[jmarkey]

I'm a CT native currently living in TX. I started volunteering at a local shelter and have come across something I don't understand.

Two weeks ago a group of 11-12 dogs were shipped to CT for adoption. Next week another group of around the same size is also being shipped to CT.

I asked one of the office staff why and was told that CT has such superior spay and neuter laws that there is a shortage of dogs there. My response was that CT doesn't HAVE any mandatory spay/neuter laws. Granted I've been away a couple of years, but last I knew there were plenty of dogs waiting to be adopted there.

The shelter where I volunteer is clean, well run, and staffed by people who seem to be dedicated to the animals there. I'm not saying there's anything sinister going on, but it strikes me as odd that the dogs are going so far away and I can't get a sensible answer.

Is there anyone who can shed a little light on this for me?

[JViello]

Originally Posted by jmarkey

I'm a CT native currently living in TX. I started volunteering at a local shelter and have come across something I don't understand.

Two weeks ago a group of 11-12 dogs were shipped to CT for adoption. Next week another group of around the same size is also being shipped to CT.

I asked one of the office staff why and was told that CT has such superior spay and neuter laws that there is a shortage of dogs there. My response was that CT doesn't HAVE any mandatory spay/neuter laws. Granted I've been away a couple of years, but last I knew there were plenty of dogs waiting to be adopted there.

The shelter where I volunteer is clean, well run, and staffed by people who seem to be dedicated to the animals there. I'm not saying there's anything sinister going on, but it strikes me as odd that the dogs are going so far away and I can't get a sensible answer.

Is there anyone who can shed a little light on this for me?

Don't get me started.

Many of the "rescue" shelters here are nothing more than a business enterprise.

They make the person feel like they really care about the dogs, are only about the welfare of the animals, are no-kill shelters etc

But the reality is they are charging $300.00+ adoption fees and are crooks.

My mother got taken by one of these scams. She is a bit of a left over hippie type and went and adopted a dog imported from Puerto Rico.

The dog was way way to over the top for her, so she went back with him to look at another animal.

After they took the dog back and put him in a cage, my mother asked to see other dogs. She was told "sorry, you are not fit to own a dog" so she asked for her $360.00 back and was told "no refunds".

I almost laid the guy out because my mother lives a very modest life in a 55+ aparment place and saved that money for a long time.

I never got the cash back.

Our dog pounds have plenty of dogs, but I guess the "save the world" folks don't consider them when looking to adopt a pet.

[jmarkey]

I came across a couple of similar stories during my internet search. The stories happened to focus on the same individuals in Enfield. They all included that line, "You're not fit to own a dog". I'm sorry your Mom had such a sad experience.

These dogs from our shelter are going to the same breed-specific rescue. Their adoption fee is around $300. The office staff here can't say enough good things about them, including the fact that no dog leaves here until they have a person who's applied to adopt them up there. Sight unseen.

Not to be a trouble-maker, but the shelter here won't adopt out a dog under those circumstances, i.e. no pets adopted as presents or surprises for other people. You've got to spend lots of time with the dog, bring in your kids, other pets, etc. before they'll release it to you.

The rescue in CT has no facility - it's all foster homes. So what happens if the dog gets up there and the adopter doesn't want it?

Digging around online, I found there are hundreds of dogs being transported to CT. Is this whole thing a scam or is there a legitimate reason?

[CaseyB]

No, it's not a scam. Lots of the southern shelters send dogs up to New England to be adopted. This shelter in Mass, Sterling Shelter gets them all the time. There's also the save a sato program that jViello mentioned where they bring in homeless dogs from Puerto Rico. We have a shortage of puppies and small dogs available for adoption in the Northeast. Most people get their dogs spayed. Kittens are another story, though.

Maybe needs will change if the economy continues to decline. You hear a lot of stories about abandoned pets now.

[CrissCT]

I frequently check petfinder to see what dogs are at the local pounds. There is usually nothing there. Adoption fees at the pounds are only $50 and include a certificate for spay/neuter. What may be happening (and we saw this in San Diego too with rescue groups), is that the "rescue" group goes in and takes these dogs before anyone else has a chance to adopt them. (The pound gives them first dibs - I think because it is faster for them then trying to get the dog adopted themselves). Then they turn around and charge up to $500 for these dogs like JViello said to cover their "expenses".

These rescues have strict adoption guidelines (they may have the dog's best interest at heart but I think often times it discourages people from adopting), requiring a home visit, signing a lengthy contract stating you will not ever re-home the dog that it would go back to the rescue if you no longer want it, that you will always keep the rescue's tag with phone # on the dog and if found lost you would be held liable for letting the dog get lost and that the dog would go back to the rescue.

