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546 Posts
<p>Warning: opinions and rants involved. 
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<p>This is no big thing in life, too many people are suffering in too many places, but it still gave me pause.</p>
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<p>My background: Husband and I together about 25 years, we've had dogs/cats for 20 of those. Before that, he grew up with dogs and I grew up with cats. We have never surrendered a pet due to a move or b/c we no longer wanted to care for it. (although I will never judge someone surrendering a pet. That is always a tough decision. Always) Our dogs and cats have moved the 13-14 times we've moved. Sometimes hotels, mostly KOAs and sometimes tents. One of the first questions I asked my husband when I met him was: will we be able to have indoor dogs? Later we told each other we could not have married someone who didn't want dogs.</p>
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<p>I search on Petfinder and see a myriad of "Rescue Organizations". Fine. I see a multitude of shelters. Great. I see hundreds of dogs in my area needing adoption. From purebred pyrenees to combinations only a truly messed up mind could consider. Like a pitt/pug. WTH? Love is blind, truly.</p>
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<p>Anyhow, I see these dogs and think, I want a dog, and maybe I can find one. The shelters in the MD area are phenomenal. Clean, smell wonderful, and willing to work with people and decent prices. $200 for all dogs, which includes spay/neuter/chips/shots. Background check--fine. You are a gov't organization, I'm cool with that. But, sadly, they don't have any breed we want, or if they have the breed, they didn't have any males. (mixing female and female terriers is more trouble than I can handle). Large dogs are even on sale this month!!! Professional employees, awesome.</p>
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<p>So, I turn to "rescues". $200-$350+ for a "rescue". Sometimes this doesn't include spay/neuter. Higher for puppies in some places. Once you get past the price, which is fine, if a bit high, you get faced with the inquisition. No one expects the inquisition. They ask for all the basics plus all the history of your dogs and vet references. Some even ask for people references, too. Some want to match YOU with a dog they have. Some won't even let you see dogs until you've filled out an application. This is already harder than buying a car, having a child, or doing your taxes. These are dogs that can have a myriad of issues--health problems, old age, little or no socialization, etc. I emailed one rescue about a specific dog, never even got a reply. (Listed the dog's name and case number in the subject, too) Then they insist on a home visit. Not just to see the outside, but to inspect your home. Quite a bargain to lay your life bare for a group of people you don't know from Adam. </p>
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<p>I have volunteered at rescues and done rescues and transported rescues, it's a lot of work. I wish they could find a happy place between being society's canine guardians and helpers of the four legged little beasties.</p>
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<p>So, as a lark I turned to Craigslist. That really chapped my ass. I got some scammer trying to get me to send money to get the puppy shipped to me from Nairobi or Namibia. Another time I called, the dog had been given away, or, coincidence of coincidences, they had a brand new litter that they could sell me. Using the bait and switch. I was getting totally bummed about getting a dog. You can get a crapload of 7/8/9 y/o dogs on craigslist. I wouldn't mind an older dog if I hadn't just had to put one down last father's day. And our 11 y/o isn't going to be around much longer. So, I wanted to avoid those issues, too. I called on one dog, 6 mos old, and she wanted what she paid the breeder for him. Dear, if I wanted to pay a breeder, I'd pay them directly and pick the puppy myself.</p>
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<p>I can understand why people turn to/become back yard breeders or why they go to pet stores. Most rescues are just too intense for people. I understand believing in your cause, but rescues are not the only people in the world who understand dogs. I understand the desire of rescues to place dogs in solid homes, but there are so, so, so many dogs needing homes and the hoops rescues make people jump through are unbelievable. It's funny, but scrolling through petfinder I could always tell when a certain rescue's adoption prices were high because of the large amount of dogs they had listed. </p>
