Have you adopted a dog from a NOVA area rescue org?

[Anonymous]

We are trying to adopt a dog but getting frustrated with the place we've been going to. Can you share your good/bad experiences with different rescue organizations and/or adoption processes? The more details the better... TIA

[Anonymous]

We adopted our beloved dog through Homeward Trails. It was a great experience. We did have to fill out an application and have a home visit, but it was fairly easy. We got lots of support while getting our dog used to her new surroundings. The fees were very reasonable.

We have since become supporters of the organization and the wonderful work they do. Check them out! And I'm happy to answer any more specific questions you may have.

[Anonymous]

We got our dog through HART (homeless animals rescue team) when we met her at an adoption event at Petsmart.
They interviewed us there, then made arrangements to come to our home to check us out. You are required to have the pet neutered and the adoption fee covers that at a local vets.
She is the best dog and we got her as a pup.
Thanks for going the rescue route, OP!

[Anonymous]

GRREAT.org for golden retrievers. Great dogs, great organization. We have had two from them. It does take time, but that is because they want to match you with the right dog for your family.

[Anonymous]

We adopted our dog from Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation (http://www.lostdogandcatrescue.org )

We went to a series of adoption fairs where Lost Dog was in attendance. We "tried out" lots of different dogs by walking dogs on leash along the front, had our kids meet each of the dogs, played a bit with each one, etc. It took us a while before we thought we found the right match for our family.

We completed our paperwork in advance and Lost Dog kept it on file until we found the right match. Then when we were ready, the folks at Lost Dog helped us complete all the paperwork and we brought our dog home with us.

We had a great experience adopting through Lost Dog and Cat Rescue and would surely adopt through them again.

[Anonymous]

We adopted two dogs from the Alexandria Animal Shelter (two separate occasions). We found the staff there very helpful and did a good job helping us fund good matches (calling when a new dog came in that they thought might work for us, etc.)

A lot of people love WARL in DC--but when we went there we found it chaotic, hard to find a staff person to talk to, and none of them seemed to know anything about any of the dogs.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks all.

I think the process just isn't working right now, for us. We have basically been rejected twice now for dogs that we were interested in adopting.

We have talked a lot at home over the past month or two about what we are looking for. We look at the dogs online. We go to the adoption fair. The volunteers are helpful and enthusiastic. After a couple of times going to see the dogs, we settled on one. We did the paperwork. In the first instance, they did the home visit and basically told us that getting that particular dog was not a good idea. The second time, after another fair and another round of paperwork, they just emailed us and said it wouldn't work out.

I totally understand that they are working hard to make a good match and their reasons, each time, have been understandable. But we have a 7 year old who keeps getting her hopes up and then it doesn't work out. So I guess I need to rethink this process.

We also have tried reaching out to the staff to ask them to suggest dogs for us (and have gone into detail about what we think we'd like), but then the suggestions that they send us are not aligned with what we've said we are looking for. So it's pretty frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks all.

I think the process just isn't working right now, for us. We have basically been rejected twice now for dogs that we were interested in adopting.

We have talked a lot at home over the past month or two about what we are looking for. We look at the dogs online. We go to the adoption fair. The volunteers are helpful and enthusiastic. After a couple of times going to see the dogs, we settled on one. We did the paperwork. In the first instance, they did the home visit and basically told us that getting that particular dog was not a good idea. The second time, after another fair and another round of paperwork, they just emailed us and said it wouldn't work out.

I totally understand that they are working hard to make a good match and their reasons, each time, have been understandable. But we have a 7 year old who keeps getting her hopes up and then it doesn't work out. So I guess I need to rethink this process.

We also have tried reaching out to the staff to ask them to suggest dogs for us (and have gone into detail about what we think we'd like), but then the suggestions that they send us are not aligned with what we've said we are looking for. So it's pretty frustrating.

I think you need to be more realistic then. There is something about your home or your expected interactions with the dog that makes them hesitate. Many rescues state up front that they will not adopt to families with children under a certain age. You might have the best of intentions but there is a disconnect between your intentions and the reality of having a dog in your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks all.

I think the process just isn't working right now, for us. We have basically been rejected twice now for dogs that we were interested in adopting.

