changing my mind about rescues

[StarFox]

Ok I was never particularly fond of Breed specific rescues and all the bull that you have to go threw to get a dog. I understand it but I don't like it. But....I think I'm starting to get it a little more now and understand where they are comming from. Here is why--

First a little background-
My friends family (non animal loving family) had one dog. Kept that dog out 24/7 , the only shelter was under the small porch that they have. They decided to get another dog from a Golden Rescue about 6-7 months ago. They applied, the rescue "thought" that they were great people to adopt to. My friends family had everything that the rescue wanted-big fenced in yard. Lots of people to take care of the dog ect.

Ok now the real story- This golden, Michael, had a lump on his side about 3 weeks ago. My freind took him to the vet. The vet said that the dog had an infection under the skin and they needed to do an operation. From the way I heard it the vet had to cut out a mass of dead tissue from under the skin.

After the operation Michael was lethargic, wouldn't eat, and had a hard time moving. Back to the vet my freind went, the told her that the dog was in pain and to give them some pain meds. She did (supposedly :roll: ). He was still lethargic, and wouldn't move. Back to the vet again. This time the vet said it was arthritis and that he would be fine. Well he isn't. My freind took him to the vet today to get Michael put to sleep because he had peed on himself last night because he couldn't get up. Vet said it was arthritis and gave my freind meds to control it. This dog has lost 10 lbs in 2 and a half weeks and the vet said "well that's ok because he was over weight anyways".. :o

My freind had to call the rescue and inform them that she was going to put the dog down, or was thinking about it because it says in the contract that they signed that they had to. Apparently the rescue person chewed my freind out about not seeing a different vet or a specialist (I told her to go see a diff. vet because hers is crazy). Chewed her out for not taking proper care of the dog (wich is true). And told her that if the meds don't work she would HAVE TO take him to a specialist that they picked. Apparently they are not happy at all with her and I don't blaim them. I'm sorry but I've never heard of a vet diagnosing arthritis from just a blood test. And I've never heard of arthritis comming up in a matter of 2-3 days. I realy think that the vet did something wrong and is probably trying to cover there tracks. And secondly I realy hope that the rescue takes the dog away because these people should NOT own any animals.

My freind also got a new 7 week old cat that some guy in the vet gave to her. I almost said "oh how nice, out with the old, in with the new"...but I bit my toung very very hard.

Ohh sorry that was sooo long, I just had to get that all out. :oops:

[Seijun]

Yeah, its very difficult to adopt from a breed specific rescue, but its all for the best. Shelters often adopt out dogs to homes unqualified to care for that particular breed. Breed rescues make SURE you can care for that breed!

~Seij

[Carolk9s]

Breed rescues also want to be very darned sure the dog is going to a FOREVER home, not one that will discover that are not prepared for the dog after all and it ends up back in rescue or on the street or in the pound.
I'm sure there are those groups who do push the requirements to an extreme but most truly have the dogs best interest in mind.
For instance. Belgian Malinois rescue is not likely to place a high drive young dog in a home where any adults are going to be gone all day or there are young children that are not taught to respect dogs or the dog will not get adequate exercise etc.
I once did a home check for an elder Malinois male. The woman was very nice, her existing old female Lab was nice and I thought the home was a good possibility. Turns out, she lied to me and to rescue about vet care, her old arthritic Lab had not been seen by the vet she supplied as a reference for over 2 years. She did not get the Mal.

[mouseatthebusstop]

I agree with the breed rescues. The dog has already been though a lot.
Shar-pei rescue are the same, I would like all new puppy owners as well new older dog owners to only see vet who know and understand the breed

[Smooshie]

I wish more breeders would put in as much effort as the breed rescues do when placing their dogs in homes!

The Boxer rescue I went thru to adopt both my "kids" is wonderful. Their screening and approval process is strict , but because of it they very rarely have to take a dog back from an adoptive home. It amazes me how much time these people VOLUNTEER to make sure these deserving dogs are not only placed in appropriate homes, but they are there to provide support after the adoption as well. They follow up on the dogs progress on a regular basis, and I know I could pick up the phone and call my rescue rep at any time with a problem or question and they would help me. They want these dogs to have good stable homes, no matter what it takes...It is a true testament to their love of the breed, because they certainly don't get paid to do it :wink:

[courtnek]

same with the foxhound rescue. they have very strict rules. I basically had to pass their "test" to adopt Laurel.

Did anyone ever report this so-called "vet"? dogs do not get arthritis in three days. and what ever happened to the dog? did the rescue take it back or did I miss something?

[StarFox]

The main problem I have with rescues is that I know I could never get a dog from one. Not because I don't have great refrences from vets, trainers ect. But for the simple fact that we don't have a big fenced yard. :( But my friend who has a big back yard but couldn't take care of a goldfish can get one. That is what just seems sooo messed up to me and it frusterates the heck out of me and my family.

courtnek napisał(a):

Did anyone ever report this so-called "vet"? dogs do not get arthritis in three days. and what ever happened to the dog? did the rescue take it back or did I miss something?

Court I don't know what is going to happen to the dog, my freind only told me yestuday about it. She was realy mad at the rescue for thretening to take the dog away. I was thinking about making an anonomous call to the rescue but I have no idea what rescue it is besides a golden rescue, and plus I know her family would figure out that I made the call to the rescue because I'm the only crazy animal lover that they know.

[mouseatthebusstop]

But my friend who has a big back yard but couldn't take care of a goldfish can get one.

that is unfair

[Carolk9s]

Not all rescue orgs require a large fenced in yard. The situation I described above with the woman who had an elderly lab lived in a townhome. Rescue was perfectly fine with that as the woman said her dog got multiple daily walks on leash. The reason she didn't get the Mal is because of lying to the rescue about vet care.
If you are interested in adopting through a rescue org, be able to detail how and how often you exercise your current dog(s). Some rescues use a fenced in yard as a guideline but will make exceptions if they feel the dog will be adequately exercised without one.

[Smooshie]

I agree with Carol. Some rescues are flexible on the fenced yard requirement if you can guarantee the dog will get adequate exercise on leash or at the dogpark. FLBR made an exeption for me when I adopted my first Boxer...I was living in an apartment at the time.