Please Do Your Home Visits!!

[PATEX]

Joe, I think you're onto something. If they can't pass the Bubba test, there must be a good reason for it! Bubba is an angel!

[zoeybellemama]

I think you all have a good point. I think that some people look out of state for rescues/shelters (myself included) because of a lack of rescues/shelters near them with appropriate dogs to adopt. Here in upstate NY our local shelter currently has about 5 dogs, all of them pit bulls, most likely seized or turned in from dog fighting situations. It is a sad situation for those poor dogs but I do not feel they are appropriate dogs for a family to adopt. So the next option is a rescue which often have huge waiting lists due to the lack of famly dogs in the shelter. UGH Just wanted to put in my . I just wanted to state that not all people looking for dogs out of their area are "collecters" or bad, some of us just want to adopt/rescue a nice dog Thank you for all you do for the dogs you help!!!

[agilitydog]

Joe your method of placing is absolutely rediculous BUT absolutely the best test out there

I agree, if my dogs don't like someone then it is a no. Awesome. I applaud that.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by Ace'sCamille

After looking at our logs this morning, more than 30 dogs were seized at the same address yesterday. It was on our local news, I can't find an article to link to yet.

.

This now appears to be recognized as a psychological disorder in some people. This story ran in the local papers a few days ago.....

[Matsuro]

I have also met many dog that were bad, because of their owners letting them get away with biting or trying to rush people. Than they get out and get put into shelters, those dogs never end up being adopted. I feel very sad for them, because its not their fault. The owners thank its 'cute' or they are just 'playing' which in the long one gets them PTS in the first place.

I think a home check is a wonderful thing, but may I suggest something? Most people are scared of certain dogs, because of their size.

Take Vickki for example she weights a ton! lol (not really) but people are deadly scared of her! She is the sweetest dog I have ever known or had! She is like a real mother hen!

I think that is why so many Large and Extra Large dogs are in shelters and it takes longer for them to be adopted, because people are scared of big dogs compared to medium and small sized dogs.

Here in Florida (Pinellas County) small dogs adopt out so fast compared to the larger breed ones and mixes. Also because most complexes don't allow big dogs either and they have no choice but to find a small dog. So the big ones never get a chance. I think that is why so many shelters are so willing to have the larger ones adopted out because someone wants them.

I still think their should be a law requiring a home check for any and all animals. No matter the age, the state, county, etc.

[Didntlikeadvice]

I always wondered why they did those I thought it was to make sure you didnt have a dirty house !! I am stupid well now iknow

[GussyandHudson]

This is a very good post! I really don't like that animal shelters don't do home visits or checks...we went and got my fiance's parents rottweiler from an animal shelter and they didn't ask any questions...we filled out a form, paid the money and we were on our way. They had no way of knowing what kind of family we were, if we lived in a house etc. A rottweiler with a history of problems is not exactly a dog you want going with "just anyone" so I was very upset to see that their screening process is non-existent.

You are also right about the internet...its sad to know that people could be untruthful, but it is a reality. I am very honest, and this is the only forum I have ever belonged to so it is difficult to imagine someone being dishonest. I think a home visit is very important.

[TexasDogFamily]

I can't adopt from one of the shelters in my CO. My sin was getting a puppy given to me that was not suited to my family. I tried to do for him, but he was too much dog. I tried to give him back, but my so-called friend said not on my life. I did everything I knew to do and had the energy to do. I ended up (after almost 2 years of trying to make it work) taking him to the shelter. It made me very sad, but I was at the end of my rope and I could find no other option. I will never be able to adopt from there, nevermind the fact that I have had one of my current dogs for 9 years.

I think I would feel odd if someone came to my house before I could adopt a dog. Maybe because I am embaressed by the way my house looks. Yeah frankly I bet if one of you saw my house you would deny my application. I do afterall live in a 30 y old mobile home.

[Dakota1]

What do people even look for at a home visit? You can tell Iv never had one! My humane society said they have a right to do a home visit but they never did.

[Ace'sCamille]

Originally Posted by Dakota1

What do people even look for at a home visit? You can tell Iv never had one! My humane society said they have a right to do a home visit but they never did.

