I am discouraged how difficult adopting a dog in Humboldt County can be. I understand you all love animals, as I do, and I commend you for that fact, but are you aware that when you make the application process so long and tedious that you push the average person to give up and buy a dog from a breeder or a pet store that is supplied by puppy mills?
I understand our county well. I know our dogs are in danger for being used as bait dogs. I know dogs are used and bred to guard marijuana patches and exposed to dangerous chemicals. I am very aware that people still drown puppies in our rivers, as well as use dogs for target practice.
But are you aware that your four and five page applications are more personal and daunting than most job applications, including those of a classroom teacher? Are you aware that the donation “fee” most of you ask for leads people to wonder why they shouldn’t just buy a dog from a breeder?
As for our county shelter, I know they are doing the best they can under a limited budget, but they should be open at least one weekend day a month. How do they expect people who hold legitimate jobs, who can afford to pay for a pet and their medical needs, to get to them when they are only open Monday through Friday?
In addition, we live in a rural county that is spread out. With our county shelter located in McKinleyville, many of us live at least an hour away and can’t get there the two late nights a week that they are open. That is why being open at least one weekend day a month is critical for saving the lives of our dogs and cats.
This leads me to one well-meaning Rescue Group A, that is gaining a tarnished reputation. The five page application they have is a bit much, but since theirs was the first one, I filled it out. I can understand the interview too. What I can’t understand is their system for adoption. They have left my husband and me with the impression they only want to adopt dogs out to little old ladies who sit at home and do nothing.
My husband and I picked out six dogs. They said they would calls us and tell us when we could bring our dog in to meet them. We waited three weeks, and as we did so, we noted that all the dogs we were interested in were posted on Petfinder and Petharbor. So finally, we called Rescue A to be told that we were low on each dogs’ list and wouldn’t be called to meet them until many others had been.
How long does Rescue A make their dogs wait for homes? People actually would adopt them if they could. I spoke to one person who gave up on Rescue A and went and adopted his dog from the Trinity County Animal Shelter. He is a well-off individual, who owns his own business, and brings his dog to work with him. Yet, he couldn’t even manage to adopt through Rescue A.
I am going to leave this with saying that I used to donate to Rescue A several times a year. I even supported their big annual fundraiser. I won’t be doing that any more. Greenpeace can have my money.
Next there is Rescue Group B who I spoke with a representative over the phone. When she mentioned an application, I cringed. After waiting three weeks on Rescue A with not results, I wasn’t eager for more paperwork. I told her about my dealings with Rescue A, and she assured me they were nothing like that.
I downloaded their application and found it is just as lengthy and evasive as Rescue Group A’s. They also charge a $175 adoption “fee”, while Rescue A only charges $110. Why would I want to bother with this paperwork and give away my driver’s license number again when I haven’t even met a dog?
I have met one extremely helpful person, who works for Rescue Group C. We were able to rule out the dog she was promoting as not a good match for my Maggie over the phone. I appreciated that. She has also tried to explain on behalf of all these rescues that the adoption “fee” is because the above rescues are supposedly willing to take dogs back if they don’t work out in their new homes.
Yet, so will the County Shelter. They will even refund your money if you return the dog within two weeks. One just can’t get to the County Shelter because of their hours.
This now leads me to Rescues D and E.
Rescue D I filled out a reasonable application of only two pages and at least got to introduce my dog to three dogs they had at a store helping them adopt out dogs. One dog is a good possible match, but I now have to wait for a call before I can take the potential adoptee home for a two night trial. I was supposed to be called the next day and not it is five days later.
Rescue E seems to be the most accommodating, but perhaps that is because I am a little familiar with them through dealings of another dog. At least they are willing to drive the potential adoptee to my house and do the meet and greet and home inspection at the same time, and before I have filled out any paperwork. When one lives in a rural area of the county as I do, that is a blessing. Unfortunately the visit I was eagerly awaiting at the end of this week has been postponed to the middle of next week.
I have two more rescues to check out if neither Rescue D or Rescue E works out. At least I have rescues F and G in the wings.
This has been a five week nightmare in trying to find a dog friend for my 12 ½ year old black lab/corgi mix. Meanwhile she is at home alone, missing having a friend (her former friend passed away from cancer), and other dogs are sitting in cages desperate for homes, but trapped by limited hours, daunting paperwork, high adoption fees, and other restrictions.
You have all awaken my eyes to why puppy mills are still thriving in this country, and why backyard breeders are successful. Buying a dog is easer than adopting one.
P.S. Some of you reading this will probably connect me to my applications, and that is fine. I write this to educate you, not to shame you. We all love dogs and are in this for them, but sometimes one must step out of his or her organization and examine the larger picture.
