Rescue groups: your flaky, zealous ways have driven me into the arms of a breeder. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I realize what I wrote was very petulant and full of butt hurt and I apologize. I continue to financially support a few DC rescue groups that I respect, because I appreciate what they do is valuable and difficult.

Weirdly, one of these groups is one that I cited in my OP, the one with the bait/switch, 2-cat minimum that wasn't mentioned to me until pickup day. That came down to the poor decision of one individual and I realize a group with a good mission is bigger than any individual.

But. I'm being truthful about all the $h!t I've dealt with during multiple adoption attempts, both for cats and dogs. I'm not being "dramatic." I am a near-perfect dog and cat owner due to my experience, flexibility, fenced yard, financial and job situation (and lack of small children .

Thinking about it some more, and taking certain PPs comments to heart, I think the problem on my end is that I do have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for adopting a dog OR a cat. I don't just show up and the shelter and say "Just give me what you've got today, thanks." That would certainly make things simpler, like some PPs examples suggest.

We realize you're just venting OP, but I think a lot of people go in with requirements for the type of pet they want and don't have issues. As you mentioned, one person at the shelter screwed up your experience. There are bad apples in every bushel.

[Anonymous]

OP, we had the same experience. Ended up with a stray that I could not love more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not just go to your county shelter?

Yep. I am PP who said I walked in and out of the Arlington shelter with a kitten. We also got a puppy a few years ago with no trouble. Of course you have to tell them that someone will be home with the puppy, and you will not declaw your cat, etc. but this is common sense stuff. The shelters are NOT looking to prevent you from adopting. They are there to help you.

-Signed, someone who has adopted from Fairfax, Alexandria, AND Arlington shelters (yes we love animals )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I realize what I wrote was very petulant and full of butt hurt and I apologize. I continue to financially support a few DC rescue groups that I respect, because I appreciate what they do is valuable and difficult.

Weirdly, one of these groups is one that I cited in my OP, the one with the bait/switch, 2-cat minimum that wasn't mentioned to me until pickup day. That came down to the poor decision of one individual and I realize a group with a good mission is bigger than any individual.

But. I'm being truthful about all the $h!t I've dealt with during multiple adoption attempts, both for cats and dogs. I'm not being "dramatic." I am a near-perfect dog and cat owner due to my experience, flexibility, fenced yard, financial and job situation (and lack of small children .

Thinking about it some more, and taking certain PPs comments to heart, I think the problem on my end is that I do have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for adopting a dog OR a cat. I don't just show up and the shelter and say "Just give me what you've got today, thanks." That would certainly make things simpler, like some PPs examples suggest.

Oh my goodness. First of all, I have never shown up at the shelter and asked for whatever dog they have. They have websites with available animals just like any other rescue group. I waited until there was a cat or dog if interest to us and then called or went in. There was always a conversation about whether the animal in question is a good fit and they are generally just thrilled to have someone who is excited about adopting and prepared to do so.

You have a really poor attitude. Maybe that is coming through in your interactions with these organizations?

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. I am a dog foster with TWO rescue groups and have done many dogs, and I STILL had problems getting a dog! I will tell you I had a good experience with worthydogrescue.org and petrescuealliance.org.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I realize what I wrote was very petulant and full of butt hurt and I apologize. I continue to financially support a few DC rescue groups that I respect, because I appreciate what they do is valuable and difficult.

Weirdly, one of these groups is one that I cited in my OP, the one with the bait/switch, 2-cat minimum that wasn't mentioned to me until pickup day. That came down to the poor decision of one individual and I realize a group with a good mission is bigger than any individual.

But. I'm being truthful about all the $h!t I've dealt with during multiple adoption attempts, both for cats and dogs. I'm not being "dramatic." I am a near-perfect dog and cat owner due to my experience, flexibility, fenced yard, financial and job situation (and lack of small children .

Thinking about it some more, and taking certain PPs comments to heart, I think the problem on my end is that I do have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for adopting a dog OR a cat. I don't just show up and the shelter and say "Just give me what you've got today, thanks." That would certainly make things simpler, like some PPs examples suggest.

Oh my goodness. First of all, I have never shown up at the shelter and asked for whatever dog they have. They have websites with available animals just like any other rescue group. I waited until there was a cat or dog if interest to us and then called or went in. There was always a conversation about whether the animal in question is a good fit and they are generally just thrilled to have someone who is excited about adopting and prepared to do so.

You have a really poor attitude. Maybe that is coming through in your interactions with these organizations?

Seriously. Your only options are a breeder or whatever dog they decide to give you at the shelter? Get a grip, OP. Before rescues became so profitable, all "rescues" came from shelters. The fact that you will consider a rescue from a name-brand rescue but haven't even considered a shelter to the point of knowing how it works to adopt from a shelter tells me you were always going to end up at a breeder.

[Anonymous]

Seriously. Your only options are a breeder or whatever dog they decide to give you at the shelter? Get a grip, OP. Before rescues became so profitable, all "rescues" came from shelters. The fact that you will consider a rescue from a name-brand rescue but haven't even considered a shelter to the point of knowing how it works to adopt from a shelter tells me you were always going to end up at a breeder.

Can you tell me where in my 2 previous posts that I said I wouldn't consider a shelter? No, because in fact I've visited the shelter on Oglethorpe probably 15 times in the past year and the PG shelter a handful of times, so that I could interact with dogs that piqued my interest on the internet. It hasn't worked out so far.

