We want to adopt a dog but buying seems to be so much easier…please help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Describe the dog you’re looking for.

OP here. We are looking for a dog on the smaller side. We’re not very picky in terms of breed but definitely prefer smaller breeds. We are even open to adopting an older dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got a delightful smaller puppy through a rescue group. We did the application and got approved by filling out a form and doing a video home inspection. It was run by volunteers so took a few weeks for processing. Then they said they'd contact us when a dog that fit our needs came available. It took about a month. So I'd suggest contacting a few, telling them specifically what your requirements are (e.g., age, size, no biting history). Ask them to contact you when one comes available, and also check their listings for any new dogs.

This is OP. Thank you for this helpful advice. I will look into doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you in the DC area? Lucky Dog and Lost Dog both regularly transport dogs from crowded shelters in the south. I would recommend you apply through one of them and tell them exactly what kind of dog you are looking for. They should be able to help you. The demand for dogs around here is higher than supply, so the dogs that stay in the shelters vs being adopted immediately tend to have some issues.

Thanks for this information. Very helpful! (OP).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Describe the dog you’re looking for.

OP here. We are looking for a dog on the smaller side. We’re not very picky in terms of breed but definitely prefer smaller breeds. We are even open to adopting an older dog.

That isn't much of a description. I hope you are giving tje rescue more to go on than that. Do you want active/high energy or more laid back. Do you want a dog that is really human focused or more independent? Do you want a 'guard' dog that will bark at strangers or one that will approach anyone for pets ? Is it important that the dog has had previous training? What kind of training is desireable? Is a high prey drive a.deal breaker or desireable? What medical conditions are deal-breakers? What behavioral issues are deal breakers?

[Anonymous]

You can go to a breed-specific rescue. No pits there. Good breeders will have waitlists. Puppy mills won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We want to avoid buying a dog but after weeks of searching for a rescue, we are not having much luck. A few weeks ago, we adopted a dog from a local shelter but the dog viciously bit me and DH (he needed to see Urgent care for antibiotics). Sadly, we had to return the dog. I then contacted another local shelter about a dog on their website who looked perfect for us. When we went to visit the dog we were told “oh, by the way….he has a bite history”. Ugh…DH was like “no way!!” Then a few days ago I contacted yet another shelter about adopting one of their dogs. Before setting up a meeting, they sent me the dog’s health history. I knew the dog was a senior (it said so on their website) but boy oh boy does he have health issues!! Like needing multiple surgeries, multiple medications, etc…

So now i’m just totally frustrated. It seems like most of the rescues in local shelters are pit mixes (which we don’t want). And the others either have bite histories, serious medical issues, behavioral issues, etc…

Please convince me that I should not buy a puppy and that I should persist in my search!

Are you sure you are up to owning a dog? What is your experience? Even if you buy a puppy it is work and there are no guarantees that you won't create different problems. Dogs are after all imperfect, as we are.

[Anonymous]

There is a woman on my next tour site Who works with the Cumberland Maryland animal shelter. she brings dogs here to foster homes and then find adopters. I don’t know what’s going on in Cumberland Maryland, but they seem to frequently have dogs given up because the owner can no longer afford them or because of health reasons. Currently there are two small,!bonded 19 pound dogs that are apparently very good with children, housebroken, etc. She also seems to get single dogs as well. if I were you I would contact the Cumberland animal shelter and maybe they could put you in touch with her or some thing. But I can tell you, she posts pictures on our neighborhood next-door site and frequently she has smaller, non-put mix dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, our next dog will be a purchase. I would buy a puppy.

Our current dog is our 7th rescue dog. He's a disaster and we were lied to about him, but we didn't return him because we didn't want to add on to his issues. Also, we were in a position at the time to care for his special needs.

When we rescued him, we were told that he was surrendered by his owners and had been in a foster situation. Did great with kids and all other animals. No bite history (because we always ask about this). Yeah, they kept all of his "special needs" hidden and we had to get very forceful to get access to his file.

