adoption application denied

[dlcenters]

We tried to do "the right thing" by adopting from a rescue org., but our application was denied due to the fact that our dogs are kept in a roofed, walled kennel outside when we are at work. Now, mind you, this kennel is not just a slapshod chainlink fence with plywood or a tarp stuck on the top-it is a 10x10x6 heavy duty dog kennel inside our garage add-on under a constructed roof and sided with regular garage siding-completely protecting the dogs from the weather. They are safe, secure, protected from the weather complete with doghouses, blankies, food and water, toys, etc. and have LOTS of room to move around and play.
The rescue org. considers this leaving them "unattended outside"...?...but stuck inside the house in a 3x4 crate all day long (which is acceptable to them) is better treatment??? I just don't understand. We take extremely good care of our dogs, their kennel is kept cleaner than the neighbors house (a 12x60 ramshackle trailer complete with 2 adults and 6 kids!!!), and when we are home they are with us constantly.
Both of our girls were informal "rescues" and we were going to rescue another since our old girl passed on, but we are unacceptable...could someone please explain how a judgement can be made solely on one point without even personnally meeting prospective "parents" and/or physically viewing the kennel in question. I realize that every organization has the right to set their own guidelines and rules, but rescues preach "adopt, don't buy" and then won't let you adopt when all you want is to give a supposedly "needy" dog a loving home...to me, it seems that once a dog is in "rescue" it has already been rescued-is not at risk for euthanasia anymore and has a home for as long as it takes to find an acceptable new home. The ones that really need rescued are the ones still in the kill shelters and the puppies who "god knows who" will get ahold of. These are the places easiest to acquire a new dog when you want one-no questions asked. If the rescue org. was really about saving these animals, they would look at each case individually instead of "this is our policy no matter what the situation". The standards set for adoption from most rescue org. are so rigid that it makes very few people eligible to even be considered acceptable...
This is just my opinion brought on by my experience...it is very frustrating to know that I wanted to help the best way I know how (by giving a needy dog a home) and I'm not acceptable by their (the rescue org.) standards. I'm not asking them to "lower" their standards-I'm just asking them to look at the whole picture before making a judgement. Alot more dogs could be placed in permanent "forever" homes and make room for even more to be rescued.

 

[courtney323]

but we are unacceptable...could someone please explain how a judgement can be made solely on one point without even personnally meeting prospective "parents" and/or physically viewing the kennel in question. I realize that every organization has the right to set their own guidelines and rules, but rescues preach "adopt, don't buy" and then won't let you adopt when all you want is to give a supposedly "needy" dog a loving home..

Hi dlcenters -

I know that you are frustrated, but please realize that virtually any rescue will deny an application for someone who keeps their Boxer outside. There are a few reasons for this: Boxers are not outdoor dogs. They cannot tolerate the heat (and they also cannot tolerate cold temperatures very well). It would be different if you were trying to adopt a Lab or a Shephard, but Boxers are a very different breed.

Also, Rescue organizations choose amongst applicants to find the very best home for a Boxer that has been rescued, neglected, abused, not cared for properly, etc.. Placing one of those dogs into a home where they are kept outside unattended all day is typically not the best situation for a dog (don't take offense to that). There are many things that can happen to a dog left outside (intentional poisoning, someone could steal your dog, heat stroke, etc..)

Hope this helps

 

[My Calla]

Sorry to hear that you were denied. I agree with you and I could see it if they had visited your home and found your outside kennel unacceptable, but it sounds like your dogs are very well cared for. I may would try to contact the rescue and see if you could request a home visit. Again, sorry that you are going through this. Good luck!

 

[FrogsMom]

Ok maybe I am missing something here. It appears to me that they are not really "outside" read this paragraph and tell me what I am missing

"kept in a roofed, walled kennel outside when we are at work. Now, mind you, this kennel is not just a slapshod chainlink fence with plywood or a tarp stuck on the top-it is a 10x10x6 heavy duty dog kennel inside our garage add-on under a constructed roof and sided with regular garage siding-completely protecting the dogs from the weather. They are safe, secure, protected from the weather complete with doghouses, blankies, food and water, toys, etc. and have LOTS of room to move around and play."

That doesn't sound like outside to me. Am I reading this wrong?

 

[Rufust]

I agree with you FrogsMom, it sounds like an "indoor" kennel kept outside. It does not sound to me anything like keeping a boxer outside and unattended. It sounds like a giant crate attached to the outside of the garage but with the perks of 4 walls to keep out the weather and room to play.

DLCenters: I would take some pictures of the inside and outside of this kennel and personally take them to the rescue organization. It seems they are making a decision based on how and what they "think" this kennel is like. Photos may entice them to do a home visit to check it out and also to see how you care for your dogs. Best of luck and please keep us posted. I am considering rescue in the future myself and would like to see a happy ending here.

