OP here. I realize what I wrote was very petulant and full of butt hurt and I apologize. I continue to financially support a few DC rescue groups that I respect, because I appreciate what they do is valuable and difficult.

Weirdly, one of these groups is one that I cited in my OP, the one with the bait/switch, 2-cat minimum that wasn't mentioned to me until pickup day. That came down to the poor decision of one individual and I realize a group with a good mission is bigger than any individual.

But. I'm being truthful about all the $h!t I've dealt with during multiple adoption attempts, both for cats and dogs. I'm not being "dramatic." I am a near-perfect dog and cat owner due to my experience, flexibility, fenced yard, financial and job situation (and lack of small children .

Thinking about it some more, and taking certain PPs comments to heart, I think the problem on my end is that I do have a handful of non-negotiable requirements for adopting a dog OR a cat. I don't just show up and the shelter and say "Just give me what you've got today, thanks." That would certainly make things simpler, like some PPs examples suggest.

You can adopt animals easily from the County shelters.

Breed specific rescue organizations are absolutely fueling the puppy mill trade.

Anonymous wrote:OP is talking about DOG adoptions, not cat adoptions. I have heard similar stories about how difficult some DOG rescue groups are. The "fenced yard" requirement and the surfeit of pits are common complaints.

I have encountered cat rescues that have unreasonable requirements. That's why I got my cats from the county shelter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kim Kavin
The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
I suggest anyone looking for a dog take a look at this book. Your “rescue” is merchandise just like all the rest of the dogs from puppy farms. They have figured out the “rescue” angle

Yes, this is true. The people who brag about adopting a rescue when they just supported the booming puppy mill market are just ridiculous. I think they care more about burnishing their image than the welfare of dogs.

I am aware of that criticism. I love animals and I often go into pet stores that sell dogs to sit and play with them. I think it's important for all puppies to be well socialized - even the ones in pet stores. The dog I bought was "mine" from the minute I saw her. She chose me as much as I chose her. She is snuggled up next to me on the couch right now as a matter of fact. I will say that she has a really good, predictable temperament and has been super sweet since the day we got her. She also appeared to be well cared for. I've noticed that the employees in that particular pet store LOVE dogs and I can't say that I'm opposed to someone wanting very breed specific traits.

Our rescue mix has been more of a wonderful enigma. Part Sharpei, part Staffy, part Lab with a few other breeds thrown in. She's a one of a kind, a total love bug and the sweetest thing that you will ever meet. She got the best possible characteristics from all of her ancestors. We really lucked out. Yet, someone might see Pitbull in her and reject her on the spot. Their loss.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is talking about DOG adoptions, not cat adoptions. I have heard similar stories about how difficult some DOG rescue groups are. The "fenced yard" requirement and the surfeit of pits are common complaints.

Dp. Op mentioned cat adoptions too

Cats are not usually so hard to adopt. The dog people can be difficult. I have a fenced yard and a nanny who could be home with my kids and the dog most of the work day, and the rescue people gave me a hard time because I had kids under the age of 5.

Im the pp. I've adopted both so I am familiar with adoptions. I was just answering the pp who thought op was only talking about dogs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is talking about DOG adoptions, not cat adoptions. I have heard similar stories about how difficult some DOG rescue groups are. The "fenced yard" requirement and the surfeit of pits are common complaints.

Dp. Op mentioned cat adoptions too

Cats are not usually so hard to adopt. The dog people can be difficult. I have a fenced yard and a nanny who could be home with my kids and the dog most of the work day, and the rescue people gave me a hard time because I had kids under the age of 5.

Anonymous wrote:Kim Kavin
The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
I suggest anyone looking for a dog take a look at this book. Your “rescue” is merchandise just like all the rest of the dogs from puppy farms. They have figured out the “rescue” angle

Yes, this is true. The people who brag about adopting a rescue when they just supported the booming puppy mill market are just ridiculous. I think they care more about burnishing their image than the welfare of dogs.

The only advice for you that I have is to familiarize yourself with the policies of the rescue organization first. If you agree with their terms, proceed with filling out an application. If you think it's silly that they require a yard for a dog or that cats must never be declawed - don't try to adopt from them. Those policies are in place for a reason. Remember that almost all rescues have put a lot of time and love into those animals. They almost all agree to take an animal back if at some point it doesn't work out for the new owner to keep the pet. If you have declawed a cat, it isn't fair for a rescue to put that cat with other cats. If you have allowed your dog to develop behavioral issues due to lack of exercise, the rescue will have to contend with that, too. If you haven't kept your animals vaccinations current then the rescue is looking at having to quarantine your pet for awhile.

They simply do not have the space for all of these completely preventable care issues. Why turn a completely adoptable pet over to someone who has more or less said that they are going to be careless with the animal?

So, I would go back to your application and rethink what you may have written or think back to what you may have said to give the volunteer pause. Sometimes it comes down to a simple miscommunication.

FWIW, I have a pure bred bought from a breeder, a pure bred bought from a pet store (likely came from a puppy mill) and a rescue mix. They are all completely wonderful members of our family. I love dogs.

Oh goody. Yet another thread about crazy rescues. Try volunteering with some of these groups and watching dogs come back when potential owners who thought they can handle it realize that a pet isn't for them.

they do not want these animals coming back and rescues with fewer requirements end up with fewer dogs being returned.

And consider the reasons these dogs come to the rescues. Neglect, surrender, stray dogs. These are all factors that they need to take into account when deciding who gets a dog.

You think it's okay to leave a dog home for 8 hours because your previous dog was fine. The rescue knows that that won't work for a particular dog and you will end up surrendering the dog when it tears up the house.



or a dog who may be a fence jumper and needs a higher fence than you have.

We used Homeward Trails Adoption Center and had zero issues! Got our wonderful pit-hound mix rescue when he was 4 months. Didn't need a home visit..none of those crazy demands...Took a few hours to when all was said and done, but easy peasy and this dog has changed my life!

I had a very similar experience in NYC and ended up adopting from Animal Care and Control - I agree rescue organizations can be ridiculous. That said, I do know people in DC who've adopted great dogs through them, so I know it can work for some people. It just didn't work for me.

On the plus side, that pound puppy was the best dog I ever had.

Anonymous wrote:OP is talking about DOG adoptions, not cat adoptions. I have heard similar stories about how difficult some DOG rescue groups are. The "fenced yard" requirement and the surfeit of pits are common complaints.

Dp. Op mentioned cat adoptions too

I rescued my dog from a breeder.

In the book above the know that most people want a “rescue” so they just hold them until they are a bit older. Then they sell them to a “rescue” organization who “saves” them and places them in a “shelter”. A scam like any other.

Took us a day to adopt our dog from Lost Dog, and we are first time dog owners with kids! (The horror.) Nobody ever asked us about a fenced yard (we don't have one). We met her on day 1 at her foster home, filled out the paperwork, then brought her home on Day 2 from the Petco adoption event. Maybe you are not working with the right rescue group, OP?