His file listed that after he was surrendered, he went to 3 foster families and was returned by 4 different adopters all within a 6 month span. It also listed his severe separation anxiety and destructive tendencies when left alone, both crated and uncrated. Umm, understatement of the year!

He can't be left alone at all ever. He destroyed his crate the first time he went in it and hurt himself. He destroyed hundreds of dollars of items in the house when he was left alone out of his crate (all of this was before we demanded to see his file). He can't even be left alone while we use the bathroom or he'll constantly paw at the door.
Thank you for not giving up on him.
If we want to go out shopping or out to dinner as a family, we have to take him to doggy daycare. When we want to go out of town, we hire someone to stay in our house with. He can't get boarded because of his crate anxiety and issues with trying to escape to the point of hurting himself.

He's on medication for the anxiety but it just barely takes the edge off. He's tried them all and all had the same results. We've tried trainers and behaviorists and none could do anything with him.

And honestly, he doesn't even like us that much. He kind of just puts up with us and takes comfort in us always being there. His first owners must have driven a pickup truck because when he sees a pickup truck, he wants to go to it. He has to examine every pickup truck he sees. We have had him for 4 years and he's spent every moment outside of the house for the past 4 years looking for his original owners.

[Anonymous]

OP look on www.petfinder.com

[Anonymous]

A breeder puppy's bite history and health problems are in front of them, not nonexistent. At least with a dog from a rescue you know more about what you are getting. Check Berkeley county and other shelters in WV... they have lots of dogs.

[Anonymous]

perhaps try https://getyourpet.com/ - owners are rehoming dogs due to a variety of issues (landlord dog ordinance, moving, health limitations etc). - you can meet with the owner too and see how the dog and owner interact.

[Anonymous]

We rescued ours from a breeder. It took a bit of searching around but she’s excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, our next dog will be a purchase. I would buy a puppy.

Our current dog is our 7th rescue dog. He's a disaster and we were lied to about him, but we didn't return him because we didn't want to add on to his issues. Also, we were in a position at the time to care for his special needs.

When we rescued him, we were told that he was surrendered by his owners and had been in a foster situation. Did great with kids and all other animals. No bite history (because we always ask about this). Yeah, they kept all of his "special needs" hidden and we had to get very forceful to get access to his file.

His file listed that after he was surrendered, he went to 3 foster families and was returned by 4 different adopters all within a 6 month span. It also listed his severe separation anxiety and destructive tendencies when left alone, both crated and uncrated. Umm, understatement of the year!

He can't be left alone at all ever. He destroyed his crate the first time he went in it and hurt himself. He destroyed hundreds of dollars of items in the house when he was left alone out of his crate (all of this was before we demanded to see his file). He can't even be left alone while we use the bathroom or he'll constantly paw at the door.

If we want to go out shopping or out to dinner as a family, we have to take him to doggy daycare. When we want to go out of town, we hire someone to stay in our house with. He can't get boarded because of his crate anxiety and issues with trying to escape to the point of hurting himself.

He's on medication for the anxiety but it just barely takes the edge off. He's tried them all and all had the same results. We've tried trainers and behaviorists and none could do anything with him.

And honestly, he doesn't even like us that much. He kind of just puts up with us and takes comfort in us always being there. His first owners must have driven a pickup truck because when he sees a pickup truck, he wants to go to it. He has to examine every pickup truck he sees. We have had him for 4 years and he's spent every moment outside of the house for the past 4 years looking for his original owners.

This is so unbelievably sad. You are a saint.

But this is also why I will never adopt at a shelter. When we started looking for a dog, it was breeders only.

[Anonymous]

https://www.citydogsrescuedc.org/

[Anonymous]

There is a litter of pups in a foster home ready for adoption through this rescue (you can filter by "Juvenile" to see the puppies): https://www.homewardtrails.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-for-adoption/#.Yeggyf7MKbh