There seems to be a double standard going on. We devote quite a lot of time (and rightfully so) toward counseling prospective dog parents on selecting the right dog for their family and individual situation. In fact, right now on amazon.com there are over 20 titles of books and dvd's on that very topic. Most focus on matching dogs and humans based on a certain dog breed's characteristics and the human's lifestyle. Criteria such as size, temperament, exercise requirements, trainability, coat type and grooming requirements are taken into account. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you're steered away from breeds that need more activity such as sporting breeds and terriers. If you live in an apartment, smaller dogs and dogs that don't require much room are suggested. However when it comes to rescuing a dog, I've noticed more emphasis on getting dogs out of rescue and into homes than making sure that dog gets in the right and most appropriate home.
Recently I received several calls from frantic newly adoptive parents of rescue dogs. In the first case, the family had wanted a dog for their daughter as a pet and companion and also to accompany her when she trains for the cross country team. She often has to run early in the morning before school and sometimes after school before her parents get home. Wanting to "do the right thing" and provide a home for a rescue dog, they visited a local rescue organization's shelter facility and carefully looked through the available dogs. They settled on a very sweet Lab mix that seemed to immediately bond with their daughter. The dog had been picked up as a stray so had no known history but had been at the shelter for about a month. There were no cautions of aggression, but his kennel card did mention he'd do best in a single dog family. Since they didn't have any other dogs, they spoke with a staff member and expressed interest in adopting him. They filled out the application and the staff member went over all the requirements including a fenced yard, references, etc. A couple of days later, they were approved and took Buddy home. All went well for the first few days and it was looking like he was going to be a great addition to the family. They decided to take Buddy out for a walk to see how he was on leash, and that's when it happened. A neighbor was walking his dog on the other side of the street and the minute Buddy saw the other dog he went ballistic! He started lunging, barking and growling at the other dog, ultimately pulling the daughter to the ground, and yanked his leash out of her hand. He bounded across the street and jumped on the other dog and started biting him. Fortunately the other dog was just as large and fully coated, so Buddy's teeth didn't have time to penetrate before the other owner was able to pull his dog to safety and Buddy's family were able to get control of his leash. The shaken family went inside and immediately called the rescue organization to alert them to what had happened.
The rescue group representative's response,"Well you were told he wasn't good with other dogs."
To which the adoptive parents' responded, "No, not really. His card said he would do best with a single dog family, which we are, but we weren't told he was aggressive toward other dogs. That's a big difference!" The staff member continued to insist that they did inform the family about his behavior, and that the problem could likely be fixed with some training and might subside after he's been in a stable home environment for a while. That's when the mother called me. She asked the usual questions, 1) could the problem be fixed, 2) how long would it take, and 3) how much would it cost. Sigh. I explained that great strides can and have been made in dogs with dog aggressive behavior through behavior modification, but it takes time, sometimes a lot of time, there are no quick fixes, and it takes as much effort as it takes time, along with a lot of management along the way. And if they will be working with a professional, yes, it's going to be a financial investment as well. Then she asked one more question, "so this dog probably isn't going to be a good running partner for our daughter then, at least not for a while?" It was rhetorical, as she had already figured out the answer. Next, she expressed anger in that the rescue organization did not fully explain his aggression issue, and how guilty they would feel having to take him back. Before we hung up I again reiterated that behavior modification can be very effective in lessening dog/dog aggression, and if they were up to the task, I'd be happy to work with them. Lastly I added that it's not only okay but appropriate to select a dog that will best fit into your family and they should never feel guilty about that. She expressed deep gratitude, and I figured it wasn't for what I'd told her about dog/dog aggression, but moreso for my helping to relinquish her guilt.
