Rescue Questions

[GrayWolf]

I thoroughly read the posting regarding "Reputable Rescues." I've only one experience to date, and it was chaotic and disappointing. I have another appointment with a different rescue at the end of the month, and I hope this trip will prove pleasant and possibly successful. I do have some questions about a rescue organization, and hopefully get some help here.
To date, I've completed an online application and was approved within an hour. I received a confirmation Email and a date to meet this pup. I believe I was quickly approved because we are two adults owning our home with a fenced yard and without any pets at this time. I provided excellent veterinary references, and I believe having a career in law enforcement was another plus.
This rescue is affiliated with Petfinder, Adopt A Pet sponsored by Purina, and does have its own website. They describe themselves as a foster based rescue. They host many funds raising event and actively host adoptions via Pet's Mart. They are a volunteer based, non profit, 501c3 organization that literally saves dogs from death row.

Their Mission Statement reads as follows:

"Focusing on saving Death Row Dogs from kill shelters; fostering them in a home; providing them with all the love and medical attention they require until they find their forever homes; educating the community about the animal over the population problem and the importance of spaying and neutering."

I researched all internet postings for this organization and uncovered only one negative remark by an alleged "dog trainer" posted nearly a year ago.

He posted the following comment:

I am a full time trainer and spend my life trying to get dogs into a forever home. In the last year alone I have met 4 rescues on my appointments that were from "RESCUE" that was aggressive and the new owners were not told anything of the kind. I am not sure if they are not properly testing these dogs or if they just really HOPE that they go to this new home, and the aggression goes away. Honest it is heartbreaking and even worse I know one couple that wanted to return the dogs as it was a danger to their family, the rescue said they had no room for the dog, and they would have to wait, BUT they were forbidden to take the dog anywhere else according to their contract. THAT WAS NOT GOOD!!!

Pros: They are trying to do a good thing.
Cons: They are not being honest with potential new owners.

My questions are, should I worry about this negative post? I was not required to have a home visit. As I previously stated maybe the overall vet references played a role in this matter. The transport arrives the night before the meeting, does this seem as though it's rushing? Are there any others questions I should pose? The adoption fee is approximately $250.00 - $350.00 considering the medical care, spay and fostering this is a minimal fee.

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Thank you for your assistance in my quest for a new companion it is sincerely appreciated!
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Here's her brief bio:
This beautiful purebred German Shepherd who is approximately 10 months old, was picked up as a stray by animal control in the mountains of North Georgia. A rescue picked her up from animal control right before she was to be put down. She is a sweet girl, but is a little shy at first, but she will make somebody an excellent pet. She has been spayed and fully vetted and will be arriving at RESCUE" on September the 29th.
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[Myamom]

Everyone should have a home visit. (majority of people have good vet ref's and personal ref's...and say everything right on their app's)...so it's not you ...it's that they don't do them.

Dogs should be in a foster home for a period of time to assess their true personality work on any issues...and match them to the appropriate home. (good with cats...kids...other dogs
...chewer...housebroken...couter surfer...rough...gentle..terrified...shy...scared of thunder...separation anxiety....list goes on and on) So is the dog being properly assessed getting off transport and going to you? simply put...no.

It is also a time to assess for any medical issues and have them taken care of........

EVERY rescue should take their dogs back...no if's, and's or but's. If they don't have room...and it's urgent on the adopter's part...then they put the dog in boarding until one of their foster homes open up. Leaving a dog in a home where they family feels they are in danger? not good...

[onyx'girl]

Some rescues don't take time to let the dogs decompress from what they've been thru so the evaluation can be squewed. This goes both ways, some dogs are timid in the beginning and then show a stronger side once they are in a secure frame of mind. Other dogs act aggressive due to stress because they are in a kennel, once out they are totally different and are complete angels.
I wouldn't let one opinion you've read steer your opinion, but bring it up to the rescue.
Some dogs take up to 6 months to show their true personality, not many are fostered that long.
If the rescue won't take back a dog, it doesn't bode well for success. They should also do follow-ups if possible(and help get the family/dog hooked up with a good trainer), to ensure the dog/family are the right match.

What about you fostering the dog and possibly adopting in a couple months if you feel the dog will be the right match?

[GrayWolf]

Maybe I should cancel the scheduled introduction? After the transport arrives and unloaded it'll be less than 24 hours. I know how I felt when I drove cross country on a tight schedule. I met myself coming and going. When I got home all I wanted to do was rest. Socializing was the furthest thing from my mind.

The rescue stated after the pup was taken from the high kill shelter she was in a foster environment, but they did not give me a time frame regarding this aspect. The response was the foster family swore she was gentle, sweet and knew basic commands. The pup's listing now shows she is on "hold," I guess mine was the first inquiry, and application submitted on her behalf. I am wondering if I do follow through and spend a few hours with her on the appointed day, if they'd allow her to settle at the foster or kennel for a while. As you've stated this would give her time to decompress, and see if there are any severe health or temperament issues.

[JakodaCD OA]

I would 'think' that the rescue would have had her fully evaluated by a vet at this point? If not, I think I'd question that. I would also want to know how long she's been in foster situation, what that situation was, did they have kids? other dogs? cats? did they socialize or take her out in public at all?

