Has anyone adopted a dog from a rescue...

[Olimpia]

... being young and/or without a yard?
Over the last couple years my roommates and I (all around 21 years old) have tried several times to adopt a dog from rescues, and every time we've been rejected for one reason or another. Even when we had a yard, it seemed like there was always an excuse to reject us (one rescue even told us that with two dogs already, we had to GIVE ONE UP to adopt one of theirs! WHAT?) I have a feeling that they hear "21 years old" and think that I spend all morning hung over and all night playing beer pong, and so can't give a rescue dog a stable, loving environment. Which is completely false, but it's hard to prove.

And now I'm going to see if I can work on getting a friend for my sheltie, since now I live alone and she doesn't have any friends to play with. I've already contacted a sheltie rescue to run my situation by them (21, student, apartment) and see if I would even be considered if I applied for a specific dog. So far no reply, but I assume there will be a response in the next day or two.

Has anyone in a similar situation had success adopting?

I don't know why they automatically eliminate anyone without a yard. My dog gets at least 1.5 hours of walking a day, plus several laps of rollerblading around the neighborhood at a full run, plus a couple hours of dog park several times a week... you can't tell me my dog's not getting enough exercise! I was a lazier dog owner when we lived in a house with a yard, if you ask me.

Fingers crossed that they give me a chance!

 

[pssh]

Our SPCA had no problem adopting a dog to us, and we have no yard. Of course she gets walked for 1+ hours a day, but they didn't even ask about that. They were about ready to let me sign all the papers until my mom showed up. I'm not quite old enough for that stuff yet. They didn't even really screen us. We just looked at a few dogs and fell in love with one.

Ours is really relaxed though. She generally doesn't get excited, and when she does it's only for a few minutes and then she gets tired. She doesn't play fetch and she's not very bright. I swear! She can't Learn sit! She likes to go up into a beg position so when I try to train sit she just begs. Good enough I guess. I was able to teach her to put her hands up in the air while in beg when I say, "put your hands up, I'm going to shoot you!" and she can 'box' with me

 

[Gensen]

Shelter verses Rescue...

Adopting from a Shelter is typically much easier than dealing with a Rescue. The Shelters are most times interested in placing the dog in a home before they have to euthanize them. On the other hand a rescue most likely has a "no kill" policy and since they have taken the dogs in from various situations that have been less than ideal they are looking to place the dog in an "ideal" situation although "ideal" is often hard to find by thier standards... basically they try to reduce the senarios that things "might not work out" for some reason long term as they do not want to see the dog back there. They are really trying to do thier best but I know Rescues can be quite picky and do turn down allot of people including possibly good homes!

So hopefully they are not being biased on your age, and it's just their policys. What they do is screen several people for the same dog and choose the least complicated "ideal" situation.

Keep looking and trying though, you will get the dog your meant to have!
Good luck!!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Not a comment against you specifically, but Im sure not having a yard is a huge factor. As would the breed of dog. Most Dogs shouldnt, in most people's opinions, be locked up in a house all day long, with the inadequate exception of a daily walk. Most breeds, larger breeds especially, would do better with more activity than being "house bound" could typically allow. Your age may be a factor, in that some younger people will say they walk their dog an hour everyday, but arent believed when they say it. I know this isnt fair, but its going to happen.
Have you considered adopting an older dog directly from an individual who can no longer care for it?
Perhaps there is a service that matched elderly people who have dogs they cant adequately care for any longer (due to health or living place changes), with young people who would gladly care for the dog? Perhaps even with an agreement to bring the dog to the former owners once a month for a visit (though that may be hard on the dog).

 

[Olimpia]

Exactly, my roommate ended up going to our local shelter and adopted a puppy without ever really needing to prove anything after the rescues were giving us such a hard time. But the breed I want is not typically in shelters, so I have to turn to a rescue to find another sheltie. I understand they want to be careful and thorough, but it's silly to eliminate so many people just because they don't have a yard. You're not just crossing out people who live in apartments, but who live in houses without yards too, and there are a lot of those types of homes everywhere.

I hope they respond and at least agree to meet me in person! I think that makes a huge difference.

