A Forever Home

Anonymous wrote:BARCS in Baltimore...mostly pit mixes but they have so many dogs in and out that there are always other types.

LOVE BARCS! Got my pit bull there...who by the way is wonderful with children, other dogs, and cats....but they have other types of dogs there as well.

Have you looked at the Stafford County SPCA? They are nice folks. One of the dogs just had a litter of 13 pups ( lab or lab mix, I think) and they are taking applications now.

Anonymous wrote:We are ready to get a dog but I am just really really really sick of dealing with these "rescue" orgs. The shelter in FFX county seems to have mostly pit bulls. Not an option for us with our 9 year old DD and a cat. And dealing with these rescue places has actually made me want to go pay several hundred dollars to a breeder. Homeward Trails, Lab Rescue (seriously folks can you return a call or email), K-9 Lifesavers (worst of all). Wow! Anyone have a place they can recommend? We'd be okay with an older dog even. Just not okay dealing with the rescue folks.

The LRCP's rescue link is to the right of puppies. http://www.lrcp.com/checklist.shtml I think you need to fill out apps first.
This guy looks like no pitbull:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/27840946/

^^ is a great idea. The dogs in a rural shelter, esp hounds, rarely have a chance of being adopted. Call around to see who adopts to DC area people.

We got our dog via SPCA of NOVA.

If you go through a halfway decent breeder, you will be paying far more than a "couple hundred dollars". Expect to spend over $800, go through an interview process, be put on a wait list until the next litter, and hope the breeder determines there is a "pet quality" dog in the litter (unless you intend to show/compete the dog in some venue).

My coworker struggled to be taken seriously by rescues in the area (young single girl in an apartment). We ended up driving about an hour south to the more rural shelters. $50 later, she had a dog, spayed and up to date on shots.

I believe we ended up at the Orange animal shelter, though there were several others in the area that were happy to adopt to not-quite-local families, so long as you brought proof of landlord approval and vet-to-be info. They had dozens of dogs that weren't listed on their pet finder page, and the staff was super nice and helpful.

I would find potential dogs on petfinder, call up the shelter to make sure they'll adopt to someone in the DC area, and head down there. It was extremely easy.

BARCS in Baltimore...mostly pit mixes but they have so many dogs in and out that there are always other types.

Went through Homeward Trails and had a great experience. I'm surprised you didn't like them.

City of Alexandria animal shelter. We adopted 2 hounds from them. The staff were great and were very honest about the dogs but not whacko with their expectations.

Agree with WARL; they're a very large organization and if nothing else the shelter is lovely as these things go.

Get a puppy from a reputable breeder who gives health guarantees, socializes the pups and has a litter or two a year. Rescues make you sign a contract that they can come check on the dog at any time and reclaim it if they feel like it. Also, I wouldn't trust a rescued dog over 5 months with my child. I've done rescue and fosters and seen too much weird shit happen.

We had a fantastic adoption experience with HOmeward Trails. Give them another chance. There is lots of followup support.

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue. I volunteered at an event, they are held every weekend, I think both Sat. and Sun.
I got my dog from Lab Rescue. I think it was more interviews through them. Please don't "buy" a dog. Just read a heartbreaking story about how many dogs were surrendered right before Christmas.

We had a great experience with WARL in DC, as have other friends of ours. You might want to give that a try before throwing in the towel on a good rescue.

We are ready to get a dog but I am just really really really sick of dealing with these "rescue" orgs. The shelter in FFX county seems to have mostly pit bulls. Not an option for us with our 9 year old DD and a cat. And dealing with these rescue places has actually made me want to go pay several hundred dollars to a breeder. Homeward Trails, Lab Rescue (seriously folks can you return a call or email), K-9 Lifesavers (worst of all). Wow! Anyone have a place they can recommend? We'd be okay with an older dog even. Just not okay dealing with the rescue folks.