Tails: Too Sheltered?

Have rescues become too elite?

I love and admire animal rescue. It is the most heartbreaking and heartwarming job in the world – to me, at least. For every time I have witnessed cruelty, neglect or even euthanasia, there has been a perfect adoption that made all the pain seem worthwhile.

My most excruciating experience to date has been the mill auctions. Forever I have been blessed with that experience because never have I been more aware of the damage humans do to natural souls.

However, in the passed few weeks some friends and acquaintances have been out looking to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue and I have again found myself disappointed in our society – only this time I have even found myself disturbed by the practices of animal welfare organizations.

Us, in animal welfare, cringe at the mere sight of a petstore – especially one that advertises, “cute, furry puppies – all breeds.” Pet stores mean puppy mills and well, lets not even go there.

Yet, pet stores also open their doors to ANYONE who wants a puppy. There are no forms to fill out, no criteria to meet, let alone: a home visit. ANYONE with the financial ability (or not even, since you can get a payment plan or charge “it.”) can walk in and leave the store in minutes with a puppy.

My friends and acquaintances have found the process of adpopting a dog a long and tedious road. They have been irritated by inept volunteers, frustrated with the lack of expedient returned phone calls and overall, just depleted by their inability to please everyone enough to be approved to adopt a dog.

They have left shelters in tears, angry and/or speechless. And, this has brought me to thinking: “Have rescues and shelters become elitists? Do we think we are the know it alls for the right home? Most importantly, has our lack of customer service and common sense lost us valuable customers? Worse of all, have we actually ended up inadvertently sending people right to pet stores?”

Just recently, there was an editorial in HSUS. A rescue volunteer was displeased that HSUS allowed people, who didn’t have fenced yards, to adopt from them. HSUS explained that dogs in the city, who didn’t have fenced in yards were actually more exercised and healthier then their suburbian fenced in counterparts. HSUS stressed the importance at looking at the whole application and potential adoptee, not the individual criteria.

My friends are still seeking to adopt even though they are at their wits end with the procedures. Each of these families has at least one healthy dog and a long list of references to verify just how good they are. Yet, they are all still waiting to hear back from organizations.

I know most organizations are 100% volunteer and that funds are low, but I think it is time shelters and rescues see the bigger picture - these animals need homes - not necessarily perfect ones. Just loving families to create memories with.

Sure rescues and shelters are non-profits and usually are broke, but it is still vital to see the organization as a business. And to treat customers with respect, to educate not berate people interested in adopting - trying to do the right thing.

Is it better for a dog to spend a year in a kennel or is it better for that dog to go to a loving family who happens to work outside the home for 7 hours a day? Is it better for a dog to go from foster home to foster home for 6 months or is better to go to a home without a fence and an experienced family who has had dogs their whole lives?

In a world with millions of dogs needing homes, it is time rescues and shelters get off their high horse and begin to enter into reality. Most people wanting to adopt are doing the right thing - lets makes damn sure we don't punish them and in turn reward our very enemy: the petstores.