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[quote=Anonymous]We had a poor experience with Lucky Dog. Our rescue dog had recently passed, and we were looking for a new rescue to join our family. Our daughter was seven and we had a cat. We attended a Lucky Dog adoption event to meet a dog that was described as cat-friendly and kid-friendly on the website. When we asked about the dog, we were told that the dog was no longer available because it had killed a kitten in its foster home. We should have left. Instead, we were introduced to another dog that was described as cat-friendly. After going through a lengthy interview process, we adopted the dog. Before we brought the dog into our home, we separated our cat so we could gradually introduce the two animals. As soon as the dog entered the house, he smelled the cat, saw the cat, knocked down a baby gate, chased the cat under a bed, and tried to get under the bed to get to the cat. We got the dog to the first floor and literally barricaded the stairs with a table and chairs so the dog couldn't get upstairs to get the cat, thinking we'd call our vet for some advice the next day. The dog saw the cat at the top of the stairs and proceeded to knock down all of the furniture, run upstairs, and corner the cat in the laundry room. Fortunately, we were able to get to the dog before the dog got the cat. We called Lucky Dog, and said, "WTF? You told us this dog fostered with cats, but it has an incredible prey drive! It's going to kill our cat!" Lucky Dog told us that we committed to adopting the dog, which meant that we would have to pay for behavioral training to eliminate the dog's prey drive. They were adamant that we keep the dog for at least two weeks before they would take the dog back. I next called our vet, and explained the situation. The vet told me that she would never leave the dog alone in the house with our cat because no amount of training would ever eliminate its prey drive. I called Lucky Dog again and basically said, "Look, if you love animals, why are you insisting that we keep a dog that is trying to kill our cat?" I also told them that if they didn't pick up the dog, I was taking it to the shelter. Lucky Dog picked it up. It was *really hard* because this sweet dog wanted a family (without a cat).

On the other hand, I've had wonderful experiences adopting from the Humane Rescue Alliance (cat and dog), Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and the Alexandria Animal Shelter. Alexandria was A+++. We went there after the Lucky Dog debacle. We selected a dog, and Alexandria said they would cat test him before the adoption. The next day, the shelter called to tell us that we could not adopt the dog because he failed the test. They invited us to come back and meet some other dogs. Our second choice, a pittie, passed the cat test with flying colors. She is a gentle soul and has been a considerate housemate to our two cats. We even get interspecies licks and snuggling.

The Humane Rescue Alliance used a similar process with our first dog. They brought him to our home to meet our cats, before the adoption, to see how he would do. When introduced, he ran from them, and they ran from him. They all lived together in peace for more than 10 years.

I believe the private rescue groups are staffed by volunteers with hearts of gold, but at the end of the day, they are volunteers. If you are adopting a pet into a home with special considerations (cats, another dog, kids), I recommend going to a shelter with animal behaviorists on staff, because in my experience, they can give you a better read on the pet. They also are pretty accommodating about taking an animal back, if the situation doesn't work out. Though to be clear, in my 30 years of pet ownership (two dogs and five cats), the dog from Lucky Dog was the only pet I've ever had to return. It was that bad.[/quote]

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