Ina in the New York Times--DRNA mentioned in adoption article

[Jen]

Dog adoption (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/23/fashion/thursdaystyles/23pets.html?ex=1143781200&en=c673c5d234ad3c8d&ei=5070&emc=eta1)

DH sent me an article in today's NY Times about dog adoptions and there's Ina, our own Doxiechick, from DRNA in the photo!! You do need to subscribe to read it...so I'll post full text in another post.


http://i1.tinypic.com/s2tvl4.jpg

[Nancy]

GREAT article, thanks for posting!

I'm glad that rescue leagues are as thorough as they are with applicants. I had no problem filling out the form or having a home visit. Everything is done for the safety and protection of the animal and that is the most important thing.

[Jen]

I agree, I think an application form and a home check are important! I had no problem with it, and it went smoothly.

Here's the article, in 2 parts as its long!

By ANNA BAHNEY
Published: March 23, 2006

ALMOST as soon as Michele Pusateri and her two daughters chose a black-and-white terrier at a humane society shelter near their home in South Pasadena, Calif., they were told they did not qualify to own the dog.
Skip to next paragraph
Linda Spillers for The New York Times

Ina Eaves, left, of Dachshund Rescue of North America, giving Janie Regnier a hands-on lesson in dog care.

Mrs. Pusateri took her daughters, Mira and Zoe, back twice more and met with different adoption counselors. Each time she got a no. "It was insane," Mrs. Pusateri said. "Their concern was that I had never had a dog in my life and that I had a 6-year-old daughter."

Her chances of pet ownership didn't improve when she turned to groups whose mission is to rescue abused and unwanted pets. She found herself explaining to her crying children that they couldn't adopt because the organizations suspected the family had a hole in the backyard fence or the yard was too small.

Ultimately Mrs. Pusateri went to the county animal shelter last May and found Piper, a mutt. She paid $80 for the dog to be spayed and picked her up two days later, to the girls' delight.

The process left Mrs. Pusateri thinking that animal adoption gatekeepers can be so concerned about their charges that they forget about the people in the equation. "They make you jump though all these emotional hoops," she said. "You feel so judged. You start wondering, Am I dog worthy?"

Even as adopting a stray dog or cat — rather than buying one from a store or breeder — has become politically fashionable, a badge of pride for some because of the millions of animals that are euthanized each year, the hurdles that some humane societies and rescue groups make potential owners leap — including multipage applications, references, background checks, interviews and home visits — can make the process feel nearly as daunting as adopting a child.

Animal adoption groups say they want to avoid giving pets to owners who will abuse them and, perhaps more important, to make sure an animal that has been given up once will find a permanent home. Yet would-be adopters who expect exacting standards from top breeders are surprised when shelters and rescue groups ask more from them than a pulse. Many families feel stung when they are denied and are left to ask: Is it better for the animal never to find a home than to live with us?

While some 8 million to 12 million dogs and cats end up in shelters in the United States each year, and 4 to 6 million are euthanized, those who place pets say that the high standards they demand of owners rarely leave animals without homes. Eventually almost everyone who wants an animal will get one, somewhere. So why put would-be adopters through a process that makes them feel inadequate, their privacy invaded?

"The home visit weirds out a lot of people," said Jill Blasdel-Cortus, the president of Dachshund Rescue of North America, a network of about 100 volunteers, who give temporary homes to daschshunds claimed from overcrowded shelters or families who surrender them because of a behavior problem or lifestyle change. The group places the dogs in permanent homes. "We're not going to judge if you've dusted or if it's clean," Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said.

Nonetheless she defends the practice of requiring would-be adopters to fill out three-page applications that ask if the home is owned or rented, as well as open-ended questions like, "If your dog bit a child at a backyard barbecue, what would you do?"

References are checked. The home is visited. Adopters must sign a contract specifying the care of the dog. In the last nine years the dachshund group has placed some 4,300 dogs, Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said, and she could recall only one family turned down after a home visit, because it lived in an upstairs apartment with rickety stairs and refused to carry the dog up and down.

"I am a dog advocate," Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said. "I'm not a people advocate. If you don't want to fill out the form, go to your local shelter. Some people may find that uncooperative, but a rescued dog is not for everyone."

Animal rescue groups, which seem demanding in approving new homes for their charges, are part of a "very intense, very big and rapidly expanding movement," said Jon Katz, who has written about them in "The New Work of Dogs" (Villard, 2003).

[Jen]

Part 2

He estimates the number of people involved in rescue (the overwhelming majority of them women) in the tens of thousands. An animal rescuer can be an established urban nonprofit shelter or a woman in Idaho with a Web site. Sometimes a rescuer travels hundreds of miles to meet another, who has traveled hundreds of miles with a pet, in a sort of underground railroad handoff.

