So about this shelter dog Adoption event stuff… it takes a lot of organization, some trials and tribulations, a mix of ever-giving volunteers, each with talents they bring to the table. And of course.. those selfless rescues who pulled the dogs from kill shelters initially, some in horrible shape.. brought them to their veterinarians, drained their own finances and turn their homes into kennels to save these dogs. Without them, we couldn’t do what we do to rehome those unfortunate dogs.
Regarding adopters… well, that’s where it can get tricky. First, there is the adoption fee. We don’t take a penny from rescues or adopters. We raise funds to hold the events before hand and our services are free. The adoption fee at our events is $385. Some potential adopters bawk at that price. They say “I can get a dog at the pound for $50!. Why am I paying YOU $385?? The answer is very simple. Our rescues have to pull and quarantine the dogs for 30 days and evaluate their behavior. They must neuter or spay them, innoculate them, de-worm them and test for things like heartworm before they can come to our event. Their cost at this point is approximately $300, if not more. Then there is the transport.. our southern folks drive 30 hours (that’s alot of gas) to get here. They’re lucky if they break even at the end. Your pound dog? Is only required to have a rabies shot and you might get lucky and have a healthy spayed/neutered dog that behaves well once he leaves the pound, but it’s a crap shoot.
Now, to be fair, I’m still all for adopting from your local pound. Just had to explain the reason for the fee. AND… adopting a shelter dog from our events is also a crap shoot in certain ways. These dogs haven’t lived in the kill shelter for atleast a month, but they are still living in kennel conditions, even in a home atmosphere, unless we’ve brought them from foster homes. So, their exact behavior in your home might be somewhat different, at least at first, then where they came from. Our rescue folks try to know them as best they can, and they are fully vetted. All of this is explained to potential adopters, and then it is up to them to help the dog adjust. We are always available after adoption to help.
One of the biggest mistakes new adopters make is letting Scruffy off leash immediately after bringing him home. While he may be friendly and lovey and so happy to be with you… he doesn’t really know you yet, or your yard as “home”. He probably doesn’t even know his name. I wouldn’t trust your new dog for months off leash and expect that they will stay right with you or return home if they get away from you. Yet, so many people lose their new adoptee and out goes the search squad, not always with great results.
Another issue we sometimes deal with is new adopters not having the patience to allow their new charge to get accustomed to the new home and family, or not understanding the dogs language. Case in point… three days ago we got a call from “Jenny’s” new family saying she was not adjusting well to their home, was unhappy with her tail between her legs all the time and ate ravenously and with aggression. Jenny is a young puppy. We were perplexed… that was not her demeanor at our event or with rescue before. They wanted her picked up – before the kids got home. – We took her back immediately. Jenny went to foster for just two days where her behavior was monitored. No food aggression, and she was fed with the other dogs to test that theory. She was just hungry. She was also bouncy and happy, tail wagging with none of the signs the family had mentioned. Here’s what really happened… they have electric fence in their yard. They tried to show her how to use it, and zapped her in the process.. she’s about 14 weeks old and was brand new to her environment. They scared the hell out of her and we don’t know what else.. perhaps the mom and dad just didn’t want to deal with puppy training.
Jenny was rehomed yesterday with a lovely couple who adore her. No signs of poor behavior, just a happy puppy in the right environment. The heartbreak? The E-mail we received the day after Jenny was taken from the family… from their young daughter. “You took Jenny from us! How very unfair!.. she was just getting used to us and her new home, we would have been the very best family for her ever! I hope you will give her the very best home, because we were it!!
Now, let me tell you what I think of that. Her parents threw us under the bus when they decided the puppy was too much work for them, that’s what I think. They should have let their kids say goodbye and explained why they felt Jenny was not well suited as an addition to their family. Instead they came home to no more Jenny and an explanation that wasn’t truth. It broke the girls heart even more to think we felt they weren’t suitable so we took the dog back. We wrote her back saying we knew she had every intention of giving Jenny a wonderful home and perhaps talking with her parents about why they decided to return her would help her to understand their decision.
As for the stuff you can’t make up…
Now and then a potential adopter shows up that we just have to say no to. You know, you get a feeling, you see interaction that isn’t cool.. their references don’t pan out for whatever reason. (we insist on solid references, including vet) One couple wanted a small dog for their daughter. They found one they liked, but didn’t want to commit. Someone else came along, a lovely woman with MS or parkinsons, who clearly adored the dog, had great references, and she adopted. The family who put the dog aside came back and was annoyed that we let someone else take her, even though they didn’t want to commit. They shopped around again… and finally settled on a little chihuahua girl named Flower. We had them talk with our trainer and walk around with the dog to see if it was a good fit. They all looked happy except for the Dad.
They did a family huddle…
then came back to us and said…”Well, we really like Flower.. but.. what’s that thing in the back”.
That thing in the back?…..
we looked.
“You mean her genitals?”…..
“Oh is that what that is? Well, we’re thinking then that her Vagina is too big”.
Blank stares all around… (hysterical laughter later)….. but we said……
“I’m sorry… we probably don’t have a dog here that we would feel comfortable adopting out to you.”
And we took Flower back in the barn. Really folks, Flower has a very normal looking female genitalia region. And if they didn’t know what it WAS, and held it against her regardless, they aren’t the kind of people we want to adopt to anyway. That didn’t stop them from displaying their anger at our decision by standing at the bottom of the hill and glaring up at us in the barn for a good half hour, as if we would change our minds about adopting to them. Then, they finally left.
We are somewhat choosey because these dogs have already been through so much. We want to place them where they have the best chance of having the kind of life they deserve. It’s as simple as that. And if you’ve read all the way through this post today, here’s your reward.. Jenny in her new home.. where she has definitely hit the good home jackpot!
It’s a beautiful thing….
