Just Nicole Rambling........Ya know, before I decided to "buy" a pup I had really thought about the rescue route. I really wanted to save a dog. My family members were bugging me about it and that I could rescue a good lab which I do not doubt but knowing the history is very important to me. Also I wanted a Lab especially b/c of what I plan on doing with her and you can't do that with a toy dog. I also was just fed up with shelters too. Here is my complaint, I was reallllllllly aggravated by alot of the rescues and shelters. I even went to dog shows and talked to rescues and I had been turned down 4 times to rescue a pup. I did not have to have a puppy but preferred to get a younger one as opposed to older. At first I did look at a few 1 yr old dogs. I was asked every question in the book and the #1 was do you have a fenced in yard. Well, no I live in an apartment building. Why do I need a fenced in yard? I do have a yard. Besides, a fence to me means that people can just put their pup out and not worry about it where as my dog gets full attention when outside with me. I then decided to check on younger pups. They can't honestly tell me that they know this dog so well that the pup will be a runner and need a fence at 3 months. But they did!!! My sister, who has tons of land could not rescue a pup (which by the way, is not all that cheap. I understand what the money is used for but by me, it is around a few hundred dollars. I did not think it would be that much but it does take lots of money to run these shelters I suppose) Anyway, she ended up fibbing and had someone else get the dog and they got the best dog. The dog never leaves her side. He does not need a fence when they told her he did. He does not even need a leash but he does have one. So I guess after a few turn downs, I got a bit of an attitude. I was tired of being told my situation is not right for the dog. Here I am trying to save a dog with full intentions of life long responsibility and I kept getting no's. My other sister even said that people in apartments should not have dogs. I thought that the most ridiculous statement. I explained to her about dogs and dens. I know that these shelters look for a good fit and that is important but they do shut out a lot of people b/c for some reason, alllllllllllllllll these labs HAVE to have fenced in yards. I was complaining to one shelter about it and she agreed and said that it was not mandatory to have a fence which shocked me but by that time, I gave up and bought a pup from my breeder, spending a sizeable dollar amount. I guess this just has been on my mind as I am volunteering for shelters and I see all these animals and we too have to turn people away without fences. In fact I do not even deal with that part of the job as it would frustrate me even more. If it is a small dog, then fences are no problem but even still, my dog is , or will be around 65 lbs. That is not all that big! Is it????

Sorry for the long post. I like to babble. Hopefully I did not offend anyone out here. But I tried to rescue over and over. It saddens me to see the over population of animals.

Nicole,
We are open to adopting to people in apartments as long as the apartment complex in which they live allows for large breed dogs. Some people apply, we call the complex and as it turns out, the complex only allows dogs up to 20 lbs...go figure.

My darling little rescue pup Luke that I posted numerous pictures of on this bb actually went to a home in an apartment and is doing wonderful there.

I know some groups and shelters can seem pretty brutal w/ the adoption process and turning down applicants for silly reasons but honestly it is because they have seen it all and heard all the lies a zillion times over.

Our adoption fee is $175 which is minimal in my opinion. We had 1 dog in our program that cost us over $4k in vet bills...and several others that have and are awaiting heartworm treatment that will cost us upwards of $250+ to treat ONE dog.
I also think that if a prospective adopter doesn't balk at the $175...then they most likely won't balk at spending $$ as needed on the dog in it's future.

Oh your absolutely right. I agree, if you can't put out $175 then most likely that person is not going to be able to afford a dog. I guess I am just having feelings of guilt that I went and bought a dog as opposed to rescue. My family has rescue dogs and they are true gems. I was just frustrated with the whole process. Fortunately, my complex even allows St.Bernards (sp?) and those are huge dogs! I know and understand that the placement of the pup/dog is crutial and that basically they don't want to see that dog returned so they do everything they can in their power. I guess long story short, I have a beautiful dog inside and out who has everything she needs. I just wish I could have given that to a dog truly in need. I read a site with some verbage that i found on this site (in fact it is the texas lab rescue site) and just bawled and it just started eating at me about the adoption process. That is why I posted. I was just sad. Thanks Tammy for replying. ;)

don't feel guilty! :)

{none of my 3 are rescues...Oscar and Gunner I had before I got involved with rescue. Jax was given to me by a friend for a purpose. :) }