Cocker Spaniel Rescue of New England will not place a dog with a family with children under 7, said Gerry Foss, its president. German Shepherd Rescue, in Burbank, Calif., receives six dogs a day from people who don't want them, said Grace Konosky, the founder, and she denies about 70 percent of the people who want to adopt them.

Janie Regnier filled out an application to adopt a dachshund through Dachshund Rescue. "It was a surprisingly long application, but as an animal lover, I thought it was a good application," she said.

Ina Eaves, of the rescue group, visited Ms. Regnier's home in Fairfax, Va., this week. The prospect made Ms. Regnier nervous because she is a renter, not an owner. Ms. Eaves wanted a fence repaired, but by the time she left, Ms. Regnier felt they were friends, she said. She was approved.

For those denied a pet, the experience can be bewildering. Tamara Burke, who lives near Stowe, Vt., where she owns a consulting company and writes a column for The Stowe Reporter, has owned animals all her life. But when she and her husband decided to get a second golden retriever as a companion for their older retriever, Mercedes, a rescue group still wanted to visit her home.

"There is nothing about my house that says upper middle class," Mrs. Burke said of the century-old cottage that has been in her family for generations and where she raises sheep and chickens. "It is a funky, cobbled-together little thing, but it has nothing to do with how much money I spend on my dogs or how much attention I give them."

The rescue-group representative said, Mrs. Burke remembered, that while she and her husband were nice people, theirs was not a suitable home for the dog because they did not have a fenced-in yard. "I own 150 acres," Mrs. Burke said. "I'm looking at her saying: 'What am I going to do, fence in all 150 acres so I can have a dog? This is absurd.' "

In response Mrs. Burke became involved with rescue organizations herself. And she found that lots of other people didn't "qualify" for a dog. In her experience home visits don't mean a lick.

"I cannot make a determination based on how a person lives," she said. "I have friends who have trust funds, and they live without running water. They also happen to have dogs, and the dogs don't seem to mind."

Mrs. Burke said that potential owners can feel bullied by the process, and the gatekeepers justify it because they are advocates for homeless animals. "These are people who would bully in other aspects of their lives if they could, but this is a socially acceptable way to get away with it," she said. "You're talking about individuals who develop this attitude because they know they have something that you desperately want. They are demanding an emotional response."

Most rescue volunteers strive to balance what is best for the animal with what is best for a would-be adopter. But everyone defines a successful home differently, and there are no uniform requirements for owning a pet. Some publicly owned shelters also require home visits.

The Animal Care and Control Department in Palm Beach County, Fla., requires a home visit in the case of breeds that are top biters —like pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds and Akitas — to ensure the yard is fenced. Adoption can be denied if a family lives in an area where the department is regularly called to seize dogs, said Kelly Diegert, a department official.

In the view of some adoption specialists, elaborate vetting of clients and home visits are overkill. They are trying to lower the hurdles, though they don't envision letting people drop in and simply take home a dog with no questions asked. That would make them pet shops. "We are interested in making adopting an animal less like applying to college," said Gail Buchwald, the vice president of shelter and adoption programs at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Manhattan, which places more than 2,000 dogs and cats each year. "Most people who have been asked to go through a process like that tend to feel intruded upon."

She said that her organization asks for an application form and makes contact with each member of the household to be sure they want to have a pet. They ask about landlords, but they do not make home visits. "When pets are easy to come by," Ms. Buchwald said, "it doesn't make sense to push adopters away to the point that they'll say: I don't need your college-application process. I'll go to the deli down the street and take that stray from the box."

When Chris Coates, 23, and his partner Zach Denison, 24, adopted Buddy, a Labrador-pit bull mix, at the A.S.P.C.A. this week, Mr. Coates said the process was thorough but not invasive. He first visited last Friday, then took Mr. Denison on Sunday. They went back on Monday and played with six dogs before selecting Buddy, who had been at the center for two years and received a full-staff sendoff.

"As an animal rescuer, you want to have control," Ms. Buchwald said. "You may have nursed the animal back from the streets or illness or injury. You want to know beyond any doubt what the home looks like. But this work involves trust and restraint. The best thing you can do is say, 'Go with my blessing,' and you clap when they find a home."

[Lisa]

:wow3: Ina,

The New York Times! How cool :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

Thank you for all your hard work and sacrifice getting our furry little companions to their forever homes, we love our DLC rescue :angel7: :angel7:

Really great article as well.

