I have read some of the replies here and think the rescue people are nuts. We were going to adopt 2 kittens to keep them together and when we showed up to pick them up, they changed the rules.
Instead of $25 each, it went up to over $100 for both and we were supposed to fill out a 4 page form. We said never mind. We were doing THEM a favor, not the other way around.
Shortly afterwards, we took in a problem cat from a co-worker of my wife. We already have 2 cats. As far as cost, I gave away 6 Lab puppies this weekend. I will have my male fixed. Always had just females, and we took in a pair (male and female) to go with the Lab female we already had, from someone who could no longer care for them. The male got busy and both females had puppies.
I think the rescue people get too attached to the animals in their care. I would NEVER agree to allow someone to come to my house to inspect it just to get a dog or cat. I am not real eager to allow anyone around my place. And I can get animals (dogs or cats) much easier from anywhere else. Even the pound is cheaper and easier.
I can respect their saving animals but I feel their rules are far too intrusive and my wife & I both agree, we won’t waste our time with them again.
I’m just going to throw this out there: if an animal is rescued from an abusive environment, what purpose is served by sending that animal to the next person who walks in the door? Why not just put the animal down?
Excellent point, just how I feel about it. It’s a fine line between verifying ability and being an intrusive ass. If they could verify through a few questions and maybe a reference that you are a responsible pet owner that should be enough.
That’s the best way I think. Though I have suffered their intrusion at least once (Franklin was worth it ;-))
I now get my pets from other sources also. The last time I went to a shelter to adopt a kitten, they asked if I was going to have it declawed. That was a deal breaker for them. They also wanted to check my home. A deal breaker for me. My question is, would they rather have a declawed kitten (which is minor surgery for a kitten) or a dead kitten because no one adopts it?
“I would NEVER agree to allow someone to come to my house to inspect it just to get a dog or cat. I am not real eager to allow anyone around my place.”
Nor would I. Sure, I understand the shelters want a good environment for the animals. I would bring along a few pictures to prove the backyard fence is in good shape and that I have also have a kennel, but in-house inspections are over-the-top extreme nonsense.
I’ll tell you another thing also irks me — some of the people that foster Australian Shepherds screen out prospects that won’t involve the dog in agility courses, specialized training, jogging lifestyles, etc. In other words, being a pampered household pet and member of the family simply isn’t good enough for the dogs to live fulfilled lives. Our dogs would disagree! Meanwhile, too many good and young dogs are put down for a lack of enough “perfect” homes.