Quote: randy allen

Sheila,
Do you mean patience for the work on dogs or for BSing people? Randy

BS with people which is why I think you could be a real asset for change.

 Quote: randy allen

just one instance up close similar to the op's would end my tenure in that org. as I would make somebody's life miserable until something changed.

This is exactly what I am talking about!! This is good!
You would make people uncomfortable and accountable which IMO would bring about improvements.

I don't work directly with the dogs because I, like you, would not be able to let go; I limit myself to transports, home visits and interviews. The transports that include pulling from the shelters are tough; I always feel guilty about the dogs left behind.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Sheila, but at my stage in life I've learned my limits. If by chance I were to gain enough pull to last any time at all inside and change a disfunctional wayward rescue org., it would begin to resemble some twisted version from 'The King of Hearts', and perhaps descending into some dark realm from the theater of the absurd. lol
It would be an interesting experiment, but one doomed in the end, as the world would surely come marching back in to restore 'sanity'.

Randy

 Quote: kelly at leerburg

When the Board member told the staff member that the dog should be adopted, the staff member still said no.

This is what is insane to me. The staff member is not a trainer in any way. The board member is a VET. The person looking to adopt has trained ACD before to work cows and knows what he is doing.

I am sure the staff member will be talked to and may lose her job. Meanwhile, the dog still sits in a cage....

This reeks of PETAism. The shelter worker probably is either a member of PETA or believes in their mantra - that forcing dogs to be our slaves by making them work is cruel and should be abolished. Some of the more radical of them don't even think dogs (or any animal) should even be "enslaved" as pets. They would rather the dog be put down than "enslaved."

I read a blog of a PETA member, in which she stated that she had a foster dog for 3 weeks that wasn't housebroken. She was proud of the fact that she had to replace all the carpet in her home because she wouldn't be so cruel as to crate the dog.

Honestly, sometimes I don't think they realize what is best for the dog. They are only thinking of their agenda to end animal slavery.

If he really wants the dog and they are refusing to adopt him out to your friend, then have his wife or girlfriend comes in to adopt the dog. Without saying anything about the dog being off leashed or working with cattle. I know it is not honest, but...

Lindsay, sad to say, but that did come up. But really, should one be forced to LIE to adopt a dog?

There have been a barrage of emails sent to the Board of Directors for the shelter. We will see how this plays out and go from there...

I will let you all know how it goes. Cross your fingers and toes for the dog These people are really a great family and he can't do much better.

--Kelly

Thanks for the update Kelly,
Sorry, I did kind of get off on a tangent with the thread.
The ACD looking for a home should be and is the focus.

Rubbing my lucky rock thinking goood things for this dog.

Please do keep us appraised of his on going situation.

Randy

I also have had it with the shelters and rescue agencies. I wanted to adopt a poodle for my daughter and was told many times since he might have to stay outside, occasionally, they would not adopt one out to me. All there animals go only to homes that keep the dogs inside. I found a great rescue agency in Tulsa OK that would let me get one. He has been the best dog! They understood 1) he is a dog, 2) I have handled , trained many a dog, and was experienced in this area.
On a great cool fall/spring day he loves to be outside and play with my other three dogs.

lorelei

I recently had a very bad experience with a local shelter.

I was told that an older(8+) German Shepherd that had been abused in the worst way possible was waiting to eaither go to a GSD rescue, or be adopted out. He had lived with another female GSD his entire life and she had already been adopted.

I first went and met this goofy, tall, lanky boy without another dog. He was very unsure of himself. He didn't walk well on a leash, so they put him on a 'halti' which he didn't want to walk on at all. I told them I'd be back the next day for him to meet my dogs.

I brought my dogs and they had a breeze way set up with basically pool fencing on eaither end so the dogs could be off leash. I brought my dogs in first, and shut the gate. The voleenteer walked the dog I was interested in by, and he immediately started barking at the dog Shane was holding, who(Im so proud of him) stood there looking dumbfounded. The voleenteer immediately took the dog away. Then the "adoption specialist" came out and said it was because he was defending his 'space'. I didn't understand, but maybe I'm wrong? He was just walked out, and on a leash with a complete stranger in a 'neuteral' area. Oh well. So then she want's to take my dogs out, with one of her voleenteers holding one of them and walk him by the potential adoptive dog. He does it again.

Now for some clarification. The first dog the 'rescue' snaped at was a 3yr old neutered male. The second dog was a 2yr old unaltered male. The "adoption specialist" said it happed because my dog wasn't neutered, and didn't want to hear that he did it the first time to my altered male.

I then asked, just out of curiosity to take a female past him and see if he would act the same way towards her. I wanted to rule out males, or just complete stress. I was banking on stress, but I could of been wrong. She didn't even want to hear the idea and said- 'It doesn't matter. He'd have to live with two males'. She then wen't on to explain that they do NOT adopt out to any homes with unaltered animals. Period. Then she went on to explain how the prong collars cause dogs treachea's and wind pipes to colapse, and that she's seen dogs die from chocking on a tennis ball(excuse the spelling). I was so frustrated. She then, in her final state said that the dog was a bad abuse case, which he was but his abuse didn't have anything to do with other dogs. It had to do with a male human. I didn't understand. Oh well, and so he sits in a cage with 50 other dogs barking around him waiting on someone else who wants to adopt a senior dog with bad hips and a hematoma.

How many animals get denied a new home because they won't adopt out to someone with an intact animal? It is rather frustrating, since they passed a mandatory spay/neuter law a few months ago because of how many animals they have to put down. On top of passing that law, they added an amedment(and this is how you know its all about the money!) You can keep your dog intact if you sign a sheet agreeing not to breed it, and pay a very high lisence fee. How are they going to know if you breed the dog, or if it gets out and gets pregnant? They can't enforce it, but they can collect the fees!!!

Yep. Even though there is no spay/neuter law in my county- you do pay significantly more money to license an intact dog.

Update!!!

The board of directors for the shelter had an "emergency" meeting and offered my friend the dog at a discounted adoption fee. Since the fee is used to help other dogs in need, my friend paid the whole fee and brought the dog home yesterday.

He is now named Bandit because he stole their hearts and is doing really well in his new home. I went to see him last night and he is truly a nice dog.

He is busy bonding with his new family, but will be started on cows when he is ready. He seems like a really smart dog to me and I think he will excel in whatever they choose to do with him.

As for the staff member that refused his adoption, she is no longer allowed contact with potential adopters, but is still working with the dogs.

Thank you everyone for your replies and concern for him. I am SOOO glad that the shelter did not turn into one of those PETA places. They will continue to do what is best for the DOGS. And they still have my support

--Kelly