Getting ready to perform my 2nd home visit...

[SouthernThistle]

Unfortunately, the first time I performed a home visit for a rescue...the adopter was denied (well, I guess that's fortunate since they had a chain downstairs in the basement attached to the stairs, a dog bed, and a dog house....meanwhile saying that the dog would be a "loved part of the family" who would hang out on the couch and sleep in the bed with their daughter. Oh...and they neglected to mention the three cats they owned when they applied to adopt a VERY cat aggressive dog.)

A Pit Bull rescue contacted me to perform a home check through word-of-mouth from a trainer friend of mine. They sent me the person's application and highlighted some things they have red flags about (the use of "wee wee pads," letting the puppy roam freely around the house when no one is home along with their neutered male dog, etc.)

I, too, have some reservations with some answers on the application, BUT...we know how it can be, too. So I'm hoping some of the things were just an oversight on the potential adopter's part.

Wish me luck!

[sagelfn]

good luck!

I hope the people have a good loving home for a future pet

[GSDTrain]

good luck

[pamela berger]

I'm a reference checker for an East Coast rescue and usually when an app lies/omits other pets, they are denied. Was wondering if you know how the vet ref checked out. That should always be checked first so if there are problems/issues there, you can address them with the app before deciding whether to invest any more time in checking out the personal refs and doing a home visit.

[doggiedad]

you don't need any luck. if you see things
you don't like once you get there that's
it, no dog for them.

Originally Posted By: SouthernThistle

I, too, have some reservations with some answers on the application, BUT...we know how it can be, too. So I'm hoping some of the things were just an oversight on the potential adopter's part.

Wish me luck!

[SouthernThistle]

Their vet reference was fine. It's funny. This rescue sent me a "cheat sheet" that starts off with..."all potential adopters are guilty...until proven innocent, or at least that's the amount of detective work that should be involved when performing a home check."

There are some flagged "issues" on the application that the rescue wants me to talk to the potential adopter about and to get clarification.

[doggiedad]

don't let me influence your opinon but
i don't like the way this sounds already, .

Originally Posted By: SouthernThistleTheir vet reference was fine. It's funny. This rescue sent me a "cheat sheet" that starts off with..."all potential adopters are guilty...until proven innocent, or at least that's the amount of detective work that should be involved when performing a home check."

There are some flagged "issues" on the application that the rescue wants me to talk to the potential adopter about and to get clarification.

[pupresq]

Quote:the use of "wee wee pads," letting the puppy roam freely around the house when no one is home along with their neutered male dog, etc.

If those are the only red flags, then depending on how the question they answered was phrased, I think any of those could be fine. I don't see them as obvious dealbreakers anyway. I use piddle pads for some small breed dogs and they may have meant they plan to let the new dog be loose with the other dog once she or he is trustworthy in the house. Maybe not the safest plan, depending on the dogs in question, but certainly not the sign of a bad owner. Plenty of people leave their dogs together when they're not home if the dogs are compatible. And if their plan is to leave the puppy and other dog roaming free with pee pads when they're not home right off the bat, perhaps they can be educated on why that's not a great method of housebreaking and can be instructed on the use of a crate instead.

I'm definitely not one to assume the best in this sort of situation, but those red flags really do seem like they might be oversights/misunderstandings. Hopefully you'll be able to determine that during the home visit.

The first people you checked out definitely seem like they should have been denied. Yet another example of why home visits are such an important part of the process.

[SouthernThistle]

There are definitely some other little red flags that have been marked on the application, but there are a few that are merely marked to get further clarification from the potential adopter or to talk to the potential adopter about (as in crating vs. "wee wee pads.")

I am slightly concerned, however, that the potential adopter only wants me to come around 6:15-6:30pm at night to do a home visit (at that time, it's already dark here.) I already told the rescue that I would NOT perform a home visit...to someone's house that I don't know....by myself.....at night, and I wouldn't be able to see fencing, etc. either. I understand that they're excited about adopting (though I find it odd that someone in Georgia is adopting a Pit Bull puppy located 15+ hours away and not one here in the state.)

[SouthernThistle]

*scratches head*
Just received an e-mail from the potential adopter that they've reconsidered adopting from the rescue and will be going to the animal shelter today to adopt a Pit Bull as they "don't want to wait any longer to get a companion for their dog."