Their intent is good, but there are problems with execution. When it comes to animal welfare I am always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to those that make their mission in life to take care of abandoned and abused animals.
I recently contacted them about adopting a dog that was on their web site. I initially sent an inquiry asking questions about the dog I was interested in and the response I got back was basically check the web site. If the information I was asking about was on the web site I would not have asked the questions. OK, the person that answered the inquiry may not have been the person fostering the dog, but then she should have forwarded the email.
I understand they are volunteers doing the fostering and I think there is a special place in heaven for those that foster and work with abused and abandoned animals to reintegrate them with a forever home. I was surprised to find that a couple of the dogs I was interested in were being fostered by college students living in on campus housing. I think its great to see college students stepping up and taking on that level of responsibility. I do have a concern about where the dogs are kept while the students are in class. I am very anti leaving a dog in a crate while the person responsible is away. I was also told that the person fostering the dog would make the recommendation on which family that was interested in the dog would be allowed to adopt the dog. That seems like it is putting a lot of responsibility on a young college student based on a simple meet & greet.
They have a 7 day 'sleep over' period after you adopt a pet "to ensure that the animal is a good fit for your home and lifestyle". I understand why they offer it, I don't agree with it, but I understand it. I think it could be addressed in other ways, maybe instead of just a meet & greet, maybe 'play dates' especially if you have other animals in your house so you can see them interact an see if there are going to be issues.
Adopting an animal is a lifetime commitment and of course you want to make sure that the animal is a good fit, but to bring an animal into your home then just take it back, is wrong. When you adopt on animal you need to be prepared to work with the animal whether it is behavior problems, medical problems, or what ever this issue is that is a commitment you make to the animal you are adopting. When you take an animal into your home then return it, what message does that send to the animal that may have already been abandoned before? Adopting an animal, especially a dog, requires changes to your lifestyle and if you are not willing to make them, then maybe you should not adopt.
There are disconnects and a real underlying attitude issue within the organization. Like scheduling an appointment to meet an animal at their facility and when you arrive at the time you are told to arrive you are told that they are not open come back in an hour. Really? You drive 30 minutes to get to an appointment to meet an animal at an agreed upon time and they do not honor the appointment? You get a feeling that they are doing you a favor by allowing you to adopt from them. I get it it, they are volunteer's, the rescue's and the fosters are their 'babies', but if you can't honor a scheduled appointment even if it was made outside your 'operating hours' really raises a question if they are really committed to adopting out the animals in their care. It's just poor customer service, and yes when you are looking to adopt an animal you are the customer.
They have an intention of doing good and I think, at least in fostering they do, but if you are interested in adopting an animal, you need to be prepared for the attitude and issues you will run in to with them. read more
