MetaChat - Rambly, slightly whiny.

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13 May 2008

Rambly, slightly whiny. So, I've been trying to adopt a rescue dog for a month... →[More:]

I wanted to get her before (Greek) Easter, because my husband had time off then, and it would have been cool for the dog to be introduced to the household while he was spending an appreciable amount of time here.

But no. We had to fill out an application, blah, blah. So we did, and then waited. No response. So I emailed, "is there a problem?" No. No problem with our application, but now we have to schedule an in-home interview. *sigh, okay*

So eventually the interview happens; hunkydory, the interviewer loves me, bff, cool. Can I get the dog now? I want to get her before my husband leaves for two weeks for an out-of-town job, so she (the dog, not the interviewer) knows him a bit before he leaves.

Well, there's a problem; The person who is fostering the dog doesn't have a cell phone or a steady phone (wtf?) and lives way outside of town, so they have to make arrangements to get the dog to me. More delay. Time passes. Finally! I'm supposed to get the dog the very same day husband is leaving. Oh, all right.

But, what's this? Oops! The dog is pregnant. Der. Well, OF COURSE THE DOG IS PREGNANT. She's living on some phoneless acreage with, like, 40 other dogs. You weren't sure if she was spayed or not... and if you had given her to me a month ago, she probably wouldn't be pregnant, dingleberries.

So... she had a "procedure" on Sunday, instead of coming to me. Now I'm waiting. Again. More waiting. Just waiting. I have the feeling I'm never getting this dog.

Meanwhile, a friend who knows about all this history is trying to convince me to get a puppy from a friend of hers. New puppy, blank slate, no possible learned bad behavior or fears to deal with, no extra-vigilant vet stuff for the potential health problems of a rescue dog, etc. ... but I feel connected to the one I've been trying to get - and that is all in my head, of course, since I don't even know her. But, I will wait and see. KEY WORDS: WAIT; WAITING; DELAY.

I do feel bad about ranting, though, because these people are volunteers who spend their personal time and money trying to save animals... And I will figure out some way to try to help this organization, which, despite my difficulty, I think is good.

post by: taz at: 03:33 | 12 comments

Oh, I forgot to mention that we are having a little holiday on an island once the mr. taz gets back, so I really did hope to have her here and feeling pretty calm and good with us before that (we will take her with us) - so that was another consideration. All my hopes to get her before X event (Easter, May Day, Husband leaving) so far have been foiled... hope the trend breaks soon. Which is also why I'm posting; whenever I complain about my neighbor's laundry* on mecha, she comes out and takes it down, so I'm hoping for that Mecha Hoodoo to work it's magic and I'll get a call saying doggypoo is coming tomorrow or something.

* contitutes most of the view from my kitchen window when it's hanging up, and she leaves it for weeks sometimes.

posted by taz 13 May | 03:40

omg, dog abortions, I never knew that existed.

(whuffles!) I know you and the dog have a great bond once she finally gets home!

posted by dabitch 13 May | 03:53

I'm like Penelope, except with dogs instead of Ithacan adventurers.

posted by taz 13 May | 04:14

Well it all sounds very frustrating so I can certainly understand the need to vent.

Come home puppy!

posted by gomichild 13 May | 05:10

I always knew you had tons of suitors, taz. I see how you are.

Seriously, that stinks about the dog. Of course you feel connected to her. Poor thing. I hope it all works out soon.

posted by rainbaby 13 May | 07:31

I know how it is, taz. We went to the Humane Society probably no less than twenty times. It was highly competitive. Every dog would have two holds. It didn't matter when we got there. We finally got Goldie. We were the second hold, though. Meaning the first person that spotted her had first dibs. We met the first hold. She was probably no older than 21, pregnant, lived in an apartment without a yard, already owned a dog named Zeus, and she was an exotic dancer. Or, I assumed she was, because when Goldie put her paws on her cleavage, she said, "Ooh, don't hurt my moneymakers." :-) She met us, and offered Goldie to us. We were like no, no, no, she's yours! But, she insisted and we thought that was very nice.

Goldie and I are currently in two obedience classes. Just this morning she escaped out the front door, barked at a man taking a morning stroll, and pulled the loaf of bread off the counter and ate three pieces and bolted out the doggie door before I caught her.

