 Barked: Wed Mar 7, '12 11:49pm PST |
 | |  | | I can see both sides of this issue.
I understand where people are coming from who are in high-kill shelter areas and are going "What the heck? Why is this such a big deal?"
But, coming from an area where the adoption rate is high enough that even county animal shelters do home checks, I can understand where the original poster is coming from, too. In my area, the rescues and shelters can afford to be picky--sometimes to the extreme--and they are very intimidating.
Having grown up in a dog show family, I can easily get a free puppy from one of my relatives. I would, however, like to provide a home for a dog with behavioral problems that other people are not willing to deal with, who is older than others might care to take on, or who is of a breed that might have more trouble finding a home. However, I'm not sure that one of the more independent, volunteer-run organizations in the area would adopt to me (or at least have me high up on the list) because I am not an established homeowner with lots of free time on my hands. (Guess I'll find out when I apply to adopt in a month or two!)
However, even as a shaking-in-my-boots potential adopter, I can understand where the rescues are coming from. Those who take in dogs from neglectful or irresponsible circumstances understandably don't want to put a dog back into a potentially unstable situation, and they have reason, from the work that they do, to seem a little gruff/jaded. They also don't have a personal relationship with me, and so they have nothing more than the paper I write on and the references I provide to determine what kind of dog-owning character I have. And if the fact that I am a 21 year-old renter makes them nervous, I think that a bit of acknowledgement of their circumstances and a bit of pluck to show that I am a responsible dog owner will ultimately cause reasonable people to give pause.
If this is a situation with an individual rescue, I would recommend talking to the rescue coordinator and respectfully acknowledging their situation in some similar fashion to what I just stated above (and what you had already acknowledged in your post), while--equally respectfully--asking for more consideration of yours. You didn't know their expectations, you don't know why you were denied (you're not psychic, for goodness sake!), and for {insert your reasons here} you are a worthwhile dog owner. This is the way to start a conversation that can change minds. Getting defensive will only widen the gaps of mistrust that already exist, IMO.Edited by author Wed Mar 7, '12 11:52pm PST
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