There are quite a few on the board here who are familiar with alot of the rescues around, I'm wondering if you could contact one of them and see if they are aware of the rescue itself? Jean comes to mind.

Definately hard to say, do you "have" or are they "expecting" you to just take her when you meet her? What if you didn't "click", are they going to have a problem with you backing out?

I'd ask those questions before any money has changed hands, you don't want to get into the position of deciding against the dog, them becoming irritated and not return your adoption fee, tho I don't see why they wouldn't.

[Myamom]

Did you have a phone interview? It is then that the rescue has the opportunity to ask questions, fully assess your situation, get a feel for what dog is right for your situation, etc. It is ALSO the opportunity that you as the potential adopter gets to ask YOUR questions. Request one.
Adopting a pet is a lifetime committment and not to be taken lightly or with uncertainty...and I applaud you for recognizing that.

[GSDElsa]

You can PM me. I'm not familiar with a lot of rescues downstate, but you never know.

There are a few things I don't particularily like.
1. No home check and you were approved within an hour. Was this really time to review it, determine if you would be a good fit, and check references?

2. You are meeting the dog the night after she gets off the rescue. A week for us is generally a short time. A lot of dogs do NOT do well on transports and take a long time to settle in.

3. Also not a fan that they are pretty much basing their evaluation of her off of someone else's opinion. Granted, the could have some pretty good contacts where she is being fostered, but I never like to base my opinion to a potential adopter on that of someone else. I usually hole to dog up in my house/yard for a few days and test them out in some low key situations and go from there.

While BS does not have a strict standard on when a foster can adopt out their dogs, many people (myself included) go off the typical 2-3 week rule. If it's a SUPER low key foster, they might be able to go to Meet & Greet after a week, and if there is someone interested there, then they have to go meet the dog again. Granted, puppies are always little easier because most are pretty "whatever", go with the flow at super young ages if they've been socialized at all.

At the least, I'd specifically ask to be put in contact with the foster that currently has her. Never go off of what someone else tells you someone else said. IMO. Especially if you're meeting the dog the day after it gets here. They DO NOT know the dog. The current foster knows the dog.

Ask what their policy on taking dogs back is. The owner's might not be telling the whole story either. Don't forget...it's not the owner's writing those reviews. He's kind of a "3rd person" in the situation. And the rescue might not have seen any "aggression" and the dogs just didn't do well in the new home.

Anyhow, lots of variables and definitely ask lots and lots of questions and make sure you review their entire contract to make sure you are comfortable with it.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I would want to know a lot of things like everyone said.

Where was she fostered? Was it a kennel setting/holding area, in a home, how many other dogs in the foster home, where did they socialize her, what was her reaction to other people, kids, dogs, cats, going for car rides, etc.

What vetting has been done exactly? Flea, worming, fecals, spay, additional vetting?

Nitty gritty of their contracts and requirements both ways - what you and they are required to do.

I think you are right to question - that list of reputable rescue things is so important. I am a black/white person - then you have room for gray. But if all you have is gray, it's scary. I also like what you said about a long drive!

I think you can have good, and you can have fast, and it's hard to have both together. I think it's great that you are researching and trying to find out how things work, and it's hard to figure out because within rescue there are rescues, shelters, brokers (not good) and in each there is a spectrum of awful to great.

[Zisso]

I know that when I adopted Nadia from a local 'rescue' here, they failed her on so many levels. They were ready to send her to anyone & Nadia lucked out that this just happened to be me. They did not do the home check, application, vet & personal reference check. I met them, visited with Nadia for an hour, and Boom...she was in my truck going home with me. Not a lot of info on her previous living conditions, lots of false claims like she was crate trained & house trained(to not potty in the house) but also came with the conflicting story that she was an outside dog all her life(16 months at that time).

After the fact, they tried to claim that I was under contract to take her to a trainer, & to return her to them if I could not keep her-however we had NO contract. I signed Nothing when I took Nadia. They had my name and number because of caller ID only. That's it. When I called & asked questions about her they got mad at me! When I asked about training thru them, they ignored my Q, but later claimed they offered to let me take her to their training classes, which they never offered. Nadia had issues and over the course of the last year, I have managed them, worked thru them with her, & she is MUCH better, but only because I care enough to stand by her & be her leader in all ways. Not because I had the help of the 'rescue' that I got her from.

So I guess my point is, that altho they might claim to be a rescue, unless they are well established, be prepared for anything. Also, a dog with issues CAN overcome them with time, love and Lots of patience & determination on our part!

[Stosh]

I tried going through a rescue, but it never worked out. My experience was all through one woman over the phone after an initial online application, which now I wonder if it was even necessary. She was about 4 hrs away and said she'd drive 1.2 way but she would need another $60 for gas and I would have to take the dog because in her words, she already had 10 dogs in her yard and needed to make room for another who was about to be pts. Not exactly what I'd consider a reputable 'rescue.' I think she went to shelters, adopted purebreds, fed them for a week or two then found people like me who were willing to pay close to $400. The fact that I had to take the dog on the spot when she had never even met me was ridiculous! For both of us