No luck adopting - not even getting called back. Tips?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
We’ve been applying for dogs for about a month now, but haven’t had any rescues/shelters even contact us. Just wondering if that’s normal right now with dog adoptions being so up, especially around holiday time? Happy to just keep trying, but maybe I’m doing something wrong.
We have older kids (11 and 13), a fully fenced yard, own our home, and have one adult full time teleworking (even pre-pandemic). On the negative side, we’re first time dog owners and aren’t interested in terriers, shepherds, or labs, which seem to be most of the dogs listed. Just looking for advice or tips (or someone to just say this is normal - that works too). |
Anonymous
| This is very normal with the glut of applicants. If you are interested in fostering that might help you move up. |
Anonymous
|
We waited for many months until we gave up and looked for a reputable breeder, the kind that care for their housepets like the apple of their eye, shows their dog in regional shows, tests for genetic markers of disease and only breeds those with entirely clean tests. She even had a camera in the whelping pen in her bedroom and we could see how she interacted with the dam and puppies, every day. Our contract states we need to return the dog to her if ever we can't take care of it. |
Anonymous
+1. With the rescue I foster for, if you get approved as a foster, they send out emails with pictures and descriptions of dogs in need of fosters. That would give you the opportunity to foster a dog that meets your specifications before the dog gets posted in Petfinder. |
Anonymous
| Have you done preapplications with groups like LuckyDog? It may take more than a month and prepandemic we went to several meet and greets over a couple months before we met “the one.” |
Anonymous
|
Try homeward trails? I’m fostering a cat with them, and they’ve had a few puppy litters with fostering families. They also have older dogs for adoption on their website.
We also were frustrated with the endless wait to get a golden retriever from a rescue and ended up going the reputable breeder route. couldn’t be happier. |
Anonymous
| If you’re willing to drive look at the animal shelters in Allegany or Southern Maryland. Patty the shelter manager in Cumberland is working to place pets in this area. |
Anonymous
| Have you tried petfinder.com? |
Anonymous
| Thanks everyone! Sounds like our experience might just be what it is right now. We’ve been looking on Petfinder daily and contacting any rescue or shelter that has a dog we’re interested in, which includes many mentioned here. Literally a lot of dogs are there and gone in a day and we don’t get a call back at all. Trying to get pre-approved is a god idea. |
Anonymous
What kind of dog are you actually interested in? No terriers labs or shepherds really arbitrarily rules out like 80% of your mixed dogs. That may be why you aren't having any luck. |
Anonymous
| That’s a good point and maybe we’ll end up having to cast a wider net. Looking for something ideally with a lower prey drive and I honestly just don’t love labs if I were choosing a dog 😬 willing to wait for the right fit for our family. |
Anonymous
| Maybe it’s a sign that there are already too many pets out there, eating carbon-intensive meat products and adding to the planet stress. Or maybe you need to keep looking for the perfect pet from someone who breeds them so we can have an abundant supply. |
Anonymous
Great points, PP - thanks! |
Anonymous
| I would look into fostering. We got a puppy from TRU rescue and I know they give fosters first dibs at adopting the dog they foster. |
Anonymous
| Wait til 6 weeks after Christmas when people realize how much work it actually is to take care of a puppy. |