What My Dog’s Rescue organization Did Well … as well as Not
As I published a bit while ago, the beginning of the summertime marked four years with our dude Baxter.
As I was reflecting back, I started believing about his adoption as well as our experience with the rescue group that discovered Bax. There were some things that I believe they handled really, truly well (especially after I’ve heard about other people’s experiences with rescue), as well as there’s one thing that is still a big concern mark for me.
What the rescue organization did well
They published Baxter on Petfinder. Petfinder was my go-to when we were looking for a dog. There is no method I would have discovered Bax if I’d had to browse private rescue or shelter sites.
They had a detailed questionnaire. This assisted them comprehend us as well as our approach to dog ownership. The questionnaire likewise required me to believe about the details of having a dog—I had to supply my vet’s name as well as get in touch with information, ditto for a trainer. I had to talk about the food we were planning to feed. For somebody who hadn’t had a dog before, this level of detail wasn’t instantly in my brain, so it got me thinking.
Baxter on the day we drove him home:
They complied with up on the questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about other animals, so I included our barn feline Ralph. The rescue called our vet to ask about her as well as what care as well as treatment she’d received. Being a barn cat, she hasn’t had a whole great deal of treatment, however the rescue group was versatile as well as accommodating in this area as well as acknowledged that there are reasons we don’t bring our barn feline to the vet for annual inspect ups.
They did a house visit. Yes, house gos to can be irritating as well as over the top. However, I believe they show a level of diligence that is important. I might have put whatever I desired on the questionnaire or been untruthful in my phone interview. A house go to does a much better task of showing exactly how the dog will be living as well as what type of household he’ll be joining.
They were flexible. This is the biggest one for me—especially provided what I’ve heard about some rescues. I already mentioned Ralph, which perhaps might have been an issue. We likewise don’t have a fenced lawn area on the farm. We definitely talked about that with the rescue, however it wasn’t a offer breaker for them.
See That Mutt’s post: Why most dogs don’t requirement a fenced yard.
The offer breaker for the rescue
We had organized to utilize an outside run for Baxter when we weren’t home. This ended up being a offer breaker for the rescue—they were concerned that he would be as well chilly in the winter, as well as rejected our application.
I called as well as appealed as well as pledged to never utilize the outside run in chilly weather. They were versatile sufficient to reconsider—and believe I was being honest—and we were able to embrace Bax.
See my post: outside dog run fail.
The concern mark
The actual adoption is my biggest concern mark with Bax. We went to where he was fostered as well as satisfied him for the very first time. He ambled over as well as satisfied us. We scratched his head. We talked to his foster mom a bit as well as asked a few questions. then she handed us his leash, we put him in our vehicle as well as headed home.
We had a dog.
In hindsight, I feel like there should have been a few more meetings—more get-to-know-yous, or at least a walk to get a bit bit acquainted.
At the exact same time, I’m not sure it’s possible to get to understand each other just with a walk or a couple of hours. It took time for Bax to relax as well as be himself. as well as I feel like we needed the atmosphere as well as routine of house as well as the farm as well as our new bit household together to kind that out.
Baxter as well as Matt getting acquainted:
If things hadn’t worked out, we might have complied with up with the rescue group as well as worked with things with them—if worse came to worse we would have even returned Baxter to them.
And in the end, whatever did work out incredibly for us, as well as we ended up with our perfect dog. as well as I’m extremely grateful to our rescue for the very best thing they ever did—picking Baxter out of his shelter to ensure that he might ended up being ours.
What were a few of the things you liked or didn’t like about where you got your dog?
How did the process go for you, whether you went to a shelter, breeder or elsewhere? let us understand in the comments.
Julia Thomson is a blog writer at Home on 129 Acres where she composes about her adventures of country living as well as diy renovating. She as well as her hubby online on a 129-acre farm in Ontario, Canada.
Baxter’s very first day home:
Related posts:
When a dog rescue volunteer buys a puppy
Returning a rescue dog because of separation anxiety
How to get your dog adoption application approved
What great rescues as well as great breeders have in common