So, enjoy your time before your new dog comes home. They are rascally little things that will drive you mad, sometimes. :-)

Do you have any old blankets or quilts? That is a good donation. At least for our local shelters. They use them for the dogs to sleep on.

posted by LoriFLA 13 May | 07:43

This group doesn't have a central shelter (as far as I know); it appears to be a collective of people who foster, and some of them handle all the organizing, fundraising, logistics, placing, etc. I only found them because they are online and they have their site in Greek, German, and English. So I think that there's a connection with a similar site/org in Germany. Their site is really good - somebody professional put it together and maintains it.

And they are smart about how they structure possible donations: you can donate food or medicine, for example, in addition to giving outright (for people who are worried their money is not going where they want it), and you can also "virtually sponsor" an animal - pay for it's food, vet care, and so on, and be advised of it's health, progress, up to it's (hopefully) adoption. So the set-up is not naive.

Part of the problem I've had is, I think, that the person who is fostering my dog is a bit of a crazy pet person, with too many animals that she probably spends every cent on (why she has no phone?)... but on the other hand, I can see the problem from the organization - are they going to turn away a foster person, when they can't get all the animals they find into temp. spots? Turn them back on the streets instead? So, I hate to sound entitled and complain-y, when I know they struggle to do the best they can, and try to do whatever they can for the animals. But, still. Just give me the dog. One less for you to worry about, and it's making me very anxious that I can't just take care of her... and, indeed, it would have been/will be/is just better for her to come here. now.

If I ever get settled with my dog, I intend to find out more and figure out ways I can contribute (besides the obvious: money - which I can give some, but can probably think of other ways to promote more donations or foster/adoption participants or something. I hope.)

posted by taz 13 May | 08:11

I think it's good you're being patient to get this dog. I know it's frustrating, and the process makes it seem as if there are long queues of people waiting to get rescue dogs, but the fact is that a puppy will almost always be adopted whereas a full-grown rescue dog has a tougher time and is definitely freeing up space in a shelter for a dog who otherwise would be dead.

Being the resident "animal person," I almost feel like I should apologize for the way things are. The rescue you're dealing with should have established that she was unspayed FIRST THING, which is what most groups would do immediately.

Most rescues work on a shoestring budget with good intentions, so occasionally you run into problems. But you wouldn't believe how much work and frustration rescuing, fostering and adopting out dogs is, and what kind of crazies, including people looking for dogs to sell to medical research, you weed thru'. It's all nutty and life-changing. I know firsthand.

As far as others who will read this and who have had similar experiences, please don't be discouraged, and please remember that there are tons of rescue groups out there besides your local "humane society" shelter. Check the Internet, ask around, etc., if you're having trouble with the first shelter or rescue group you encounter.

KUDOS TO ADOPTERS. ADOPT DON'T BUY!

posted by shane 13 May | 11:24

Thanks, shane... Yes, I definitely don't mean to discourage anyone from adopting a rescue pet! It was my first choice because I won't buy an animal from a pet store puppy mill situation, and I figure the puppies of someone's pet will be provided for and find families.

I'm trying to be patient, though it's beginning to seem a bit crazy.

posted by taz 13 May | 12:00

It's like waiting for Santa to show up, and it's still weeks away... or, maybe it's tomorrow, or not - it's the not knowing thing after a while.

Hope your doggie girl gets to be home with you very soon.

posted by mightshould 13 May | 12:23

Wow that is torturous. I agree with Shane - they should've been up front about the snip/no snip conditions. Also a good point about getting an older dog - pups will always get adopted. That's kinda how we felt when we wanted to get another cat, and he has turned out to be awesome! We were lucky - the folks who fostered him did a good job caring for him and socializing him before they let him go. And he was snipped, too.

Our little guy Otto is 11 weeks today and growing like a weed. We finally got him settled on his new food. Now if we could get past the eternal teeth/chew/bite phase...probably several more weeks of that. So far the only casualties have been the edges of one dog bed cover and the eyes and guts of several toys. He's doing well on his leash, and he can sit and come to us pretty consistently, even off leash. He's just a little guy still, and he definitely goes into the crate at night and when we're not here to keep an eye on him. Like LoriFL says, they can be tornadic little devils.

taz I do hope the pooch comes to her new home soon. The waiting will be worth it. And you never know - there might be another one sooner rather than later that you'll love just as much! Hang in there. :D

posted by chewatadistance 13 May | 15:49

Looks like I'm getting her Sunday (May 18)! Keep your fingers crossed!

posted by taz 15 May | 03:00

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