Will a rescue let us adopt a dog if we don’t have a vet for our current cats?

[Anonymous]

We have two cats and have had them for several years; both were spayed and had their shots before we adopted them. They are indoor cats and haven’t had medical problems, so we have never had occasion to take them to the vet. We would like to adopt a dog from a local rescue but all seem to require vet info if you have current pets. Is it impossible to adopt a dog without taking our cats in for check ups? In this particular moment of quarantine, making appointment for check ups just for this purpose seems like a bad idea given that they don’t have anything wrong with them, but it would be great to adopt a dog while we all are at home to help with transition. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

I’d be concerned that you would not take the dog in for an annual exam. I don’t know about cats but dogs can look outwardly healthy and still have things show up on bloodwork or a physical exam. If you wait till they actually show symptoms or act sick it can waste a lot of time.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. I think most want to see that you have a vet for your current pet, yes. Maybe a shelter would be more lenient than a rescue.

Not to lecture you, but your cats should be going in for checkups/physicals at least every year or two even if they’re indoor only. They’re supposed to have a rabies vaccination, at the very least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be concerned that you would not take the dog in for an annual exam. I don’t know about cats but dogs can look outwardly healthy and still have things show up on bloodwork or a physical exam. If you wait till they actually show symptoms or act sick it can waste a lot of time.

Agreed, cats in particular hide pain very well and so it’s sort of a red flag that you have never taken them for regular exams/physicals.

[Anonymous]

Please start properly caring for the pets you currently have before getting another.

[Anonymous]

A yearly exam is a basic requirement of a good pet owner, OP. You should factor that expense in when you decide to get a pet.

[Anonymous]

Agreed with everyone else. It’s kind of like having kids and never taking them to the pediatrician because they’re fine. Often, the baseline provided by routine visits help tremendously when something does go wrong, and doctors can often spot minor problems before they turn into major ones.

[Anonymous]

I volunteer for Last Chance Animal Rescue and no, I’m sorry, but they would not adopt to you because you don’t take your pets to the vet. That is considered neglect.

Start doing better by taking your current pets to the vet on an annual basis and then maybe revisit the idea of adopting. Pet’s need to see the vet AT LEAST once per year.

[Anonymous]

"We don't properly care for the two pets we have, and we don't intend to start. Will this prevent a shelter, which strives to ensure animals are placed with people who will properly care for pets, from allowing us to adopt?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two cats and have had them for several years; both were spayed and had their shots before we adopted them. They are indoor cats and haven’t had medical problems, so we have never had occasion to take them to the vet. We would like to adopt a dog from a local rescue but all seem to require vet info if you have current pets. Is it impossible to adopt a dog without taking our cats in for check ups? In this particular moment of quarantine, making appointment for check ups just for this purpose seems like a bad idea given that they don’t have anything wrong with them, but it would be great to adopt a dog while we all are at home to help with transition. Any advice?

If one local rescue won't let you adopt from them just try another. If they all won't let you adopt, then maybe try Craigslist. Also don't feel bad about not having a vet. My family had two outdoor cats when I was a child, neither of them had a vet, and they both lived long lives.

[Anonymous]

So - your cats haven't had rabies vaccinations since they were kittens? No way a rescue would adopt to you. Even if you took them in now and got them vaccinated ....because the rescue would ask for permission to talk with your vet and the vet would tell the truth...that your cats did not get check ups for years.

[Anonymous]

Honest question - why have your pets not been to the vet in years? Were you unaware that legally they need rabies vaccinations? Really want to know....

[Anonymous]

No they won’t. The rescue organizations typically call your current vet.

[Anonymous]

Probably not but if you use a rescue that doesn't have a home visit, you don't have to reveal that you have cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A yearly exam is a basic requirement of a good pet owner, OP. You should factor that expense in when you decide to get a pet.

+1