references.

And I was quite happy to pay the going rate.

Don't know what the problem was... but apparently I was lacking somewhere. I could have understood it if it was just one dog, but 9?? I would love to know what the problem was.

Anyway, the RSPCA or pound are not quite so rigorous with their questioning/judging and you don't have to wait for them to call you so if you really have your heart set on a rescue dog that might be the way to go. We would have done that ourselves if not for being concerned about how the dog would get on with kids & our other pets. I felt that the risk of bringing home a dog that wasn't suitable for our situation was greatly reduced with rescue as they've been fostered and most of their traits are noted.

Or you could always put your name down with a nice breeder :)

Edited March 21, 2012 by WeimMe

[Guest muttrus]

I answer all my emails even the not so good ones and the comment I always recieve is ''thanks for your fast response"" I had one email saying "CALL ME NOW""

While most would hit delete and I almost did but I then thought how rude Im going to call as it turned out the lady was at her wits ends and after applying for many dogs she had either missed out or never heard back so I recieved the email of her frustration .

She was lovely and adopted two of our adult dogs over a year later I still get photos updates etc

MAY I also add it goes both ways anyone who has a long termer may know when an email comes in for a home that sounds great and you email back hopeful this is the family #### has been waiting for so you email back and never hear from them again it can have the same effect on us as you yourself have felt.

It just goes to show you never should judge anyone I myself have filled out someone else"s adoption forms and even I look crap on paper

For me I do and always will just reply to each and everyone for I believe it could lead to a home .I wish you the best of luck and congrats to the lucky doggie who ends up sharing your home.

[tdierikx]

Well - I foster for rescue - and I'm positive that quite a few rescues would knock me back for an adoption based on some of the questionnaires I've seen out there... never had any complaints from people who have adopted any of my fosters though, so I might just be doing something right... *grin*

Whilst I agree that we are all trying to find the best homes possible for our charges, sometimes the application process can be a little too rigorous, and in some cases, downright intrusive.

Every dog is different. Their needs, their health status, their upkeep, etc, is different - a simple conversation either by phone, in person, or via email should give one a reasonable idea about the potential adopter and whether they are a viable match for a dog you have in care. If you don't have the people skills, time, or energy to interact with potential adopters, then maybe rescue is the wrong "job" for you.

Every bad application/adoption experience tars us ALL with the same brush, remember...

T.

[keetamouse]

"It is not about what the owner wants, it is what the dog requires"

[~Anne~]

Actually I think there should be a balance about the potential new owners 'wants' and the dog's 'needs'.

[dog_fan]

"It is not about what the owner wants, it is what the dog requires"

Seriously? The owner who will be living with the dig and paying for it should have no say?

I would never ever get a dog from a rescue far too much non-common sense in that sector.

From what I read in this forum I wonder if some rescues actually want to rehome dogs, sometimes it seems to me the word rescue is just another name for hoarding.

[tdierikx]

Actually I think there should be a balance about the potential new owners 'wants' and the dog's 'needs'.

Well said Anne!

T.

[~Anne~]

How annoying. I sent a letter to a well know greyhound rehoming service - nothing back. I couldn't be bothered trying again so will just keep an eye on the RSPCA.

Just remember e-mail isn't always reliable, e-mails can get lost in cyber space, servers go down. If you don't hear back, call :)

Agree. I have had several people state they have emailed me in the last 18 months or more. The problem is they emailed my old email. Some people get a response saying the email address doesn't exist and others don't. I am sure there are a few who think I haven't responded but I can't respond to what I don't see.

Emails are not foolproof.

Edited March 22, 2012 by ~Anne~

[Just Andrea]

"It is not about what the owner wants, it is what the dog requires"

Seriously? The owner who will be living with the dig and paying for it should have no say?

I would never ever get a dog from a rescue far too much non-common sense in that sector.

From what I read in this forum I wonder if some rescues actually want to rehome dogs, sometimes it seems to me the word rescue is just another name for hoarding.

Yes very seriously. I am not sure how you can think a new owner would have any say because if they didn't meet the needs of said animal they wouldn't be getting it in the first place - so moot point.

Some animals have very specific needs - which is why many of us spend many hours painstakingly writing up their profiles to explain this to potential adoptees so they can match up what they are looking for with the animals available for adoption. Its a matching service where the rescue groups ensures the needs of the animal are met and matched up with what people are looking for in their new best friend.