As I said, reflecting on the possible barriers, I do think one issue is that I have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for dogs these do serve to filter out a significant percentage of dogs that are present in DC/MD shelters. And no, they're not vanity criteria, but things having to do with size, age, exercise needs, etc. Propensity to howl, incompatibility with cats, things like that.

[Anonymous]

Similar experience, OP. Except I only put up with the nonsense for about 4 months before going to a breeder. I never even graduated to the level of going in person because I was getting emotionally invested in the dogs I was applying for online and knew it would be even worse to be denied a dog I'd met in person.

Rescues need to get over themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I realize what I wrote was very petulant and full of butt hurt and I apologize. I continue to financially support a few DC rescue groups that I respect, because I appreciate what they do is valuable and difficult.

Weirdly, one of these groups is one that I cited in my OP, the one with the bait/switch, 2-cat minimum that wasn't mentioned to me until pickup day. That came down to the poor decision of one individual and I realize a group with a good mission is bigger than any individual.

But. I'm being truthful about all the $h!t I've dealt with during multiple adoption attempts, both for cats and dogs. I'm not being "dramatic." I am a near-perfect dog and cat owner due to my experience, flexibility, fenced yard, financial and job situation (and lack of small children .

Thinking about it some more, and taking certain PPs comments to heart, I think the problem on my end is that I do have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for adopting a dog OR a cat. I don't just show up and the shelter and say "Just give me what you've got today, thanks." That would certainly make things simpler, like some PPs examples suggest.

Oh my goodness. First of all, I have never shown up at the shelter and asked for whatever dog they have. They have websites with available animals just like any other rescue group. I waited until there was a cat or dog if interest to us and then called or went in. There was always a conversation about whether the animal in question is a good fit and they are generally just thrilled to have someone who is excited about adopting and prepared to do so.

You have a really poor attitude. Maybe that is coming through in your interactions with these organizations?

OP apologized to you idiots and re-explained. You, PP, are the rude one.

Shelters and rescues are well-known to be irrational and uneven in their adoption requirements. Those are facts.

Stop pestering OP.

[Anonymous]

Same OP. All of the rescue dogs we considered (we wanted a small one) would not adopt to families with children under 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not just go to your county shelter?

Yep. I am PP who said I walked in and out of the Arlington shelter with a kitten. We also got a puppy a few years ago with no trouble. Of course you have to tell them that someone will be home with the puppy, and you will not declaw your cat, etc. but this is common sense stuff. The shelters are NOT looking to prevent you from adopting. They are there to help you.

-Signed, someone who has adopted from Fairfax, Alexandria, AND Arlington shelters (yes we love animals )

I agree.
Signed, someone who has adopted from the Moco shelters. While most rescues enforce "2 kitten adoption" (there's a reason for that--young cats are happiest with a companion), the county shelters seem to be more relaxed on that front. Also a quick glance at Petfinder indicates many, many non-Pitt-mix dogs. We've adopted cats from three different rescue orgs and the county shelter. None took more than a week, the shelter was same-day. No stress at all. OP must be giving info that raises red flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kim Kavin
The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
I suggest anyone looking for a dog take a look at this book. Your “rescue” is merchandise just like all the rest of the dogs from puppy farms. They have figured out the “rescue” angle

I volunteered with a dog rescue group and did their bookkeeping for them for a couple of years. It was a TRUE non profit; no one was making money off of it. All the money went to vetting, supplies and transport costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Seriously. Your only options are a breeder or whatever dog they decide to give you at the shelter? Get a grip, OP. Before rescues became so profitable, all "rescues" came from shelters. The fact that you will consider a rescue from a name-brand rescue but haven't even considered a shelter to the point of knowing how it works to adopt from a shelter tells me you were always going to end up at a breeder.

Can you tell me where in my 2 previous posts that I said I wouldn't consider a shelter? No, because in fact I've visited the shelter on Oglethorpe probably 15 times in the past year and the PG shelter a handful of times, so that I could interact with dogs that piqued my interest on the internet. It hasn't worked out so far.

As I said, reflecting on the possible barriers, I do think one issue is that I have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for dogs these do serve to filter out a significant percentage of dogs that are present in DC/MD shelters. And no, they're not vanity criteria, but things having to do with size, age, exercise needs, etc. Propensity to howl, incompatibility with cats, things like that.

Expand your search. There are a dozen + shelters in the DMV area all bursting at the seams with dogs.

You came on here to complain in an immature manner and you’ve gotten plenty of advice. I still think the problem is you. Sorry. Try harder, or do go to a breeder if you so choose. But if you think GOOD breeders don’t filter for good families either, you’re wrong. I’m sure there are plenty of puppy mills waiting for your business, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kim Kavin
The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
I suggest anyone looking for a dog take a look at this book. Your “rescue” is merchandise just like all the rest of the dogs from puppy farms. They have figured out the “rescue” angle

I volunteered with a dog rescue group and did their bookkeeping for them for a couple of years. It was a TRUE non profit; no one was making money off of it. All the money went to vetting, supplies and transport costs.

They are not very open about where the “stray dogs” they find come from. It’s a sophisticated hand off from person to person. Money changes hands each time. It’s billed as transport.

[Anonymous]

A dog is a big responsibility. It’s your job to pick out one that works for you. Rescue groups can get a bit carried away with placing all dogs or conversely being overly protective. It’s a home for crazy dog people.