Edit-

Of course, Sandra, but at the same time nearly all dog owners with a yard fall into the same trap of just letting the dog go out into the yard and entertain itself, and they substitute the walks for the yard. We fell into this trap too when we moved into a house with a yard for a few months. We had to make a conscious effort to not be lazy and continue with the walking and going to the parks. Watch any dog training show, like the Dog Whisperer or It's me or the dog, and nearly all the dog owners don't walk their dog enough just because they have a yard. In my opinion a yard is nice, but it's not guarantee of anything. I think my dog is happier at the dog park with the added benefit of other dogs - much better than a yard! And unless you have acres of yard, having a small yard doesn't make a huge difference to a dog.

I could provide references from adults that know me and my dog and help prove that I do what I say I do. But I guess if it comes down to it I can always adopt under the name of my father or something, but it seems ridiculous to bring my parents into this when I do absolutely everything else on my own.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Clearly just having a yard doesnt mean you dont have to additionally walk /exercise / socialize / entertain /work a dog. I do think having a small yard is better than no yard at all.

To me, the best thing is having both a yard in which to roam between naps, AND daily walks, plus weekend excursions.

That's why I dont currently have a dog. Although I have a good size yard, I know that I wouldnt be able to properly walk a dog EVERY day.

 

[Cassandra]

First impressions can make a big difference too. If you show up looking like you can barely look after your self, (dirty jeans, t-shirt, unkempt hair, etc...), they may not want to allow you to adopt. Where as if you show up very professional looking, (say in a suit & tie, dress clothes, etc...), they may take you seriously.

Other ideas:

Compile a list of all the past "rejection issues". Then make a list of reasons why those reasons should be an issue. That way, when you try to adopt, and they tell you that something is an issue, you will have an answer for them as to why it is not and issue.

Get a letter from your vet to say that your current dog is a patient there, and has been seen for his annual check ups and vaccines

Get a criminal record check done

Start frequenting the shelter. Go there to have a "look", but don't have the intent to adopt (yet). This might help them think that you are serious about adopting, and not doing it on impulse.

Get some letters of reference, from friends or co-workers that say that you are a responsible pet owner

 

[Dawniegirl]

Probably need proof that pets are allowed

Sorry if this might have already been said but as long as you have a note from your landlord or it's on your lease that pets are allowed then I can't image why you'd have a problem adopting a dog. We adopted 2 dogs both from SPCA's, one a non kill shelter & the other a kill shelder. Both times w/o a problem. Your age should definitely not be an issue but the Apt rental could be if you don't show proof that you are allowed pets there. We had to prove that we owned our home & bring in a mortgage statement, not cause you need to own a home but because they need to know that you are allowed pets were you live.
So glad to hear your trying so hard to adopt... such a gift to a pet in need of a home. Awesome!!!
Good luck & post back what happens when you get a reponse from them! Have you tried the website petfinder.com if your local shelter are giving you a hard time?

 

[Olimpia]

The problem is that shelters and rescues are two totaly different things. My 20 YO roommate adopted from a local shelter without problem, without even really needing to provide much info. But rescues are much pickier about who they adopt out to, and that's what's giving me a hard time. Unfortunately, for them having no yard is an automatic elimination, as riddiculous as I think that is, while a shelter doesn't descriminate like that.

I requested an in-person meeting with the rescue owner, but she never wrote back to me after I told her about my age and apartment. And also unfortunately, they're the only sheltie rescue in the state, and the only place that has any shelties on petfinder for adoption.

Sooo, no second dog for me for a while I guess!

 

[Dawniegirl]

The problem is that shelters and rescues are two totaly different things. My 20 YO roommate adopted from a local shelter without problem, without even really needing to provide much info. But rescues are much pickier about who they adopt out to, and that's what's giving me a hard time. Unfortunately, for them having no yard is an automatic elimination, as riddiculous as I think that is, while a shelter doesn't descriminate like that.

I requested an in-person meeting with the rescue owner, but she never wrote back to me after I told her about my age and apartment. And also unfortunately, they're the only sheltie rescue in the state, and the only place that has any shelties on petfinder for adoption.

Sooo, no second dog for me for a while I guess!

Sorry to hear it. I totally agree... while it would be easier for YOU to have a back yard, dogs that need to be walked are exercising as well & spending that extra time with there owner(s). Do you have a dog park near by you? If so that might help if you advised them about it. I have heard that rescues can be like that & you have to agree to only give the dog back to them if that should arise... which I think is a great idea. Maybe check back on petfinder at a later time. I find my first dog on petfinder after checking the site out for months... he was the one for me.