If through discussions with a potential enquirier the animals needs are unlikely to be met, then I would be setting up that animal to fail in that new home if I rehomed to that situation. Then neither the new owner nor the animal would be happy and that animal would be back where it started. Not something any good rescuer would do.

That doesn't mean I won't suggest other animals that might suit the potential adoptee where the one they enquired about doesn't - none of us like to "waste" good enquiries.

At the end of the day if I say for example, an animal needs to go to a home with doggy playmate in its profile - it is because this animal will not cope on its own - we have good reason to believe this is the case - it still doesn't stop the 10-20 calls I get from people thinking they are the exception to this rule and putting their wants over clearly what is needed for this animal.

Despite people regularly ignoring profile information and just ringing because of a cute picture they saw, I still take the time to respond to each and every one of these enquiries and I discuss either different animals with them that may suit or alternate options of access to doggy playdates, how much time they get inside, how much time they are home etc as to whether this will be sufficient to cover those needs.

However, if your sense of entitlement dictates that you should have a young pup on its own outside only, you work long hours, can't be bothered commiting to at least a weekly doggy playdate or puppy school (for socialisation as well as training) or some way of socialising it each week either because you haven't got the time or inclination OR you want an active breed dog to inspire you to exercise but you've never been active to begin with and your idea of vigorous activity is throwing the ball in the backyard for 5 minutes a day OR you want a playmate for your dog and when we meet with my foster dog, your dog spends the whole time snarling at it, guarding you, snapping at it and trying to chase it away repeatedly and you can't understand why I say it won't work out, then I am wasting my breath and most likely I'll be rescuing one of your animals in future from the pound that you get from someone else that doesn't give a damn.

Many animals in pounds are there because their needs AND the expectations and committment of the owners have not matched up.

I take offence to any reference to hoarding - its is completely out of line and disrepectful to all of us who work our arses off each week trying to save animals in this rescue forum. There is nothing rescues want more than to find good homes for their foster animals and in turn being able to save more but getting it right the first time means it has a good chance of lasting the distance. That's what matters.

[dog_fan]

I take offence at the holier than thou attitude some rescuers have as it certainly does not help dogs

[nawnim]

[...

Edited June 9, 2012 by padraic

[WeimMe]

And there goes another potentially wonderful home for a dog....just like the one I had to offer, and the one the OP has/had as well.

I can see that you are passionate about what you do, and I recognise that rescue is a thankless and endless task, but most people who want to take on one of these unwanted dogs are not bad people, and probably not bad pet owners either. Otherwise they'd have gone straight to petstore to buy a cute fluffy puppy. Although that is probably where a lot of them do go after being found unworthy for whatever reason.

I think the percentage of dogs living in absolutely perfect homes is probably quite small.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I take offence at the attitude of "whatever i want I get". Someone at work today complaining because a neigbbour complained about their puppy barking, not only do they work full time and leave the dog alone all day, they also are of an age where they like to socialise so go out after work and a lot at weekends. Not sure why the person got the dog myself.

Why do dogs such as this end up having to be rehomed or in the pound? Research suggests it's because there's been an issue in the first place with a mismatch.

Don't crucify rescuers for trying to make sure a dog doesn't end up in strife twice in a row ...

[_PL_]

yeah, wow, we're either irresponsibly rehoming or being too harsh.

Adopters: Wouldn't you like to be informed beforehand that the dog you inquire about will (for example) tear up your apartment when you leave for a 12hr day? Howl if left alone in the yard? Require buckets more grooming/exercise/social interaction than what you realised? Terrorise your chooks? Shed their coat? Knock a toddler over because they are a doofus? Have no road sense? Or is too lazy to be your exercise partner?

I'm sorry but responsible rescue doesn't just ignore the facts in front of them to get a dog into a home. We're only trying to help, not stop people owning pets!

The only one who can advise you about what a dog is like to live with is the rescuer/carer. And it doesn't help that we also get the other side of the coin with constant requests from people who have made an inappropriate choice asking to surrender their pet.

Hoarding :rofl: funny how that one gets thrown about.

[tdierikx]

There can be a balance between the needs of a potential adopter and the needs of a rescue dog - but how would some rescues even know that if they don't respond to their emails in a reasonably timely manner?

If your preferred contact method is via email, then answer them... it's not rocket science...

Sure - I get a bit narked when a potential adopter throws me a one line email asking a question that seems inane, or could have been answered had they read the dog's profile properly - not to mention that our group's preferred contact method is by phone... but I still respond to the emails... we have actually found a few dogs some mighty nice homes from emails that seemed stupid or "unsuitable" at first reading.