Next I received a call from a woman who was calling for her single, adult son who'd recently adopted a dog that immediately showed severe separation anxiety. Her son works all day, and the dog had already eaten through and destroyed two metal crates, and had scratched up three wooden doors and the molding. She was currently on vacation and was babysitting the dog while her son was at work, but had to return to work the next week. She didn't know what to do because her son really wanted a dog, liked this dog, but he worked long hours. "We'd feel so guilty if we had to take her back," she said. Now this particular dog had been in a foster home for quite some time, so I asked if her son had been alerted to any separation anxiety issues. Her answer was, "no." Sigh. Now it is entirely possible that the behavior didn't manifest in the foster's care, especially to that extent if the dog was always with other dogs and if the dog hadn't been crated. I suggested the possibility of doggie daycare during the day and since the anxiety was so severe, also offered to refer her to a veterinary behaviorist who might offer pharmacological treatment and options along with behavior modification. I also told her that they shouldn't feel guilty about wanting a dog that would best fit into their family. Again, she expressed deep gratitude.
No dog is perfect, and frankly, there probably isn't really a perfect match between dogs and humans. We're different species! All dog human relationships will need tweaking, and give and take on the humans' part, along with compromise and some modifications to our lives. Rescuing a dog is indeed an honorable thing, and we all would love if every homeless dog could find a forever home. But when it comes to adopting a rescue, especially one with no known history, how much tweaking, compromise and modifications to their lives should an adoptive family feel obligated to make? And if they aren't up to or just don't want to make those compromises and modifications, should they be made to feel guilty? I say no, but I see the opposite happening. That just isn't right.
even with foster families!
so true. I know everyone has the best of intentions but even as a foster mom, because I already have dogs in my home, and work a few days away from home..it's still important for the rescue group to do a full disclosure to me.
It took a few seconds for a foster dog that I picked up to bust through my back of the car, chew through 1 1/2 seatbelts before I got my foot off the gas pedal and over to the side of the road to deal with his anxiety.
It would have been nice to know BEFORE I took him into the car that he had severe separation anxiety/ claustrophobia... That disclosure could have not only saved my car insides but also...I could easily have had an accident if I didn't pull off in time.
Right now I have a foster which I was told was fearful of men...but actually turns out that he is possessive of space, certain toys and or people...which had I known that, our home would not have been the best place for him. My dogs have been attacked, my partner has been subjected to multiple lunge/bites. We're managing his environment, working with a trainer, going to reactive dog classes... but really, it would have been so much safer if he would have been placed in another foster home no other dogs, and a person to work with him individually. The emotional toll and physical toll on our family & belongings have finally made me decide that this will be my last foster.
happy-houndz.blogspot.com cheers, kate
Oh wow, Having done photo
Oh wow, Having done photo work for over a dozen rescue groups in the area I can say that I've seen the good and bad side of this. Only one group really and truly goes out the way to make sure prospective families know the good and the bad of any dog they are considering. Another goes out of the way to hide anything negative including repeated aggression.
I'm on the lists for dogs needing photos and I see all the adoptions as well as returns. One group sends out upwards of 30 dogs a month, but they also have a really high return rate which really doesn't do anyone any good.
Then there is the group that is so hyper strict on screening that they have had some perfectly suitable dogs "in the system" for three years or more.
Then there is the blind eye that gets turned to zoning limits on the number of dogs that can be on a residential property, but that is a whole different story.
It goes both ways too
Oh wow, Having done photo work for over a dozen rescue groups in the area I can say that I've seen the good and bad side of this. Only one group really and truly goes out the way to make sure prospective families know the good and the bad of any dog they are considering. Another goes out of the way to hide anything negative including repeated aggression.
I'm on the lists for dogs needing photos and I see all the adoptions as well as returns. One group sends out upwards of 30 dogs a month, but they also have a really high return rate which really doesn't do anyone any good.
Then there is the group that is so hyper strict on screening that they have had some perfectly suitable dogs "in the system" for three years or more.
Then there is the blind eye that gets turned to zoning limits on the number of dogs that can be on a residential property, but that is a whole different story.
Rescue Assessments
What an interesting post... I work from both sides of this fence as I run a breed welfare and rescue in the UK and am also a professional behaviourist. I have long believed that rescues MUST work closer with behaviourists not only when assessing dogs, but when assessing the people for the dogs!