[Alex's Mom]

Way cool, Ina!! the NY Times, no less!!! :banana:

Re: the article...interesting, but I also find it interesting that they didn't mention the rescue dogs who get returned because they're "too much work" or the health issues are costing too much. Who suffers then? There's a reason the stringent requirements are in order, as the article pointed out. I loved the line about "I'm and animal advocate, not a people advocate." My sentiments exactly!!

[Courtney]

Wow, awesome, Ina!!! Hopefully DRNA will get some good publicity from the article.

I think that is a pretty good article. Home visits can be very, very misunderstood. For us, they are the final step. Chances are if someone has made it to a home visit, everything checks out. I can only think of one home visit I have done where they were denied based on the visit, and there was a lot of confusion but I do not think they should have made it to the home visit stage anyway. It's not to judge the people, but just to get an idea of what their lifestyle is like, whether or not they have thought through adoption, and to get a better idea of what sort of dog would fit best in their home. I tell people, if you qualify and are going to pass our adoption process, you will do so very easily and there is nothing to worry about. And if you are not going to pass, you will be weeded out very easily. The process seems daunting, but we have to make sure the homes for these dogs will be FOREVER!

[Jacqueline]

Let me ask this.....hopefully without getting scorn rained down upon my head for doing so.....

what, if when you have a home visit, you get one of these people who just might not like you based on personality clashes.....do you then get to ask for someone else to come in and judge you?

I do think that there are some in these organizations who would use them as a power thing. I have nothing but the highest respect for rescues.....as you know, both my girls are from shelters, and I adore them. But there are always a few people in any organization who are not always there for the highest purpose. What then??:scratch:

I got blasted for saying I didn't think young kids and doxies belonged together....but doesn't that same opinion get expressed here in this article??

[Jen]

You are right Jacqueline, it DOES say that for some breeds young children are not a good match. And I think it also depends on the individual dog. I had heard that Tasha got herself in trouble with her first family for biting a child who got into her crate (really, not a surprise for anyone who knows dog tho) but she does love little kids, and approaches them.

As for the home visit, I believe Courtney's explanation that its more to help match the right dog with the right forever home is a good one. But at the same time, if so many dogs are PTS and without homes....well let's say I can see both sides of the issue.

[Courtney]

I don't really know what to say, only because personality issues have never come up on any home visit I've done. As I said before, the home visits are not to JUDGE people. They are to simply get an idea of the home situation and to look out for any "red flags" - which are seldom found. And I know of no one in our organization who is not in it for the dogs. We work way, way too hard to do it just for the hell of it or for some power trip!

Young kids and small dogs is an often-debated topic. When we have an adopter with children we always make sure a kid-friendly dog goes along on the home visit to see how the children react and how the parents handle it. I did a home visit once for a family with very young kids, 3 and 5. I thought they would have been a great family for the right dog. Unfortunately, the youngest got red and blotchy when I took a dog there. We decided to try again with a different dog, and sure enough, he was still allergic. They were heartbroken....but that's another good reason for doing a home visit.

The two rescues I work with would never judge based on personality so I just don't know how that could be an issue. :scratch:

[Alex's Mom]

I totally agree with Courtney...I work as a placement counsellor for CDR which means I'm the ones doing home visits. That's the last step in the process...there's a lot of other things that have to happen and where they might be rejected (vet ref...we will not adopt to someone who hasn't spayed or neutered their current or previous pet, or someone who hasn't kept their year vet visits happening, for instance). We also check personal refs, and look out for any red flags on the application form) that happen before the home visit takes place. I totally agree that if the wrong person was doing them, there sure could be power issues!! There's a pretty thorough screening at CDR when people apply to become members and placement counsellors too, for just this reason! Ultimately the point of the hv is to get a good sense of the home, so we can fit the right dog with the right people. Nothing is more heartbreaking than having to take a dog back into rescue because the screening process wasn't done thoroughly. (This just happened here in fact.) Sad for us, for the dog, and often the adopting family. Many rescue dogs come with issues...we work on those while they're in foster care, but the new homes need to be aware, and be able and willing to deal with them. As was mentioned above, rescue dogs aren't for everyone, nor are dachsies. And we're not here to judge applicants, except as homes for our dogs; we just want to make sure that there is the best possible chance for a dog to REALLY find its forever home. I guess as far as I'm concerned, if someone can't understand that, they're probably better off not getting one of our dogs.

I should also add (and probably because teaching is what I do :) ) that I look at every contact with an applicant at whatever stage as an educational opportunity. It's all in the way you approach people...that old saying about catching more flies with honey certainly applies here!!! Even when I turn people down, I try to do a thorough job explaining why and be kind about it. Why leave a bad taste in people's mouths? Maybe they'll go away and think about WHY they've been turned down and be a little bit more aware!