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<p>Oddly, I found a horsetrainer on craigslist who does rescue (people dump dogs on her property) and a friend of hers needed to give these puppies up. A lot younger than I would have liked, but, he's adorable and a lot less "stress" than most rescue groups. Was she maybe a backyard breeder? perhaps. This little dog was already born and needed a home. We are going to make an excellent home for the little guy. We just need to name him.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>This is no big thing in life, too many people are suffering in too many places, but it still gave me pause.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My background: Husband and I together about 25 years, we've had dogs/cats for 20 of those. Before that, he grew up with dogs and I grew up with cats. We have never surrendered a pet due to a move or b/c we no longer wanted to care for it. (although I will never judge someone surrendering a pet. That is always a tough decision. Always) Our dogs and cats have moved the 13-14 times we've moved. Sometimes hotels, mostly KOAs and sometimes tents. One of the first questions I asked my husband when I met him was: will we be able to have indoor dogs? Later we told each other we could not have married someone who didn't want dogs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I search on Petfinder and see a myriad of "Rescue Organizations". Fine. I see a multitude of shelters. Great. I see hundreds of dogs in my area needing adoption. From purebred pyrenees to combinations only a truly messed up mind could consider. Like a pitt/pug. WTH? Love is blind, truly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyhow, I see these dogs and think, I want a dog, and maybe I can find one. The shelters in the MD area are phenomenal. Clean, smell wonderful, and willing to work with people and decent prices. $200 for all dogs, which includes spay/neuter/chips/shots. Background check--fine. You are a gov't organization, I'm cool with that. But, sadly, they don't have any breed we want, or if they have the breed, they didn't have any males. (mixing female and female terriers is more trouble than I can handle). Large dogs are even on sale this month!!! Professional employees, awesome.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, I turn to "rescues". $200-$350+ for a "rescue". Sometimes this doesn't include spay/neuter. Higher for puppies in some places. Once you get past the price, which is fine, if a bit high, you get faced with the inquisition. No one expects the inquisition. They ask for all the basics plus all the history of your dogs and vet references. Some even ask for people references, too. Some want to match YOU with a dog they have. Some won't even let you see dogs until you've filled out an application. This is already harder than buying a car, having a child, or doing your taxes. These are dogs that can have a myriad of issues--health problems, old age, little or no socialization, etc. I emailed one rescue about a specific dog, never even got a reply. (Listed the dog's name and case number in the subject, too) Then they insist on a home visit. Not just to see the outside, but to inspect your home. Quite a bargain to lay your life bare for a group of people you don't know from Adam. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have volunteered at rescues and done rescues and transported rescues, it's a lot of work. I wish they could find a happy place between being society's canine guardians and helpers of the four legged little beasties.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, as a lark I turned to Craigslist. That really chapped my ass. I got some scammer trying to get me to send money to get the puppy shipped to me from Nairobi or Namibia. Another time I called, the dog had been given away, or, coincidence of coincidences, they had a brand new litter that they could sell me. Using the bait and switch. I was getting totally bummed about getting a dog. You can get a crapload of 7/8/9 y/o dogs on craigslist. I wouldn't mind an older dog if I hadn't just had to put one down last father's day. And our 11 y/o isn't going to be around much longer. So, I wanted to avoid those issues, too. I called on one dog, 6 mos old, and she wanted what she paid the breeder for him. Dear, if I wanted to pay a breeder, I'd pay them directly and pick the puppy myself.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can understand why people turn to/become back yard breeders or why they go to pet stores. Most rescues are just too intense for people. I understand believing in your cause, but rescues are not the only people in the world who understand dogs. I understand the desire of rescues to place dogs in solid homes, but there are so, so, so many dogs needing homes and the hoops rescues make people jump through are unbelievable. It's funny, but scrolling through petfinder I could always tell when a certain rescue's adoption prices were high because of the large amount of dogs they had listed. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oddly, I found a horsetrainer on craigslist who does rescue (people dump dogs on her property) and a friend of hers needed to give these puppies up. A lot younger than I would have liked, but, he's adorable and a lot less "stress" than most rescue groups. Was she maybe a backyard breeder? perhaps. This little dog was already born and needed a home. We are going to make an excellent home for the little guy. We just need to name him.</p>
