I believe that one of the most important jobs of rescues and animal shelters is to do responsible adoptions. This of course means spaying/neutering animals who are adopted and having an adoption fee that covers those services. It also means matching the animal to the prospective owner. Example: Instead of adopting a young Great Dane to someone who lives in an efficiency apartment, you help him or her fall in love with a 10-pound terrier or a cat. It also means possibly denying adoption if concerned about information or impressions gathered during the adoption process.
It takes a lot of time energy, instinct and effort to do great adoptions. The objective is always to find the animal a safe, loving, responsible forever home and to give the owner a wonderful companion. Many rescue agencies that have the manpower perform home visits, phone veterinarians, conduct property searches and call landlords. And with all that, sometimes people can still fool us.
We got fooled the other day by a husband and wife. They seemed great, were great with the dog, all the paperwork checked out and they were so excited to be saving this dog. Everyone was happy until an hour later, when we got a frantic call from the new owners. Once home, they did not have the leash in hand when they opened the car door, the dog shot out the door and in a matter of minutes was gone.
They said they spent the day looking. We kept calling asking for a report. The husband called us later saying that the dog had fled to a barn, they were able to catch her and had her home. Happy ending, or so we thought.
Monday after the Saturday adoption, the wife called asking us if they can have their adoption fee back since they lost the dog and it wasn’t really their fault. They wanted to get a new puppy and they wanted the money to pay for its vaccinations. The wife had no idea that the husband had called and lied. I think he got tired of us calling and knew the only way to make us stop was to say they found the dog. It worked; we were so happy and relieved. And we didn’t show up on their doorstep to look for the dog. The woman showed very little concern for the fate of the dog that she had adopted. She had moved onto a new puppy.
I told her she could not have her adoption fee back; she thought that was unfair and hung up. I have to ask: Where in our society can we buy something, lose it, then go back to the store asking either for a refund or a replacement? And get it? Nowhere, to be exact, and losing a living creature compounds the loss. Or at least it does to me.
It is Tuesday, and the dog has still not been found. People have been looking, we placed an ad in the paper, called other shelters and veterinarian clinics. This is in the Daleville area, and Birdie is a brownish fawn hound mix, about 40 pounds. She is micro-chipped, is a little timid and very sweet. If anyone sees Birdie, please call Animal Care and Control at 648-6305.
Losing a pet can happen to even the most diligent pet owners, but we do want to take every precaution as responsible pet owners that they don’t happen. Hold on to leashes when opening doors in the car and at home. Make sure gates are secured before letting your animal outside. Use common sense. It takes only a second to lose a wonderful pet.
Maleah Stringer, director of Anderson Animal Care and Control, is also president of the Animal Protection League. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.
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THB Photo/John P. Cleary 7/29/03 LFS Studio shots of Maleah Stringer for column. John P. Cleary
Discussion
April 3, 2010
Be responsible when you adopt a pet
- xLifestyle Columns
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Be responsible when you adopt a pet
I believe that one of the most important jobs of rescues and animal shelters is to do responsible adoptions. This of course means spaying/neutering animals who are adopted and having an adoption fee that covers those services.
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