Frustrations with adopting....

[Chasey_Lane]

I hear ya, Catt... and if my experiences trying to deal with rescue folks had been as you described, I wouldn't have issue.... but alas, I am completely turned off from dealing with them. My family spent many a decade as foster home to many dogs in support of the humane society. I understand the need for hoping for a good, solid home for each and every one of them. However, I disagree with how the rescue groups I've had dealings with go about passing said judgement.

Timon came from a "shelter" in Lexington Park. The owner is a woman who works out of her home and also, has a job at a local veterinarian clinic. She has a legit website and asked that a 3-page report be filled out, before approval. When I went to visit Timon, she showed me all his veterinarian paperwork, shots, wormings, etc. He's even microchipped in case he loses his momma. Total adoption fee: $100. I would have paid triple that for him, too.

 

[kwillia]

I don't have issue with the fees. I don't have issue with the application.

 

[Cowgirl]

I didn't mean to offend those breeds often thought of as 'agressive.' My point was, that if a dog is advertised as one thing, but is really another, it could lead to problems. Maybe it's not such an issue for a pup, but for an adult dog it could be a problem. And I totally understand the need for adoption fees, but some of the fees were outrageous. There are ways for agencies to raise money (through donations, fund-raisers, etc.) to pay for those dogs who need extra care. I've seen enough from my parents' group to know what happens with rescues.

I had narrowed the breeds I was interested in to Airedales, Collies, and Standard Poodles..... I finally decided on a collie though. I have an airdale mix now (a SMAWL dog), and I decided I wasn't up for their attitude. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love my Scooter and his personality...after 9 years we know each other well....but sometimes I'll tell him to sit or lay down or something, and he'll give me this look that says "yeah, mom...I know what you told me to do, but I don't think I need to do that at this moment." It's an Airedale thing.... Standard poodles are cool, but since I have sheep, I wanted to get a dog that I could use for work. I don't have the energy for a border collie or heeler, so I decided on a collie. I went to look at some pups today, and put a deposit down on one...I'm going to pick him up next week!!

If I was just going to get a family dog, I would rescue, but since I have lots of animals, I wanted to get a purebred so I knew how it would act (most likely)....and I want to use it to work my sheep. I need a dog that won't hurt any of my animals and would work well with the family (animal family).

Sorry for such a long post...too much time on my hands!

 

[LexiGirl75]

My purebred GS was as gentle as could be. Unless, she felt that I or daughter was threatened. Then she could break bad, but never did, although she came quite close a couple of times.

That's how my sister's Yorkie is. If my sister play fights with me or my other siblings the dog loses her mind or if you correct my nephew in anyway the dog is right on you. It's actually hilarious because half the time it's my sister and nephew starting the commotiion, though a non-violent pooch Tinkerbell was often ready to defend them which I believe is something most dogs would do.

 

[Katie]

So you get the adoption fees once the dog has been placed...

Nope..

 

[kwillia]

Nope..

The adoption fees are to cover the vetting of the dog while in the rescue program. I have a Hurricane Katrina dog, and he had to get neutered, and some medical work done because of the conditions he was in. The foster parents of the animals don't get paid for the work they do with the dogs.

So what are your dog's adoption fees covering if you are already covering all expenses and will not be compensated...

 

[Katie]

So what are your dog's adoption fees covering if you are already covering all expenses and will not be compensated...

SMAWL covers all medical expenses. I take care of the dog, feed them, give them medication, socialize them, drive them back and forth to vet visits, and take them to adoption events, work with obedience training and other dog-care. The dog lives at my house, and gets used to being around people, and learning how to get along with other dogs.

SMAWL also provide the food if the foster would like it.

SMAWL has the adoption fees, they are the ones that pay for the actual medical treatment of the animal. The adoption fee for many of these animal doesn't even cover the actual cost of what some of these animals have needed for medical care.

I have had nothing but success working with SMAWL in foster care.

 

[kwillia]

SMAWL covers all medical expenses. I take care of the dog, feed them, give them medication, socialize them, drive them back and forth to vet visits, and take them to adoption events, work with obedience training and other dog-care. The dog lives at my house, and gets used to being around people, and learning how to get along with other dogs.

SMAWL also provide the food if the foster would like it.

SMAWL has the adoption fees, they are the ones that pay for the actual medical treatment of the animal. The adoption fee for many of these animal doesn't even cover the actual cost of what some of these animals have needed for medical care.

I have had nothing but success working with SMAWL in foster care.

Okay, that makes better sense. I thought your original post meant that you were dumping the money for vet bills and such yourself. When you posted "foster parents of the animals don't get paid for the work they do with the dogs" I thought you meant "vet work" that foster parents paid out of pocket to cover.

 

[Leftrudder]

We adopted our last bulldog from a group in Fairfax. Great folks, and very concerned about who they place thier bullies with. The groups web site is : ontherebound.org

 

[SAHRAB]

I wanted to do a rescue when I decided upon a 2nd schnauzer. It wasn't a concern over the adoption fee that turned me off of rescue groups, it was the rudeness and as far as I'm concerned way too strict standards and required home inspections and extreme evaluations I disagreed with. Lucky for me I found the perfect schnauzer to adopt by watching the SOMD classifieds. I'll never deal with the rescue groups again.

I know this thread was about dogs, but i had a similiar experience, with an Iguana.
i wanted an iguana and did research on them before hand (the responsible thing). found that alot of pet stores would tell people they'll stay small if you keep in in a small(er) tank, only for the purchasers to find that wasnt the truth (i was told this also).

needless to say through my reading i found that there were also rescues for iguana (that had gotten to large), thinking that i'll adopt instead i decide to contact a couple, and was HIGHLY discouraged.

if they didnt want a ridiculous fee (some were upwards of $500). they wanted to fill out a multipage questionair, OR they wanted to do a in-home interview (or any combination of the three).
after being disgusted by the process i finally said to one, that they were being really ridiculous, and made the process prohibitive.

i then let them know they were working against adoption of the iguanas, since they made me (and everyone else) jump through hoops to adopt. it was much easier (and cheaper) just to buy one at a pet store. worse yet because of them, those people that then later change their mind about the pet, would then send their iguana for adoption. (thereby defeating the whole adoption process)