Left
to right: Kitty, Sumi, Noel, Bo, Willie, Tasha, Smokey & Sarah
Slideshows
Bo
Freddy
Kitty
Noel
Sarah
Smokey
Sumi
Tasha
Willie
More of Us
Family
Friends
Memorial
Editorial: May 10, 2008
(continued from the index page...see jfpoldnews.html - Editorial: May 10, 2008 for beginning of this article.)
The process has been nothing short of frustrating and disheartening. I've been to the local shelter, e-mailed or phoned a few rescue groups and even visited one. What is frustrating and disheartening is finding out the dog you see online on a web site is already taken or you've been a little too slow to respond or they've been too slow to remove a dog's profile or they NEVER respond to your inquiry.
Case 1: I phoned a rescue group about a Lhasa Apso mix (Bo was a purebred Lhasa Apso) I saw on Virtual Pet Adoptions. On their greeting, a woman's voice said to leave a message and they'll respond within 24 hours. I waited and waited and waited. They never called back within the promised time about the dog's status.
I re-visited the Virtual Pet Adoptions web site and saw the dog's photo and profile were no longer there. That told me that the dog wasn't available any longer. Now why couldn't the rescue group had the courtesy of telling me that? You can be sure I won't want to deal with them at all in the future, let alone bother contributing any funds to help them out.
Case 2: Our local shelter, unfortunately, is a kill shelter. The facilities are limited and animals that have been there longer than a week are euthanized to make room for the incoming. As a result, rescue groups go there to take animals they think would be adoptable and save them from certain death. But oftentimes, the only animals left there are pit bulls and pit bull mixes, very old dogs and cats of all ages. And checking the stores where those rescue groups show the dogs they've fostered doesn't always yield the kind of dog you may be looking for.
Case 3: Another Lhasa Apso mix I saw on one web site was supposedly at one shelter. I called them and found out he was "traded" to another shelter. I got his new ID number and was told to look for him on their web site when he was released for adoption. It's been over a week now and he's a no-show on the web site. I'm afraid it's a case of they released him for adoption and was adopted the same day by someone who happened to be at the shelter the day of his release, thus no reason to put him on a web page. I don't want to call the shelter to find out, because I'm really disappointed by this whole experience. Update: He was indeed adopted already. I followed the instructions given to me to look for him on their web site. I should have ignored that advice and gone to the shelter the first thing.
Case 4: I battled congested traffic on the freeways and got lost on city streets trying to find another rescue group's facilities. I saw and fell in love with a female cockapoo whose profile was posted on a Wednesday. I went there on a Thursday about 40 minutes after they opened. Guess what? She'd already been adopted. I looked at the other dogs they had but none of them really fit the bill. So I went away empty-handed (as did many other people who were there for the same dog) and battled rush-hour traffic back home. The dog's profile was still on Petfinders the next day.
Case 5: At yet another rescue group's web site, I filled out an application for an adult male Lhasa Apso mix. Gave them my home phone number and e-mail address. 24 hours later, still no response. I kind of don't expect them to respond either. If they do, I'll be happy but by that time I may have found another dog (fingers crossed). Update: Again, I was never given a courtesy call or e-mail to tell me that this dog was already adopted. I had to find out for myself by going to their web site. What is wrong with these people???
My advice to all the rescue groups out there: 1) Respond in a timely fashion to everyone who inquires whether by phone, email or web form; 2) remove photos and profiles within 24 hours of a pet's adoption or else note on its profile ASAP that the animal is not available anymore; and 3) be professional!
I am seriously considering going to a breeder to find our next dog, because my experience with these rescue groups and shelters have been negative so far. I hate doing that because I truly believe shelter animals are worth saving and they would be my first choice. But frustration sometimes leads to going in a different direction.
Home - Blog - Awards - Links - Link to Us - About - Contact
Graphics created with Paint
Shop Pro 7
Font: Cézanne by P22
Slideshow
applet by Ion
Chen
Like
the plaid? Visit my graphics site
for more.
Copyright © 1999- JanetS.
All rights reserved.
Other copyrights belong to their respective owners.
No part of this site may be copied or taken without express written permission
Site Created
June 10, 1999