Sometimes, the Well-Trained Mind forums just throw me for a loop, especially in the non-homeschool area. I mean, I get that our political and social leanings are typically vastly different, but somtimes, man oh man, I am just absolutely boggled by what I read. This morning, I learned that human societies are oppressive and horrible fascists who want to control every facet of our lives because…they won’t give a dog to someone with unaltered pets, who wants to breed them for “the experience of owning a kitten” (not to better the breed or for show, these are not full-blooded animals), and who plans to keep the dog as a primarily/entirely out-door animals.
How dare an animal rescue group set standards for pet ownership that will significantly cut down on the number of unwanted animals out there or minimize the likelihood that the people bringing the animal home will ultimately abandon it again! This is practically the work of Stalin here!
With SO many unwanted, uncared for, and unplanned (from unaltered pets) pets out there, I’m so grateful there are both private individuals and larger groups that are willing to take these animals in and go the extra mile to make sure they find a home that is safe, with responsible owners who will give them a forever home, not just a temporary stop-gap. I’m grateful that they are willing to put a lot of money into returning these animals to health and maintaining that health, something which costs a great deal more than the small adoption fee/donation these groups ask. Our new beagle, Badge, was adopted for a donation of $100. He had been fully vetted, had tested heartworm positive and been treated, was neutered, and had treated with pest-preventive medications prior to adopting him. That’s a lot more than $100 in care.
Yes, I had to jump through a bunch of hoops to get our beagle. I had to fill out an extensive questionnaire (several different ones from several groups, as I was looking through multiple rescues to find the right dog), agree to certain standards of care (indoor-only/primarily), and have certain aspects of my pet-owning background checked (did I keep my previous pets’ shots up-to-date? were the animals actually altered as I claimed?). The animal rescue is completely within their rights to ask this of me — THEY are the ones who have invested the time and money in helping these animals and THEY are the ones who want to ensure the dog doesn’t end up on the street or back in a shelter.
Considering the number of dogs surrendered for nipping at a child, for getting pregnant (especially from a stray mutt!), for spraying urine to mark territory (when they haven’t been altered), for not being as cute and playful as they were as puppies (because people buy puppies forgetting they turn into dogs), who weren’t adequately trained because the owners couldn’t invest enough time, I don’t see how someone can get their panties in a twist because an organization wants certain standards met before they let you bring home on of their rescue animals! The rescues aren’t being unreasonable, they just know too well WHY dogs get dumped by their owners.
I’m sure there are plenty of puppy mills and backyard breeders who will sell you a dog at full price, with no questions asked. You can probably find a dog in the newspaper or on Craigslist that will fit the bill. If you’re going through a rescue, however, keep in mind that their primary goal is that the animal only needs to be rescued once, and they will do what needs to be done to make sure that happens. You are not entitled to any given dog. No one owes you a dog simply because you want one. It’s not about what you want; it’s about what’s best for both prospective owner and prospective pet. The rescue has a right to set the standards that protect the animals.
You don’t like it? Get your dog somewhere else, but don’t complain about how you’re being oppressed. You just sound ridiculous.