[Jacqueline]

I don't really know what to say, only because personality issues have never come up on any home visit I've done.

The two rescues I work with would never judge based on personality so I just don't know how that could be an issue. :scratch:

(vet ref...we will not adopt to someone who hasn't spayed or neutered their current or previous pet



See, I had my wonderful GS for all those years, took marvelous care of her, never once missed a vet appointment, did not breed her, never let another dog near her, but she was not spayed, so you would not have let me adopt.

Courtney, I don't think you would ever have a problem with anyone you ever met....you are just too nice of a person. But I have met some real winners in my day, and I don't mean in a nice way. Supposedly nice people in high places in organizations that do wonderful work for children, ditto animals, and let me tell you, you would be shocked at the way they treated other people. Some people do have issues, and when they get a taste of being in control, they just go too far. I have seen instances of this more often that I wanted to, sad to say.

I can't even imagine you being that way.

And then, there are people like the ones who had Daisy. They could afford to go out and get two purebreed pups from a breeder, get them vet care, keep them utd on shots, do the s/n, keep them for 6 months...then...oh, going to move...bye bye dogs. Darn! And what really ticks me off.....left them outside when they were gone....in the Florida summer. They should have never had them, but I am glad they turned them into the shelter, and I got Daisy.

But....people like me are private....and probably would not fill out three pages of information...I don't do surveys....although I did answer lots of questions at both shelters, gave them id, told them where I live, yes, I have a fenced yard, who the vet would be, etc....and yes, they can come by and see them. Just don't expect me to enjoy interrogations, because I won't. I will take the kids to the vet for the slightest problem. And my shelters do check on people.

I think that some of the groups go overboard, and some pups are missing out on great homes because of it. JMO

BTW....I also own one of the most annoying, ugliest, half naked Quakers you would ever want to see. Actually, no one else ever does want to see her. The guy who had her left her out in the garage to what...die? He and his s.o. had broken up, and the new gf didn't like her. The woman who rescued her had too many birds, and her dh said enough. I took her, put her in with my other mix, and she screams during the best part of shows, makes the most awful mess in her cage, and gets treated like she is a good looking, well mannered, valuable bird. She has a good home til she passes to a world where she again has all her feathers and a sweet nature. I wonder if a bird rescue would have given her to me?

[Patt]

Wonderful article, thanks for posting. :)

[doxiechick]

I enjoyed Anna Behaney’s article, “So You Just Think You Can Adopt A Dog?” published March 23, 2006. While Ms. Bahney article brought welcomed attention to the efforts of all rescue groups, I felt too much emphasis was given to those who question the adoption policies, even the motives of rescue groups.

Most of the dogs taken in by rescue organizations come from shelters where they were given up by their owners. We take in dogs that have been rescued from puppy mills and back yard breeders. These dogs have been thru so much that Dachshund Rescue of North America makes a life-long commitment to these dogs that become our charges. We want the next home to be their forever home.

If a prospective adopter thinks the application is too involved, that is an indication that owning a rescued dog might be too “involved” for them as well. The home visit is required to verify the information contained in the application. Some of our rescued dogs require a fenced yard. We have seen cases where the applicant indicated a fenced backyard only to discover during the home visit that there was no fence. The application, the home visit and the checking of personal references are all designed to ensure that our dogs are placed in a safe and loving home.

Rescue dogs are special; we act as their advocate and only want the best for them. DRNA does everything possible to match a great family to a great dog.

Sincerely,

Ina Eaves
Dachshund Rescue of North America
Virginia Representive

I'm glad you all got to read it. I have no problem adopting to families, but I want to meet the whole family and see how they are with each other and how they react to other pets in the home. Of course, they will only get a kid friendly doxie. If I go in and the kids are out of control or Mom and Dad are screaming at the kids, they won't be getting one of my dogs. It depends on the home visit and how their application reads. Some people look good on paper, but talking with them on the phone or meeting them in person might not match. How many times do we talk about going with your gut feeling??? When you do rescue long enough you really develop that gut feeling.

But then, if you are in rescue long enough there will be the perfect family and the perfect dog but they call you 3 months, 3 years down the road and they have to return the dog. Boy, what a failure. You feel like you let the dog down.

Rescue is not a science, we do the best we can......When you deal with the public,you don't know what you will dealing with. You try and do the best you can by having them fill out a application, ask for personal and vet references and go to meet the prospective adopter. If anyone doesn't want to do this, then I don't think they can deal with a rescue dog. JMHO.
Ina