I have mixed feelings about this whole issue.I understand rescues have seen it all and heard all the lies,but I think some of these rescues really need to look at their adoptions on a case by case basis.Just because someone doesn't have a fence it doesn't mean there is not a rescue dog suited for that person.I have a fenced in yard and everyone of my dogs have escaped at least once.I know rescues that are so strict on their adoption policys that they can't place many of their dogs so they are always full and can't take in anymore dogs! I have never applied to adopt a dog from a rescue so I don't know if I would qualify either.I went to a county dog pound to get my dog.The only requirement they had was I had to have the dog neutered within 30 days.They didn't ask me any questions at all they were just happy the dog got a home.My dream is to start a Lab rescue in the S.E. Michigan area.I am learning a lot by watching everyone else right now.I just hope when I start adopting out dogs someday that I can keep my focus on the big picture and remember to think with my head as well as my heart :)

hi - i'm new - my name is heather. i've been reading this board for a couple of weeks but just registered today.
anyway - i just wanted to say i rescued my lab and the place i got her was really great about it. they didn't ask any strange questions & everything was really easy. they said they are the biggest resue org in the US - but i dont know. they go through about 60 puppies from 6 different states every week. the web page is:
http://www.lifelinepuppy.org/
every friday they post a general list of the puppies they have for that week - i got there 5 minutes after they opened the doors saturday morning & in a half hour they had all been adopted!

I agree Wendy-each applicant should be dealt with on a case by case basis. :) The one thing that we are more adament on is that the dog not be an outside only pet...and we normally will not adopt out to outside only homes BUT as I said, we take each one on a case by case basis.

As for the puppy Lifeline place...I think it is a great concept and sounds wonderful BUT just having adopters fill out a questionare is not a proper screening method AND they are placing all those puppies WITHOUT spay/neutering before hand!!! I wonder how many of those puppies actually get spayed/neutered-what guarantee is offering a $20 refund for spay/neutering?

I can completely understand your frustration with rescues and shelters. I have volunteered with our local shelter for over a year, and when this great little lab mix came in, I fell in love. I am only seventeen, so of course my parents would have to fill out the paperwork, but when I told the director that I was planning to adopt her, he said that there was no way they would allow me to adopt a dog knowing that I was leaving for college in the near future.

That really irked me. I mean, they KNOW me, and they know how long I have wanted a dog, and they know how responsible I am. I have been preparing for a dog for five years. To be honest that's the thing I'm looking forward to most about college- being out of my father's home and finally being able to have a dog.

I never was able to adopt her, and I quit volunteering shortly afterward.

I am now planning on acquiring my lab through the Tennessee rescue. I was nervous when I filled out my application, because I am going to be living in a mobile home with no fenced in yard, so I offered to submit letters of reference, but they approved my application with no problems. They just said to let them know when I saw the dog that I wanted, and they would get the paperwork started. No home visit, and I don't have to involve my parents. That really made me feel good. Someone finally trusts me!

Okay, sorry for rambling. This is just one of those subjects that once you start you can't stop, huh?

Laura

About three months ago, I got approved by our local rescue group (NEARR.com) to foster labs (all types). The process for those adopting is simple yet thorough: home visit, 3 letters of reference, phone interview, etc. While it seemed like a lot (even for the foster family), I have been thrilled with the organziation because they guarantee that any rescues or owner surrendered dogs will only go to good homes. I recently had Kayleigh, our first foster, with us and she was placed in 6 weeks. It was a humbling experience overall and she is now in a happy environment with her new buddy Mickey.

As some of you may remember, I rescued my dog Buddy as he was being put to sleep. The adoption only cost $20 and because they were so happy, no questions were asked of me other than if I had had a lab before and if I wanted to mess with their energy (duh, of course I do sometimes they have trouble keeping up with ME:wink: )
In retrospect, I would have prefered that the adoption cost more and that they would have offered more information about Buddy and asked more iformation of me. The money...this is because after touring their facilities, I know they need it. I would have like to have known more about Buddys history, all I knew was that he got along with cats (which was false) and that he pulled the volunteers rather forcefully. From me, I feel they should have known that I struggle financially and truthfully cant afford Buddy and that at the time, I wasnt prepared to have to leash him when walking (nor willing).
Buddy might have been better suited for someone else, had they allowed me the opportunity to find him something, but the option was never discussed. Iit was heres this girl who's interested in Labs, were killing one, give it to her instead. I myself, couldnt have lived with myself if I let him die. (they'd only had him for less than ONE MONTH :huh: )
Anyway, I think that as responsible dog owners or future owners, unless a predicament like this comes up, you have to look into it hard, and find a place where your money is really helping.
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As far as rescue dogs not being cut out for special training...its crap!!! :mad: Buddy had a tough life before I got him (i know this from all the problems we've had), but he is turning out to be the best companion and we already work with special needs children. Soon I hope to get him certified so we can go more places. Perhaps Special Needs dogs make perfect Special Needs Therapy companions (they understand you know).
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Hope alls well
Lisa and Buddy