I look for the obvious. I want to see if your other pets look like they're in good health, not over or underweight, clean water and food stored properly. I know there's certain times I get to the bottom of the bag of food. If I home visited myself at that point, I would probably not pass. I like to see a dog friendly home, if there's a lot of knickknacks or the house is meticulous, I try to break it to them that labs don't usually let that last too long.

I also look for odd things that are top secret. Basically it's a big gut check. I do a safety check looking at the home from a dog's perspective and then I look at the home for any signs of problems. Like holes in the walls, lack of food in the fridge (shows me they aren't home too much).

I'd bet everyone has different things that make their antennae perk up.

[Wer2easy]

We had a home visit when we were trying to go through the DFW Lab Rescue. We passed with flying colors, we didn't get Cassie from there, but at least we are on record as having passed,so in the future when we want to get Cassie a sibling we can look to the rescue. The woman that did ours looked for safety issues and yard size. I guess they are a good thing in most cases.

[TexasDogFamily]

Originally Posted by Ace'sCamille

I look for the obvious. I want to see if your other pets look like they're in good health, not over or underweight, clean water and food stored properly. I know there's certain times I get to the bottom of the bag of food. If I home visited myself at that point, I would probably not pass. I like to see a dog friendly home, if there's a lot of knickknacks or the house is meticulous, I try to break it to them that labs don't usually let that last too long.

I also look for odd things that are top secret. Basically it's a big gut check. I do a safety check looking at the home from a dog's perspective and then I look at the home for any signs of problems. Like holes in the walls, lack of food in the fridge (shows me they aren't home too much).

I'd bet everyone has different things that make their antennae perk up.

My friends and family don't go into my fridge and pantry, let alone a stranger! Same w/ non-community areas of the house. I'm sorry nobodys going into my bedroom, no ifs ands or buts about it. I would for sure fail your visit, and that would be too bad because my girls are very happy, healthy, loved dogs.

Oh almost forgot to add we have 2 huge holes in the bathroom wall where we had to cut away the shhetrock to re wire the bathroom light. Yep no doubt I would fail

[Samantha]

I think home visits are good. Its kind of like all the hoops people have to jump through to foster or adopt children. So many have already had such horrible situations, nobody wants to chance them ending up in ANOTHER bad one. Thats why people that rescue dogs like this or foster kids that go through all these hoops to open their homes are so wonderful. The sad part, is that even with all these hoops, some dogs are accidently placed into bad situations anyway. Imagine how many abusive dogs would end up in new abusive houses without these checks.

Not saying that because you don't pass a home inspection means you wouldn't be a good lab owner or dog owner in general. I have major depression and my housecleaning duties take the brunt of it. I would have to really really work to pass the first home inspection and all subsequent ones. Though I'm forced to clean alot more with the labs around lol.

[Ace'sCamille]

Originally Posted by TexasDogFamily

My friends and family don't go into my fridge and pantry, let alone a stranger! Same w/ non-community areas of the house. I'm sorry nobodys going into my bedroom, no ifs ands or buts about it. I would for sure fail your visit, and that would be too bad because my girls are very happy, healthy, loved dogs.

Oh almost forgot to add we have 2 huge holes in the bathroom wall where we had to cut away the shhetrock to re wire the bathroom light. Yep no doubt I would fail

Not every family will pass every home visit. For instance, there are groups out there that will not adopt to a family with an invisible fence. I have one (and a privacy fence too). Others won't adopt if you aren't familiar with the breed. So that would prevent me from owning anything but an Akbash, St. Bernard, Shiz Tzu or a Lab. I got turned down for adopting a lab puppy a few years back when I told them that the dog would spend 3 hours a day outside. That was too long, they wanted him in a crate or on a leash. No big deal, that's their rules, I respect them.

Every rescue has their own philosophy and every home checker has their own approach. The basic things I look for are the conditions of current animals and the pet safety of the home.

Yes, it's an invasion of privacy, but I think if more people invaded some privacy up front we wouldn't have so many abandoned animals. Yes, I think breeders should do home checks prior to putting someone on a puppy waiting list. And, as always, if you don't want people like me nosing around, there are always dogs in the paper, being given away for free, or in municipal shelters with less rules and regulations.

[Dirk's Mom]

I can usually boil down a home visit to one point - "Would I leave my own dogs with these people?"

The one thing I don't understand about "Prior breed knowledge" is a chicken and the egg scenario. How can you get breed knowledge if no one will let you have a dog of that particular breed?