It took me nearly THREE MONTHS of looking at hundreds of dogs all over the UK on the internet and in shelters before I found the one I wanted to adopt. It felt like looking for a needle in a haystack at times but I knew the right dog was out there that perfectly matched the kind of home I was offering. I know that most potential adopters don't do this.
Then there is the other side of the fence where, as a behaviourist I get many, many calls like Laurie's ones in the original post where I am absolutely appalled at the dog being placed in UTTERLY the wrong home. I'm not attacking rescues at all; having run one for 5 years now I KNOW how hard it is, but there must be a way to make better rehoming choices. I know a lot of rescue organisations whose rehoming policy is to let the dog go and 'see how it goes', albeit promising to take the dog back if it doesn't work out and though I completely understand that mistakes can be made with the sheer number of dogs in rescue needing to be found homes quickly, I just can't get on board with that kind of thinking.
My rescue is lucky - I run it! I can make the rehoming policies and match the dogs that I personally assess to the homes and people that I personally assess and the rehoming rate is close to 100%. However I've approached many rescues to assist them with their rehoming and assessment evaluations through my own experience and never, ever been taken up on it - go figure.
~Jaq~ www.dogpsyche.co.uk
here's a perspective that is
here's a perspective that is sure to start a war. rescues have to be more particular about which dogs can be saved. there are definitly more dogs available than there are good homes. it would be great if every dog could find the perfect home, but that's not reasonable. so better choices might have to be made about which dogs are redeemable- by the general public standards, not by the "i can fix this dog" professionals. when i was searching for my newest dog, i looked mostly at breed rescues and some shelters. i saw both sides of the argument. some rescues didn't want to place a dog with me (even though i passed a home inspection) becuase i lived too far away or i had a cat (a very dog savvy cat). i was saddened by the thought of good dogs languishing, waiting for that "perfect home".
then i went to one foster home where the foster mom asked me to keep my hands by my side and walk quietly to the couch. all the while she whispered to the dog "don't bite, no bite". to me, that's a dog that is taking up the space a friendly dog could use. the general dog adopting public just doesn't know what to do with a dog like that. all of my pets are rescues, 2 dogs and a cat from shelters and a dog from a breed rescue. i have been very fortunate, having only the minimum of problems, mostly adjustment issues. i love rescues and would not hesitate to adopt again. i just beleive those that are supposed to be dog professionals, those with breed rescues and god bless them, shelter workers, will need to make some difficult choices. as a freind of mine says, and she does a very good job of breed rescue, "not every brown dog can be saved."
Your rescue IS lucky!
I certainly hope my post isn't viewed as a knock on rescues as a whole. Many do a great job and are run by well meaning people with their hearts in the right place. The overwhelming number of homeless dogs has led to such an urgency to rehome them, and unfortunately many shelters, rescue groups and organizations do not have the resources, knowledge or space to properly and thoroughly assess each dog and screen potential adopters. Often, dogs are being placed in any home rather than the right home, and then the burden falls on the adopters to fix, manage or just deal with sometimes very intense behavior issues they weren't expecting, might not be ready for, or worse, haven't thoroughly been briefed about or even told! And after being blindsighted, they are further brow beaten for questioning whether or not the dog is right for their own family situation. If this continues, many will shy away from adopting rescues altogether. We'd all hate to see that happen.
Director of Training and Behavior Counseling Pup 'N Iron Host of Dog Sports and Performance Network on Pet Life Radio
my thoughts
sorry double post
my thoughts...
Interesting article and I agree that rescues should NOT be run this way and the "revolving door" method is horrible for the dogs.
On the other hand ALL the blame should not be put on the rescues/shelters..... but partly on the adopters who want a "quick fix" and "instant gratification"!
My rescue is run quite differently.... our adoption process can take up to 3 months. There is required reading, nutritional standards and healthcare standards to be met, and after meets and greets WE choose the dog that we feel is the best match for your family, current pets and lifestyle...just to name a few.
Because of this very few poeple want to deal with the process and we are called ricidulous, anal, over the top and accussed of not wanting to find loving homes for our dogs...on a Daily basis ;) Our goal is to find the BEST home to meet the dogs needs, not to please the people that want them.
