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a rescue is a rescue is unfortunately NOT the case and my hard learned experience is absolute.You are talking about the exchange of $ for a virtually free commodity. To reference back to the original post re a surgery the rescue refused to pay for,you bet it happens and I KNOW for a FACT that dogs are being drug around to Moderator cut: company name that are ILL, INJURED, and most of all IN PAIN!!! Take heed and be aware!!! I can't give the details because of investigation, but I'll give you this much....condensed exchange; a) Moderator cut: company name ...RES) "How bout this one? Just a little infection nearly well though." b) ME) "OK, bring her back next month when she's well."c) RES) "Why don't you foster?" NEXT day following call re no meds (provided 3 pills) d) RES "We'll pay for you to take 1 ONE time, that's it!" FAST FORWARD e) THEIR CHOSEN VET; "Bad, very bad, surgery specialist...etc." "Yes, suffering." --2 WEEKS OF MULTIPLE CALLS IGNORED, third party involvement...then f) after initial, (ONE), benign conversation rec'd email, stating "no phone contact, email only" ..then; NEXT CALL (after my commenting to their vet and FRIEND, plus two MORE weeks of suffering; "are you aware they are blocking necessary care") g) RES) "YOU DONT GET IT,NO MORE MONEY ON THAT DOG!!! ADOPT OR RETURN!!!"...then 'friendly' email request "MUST attend foster event...you can drop her off then pick up."......which, wanting to follow rules, I did, and where, DOG WAS PHYSICALLY WRESTED AWAY!!! ....Why?...for the $$!! FAST FORWARD, Yes, I adopted her after they used her to bargain by delaying adoption AS WELL AS proper care! How is she? Happy. She needs an operation of $2-3,000, has cancer RE-occurrance. How am I? Appalled and disgusted...., and yes, "WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR BABY!" So, think what you like but watch out. I am!! So far foster to adopts include unrepaired injuries, HOME diagnosis, and histories that are fabricated!!!!! When you check on them, don't stop at 501c 3 designation, (yes, they are a non profit), look further for financial statements, complaint process, oversite and conflict of interest policy, AND no they don't! P.S. 1 more hint, young puppies and seemingly "cherry picked" rescues (purebred) hover at 87-95%. Not possible! An indication of BACK YARD BREEDER or BROKER connection. If you don't make sure who you give that $300. to, you are unwittingly supporting those you went to the rescue to stand against!!!!!
Last edited by leorah; 02-17-2009 at 04:09 PM..
Reason: Inappropriate to list company name. This is not the place for consumer complaints
i would prefer to help out someone who wants to keep their pet rather than see them turn the poor thing over to these shelters. they are no better than neglectful owners because in my opinion, these groups make it so hard to adopt that they actually defeat their purposes and in the meantime, find ways to justify euthanizing the animals put in their care. Now, I am all for making sure someone didn't have a record of animal abuse, but who are these people to judge a person's house or bank statement? someone could be a great dog or cat owner and provide a great home, regardless of how much they make.
no thanks to animal shelters and I feel really bad for those poor animals but not many people are willing to put up with the antics
Last edited by ladihawkae; 02-17-2009 at 04:50 PM..
Reason: misspell
We just got a dog from a rescue. It did take some time and others thought it was ridiculous that they interviewed references and did house visits. I didn't take it personally, I just figured they wanted to ensure that our family would be a good fit for the animal. I respect that. I'm sorry you had bad experiences. I understand that some rescues are different than others - so perhaps you could try another - just remember, sometimes multiple rescues are directed by one individual.
In our case, the animal rescue called the very next day to find out how she did overnight and then called a week later to check in again. They asked me to keep in touch and offered suggestions for unwanted behaviors she displayed. Heck, the director saw me in a parking lot (didn't know me from Adam) and started up a conversation about the dog food I had in my cart, suggesting I might want to try a holistic, natural food instead, which is what they feed their animals.
For me, the rescue was a good experience. Our dog still has issues (there was no known history) but hopefully those will be worked out.
RE: Cutoff ages for children. This is how the shelter I got my cat from explained it: They don't place younger animals with unknown temperaments in homes with young children because so many animals are surrendered because of conflicts with young children - allergies, knocking over smaller kids, nipping (puppies), etc.
Animals placed in homes with small kids are much more likely (in their experience) to be re-surrendered down the road.