Some rescues have a cover-all questionnaire to fill out in application to adopt any of their dogs, then when a potential adopter may have not answered one or more of the questions with the "correct" answer, they are automagically ineligible to adopt ANY dog from that organisation. To me that seems a little stiff - not every dog is going to have the exact same requirements to be happy, safe, and much loved by the people applying to adopt it...

T.

[Kajtek]

Amen to that Just Andrea

I expect exactly this kind of "service" from a reputable rescue group.

A dog is not a toy or a temporary ornament. She/he is a family member and needs to fit in!

(BTW I've done some rescue work for ~ 2 years. It can be very challenging to find the perfect match)

Yes very seriously. I am not sure how you can think a new owner would have any say because if they didn't meet the needs of said animal they wouldn't be getting it in the first place - so moot point.

Some animals have very specific needs - which is why many of us spend many hours painstakingly writing up their profiles to explain this to potential adoptees so they can match up what they are looking for with the animals available for adoption. Its a matching service where the rescue groups ensures the needs of the animal are met and matched up with what people are looking for in their new best friend.

If through discussions with a potential enquirier the animals needs are unlikely to be met, then I would be setting up that animal to fail in that new home if I rehomed to that situation. Then neither the new owner nor the animal would be happy and that animal would be back where it started. Not something any good rescuer would do.

That doesn't mean I won't suggest other animals that might suit the potential adoptee where the one they enquired about doesn't - none of us like to "waste" good enquiries.

At the end of the day if I say for example, an animal needs to go to a home with doggy playmate in its profile - it is because this animal will not cope on its own - we have good reason to believe this is the case - it still doesn't stop the 10-20 calls I get from people thinking they are the exception to this rule and putting their wants over clearly what is needed for this animal.

Despite people regularly ignoring profile information and just ringing because of a cute picture they saw, I still take the time to respond to each and every one of these enquiries and I discuss either different animals with them that may suit or alternate options of access to doggy playdates, how much time they get inside, how much time they are home etc as to whether this will be sufficient to cover those needs.

However, if your sense of entitlement dictates that you should have a young pup on its own outside only, you work long hours, can't be bothered commiting to at least a weekly doggy playdate or puppy school (for socialisation as well as training) or some way of socialising it each week either because you haven't got the time or inclination OR you want an active breed dog to inspire you to exercise but you've never been active to begin with and your idea of vigorous activity is throwing the ball in the backyard for 5 minutes a day OR you want a playmate for your dog and when we meet with my foster dog, your dog spends the whole time snarling at it, guarding you, snapping at it and trying to chase it away repeatedly and you can't understand why I say it won't work out, then I am wasting my breath and most likely I'll be rescuing one of your animals in future from the pound that you get from someone else that doesn't give a damn.

Many animals in pounds are there because their needs AND the expectations and committment of the owners have not matched up.

I take offence to any reference to hoarding - its is completely out of line and disrepectful to all of us who work our arses off each week trying to save animals in this rescue forum. There is nothing rescues want more than to find good homes for their foster animals and in turn being able to save more but getting it right the first time means it has a good chance of lasting the distance. That's what matters.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

It can be a dreadful disappointment in life to hear what you don't want to hear, that a dog you have decided is for you is going to complicate your life and you are not able to provide what the dog really needs.

I don't do that lightly.

I was working at Doggie Rescue's shopfront, rehoming their dogs in Drummoyne a few years ago when a nice young couple came in, they were probably early 20s. They were renting a unit. They wanted a puppy and wanted one NOW. They both worked full time. I tried to talk to them, they didn't want to complete a form - that was really going to be too many questions for them.

About half an hour later, I was in the pet supply store next door when in they walked with a gorgeous puppy. I asked where they bought this puppy and they said the pet shop. Great. I asked them if the pet shop had told them what sort of dog it was. they looked at me blankly. I asked what they knew about Beagles as that is what they had bought.

I often wonder where that little chap is now. Maybe they suddenly won the lottery and bought a big house and got another dog and gave up work. What do you think?

[Just Andrea]

"It is not about what the owner wants, it is what the dog requires"

Seriously? The owner who will be living with the dig and paying for it should have no say?

I would never ever get a dog from a rescue far too much non-common sense in that sector.