 

[haleyandmark]

I don't know if i am understanding this correctly, but is that big kennel you have for them air conditioned?

The reason rescues say "No" to pets being outside is because of the heat. No matter how big or small the place where they stay is, if it doesn't protect them from the heat, it doesn't really matter.

Rescues really are great places, although I know when you are trying to adopt, they can be frustrating. They just do not want to take ANY chances with their dogs being put in homes where something could go wrong. I am guessing that you are against inside crate/kennels, but they really are the safest way to go. Would they still let you adopt if you chose to keep your rescue inside and the others out where they usually are?

 

[courtney323]

Ok maybe I am missing something here. It appears to me that they are not really "outside" read this paragraph and tell me what I am missing

Hmm, well they certainly are not inside the house which would be safest

The OP does not mention if there is an air conditioning system in the outdoor kennel that he has. While sheltering them from the weather is certainly a plus, they can still overheat very quickly without a proper cooling system . Also, can they keep warm in the Ohio winters (perhaps that is part of the rescue's concern)?

At any rate, I agree that you should ask for a home visit and/or take some pictures of your outdoor system. Perhaps you can be the exception that proves the rule...

 

[dlcenters]

We look for homes where the boxer's are not just dogs, but part of the family.

The above comment does not even warrant a reply...much as I would like to...I enjoy being a member of this website way too much to risk being throw out...LOL

As for the rest of you, I thank you for your info. and ideas...I appreciate all the different viewpoints-it helps to see the situation from all different perspectives.

No, the kennel is not air-conditioned-but then neither is my house (this, however, is not asked on the application). I view air-conditioning as unnatural, unhealthy, and unnecessary-there are natural ways to stay comfortable and all animals (including humans and boxers) find a way to adapt to their environment. Air conditioning has only been in existence for about 100 years (even then only available to the very affluent for many, many years)...how did we survive before it's invention?

No, I would not consider crating a 2-3 year old dog (that has never been crated). For a new puppy for training purposes, yes, but only until no longer necessary...I would not want to be kept in a small cage all day long (not to be confused with "the office with no windows" LOL) and I wouldn't put my baby in one either...although I know it works great for some and necessary for others, it is not an option for us at this point...

The main point I was trying to get accross was that rescue in general needs to look at the whole picture with regards to prospective adoptive families rather than make judgement on just one small detail...many more dogs could be saved in the long run. Due to my experience, I will not be pursuing rescue adoption any further, but I will continue to support the local animal shelter in the hopes of being able to save one precious deserving baby when the time comes...

NEWSFLASH...In the meantime, we have started keeping our girl in the house (loose) during the day and she has done perfectly...so far...

Again, thanks so much to those of you who provided support and useful info.

 

[ladyluck_t]

I dont actually do the phone or in-home interviews for our rescue, but I do place the initial call and speak with the people a little. If you had called our rescue, I think I would have "yellow flagged" you on the basis that the dogs are kept outside. That being said, I would have spent a bit of time on the phone with you to determine the conditions and environment that you have for your dogs. Which is why you would get the "yellow flag" rather than the "red flag". But each rescue runs differently with different flexibility on their rules. (i.e. some are more rigid on things than others)

I thought I would give you a view from the other side. Even though you feel that you are the best doggie parents and you love your babies like skin-kids, it really is hard to make that determination from just a few phone calls and a home visit. We in rescue have all had the time when someone convinces us to relax the rules a little for them and I have to say that more often than not when we do this we get burned and the dogs end up being more traumatized. Please understand I am not attacking you, but there have been too many unscrupulous people who have burned the rescue for us to feel comfortable in these instances. It is in no way a reflection of your beliefs/morals but a reflection of our society. We in rescue are inundated with unwanted boxers and really unsavory people, it is at best a tough call on turning down possible adopters, trust me, we do not turn down an adoptive family lightly but we are concerned with the health and well-being of the dogs and are more likely to err on the side of caution (sorry for the run-on sentence :rolleyes: i am a math person)

Ok, so what would I recommend at this point if you feel that you were declined without being offered a fair chance to explain is that you contact the rescue and offer to volunteer with them. There are loads of things that rescues need help with (event reps, paperwork, vet visits, research,training basic obedience etc.) that do not include adopting/fostering one of their dogs. And perhaps this will give you a way to get to know these people and let them get to know you. Be aware though, they still may not adopt to you, but perhaps you would understand their reasons a little better and in the meantime you would still be helping the boxer babies.

Thanks for listening!

 

[dlcenters]

Thanks for your input and a rescue point of view...I do understand the cautious part...for the dog's sake, liability issues, and all that...

ps...your baby is beautiful, by the way...my Duchess always had her tongue hanging out too, especially when sleeping