Any reason to not go to a shelter?? You save a life. Instead of lining the pockets of puppy mills (although there are some reputable breeders, there is NO SUCH THING as a reputable breeder for mixed breed dogs).
What I don't get with rescues is why are the fees so high? We are having a problem in our county right now of dogs going to the shelter and low and behold 2/3 of the workers there all have their own "private rescues". Instead of going to the shelter to adopt an animal for $70 these workers take them home to "foster" then put their pictures on their rescue's web page for fees of $250+!
Can somebody explain this to me please?
Cause the one they rescued is now fully vetted (most likely). The shelter dogs may get shots and that's it..sometimes spaying MIGHT be included, but at $70, I doubt it. Spaying is pretty expensive these days, thanks to some greedy vets. And once in a while they may get a dog that needs far more than just basic spaying/neutering/shots and heart worm testing..perhaps a dog needed an x-ray or got sick or whatever...that takes more $$. So they have to recoup that if they want to continue rescuing dogs.
That said, there ARE a few groups that seem to do it for the money and DON'T spend much on the dogs/cats.
I realize this is a way old thread and I'm sure the person asking about the price is no where to be seen now, but in case anyone else wants to know.......
Most shelters are run and financially supported at least in part by their county / town. Because some of the cost is subsidized they can afford lower adoption fees. Rescues aren't subsidized. We have to pay our own bills in full. And because it's cheaper to go to the shelter a lot of people do. This said, most rescues put more money into the vetting and training of dogs too. Shelters usually do basic vaccines and a spay / neuter, but the don't do heartworm testing and treatment if it's needed, monthly preventative medications, or micro chipping. Don't get me wrong, some dog, but most don't. Most rescues do these things. And because they only adopt out trained dogs (in most cases) they've got them in their homes for well over a month before they're placed for adoption. When I pulled dogs from shelters they had a mandatory 2 week quarantine period before we even accepted application on them. From there they went to a foster home and learned housebreaking, basic obedience and house manners before they would be adopted. Most dogs were with us at least 3 months. One was here 7 years and another just shy of one year. Very seldom did our expenses ever cover our costs.
Rescues in the south are very different from those in the north. We've been transporting homeless pets here to a rescue in Chicago. They've got a 7 million dollar facility up there. They don't do foster homes. They've got people waiting at the door when the bus pulls in with the dogs. People there DO adopt not shop. It's wonderful for them. They do make money which they put back into funds for vetting and training programs and such. They have paid staff including a paid on staff veterinarian. I could only dream of that!!! Every person in my rescue has always been volunteer. So yes, rescues up north in many cases make money. If they're good, they're turning around and using it for community programs. Sadly, I know plenty of them that make a killing on rescue though. It may not be illegal, but considering they only accept fully vetted dogs from the south and make a fortune off them, in my opinion it's very unethical. I don't work with them but I know a lot of people down here that do. Kinda sad.
Yup.... an older than dirt thread but wanted to add one more thing to what Mrs1885 said about rescues. At shelters, the dogs are caged and generally not socialized or provided with any training. Most rescues use a foster home system where the dogs are kept in a home setting where they are taught the basics of living in a house, basic training, socialization skills and housetraining. Also when you adopt a dog from a rescue, you have as a resource a person that knows the dog's personality and habits since they have been observed by a single foster rather than a staff. There are many benefits to adopting from a rescue and you are still saving a life!
I'm so glad I came to this forum. I too have just come from and still embroiled in a bad fostering experience. The experience between the cat and myself was lovely, but the experience with the cat rescue group was de-humanizing. From the first moment I talked to them they were hostile, treat you like a criminal using interrogation tactics immediatley. Doesn't really answer any of your questions, just grills you with their own questions. They even wanted to know what my relationship status was and what I would do if I became involved with someone who was allergic to cats. mod cut I am not a criminal, I have no criminal record. I am great with animals. I am a quiet person who keeps to themselves mostly and then I call this rescue organization and suddenly I have to share the most personal details of my life with complete strangers?
In any event, my motion to adopt the cat I fostered was denied due to a series of gross misunderstandings and now I find myself in the middle of a lawsuit. Feeling very jaded and lost. All I wanted to do was help cats, how did this happen to me?
Last edited by Sam I Am; 01-06-2013 at 07:10 AM..
Reason: language - please refrain in the future
Have no answer about the lawsuit, but the change in relationship status and allergies.... common scenario, common reason why people give up their animals. I've had some bad experiences with shack-up situations. Never again.
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