Getting Discouraged With Rescuing

[ReelDesigner]

Hello everyone. I am certainly not starting this thread to point any fingers at anyone.

My wife and I really would like to adopt a Boxer. My brother has a rescue Boxer and I think it is the most wonderful dog in the world. My wife and I sat and discussed this for a long time and decided that this is what we wanted to do and filled out an application at a local rescue.

Since then it's been three months of talking to various people and waiting. We even had a house visit (they like to see where the dog is going). They keep telling us they're very busy, which I believe since they have about 35-40 Boxers right now. I'm just getting very discouraged that anything will ever go through, though. They're busy and I can help!

All of my excitement for getting a dog has been replaced with frustration. Has anyone else been through this?

 

[WaitingOnAce]

Please Don't Give Up!

While my "rescue" experience wasn't with a true rescue organization, but from a shelter, I can relate to your anticipation. There seems to be a long wait to get things rolling! I did not have the same hoops to jump through, but can understand why they are there--for the good of the dogs!

Please keep trying/waiting, though. A rescue feels so great once it has been completed. I will never forget the tears that welled in my eyes as I met Gracie for the first time. She needed me, and now I know how much I needed her!

If this organization is taking too long, could you fill out an application with another rescue? Maybe two rescues looking for the perfect match for your family would double the chances.

Good luck with this, keep us posted!

Thanks for rescuing,

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Hang in there.

We had EXACTLY the same experience when my then boyfriend adopted Rex. They kept stringing us along. I would write 4 emails to there one. We passed all the visits and answered all questions and still no dog. We even read on the rescue board where they needed more foster parents for the abundence of dogs. Why not give us one?
Patience prevailed.
I think you do have to look at it from their view. Rescue attract big hearts. Not always business minded people. They might need to work on fine tuning the process but who of us could put the hours these people do?
We finally got Rex who had many issues that were well explained. The people did a great job matching us. We especially wanted to help a hard to place, "issue" ridden dog. We felt we knew the breed well enough to help a dog that might otherwisae have to be disposed.

Hang in there. Keep pestering them. It will happen and you are doing a great thing.

 

[AJsMom]

We had the same problem. Just keep emailing and calling. The people that work with the rescues have posted on here the very long drawn out process that adoption requires as well as the fact that the people that are volunteering mostly have full time jobs as well. I think it is well worth the wait.....

 

[RememberMia]

My girl, Lola, came thru NJBR. We didn't experience any delay and felt that they were fantastic at matching her to our family. There were two dogs that we were interested in, but they didn't want to show them to us because they felt they wouldn't be a good match. Luckily, I trusted their knowledge because she has fit in very well from day one. We had slight issues to deal with, but nothing we couldn't handle. I'm very thankful that this rescue is so cautious about the dog/owner match.

 

[ReelDesigner]

At least we're not alone.

I totally understand what you meant about most rescue people probably not being of business mind. Not that there aren't any. I keep wanting to get upset with them as I would want to with a business that's been stringing me along but I know that these people are all helping out by doing something that they don't have to be doing.

Patience is tough, but I suppose I'll just have to keep at it.

 

[scrlt]

We had a similar experience. I must have filled out 1/2 dozen applications and received maybe 2 responses. The boxer rescue in my area never even responded to our emails, and I sent them many. It was discouraging, but we didn't give up. We now have a beautiful little girl that I wouldn't trade for the world. Be patient your dog is out there.

 

[ssleighter]

Let me just tell you my experiences, from a past adopter and from the Founder of a boxer rescue angle.

Before I was involved in rescue in anyway...I applied to adopt a boxer when Hammer was 6 months old. I had not had him neutered yet, but had the appt for the week following the day I applied. There was no place to note this on the app, nor did it ever cross my mind to do so.

A week went by, no response. I emailed again...

I emailed again....

I finally got a response stating that my app had been rejected because Hammer was not neutered.

I replied back that he was now, do the check again.

And I waited...

LOL!! I finally got a home visit and Ginger came along to meet us and Hammer. We adopted Ginger that day.

Please keep in mind, I was polite in my correspondence, but firm that I wanted a reply. In essence, I drove them nuts until they answered me, but I was nice about it.

Then I started volunteering, one thing led to another, and 3 years later I founded LBR.

Now from the rescues side, we are all volunteers, even me the Founder is nothing more than a volunteer that also volunteers to do the tax work associated with the legal side of running a rescue. LOL!!

I think 3 months is way off base and I think you deserve an explanation as to why it's taken so long. Even volunteers should be able to complete an adoption in that time frame.

I would urge you to politely ask them for a point blank reason as to why the process is taking this long. If they have reservations about something, they need to address it with you.

Good luck, and thank you for being so patient for your new best friend.

 

[Harleybxgirl]

I am affiliated w/ a rescue league and I don't understand why it would take so long to process an application. Heck we can process an application in a matter of hours or at most a day or two and we are all volunteers. Now if they are waiting for the right dog for you then maybe that is what is taking so long. You say they have 30-40 dogs so I don't see this being the case. Have you even been approved yet? I would go to the shelter or contact the foster home to see the dogs and if you find one you want I would just tell them you have already submitted the paperwork and had a home visit. Sometimes you need to get in their face to call attention to yourself. Also do they have public adoptions near you and can you go there to see the dogs? I know our president is swamped daily with emails and voicemails and we are working on taking some of that workload from her. Perhaps this is the case with the rescue you are working with, but 3 mths is a little to much in my book!
I will say one thing - you have a lot of patience! Good Luck.

 

[Harry D]

I am a member of the rescue group in Phoenix, please be patient if you passed your home visit and are waiting for a dog please be patient with us.
We received alot of owner turnins over the holidays and are sorting them out.
Place another call to the number and someone should get back to you soon.