My neighbor here did adopt a puppy from the south recently from a local rescue. She had to pay for the transportation and if the dog wasn't a good match for the family they would have been out all their money. Luckily it seems to have worked out for them. But there is no way I would adopt a dog without meeting it first and making sure it is a good fit. The rescue in San Diego allowed you to keep trying until you found the right dog.

[jmarkey]

It's reassuring to hear these transports can be for a legitimate reason. It appears this particular rescue makes a couple of hundred dollars on each dog, but if that's the worst factor in this scenario then I can't complain.

I have no doubt there are plenty of doggy scammers. I'm so much hoping this shelter isn't involved in anything like that, as I love my time there and love the dogs.

What gets my radar beeping is when I'm handed a line of BS when something is being explained to me (like being told CT has better laws). If everything is on the up and up, there should be no need for that.

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate hearing about your experiences.

[KH02]

If i were gunna spend a few HUNDRED dollars on a dog, i would go all the way and just pay a breeder for a pure bred and know more of what i'm getting as far as the breeds temperament history and how friendly the parent dogs were, and knowing exactly where they come from.

Anyhow I used to work doing animal control in a town in CT and their were PLENTY of dogs for adoption for cheap and a lot of times they sat. We had a few cocker spaniels and A LOT of pitbulls, most were friendly though.

I agree with PP that the rescues are prolly taking all the dogs out of the shelters before people even have a chance to adopt them.

Then i also worked at an animal shelter once and their were plenty of dogs but that was about 10 years ago or so, most were pretty friendly, but the shelter i worked at was VERY strict in adopting, they wouldn't allow anyone with children under 10 to adopt and they had to have a fenced in backyard, and if they rented they needed to talk with the landlord, and they would do one "drop in" visit to check on the dogs new environment. So after all that hassle and the 200 dollars you spend on adopting the dog it was a pretty lengthy process.
To me at times it seemed as though they were being a bit picky. Isn't the point to find the animal a loving home?? Who cares if the yard is fenced in? why does it matter if children are under 10 unless the dog shows aggression? Oh well.

[Jessica Beganski]

I'm going to add my two cents...

The "problem" we have in CT is that we do have better attitudes toward animal welfare than some parts of the country, which means we spay and neuter, we don't have many instances of puppy mills, e.g. Other states aren't as proactive. The result however is mixed...shelters in CT tend to have older pets, pets with special needs, and pit bulls. These are all harder to adopt because so many people want a puppy or a purebreed.

So, you have these well-intentioned rescue organizations that see many more dogs destroyed in other states bringing in dogs to CT where we have a real shortage of puppies for adoption. I have heard some terrible stories of dogs being trucked in from the South, adopted at a location and one month later, the owner realizes the dog has serious issues that the rescue could never have known about because the dog never really was evaluated. There is little or no recourse so the dog that was rescued may end up in another shelter here. I personally would only adopt a dog that is currently in CT being fostered or in a shelter. A dog just off a truck on the side of the road is going to act very differently than it would at home.

Meanwhile, healthy, adoptable dogs are regularly euthanized in CT, especially pit bulls. If people only knew how incredibly rewarding and, I daresay, easier it is to adopt an older dog who is housetrained, mature and possibly trained otherwise. The bond is no less - I have three rescues all adopted at one year or older and they are my dogs through and through.

[jmarkey]

Thanks Jessica. I appreciate your input and your explanation makes a lot of sense.

Also, thanks for the plug for the older shelter dogs. I started volunteering with no shelter experience. I'm amazed every day at the adult dogs (in particular, the Lab mixes). I take them out to the play yard, for leash walks, and once a week for obedience training. What an eye-opener! They're incredibly sweet and so easy to work with. Those are the dogs I'd take home if I could.

I've been talking to friends and family back in CT. It sounds like there are people involved in dog transport to CT who are very dedicated to these animals. And, as with anything else, there are also scammers. Hopefully, the rescue our dogs are going to is legit. My only complaint right now is that some of these small breeds aren't here long enough for locals to adopt them. Maybe adoptions around here are down, due to problems people are still having after Hurricane Ike. I keep in mind I'm new to this area and I'm still learning about it.

[JayCT]

This is so interesting to me because we have been considering a second dog and thought we might go with a rescue animal. I will now be a bit more cautious when I start looking into it. Thanks, Jay