questions about rescue

[1FlashyFan]

Before we decided on going the new puppy route through a reputable breeder, we looked into rescue. We were very close and after a home inspection were approved... here's the catch... we were not comfortable with a number of things such as not wanting us to use a crate, encouraging us to free-feed, keeping the pool safety fence open and requiring a pet door. I felt the rescue person's love for her charges and I believe she is doing what she does for all the right reasons, but unfortunately it caused us to take another route.

I work from home so the dog wouldn't be in a crate for hours on end and everything I've read and especially confirmed here indicates that crate training is a good thing. Free feeding, on the other hand did not sound like a good idea. The final straw was the doggie door which under normal circumstances wouldn't be a problem but we're in the middle of the desert! I have a fenced yard but there are many unsafe critters that I would not want to expose my boxer to unsupervised (I had a bobcat jump my fence just the other day!) and I also wouldn't want the critter having a way "in" to my home either. It was also suggested that I remove a section of my pool gate (that we'd just installed) so the boxer would have more enclosed space in which to run. We put the fence up to keep my children and any future pets safe from drowning. I don't allow my young children to wander out without my supervision and I wouldn't want my boxer to either. Am I being unreasonable?

When our puppy is older (and well trained) I would sincerely hope to rescue, but unless there can be more flexibility I'm afraid it may not work out.

 

[tatev94]

Really? They didn't want to you to crate? That seems a bit odd to me. Was it for a specific dog you were interested in (one that does not do well in crates?) Or in general? Our rescue tries to ensure that all dogs are crate trained when possible and recommends that adoptive families stick with it. Hmmmm...

 

[1FlashyFan]

Yes, really. They only suggested crating if the dog was already crate trained. I still feel kind of guilty for not rescuing insteading getting a puppy and would prefer for the next addition to be from a rescue. I hope that as I become more knowledgable and informed I can voice my opinion more clearly and have it mean something. I still kick myself for not pushing harder but I felt that they had to be requiring these things of me for a good reason. The more I read here on BW the more I realize my instincts were right and I should have stood up for myself better.

 

[kerry001]

they sound a little wacky

 

[natrhymer]

Each rescue has its own rules -- most likely they've adopted these rules for legitimate reasons (the rescue you wrote about seems exceptionally strict, but it all depends on the people who are running the rescue and their experiences/convictions). Is there another rescue in the area you can contact? I'd hate for such a willing rescue candidate to get discouraged! And thank you for trying to rescue... hopefully when you're ready for another one, you'll have found the right rescue organization for you and your family.

 

[rog1006]

There is another rescue in AZ (hint hint) and we currently have over 75 dogs in our system.

There are reasons why rescues adopt certain guidelines, but many times rescues differ so don't just count it out because of one experience.

 

[1FlashyFan]

Thanks for helping sort through mixed emotions

I plan on continuing to educate myself as to future rescue options and have offered to help the agency I was dealing with on transport if they needed me. I'm hoping to help out my humane society with dog walking (they posted the need for volunteers) and will continue to do what I can. The person in charge of my local boxer rescue is really very nice, we just have different ideas as to what is best for the boxers, I guess. I realize everyone has their rules and they are there for a reason and in all fairness I was just too "green" to try to support my instincts with facts that may have worked in our favor. Maybe with time (and when the time is right for our family) we can work through some of those differences and give a deserving boxer a loving home.

p.s. I won't be counting out other options... I'm so looking forward to raising our Gunnar (he's coming home Saturday) and when he's old enough, we'd love to adopt a female playmate into the family. In the meantime, our family will do what it can to support boxer rescue.

 

[adeinert]

we were not comfortable with a number of things such as not wanting us to use a crate, encouraging us to free-feed, keeping the pool safety fence open and requiring a pet door. .

WOW! That is the craziest home visit I've ever heard of. I would actually have tried to convince you to do the opposite of each of those scenarios. It's great that you believe in rescue. I have a feeling that even though you didn't adopt this time, you will support the breed and rescue in many ways.

Ashlie

 

[Claudia807]

That is really interesting because a lot of the things you mentioned are the exact opposite of some of the policies of our rescue!

Just for one example . . . A lot of rescue dogs cannot handle free-feeding. I've had dogs come in as strays where they never do seem to learn to moderate their food intake. Someone once told me that if the starvation is severe enough their (I think) hypothalamus sort of shuts down and they lose the ability to realize when they've had enough.

Some of the other things you mentioned seemed a little "off" to me also, although of course I understand that every rescue has reasons for their policies.

 

[rog1006]

I kind of hinted around this earlier, but I just want everyone to know that this rescue person is NOT with Boxer Luv. We have heard different similar things about a few other rescues around here, but I just want to be certain that it is clear (as we are the biggest AZ Boxer Rescue). All of our dogs are crate trained, we do not condone free-feeding, doggy-doors are optional, etc.