From what I read in this forum I wonder if some rescues actually want to rehome dogs, sometimes it seems to me the word rescue is just another name for hoarding.

Yes very seriously. I am not sure how you can think a new owner would have any say because if they didn't meet the needs of said animal they wouldn't be getting it in the first place - so moot point.

Some animals have very specific needs - which is why many of us spend many hours painstakingly writing up their profiles to explain this to potential adoptees so they can match up what they are looking for with the animals available for adoption. Its a matching service where the rescue groups ensures the needs of the animal are met and matched up with what people are looking for in their new best friend.

If through discussions with a potential enquirier the animals needs are unlikely to be met, then I would be setting up that animal to fail in that new home if I rehomed to that situation. Then neither the new owner nor the animal would be happy and that animal would be back where it started. Not something any good rescuer would do.

That doesn't mean I won't suggest other animals that might suit the potential adoptee where the one they enquired about doesn't - none of us like to "waste" good enquiries.

At the end of the day if I say for example, an animal needs to go to a home with doggy playmate in its profile - it is because this animal will not cope on its own - we have good reason to believe this is the case - it still doesn't stop the 10-20 calls I get from people thinking they are the exception to this rule and putting their wants over clearly what is needed for this animal.

Despite people regularly ignoring profile information and just ringing because of a cute picture they saw, I still take the time to respond to each and every one of these enquiries and I discuss either different animals with them that may suit or alternate options of access to doggy playdates, how much time they get inside, how much time they are home etc as to whether this will be sufficient to cover those needs.

However, if your sense of entitlement dictates that you should have a young pup on its own outside only, you work long hours, can't be bothered commiting to at least a weekly doggy playdate or puppy school (for socialisation as well as training) or some way of socialising it each week either because you haven't got the time or inclination OR you want an active breed dog to inspire you to exercise but you've never been active to begin with and your idea of vigorous activity is throwing the ball in the backyard for 5 minutes a day OR you want a playmate for your dog and when we meet with my foster dog, your dog spends the whole time snarling at it, guarding you, snapping at it and trying to chase it away repeatedly and you can't understand why I say it won't work out, then I am wasting my breath and most likely I'll be rescuing one of your animals in future from the pound that you get from someone else that doesn't give a damn.

Many animals in pounds are there because their needs AND the expectations and committment of the owners have not matched up.

I take offence to any reference to hoarding - its is completely out of line and disrepectful to all of us who work our arses off each week trying to save animals in this rescue forum. There is nothing rescues want more than to find good homes for their foster animals and in turn being able to save more but getting it right the first time means it has a good chance of lasting the distance. That's what matters.

Such arrogance!! As a potential purchaser of a rescue dog I take offence and I will take my business elsewhere.

Arrogant how? Because I actually know what I'm talking about?

I've explained that rescues are a matching service and that our priority are making sure that the needs of the animal are met so that both animal and owner are happy and the animal does not end up back in the pound.

I've also explained that despite people still not reading an animals profile properly that we do take the time to discuss animals with people and have rehomed many other more suitable animals this way not just fobbed them off for no reason as all enquiries are valuable.

I've also indicated that when you don't get the animal you want there is a good reason behind it and we are not setting up our animals to bounce from home to home because it was a poor match to begin.

This is good rescue practice - we match animals and homes, we respond to people even if their initial enquiry

isn't suitable for the animal they want. If you don't like a well-matched animal to your situation then that is your perogative to go elsewhere.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I can't understand why people wouldn't want to be matched but then perhaps they don't know about the 150,000 unwanted dogs euth'd each year.

[Just Andrea]

If my direct account of how rescue works and explaination of why people don't always get what they want is enough to stop said persons "prospective" adoption through all rescues then clearly there is no committment in the first place.

As to the OP, clearly a lack of response is not suitable over such a long time and I am sorry for them they were turned off by a lack of feeback.

A good rescue does not need a "perfect" home for an animal but one that sees both the animal needs met so that both owner and animal are happy for a long time.

And there goes another potentially wonderful home for a dog....just like the one I had to offer, and the one the OP has/had as well.

I can see that you are passionate about what you do, and I recognise that rescue is a thankless and endless task, but most people who want to take on one of these unwanted dogs are not bad people, and probably not bad pet owners either. Otherwise they'd have gone straight to petstore to buy a cute fluffy puppy. Although that is probably where a lot of them do go after being found unworthy for whatever reason.

I think the percentage of dogs living in absolutely perfect homes is probably quite small.