My foray into rescue ended similarly. Multi-breed rescue had a nice GSD. The multi-breed rescue listed the dog on another rescue's site (located via Petfinder.com) that was local to me. I didn't understand the dog wasn't local when I wrote to the local rescue, who politely forwarded my request to the multi-breed rescue. On vacation with down time, I filled out the 6 page application for the local rescue. They wanted pictures of the house, etc., so I uploaded that stuff. They wanted utility bills (copies), but I didn't have those with me on vacation. The multi-breed rescue person wrote me to say I'd need to fill out an application and send it back. Without realizing I was dealing with two completely different outfits and two different applications, I sent the completed application for the other outfit (same basic info), and the link to the uploaded pictures. I explained in the email what we were looking to do (get two dogs, types/ages/genders, in our particular house, etc.). I said in my email that I was using the other application, but to let me know if more/different info was needed. What happened? Nothing. Not a word. Misdirected email, perhaps? Who knows. For safety, I sent another email to both outfits with my cell number, in case they wanted to chat. I'd sent the emails to both outfits (thinking they were related) - no response/acknowledgement from either one.
So, once back from vacation, we found a 1.5 y/o black/sable male needing a rehome on CL, and we found a nice 9 y/o male pitbull at the humane society and our mission is accomplished within 2 weeks with both dogs very happily sleeping on their separate LL Bean ortho beds after their 2 hour walk in the woods. Happy? I think they are. Speaking for the humans, we are.
Are we dicey folk? No. Solid 6 figure income, work from home (so always here) and 16 year homeowner in affluent bedroom community of Seattle, solid record of dog ownership and training going back to 1985, solid vet references going back to 1996 with 4 dogs, plus fosters, all set forth on the application. Possible holdups (though just guessing, since no response)? Our 2/3 mostly wooded acre yard isn't fully fenced (so the deer can move through), and I couldn't come up with 5 non-relative character references to talk about what terrific dog owners we are (we're dog people, not people people). I also answered their query re: professional dog training with "I train my dogs, unless there's a problem beyond my experience, at which time I'd use a pro." When they asked me when I'd put a dog down, or rehome it, I answered truthfully that it depends on the circumstances, and I listed hypothetical examples and what we would do (have done). Again, I don't know what killed it with the rescue, since they didn't respond. Their GSD is still listed as available, however. I hope he's as happy as our new dogs seem to be, and that his fosterer likes having him around. I hope there are enough fosterers for the GSDs to come.
I'm sure most rescue folk are fine, but I've heard about some psychos who won't let a dog go without the secret code words only they understand. They're kind of hoarders, imo, who look for reasons to kill an adoption, starting with their application. What kind of bugs me is that the local shelters seldom have decent GSDs because the rescues rush in and suck them out of the system. Sure, they're not killed, but they're not available for a reasonable adoption through a reasonable process.
We came home with our pitbull the same day we went to see him. Poor little dude was in the shelter since early November. The volunteers loved him - one even sponsored his adoption fee (which we paid forward) - they used him as the greeter dog to assess incoming dogs for aggression. They knew the dog, and they accurately sized us up with a 1 page application and a 1/2 hour meet/greet and chat. Yay Kitsap Humane Society! Job well done. You moved a dog nobody wanted (he's 9 and kind of scary looking, and stayed in the back of his kennel, unless outside) to a good forever home, and opened a kennel for his replacement. That's the way it's supposed to work, imo. Small world - our vet is the same one who saw the pitbull last March for some dermo issue, so the pitbull even gets continuity of medical care with his chosen provider.
Would a rescue operation have enabled this happy outcome? Or found a way to prevent it?
Best of luck to the latest disappointed would-be adopter.