Posted by lonelygirl on May 9, 2004, at 20:51:43
In reply to Re: what about a freaked out cat?, posted by smokeymadison on May 9, 2004, at 11:19:09
Hi smokeymadison,
I've been volunteering with a local rescue organization this year. It's not a breed rescue organization -- they rescue all kinds of dogs. Anyway, not all rescue organizations are the same, and I don't know about the ones in your area, but I can tell you about the one where I volunteer...
First of all, they have a web site where there are photos and bios of all the available dogs. When you want to adopt, you fill out an application, which includes information about what qualities you want in a dog. The key with this organization is the "matchmaker." They really try to find a dog that fits your needs -- e.g., size, age, energy level, sociability, etc. In your case, they would probably consider adult dogs who are already housebroken and good with kids (since you are planning on having children in the future).
Also, if there are other animals in the potential adopter's home, they bring the dog for a home visit to make sure the dog gets along with the other animals. The matchmakers are pretty experienced with this kind of thing, so they have a pretty good read on the interactions. I have no idea whether your cat's reaction is "normal" or not, but the matchmakers probably would.
Many rescue organizations (as well as reputable breeders) have a "guarantee" on their animals, and allow you to return them (although of course they discourage this and try to prevent it by making sure the dog is a good match for the adopters). The place where I volunteer gets dogs returned occasionally for various reasons, such as not getting along with the other animals in the house, aggressiveness towards a new baby, etc. As I'm sure you've learned from this experience, it's a good idea to ask about their return policy BEFORE starting the adoption process.
I think if you still want to adopt a dog in the future, it would be beneficial for you to look up some rescue organizations in your area, find out how they go about the matchmaking/adoption process, and what their return policy is. I think rescue organizations often have better information on their dogs than the pound or ASPCA, so they may be more helpful in finding a dog that matches your needs.
One more thing I’d like to mention is crate-training, which can be very beneficial for new dogs, and helps keep them out of trouble when you’re not around!
poster:lonelygirl
thread:344603
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040507/msgs/345223.html