Lady near me looking to get a gsd - Page 5

 Warheit, you have no idea who you're talking to or what you're talking about. Assuming you know what someone is like is dangerous. Telling them what you think you know is worse. 

I'm the one who started this; why does SportySchGuy get the hard time about it? Because he's new and an easier target? You all already know I'm a bitch who doesn't care what anyone thinks; I say what I mean to whoever, whenever, and about anything without prejudice? Is that it?

Well, whatever the reason, it's a fact. I have been refused MANY dogs. Cats, too. All from MORONS who feel good about themselves based on their keen "screening" skills and keeping an irresponsible person like me from adopting their precious, homeless, special needs animal that no one wants which is why it's homeless in the first place. There is a certain amusing irony, actually. I think many of these people (not Steph, personally) are just animal hoarders with serious personal problems. At least, that's the opinion I formed after working with several groups over approximately a decade. 

In EVERY instance where I was refused a rescue, I went out and BOUGHT a dog (or cat) from a breeder (evil of the universe). I figure I've spent close to $8000 on dogs I've bought when a shelter or rescue turned me down for a pet. This doesn't count animals I've purchased for breeding purposes; these were just pets.  Just think about how that money could help support homeless animals (which I used to do, quite generously, before they refused me animals)  instead of putting it in breeders' pockets. 

Just some food for thought. 

I have to say my own personal experience with local rescues in my areas was a nightmare this past summer when I was looking for kittens.   

After the nightmare I'll continue to contribute money, old blankets, food and more money to my local shelter but I wouldn't go to a rescue for a goldfish.

 RLHAR,  I adopted several pets over 20 years from the Naperville Humane Society, the first in 1989, and the most recent in 2006. I went to drop off some stuff for them, collars and such, and Caleb was with me. They were interested in him so I brought him out. They had a dog there who wanted to play w/other dogs and a few dogs there they wanted to test but they didn't have any neutral dogs to use there at the time. So, I let them borrow him for a few tests and I ended up taking one home, lol. They were totally normal and logical and understood that no way was I neutering my animals just to drag a homeless one home with me.

That is the only rescue that I have had a remotely positive experience with in over ten years. The rest.............nutcases. I feel so sorry for most dogs who end up in rescue.  

 I say until all of you routinely spend your own time, money, effort etc. dealing with this problem of overpopulation of dogs (and cats) that you have no place in criticizing anyone doing it. Are there some rescues that are not really helping the problem? Or who "charge" too much? Or set too high or an incorrect standard (in your mind)? Or whose organization is incorrect or who take dogs which would better be put down? Sure, but I will defend the position many rescues take in setting adoption standards. The ONLY reason most municipal shelters cannot set higher standards is because they ARE overwhelmed. It does a dog no good to go from home to home to home. Most of you should know that. Therefore, standards for adoption are required. I too have rules about who I will and will not adopt to. Have I made some mistakes in turning down the guy who just called 20 minutes after he let his dog run loose and get hit and killed by a car and did not feel it inappropriate to not contain the dog? I don't think so. I cannot write what he called me when I refused to even consider him. Perhaps I made other mistakes too, but on balance, it was on my dollar and time and for years I have slept well at night knowing the dogs I placed had a forever home and a good home. Since I was doing it, I think it was absolutely appropriate I did it my way. And I did. 

For what it is worth, I have stopped my efforts. It is hopeless and it is time for some of you who have big mouths to stand up and take up the banner, not with a single dog here or there, but with many dogs at the same time, spending your own money to do so, and hopefully getting better in touch with the overwhelming need.

Jen,
Really?
So, when I helped you find a home for Stark that was bad?
When I found a new permanent home for that female from MP that you had placed with a former co-worker that was bad?
Just like everyone else people from rescues are not perfect. We all make mistakes. I know I have made my fair share, but, if I make a mistake because I am trying to look out for the best interests of an animal I am caring for I guess I'll gladly go to hell for doing so. 

Hodie,
Your whole post couldn't be more correct!!!


