Note to Adopters

fostermomm

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
1,032
Purraise
1
Location
Hicksville
NOTE TO ADOPTERS

[by Diane Morgan]

Note to adopters: Lassie and Cleo and Rin Tin Tin and Toto don't show up in rescue. We don't get the elegantly coiffed, classically beautiful, completely trained, perfectly behaved dog. We get the leftovers. Dogs that other people have incompetently bred, inadequately socialized, ineffectively "trained," and badly treated. Most Rescue dogs have had it. They've been pushed from one lousy situation to another. They've never had proper veterinary care, kind and consistent training, or sufficient company. They've lived outside, in a crate, or in the basement. They're scared, depressed and anxious. Some are angry. Some are sick. Some have given up. But we are Rescue and we don't give up. We never give up on a dog. We know that a dog is a living being, with a spirit and a heart and feelings. Our dogs are not commodities, things, or garbage. They are part of sacred creation and they deserve as much love and care and respect as the next Westminster champion. So please, please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a "bargain," or indeed of "getting" anything. Come to Rescue to give, to love, to save a life -- and to mend your own spirit. For Rescue will reward you in ways you never thought possible. I can promise you this -- a rescue dog will make you a better person.
 

cocoalily

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
1,816
Purraise
1
Location
MN
That is such a beautiful thing, and so completely true. Rescues are almost never a place for perfect, angelic, purebred companions - they're called Rescues for a reason!

Kudos to the lady who wrote it!
 

catcaregiver

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
1,338
Purraise
1
Location
Doublestandardville
That's very well said and the sentiment applies to cats as well. It never ceased to amaze me what questions people would ask about the animals at Animal Control - like they have a complete history on the animals that end up there and all of them are perfectly trained.
 

sweet72947

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
373
Purraise
1
Location
Northern VA
That's so true. It brings back memories of people who come to our rescue shelter and look at dog after dog after dog after dog and never pick one because they are looking for the "perfect" dog. I know you gotta choose carefully so that the dog fits in with your family, but geez.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
We are proud to have rescued Keno
While not directly out of the rescue group she was originally picked up from (and pregnant) - we did rescue her from the bad owner who did adopt her from that rescue group!

She's spayed and happy now
 

booktigger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
4,520
Purraise
3
Location
UK
That is lovely, would love to see a cat equivalent.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
great poem.. now if most rescues would be truthful with WHAT THEY DO know.... I am Gigi s 3 or 4th home and last .... I knew nothing about yorkies
 

white cat lover

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
Sad part is, many places aren't rescues. We have to give up on dogs & cats here. There are just too many to save them all anymore.
 

jean-ji

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
1,040
Purraise
35
Location
Hudson Valley and SW Florida
Cocoalily wrote: Rescues are almost never a place for perfect, angelic, purebred companions - they're called Rescues for a reason!
There are purebred rescue groups out there, for all breeds.
We got Fergus through a Springer rescue group. People surrender their dogs or the rescue gets them out of shelters when they are listed there.
We had a Springer for 14 years and love the breed, we were short listed to get a dog as soon as they found that out. It helps to know a breed's "quirks", especially when getting a dog that may have problems from abuse or neglect. I knew what behavior to expect and what wasn't acceptable, which made it a lot easier than someone unfamiliar with the breed.
People don't do the homework needed when getting a dog or their life situations change and they can't keep their pets any longer. This is where the purebred rescues come in. They are people that have a tremendous love for a specific breed of dog or cat.
 

white cat lover

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
People buy Macey, a Lab/German Shorthaired Pointer X. Mom is purebred GSP, liver, 85 lbs. Dad is purebred Choc. Lab, 100 lbs. Macey weighs 80 lbs. full grown. They had a dumb solution. But, the point is, it never occured to them that she'd be bigger than an average GSP. Duh! Parents are almost 100 lbs + puppy almost 100 lbs full grown!

Now I have Macey. She's naughty, but I love her.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

fostermomm

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
1,032
Purraise
1
Location
Hicksville
Originally Posted by white cat lover

People buy Macey, a Lab/German Shorthaired Pointer X. Mom is purebred GSP, liver, 85 lbs. Dad is purebred Choc. Lab, 100 lbs. Macey weighs 80 lbs. full grown. They had a dumb solution. But, the point is, it never occured to them that she'd be bigger than an average GSP. Duh! Parents are almost 100 lbs + puppy almost 100 lbs full grown!

Now I have Macey. She's naughty, but I love her.
I have my eye on a puppy in our rescue. Lab mix. He's 30 lbs and only 16 weeks. His legs are super long and thin. I wonder how big he'll get? Im in love with him. If he's not adopted soon I might have to get him in I move.
 
Top