Adopting dog when there is no SAHP

[Anonymous]

So, our much beloved dog died almost a year ago at age 14. I am now thinking about getting another dog and have contacted several rescue organizations, expressing interest in dogs of various ages. All have told me that the dog can't be alone more than 6 hours a day, disqualifying us from adoption as I work FT.

This is extremely frustrating and sad to me because we would love the dog and he/she would have a good home, yes we would hire a dog walker. We also believe in rescuing a dog instead of going to a breeder as there are many good dogs in search of good homes. However, do to all the parameters the rescue organizations set, we will be forced to go to a breeder in order to get a new dog. This seems illogical and against the purpose of rescue organizations, which apparently limit themselves to families where both parents don't work.

This is mostly rant, but also advice seeking. I would really prefer to rescue a dog, but they seem to not see us as a good fit. Can anyone recommend a rescue organization that is maybe less narrow minded and actually cares about giving the dog a good "forever home." or should we just give up on a rescue and go with a breeder?

[Anonymous]

Not sure which organizations you've contacted. I know Lucky Dog will only adopt puppies to people at home, or people with proof of a dog-walker. But that's puppies only, and it still wouldn't disqualify you since you say you're willing to get a dog walker.

They're problematic in their own ways though, so I don't know that I'd recommend them.

[Anonymous]

I am a dog walker and most of my clients have rescues. They all work full-time. There must be some way around it.

[Anonymous]

There was an article posted here a while ago about this very subject - someone who worked at a rescue with similar strict rules, who finally realized they were pushing people into buying from pet stores and breeders. "The perfect is the enemy of the good" - so true in this case.

[Anonymous]

We rescued a pup and both work full time. We told the rescue he would be alone no longer than four hours since we hired a walker in the middle of the day. It wasn't a problem at all.

[Anonymous]

Oh crap, we are picking up our Lab rescue in the morning. Not a puppy though. We all are out of the house for about 9 hours.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if you are looking for a large dog, but the local Malamute rescue will not hold this against you unless it's a very young puppy. They do require a securely contained yard because of the propensity to jump and roam but they do not have rigid rules about working families.

[Anonymous]

Shelters in other areas are full of puppies. We went to visit family in the Midwest and there were literally dozens of mixed breed puppies at the local county shelter. We paid $75 for adoption and spay, with no lengthy interviews or home visits. It's literally easier to adopt a baby than a dog around here.

[Anonymous]

So howon earth do they even know how long your dog is left at home?

I mean seriously? Do they stalk your house?

That is an impossible thing for them to enforce.

[Anonymous]

Lost Dog Rescue will adopt to people who work full time.

Are you explaining about the dog walker? If you are getting a dog walking service, then if you see an application question that says "will the dog be left alone for more than 6 hours?", put down no. The dog won't be alone for more than continuously.

That said I think it would be really hard to have a puppy under 1 working 8-10 hour days. I do work full time but I'm away from the home flexible hours (about 4 hours at a time), sometimes I work a few hours in a morning and go back home to the dog for a few before going back. Even so it was hard to house train my one year old dog (got him at 15 months, he did not have a great houses raining foundation although he sort of got the idea). If he was a baby, I probably would have had better luck with the crate because he probably would have had less anxiety. So maybe that could have worked, but I'm not sure because I've never done it.

You could also network with some breeders about older dogs over 1 that have been returned and are looking for homes. But don't assume that you can just go to a breeder and buy a dog no questions asked. There are generally applications for reputable breeders similar to rescues. I have heard the argument about that, that "it's going to drive people to just go to the pet store". But the truth is for your own protection no peace of mind you don't want to get a dog from a breeder who doesn't seem to care about anything other than getting a check. It would be shortsighted at best to attempt to bypass the application
process of reputable breeders and rescues in order to speed the process along.

But I can guarantee there will be many dogs out there that will be a great fit for your home. Don't get frustrated, you will find a great dog and the process will be worth it. I have looked for up to a year to find each of my shelties with many many disappointments along the way, but my shelties have all been perfect so it doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Washington Animal Rescue League.

[Anonymous]

It's literally easier to adopt a baby than a dog around here.

People quote this "fact" all the time but it isn't true. It is not easier to adopt a baby than a dog. Have you tried to adopt recently? Also, shelters have experience with people returning the dogs so they know is not good for the dog. If you cared for animals you would want to find the best home not just any home. Sorry if that makes it more difficult for you but, these are animals not potted plants and need appropriate care.

To the OP,
I'm sure if you tell them that you are getting a dog walker once or twice a day or taking him/her to doggy day care that might help.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Alexandria animal shelter let my DH adopt a dog (before we were married) and he worked FT. But they had denied me a few years prior because I was a single woman and one day I may get married and have kids and then get rid of the dog.

I adopted from B.A.R.K down in Richmond. I submitted my application, drove to Short Pump, paid $100, and took my dog home that day.

We are married now, still have both dogs, and a kid.

[Anonymous]

We adopted from K-9 Lifesavers 6 years ago and at that time it wasn't a problem that we both worked out of the house. They helped us find a dog that would be okay at home for a full day (e.g. no puppies) so it definitely wasn't a problem.

[Anonymous]

do the city and county shelters follow this rule?