We have talked a lot at home over the past month or two about what we are looking for. We look at the dogs online. We go to the adoption fair. The volunteers are helpful and enthusiastic. After a couple of times going to see the dogs, we settled on one. We did the paperwork. In the first instance, they did the home visit and basically told us that getting that particular dog was not a good idea. The second time, after another fair and another round of paperwork, they just emailed us and said it wouldn't work out.

I totally understand that they are working hard to make a good match and their reasons, each time, have been understandable. But we have a 7 year old who keeps getting her hopes up and then it doesn't work out. So I guess I need to rethink this process.

We also have tried reaching out to the staff to ask them to suggest dogs for us (and have gone into detail about what we think we'd like), but then the suggestions that they send us are not aligned with what we've said we are looking for. So it's pretty frustrating.

I think you need to be more realistic then. There is something about your home or your expected interactions with the dog that makes them hesitate. Many rescues state up front that they will not adopt to families with children under a certain age. You might have the best of intentions but there is a disconnect between your intentions and the reality of having a dog in your home.

LOL - if you met me in person, you'd discover I'm a ridiculously realistic person! I agree - they are hesitating. But part of that seems to be based on some assumptions they are making about us which aren't really accurate. And we are nothing but up front with them - we have a 4 year old and a 7 year old and they (the rescue org) are actively suggesting dogs to us. So it's not about the kids (except, of course, particular dogs who are not good with kids).

I think we will just have to take a step back and reassess the whole thing. It's just frustrating, since our 7 year old has basically been waiting all year for us to get a dog!

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you can suggest fostering a dog. I'd definitely talk to Lost Dog and Hart. We wanted a dog that was on death row (I've done rescue in the past), and since dogs in our area have caring shelters and rescues, we went with a shelter in the south part of the states. We had excellent references and the shelter agreed to adopt to us and sent us a big hound - and he's the best dog in the world! He's lived with us for 2 years now, and we couldn't have picked a better dog for our family. I highly recommend hounds for children - just wonderful dispositions and super kid friendly. I know the Alexandria shelter gets some of their dogs from W. VA, another hell hole for dogs.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We just went through the process and had good experiences with Homeward Trails and FFX Co Human Society. We also liked the Alexandria Animal Welfare League's shelter but didn't find a good match when we went there. I think what helped is that we let them suggest dogs for us after we completed the paperwork and had the home visits. Frankly, I didn't expect to get the dogs we first showed interest in. I figured someone else in the pipeline would get them. We had some great conversations with the representatives, told them the qualities we were looking for in dog and also had them interact with our kids (10, 9 and 6) so they would have a good idea what the kids were like. Two of my kids are really enthusiastic, one is more unsure and hesitant. We had to wait a while but they found us the perfect dog!

FWIW - we had a horrible experience with the Montgomery Co Human Society. They were unfriendly, unhelpful and didn't seem interested in getting their dogs adopted.

[Anonymous]

We have a cat, but we got her through Prince William county's animal shelter, and I assume the process would be similar with a dog.

It was very easy--we were in the area and stopped by, saw a cat that we LOVED...filled out some paperwork (I think just 1 sheet) paid a small fee (I think $45) and she was ours. They even gave us some starter supplies like food, a litter box + litter, etc
No background checks, no interview, etc.

If they animal you choose is not already spayed/neutered, it will cost a bit more--you will have to bring the animal to the vet they already have a contract with, and pay for the spay/neuter directly to the their vet.

They also have small animals for adoption there for incredibly small fees--things like bunnies, guinea pigs, etc.

[Anonymous]

We adopted our fantastic terrier mix from the Mineral County Humane Society in W.Virginia. This is not a shelter - it is a group of people who foster dogs, and do meet & greets in Middletown, Maryland for potential adopters who have passed the application process. If you take your dog home and it doesn't work out, you can meet them again a week or two later to return it for re-placement.

They operate on a shoestring and we donate to them every year.

Info:

http://times-news.com/opinion/x2016390076/Love-needed

Adoptable pets:

http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=WV85

[Anonymous]

We went through A Forever Home and had a wonderful experience.

[Anonymous]

Yes - we adopted a lovely pup through the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. They have weekly adoption events throughout NOVA at PetSmart locations and it is a same day adoption process. Good luck!

http://lostdogrescue.org/