adoption process

quite often in the business of animal rescue, we hit roadblocks in the adoption process. people don't understand that we are particular about where this creature we have rescued, tended, loved, medicated and protected from unspeakable harms ends up for the rest of it's life. we don't want this animal to end up back in a bad situation. and just because someone WANTS a pet, doesn't meant they are a good pet companion.

we require a reference from a vet. we want to know that you are going to provide the animal medical care when needed. you will provide flea and tick prevention. you will provide heartworm prevention. you will get the animal altered when it is of age. your other pets mustbe altered. we don't want any animals out there reproducing unless you are in the business of show dogs. we want to know how your other pets have left you. did they die? how? if they got hit by a car? that is not a good thing. if they ran off, how did that happen. we understand accidents happen, but it is up to us to protect the animal and these are red flags. if it has happened on multiple occasions, you will not get approved.

how do you handle unacceptable behavior? if it is not an educated manner of behavior modification, you won't be approved. house training? you don't stick the dogs nose in the accident. when an accident happens it is your fault, not the dogs. if the cat is peeing or pooping outside the litter box, either the cat is sick or your aren't cleaning the litter box often enough. you don't punish an animal for unacceptable behavior, you work on a method of changing the behavior calmly and consistently. google is your friend. research.

speaking of cats; we don't approve having the cat declawed. declawing a cat consists of removing the cats "finger if you will" up to the knuckle. this is a very painful process and will lead to problems down the road. it is so painful that even cat litter hurts their paws. if your furniture is too precious for a cat and an occasional claw, then you need a fish.

we do a home inspection. believe it or not, people WILL LIE about what their home is like. one time a person applied to adopt a puppy from us. the application said the puppy would be outside during the day. the application said that the fence was secure and the yard was safe. not only was there a broken down gate that a 300 pound man could walk through, the yard had multiple gallon jugs of antifreeze lying around, some full, some empty, some half full. then, they also had large containers with some strange bubbly, oozy black substance lying all over the yard. yeah. they were not approved. and were offended when I told them the yard was not safe for dog or child.

people have complained that our adoption process is too tough and that they could get a dog from a breeder easier. this it true, most breeders are only interested in the financial aspect of the process. we are concerned with the long term life of the animal.

posted by Elizabeth @ 8:43 AM