P.S. $8000 is what I spend on dog food, cat food and cat litter every year for those I rescue, foster in my home, and place in new homes.

OGBS, I assume you are writing to someone above my post. But I agree with you and with Wahrheit and certainly with the position Steph takes in setting adoption standards. For years I have also tried to discourage people to start doing rescue who had no clue about what it took to do it. For one thing, people MUST be able to say "no", for a variety of reasons. But yes, it is, and was, for me, about the welfare of the dog, not what some of you do or do not think. Do rescue and you will have all the dogs you can possibly afford. 

I have nothing more to say on the subject.

Hodie,
Happy New Year, I hope you are well, and your assumption is correct.

Hodie, in Jenni's defense, I'm from the same area as her. My experience with area shelters and rescues out here have been much the same, and incidentally, I've been refused animals, too. A good friend of mine was refused a cat because she has intact show dogs on the premises- even though all of her cats are spayed/neutered. She treats her animals like gold.

God bless the good rescuers out there. What they do saves lives and I completely respect them for it. Surely you must understand that all not people who take on the mantle of  "rescue" have the sense to do it well or the intention. Just look at the gruesome case I linked from Deer Park, IL last week.

I've seen shelters/groups out here allow sweet, adoptable dogs sit and rot, never showing them to potential homes while pushing the head cases on families with kids. A website description of a dog says "raised with kids" when I watched with my own eyes the night before as a dog goes after the whole family, kids included. Some would rather watch an unadoptable dog spend its entire life behind kennel bars rather than humanely euthanize it and make room for a more homeable dog. One local shelter, on hearing a family who wanted to adopt had declawed their other cat, brought out pictures of botched surgeries unbidden until their small children were in tears.

Perhaps Jenni has dealt with the same groups of people around here that I'm thinking of.  These are the people doing it wrong. I am careful to not let them color my opinion of all the people out there struggling so hard, especially in these times, to do it right. You have my thanks and my admiration.

Hodie, I have every intention of working (preferrably) or volunteering at my local shelter once it gets it's place set up. The last time I talked to them, they were still just looking for the location.

I think that it is better for a dog to have a home, pretty much any home, than to rot in a shelter. I know the shelters are thinking about the dogs, but is it really worse for the dog to be on a chain a few hours a day then to be left in a crowded kennel all day with few breaks? Is it worse to have a cat go outside than it be in a cage that is 2 feet by 2 feet? (Some shelters have marvelous facitilies or great and plentiful foster homes, I am not talking about those) All I'm saying is that some shelters' restrictions are crazy. When dog and cat overpopulation is down to only a few thousand animals being euthanized due to lack of space a year, I wouldn't mind these restrictions.

And, we all got really off topic, lol.

Kelly,
Again, really?
While you're mentioning how terrible all the rescues are, why not bring up how terrible most of the breeders are in our area? (and I am just talking about GSD's)
Do you have any clue how many GSD's I have taken in from breeders in our area? Well known breeders that sell puppies for $1500-$4500. The breeders who claim they will take back anything they produce, but, when I get the phone call from the owner they tell me the breeder won't, or, I call the breeder myself to tell them I have one of their dogs and they won't take it back because they don't have room, or, because the dog bit someone (because the owner is a moron and so is the breeder) and now the breeder can't take it back because they have kids, or, they have high school kids working at their kennel so they don't want to take it back. Then I have to bring it in to my home for 3-6 months and spend my time and my money fixing the problems, feeding it, and vetting it. Oh, and by the way, these are people that you know, some of them are your friends from the GSD Show world. You are a good trainer from what I have heard. Have you offered any of your free non-paid time to any of the idiot rescues or shelters? Like Hodie said, not just one dog here or there. Your knowledge and expertise could go a long way towards keeping the dogs and cats from the idiot rescues in a home permanently.

Again, like I said before, rescues and rescuers aren't perfect, but, for every one of your "terrible" stories I can guarantee you that anyone doing this for any decent amount of time has a hundred stories going in the other direction about adopters or potential adopters.