We also offer continued counseling to our adopters for LIFE!... We put up with a LOT of GRIEF but, since 2006 we have only had 1 failed adoption ♥
Goldilocks
Well, the rescue I volunteer for falls somewhere between the "You have a house, we have a dog, what could possibly go wrong?" type of rescue group and catstamm's group. We do have returns, maybe a half a dozen out of more than 400 dogs placed. We do screen both adopters and the dogs we bring in, but even so, there will be dogs that turn out to be different than the initial assessment. Our pullers can only tell so much about the personality of a dog who has been in a shelter for weeks. In a couple of cases, we've had to euthanize a dog that turned out to be far more dog and people agressive that s/he seemed when being initially evaluated.
But the key to our success, IMHO, is matching the dog with the right *foster home*, because it's the foster parent that can tell the potential adopter what to expect, and at least get a sense of whether the potential adopter can supply the environment the dog needs. And if the dog is in a foster home that really isn't suited for it, the foster parent will be spending all his/her time dealing with the issues created by that mismatch, rather than learning the personality of the dog, finding out what the dog needs, and helping the dog become adjusted.
Just my two cents, anyway.
oops. Duplicate
I didn't see the note about my post being held for approval, and thought it didn't go through...
Excellent
I've worked in rescue for a decade and have developed severe rescue rage over this topic. I know which local rescues are pulling and placing unadoptable dogs; saving the poor dogs seems to be the only goal, to hell with the lives, homes, safety, and economic security of the adopters. On the other hand, I have never seen a single behavior client adopted from one of the local shelters. I finally got my first client dog from this shelter (signed up today)... for basic manners and some housetraining help. Far as I am concerned, this muni shelter still has a perfect record. It's perfectly possible to do a good job of screening and placement. Many rescues (and shelters) just choose not to. Meanwhile, so many adopters "will never adopt from rescue again" because they were given a dog who was truly not adoptable, or had issues so severe that the owners would never have adopted had they known the truth. One dog is saved (maybe)... the repercussions for present lives and future dogs are enormous.
Honestly, people who love animals so much they can't bear to make the hard decisions should NOT be working in rescue work. They are not doing anyone any favors. Love is not enough.
Greta Kaplan, CDBC, CPDT-KA* Companion Animal Solutions* Portland, OR USA
My experience
I began my shelter volunteer work 6 months prior to adopting one of the dogs at the shelter (in spite of often repeating to myself "I will NOT adopt a dog")
The pooch I brought home had been at the shelter for 18 months, was approximately 6 years old at the time and was seemingly in a bit of a downward emotional trend; 18 months in a cage is a LONG time.
On the occasions I walked with her as a volunteer, it was easy to see that she still had a wonderful essence in spite of shelter life.
I interacted with her on an almost daily basis for nearly two months and brought her home for a few "stay overs" prior to making the adoption official.
AND...in spite of all of this, I was still stunned when I saw the way she behaved for the first few months after bringing her home.
She's wonderful now...mostly it took a lot of work to get her back to "zero" and help her to be a dog again. The most important factor in this was the building of trust. Early on, I looked at her and said "Hey you have no thumbs. You can't escape here if you decided that you don't like me. That must feel awful" I reminded myself of that often and how I would feel if the tables were turned.
My point is..I now sit in amazement when I think of how dogs are adopted. Typically people come to the shelter, interact with the dog for a few hours, fill out the paper work, have their references checked...and off they go. When bringing home a young dog or one who has not been at the shelter for a long period of time, this is less of an issue. But when adopting an adult dog...or one that has been at the shelter for a long time...prospective owners should know what they might be getting into.
I knew my dog for months before bringing her home and was still pretty surprised at how difficult the transition was at times.
As I said, she's wonderful now...and we're best of buddies. But I wonder about people who don't have the same commitment level and what her fate would have been with a different owner taking her home.
This is where shelters need to step in. Very little is done to prepare new owners. Seemingly, there is no written literature at all about the transition from shelter to home; and that's a shame.
The only thing worse than seeing a dog at a shelter is seeing one that was placed being brought back.