 

[Olimpia]

Sorry to hear it. I totally agree... while it would be easier for YOU to have a back yard, dogs that need to be walked are exercising as well & spending that extra time with there owner(s). Do you have a dog park near by you? If so that might help if you advised them about it. I have heard that rescues can be like that & you have to agree to only give the dog back to them if that should arise... which I think is a great idea. Maybe check back on petfinder at a later time. I find my first dog on petfinder after checking the site out for months... he was the one for me.

Exactly! A yard is nice, but if you're out walking, going to parks, to training classes, to shops and cafes, you can't tell me that that dog is unhappy. He's outside, seeing more world, and doing more socializing. But unfortunately some rescues don't agree. I've even had one (for a different breed) tell me that their dogs were not allowed to go to the dog park at all, for no reason that was made clear to me? Unless the dog is aggressive or sick, socializing is the healthiest thing for them mentally.

Petfinder is great, I agree. And you're right it may take time to find a sheltie /sheltie-mix somewhere else. Hopefully soon

 

[SS4Luck]

Im a big pit bull person, and Im also 21. I have never had a problem with a rescue letting me adopt a pitty, but they are always the only dog in the house (or i got 2 dogs from the same rescue).

Thats shitty they are giving you the run around, i know the shelters never care what type f home theyre going to theyll just hand you the dog

 

[Mr Wilson]

I know this is a slightly old post, but I figured I'd give in my 2 cents. I think, if anything, they hear "roommates" and wonder what will happen when you are all no longer roommates. In other words, when you all split up and go your own ways, who will take the dog? When my boyfriend and I rescued our beagle/pitt mix, they asked us what would happen if we WERE to split up (which will never happen) and they did a full background check with our vet (his mother has 2 dogs and 7 cats, along with 6 birds!).

I think a lot of times, with rescues, they are afraid the dog will end up back in the shelter/rescue and your situation of being with a number of roommates, who you won't be living with your entire life, I'm assuming, kind of makes it hard to say, "Sure, you guys can all adopt this dog together" without wondering what will happen down the road. If you ask me, you'd be better off going in on the adoption alone, and explain that you have roommates, but it will be YOUR dog. This way there is no possibility that the dog will be fought over or no one will want to take responsibility in the end, forcing him/her to be back in a shelter or abandoned.

We actually found our rescue, Spud, on facebook!! We rescued him from Hazelhurst Animal Shelter (who you can find on facebook, they are in GA but will transport... we live in NJ) and they have so many dogs. I saw another one I fell in love with, Jimmy, but we just can't afford him, nor do we have the room. But if I could take him in, I would do it in a heart beat!!! Check out shelters on facebook, call people up, email people. The more enthusiasm you show for a dog, the more on top of it you are, the happier they are to give the dogs a forever home. I am constantly updating the shelter and the woman who helped me with pictures through facebook.

Here's Spud! He took a LONG time to adjust, and has just started to play! Don't mind his flipped ear, he was having fun!

 

[Olimpia]

Aww, what a sweet face! He's adorable!

I used to live with 2 friends (I started at a new school this fall so I'm in a new city alone now) and each of us had their own dog. We all helped raise each other's puppies, but we never got a dog under the premise of sharing them. Even though we have arrangements made of who gets what dog if their owner dies/something happens - lol It's morbid but my family certainly doesn't want to be left with my girl if something happens to me. I trust my ex-roommie more than them with her anyway! haha

I'm pretty sure that what I would need to do would be to make an awesome video application. Forget the boring paper applications where they assume things, I would need to make a nice video where they can see me, my current happy and healthy dog, my living situation (see that I don't have beer pong tables or bongs everywhere like some stereotypical college kid), my huuuge beautiful dog park only minutes away, the nice neighborhood where I walk her and rollerblade with her... etc., etc.. So they don't make assumptions about me before they've even given me a chance. Otherwise I think that they just skim over to my age (and/or the box checked "apartment") and toss the application out.

Oh well. I'll try again when I'm in a house again, which hopefully might be as soon as this summer. It'll be easier winning them over if I at least have a nice fenced in yard that they like.

And why not, I'll post photos of my baby and my step-babies The patchy puff ball is mine, the lab-pit and the westie belong to my ex-rommates. The lab-pit was adopted from a shelter locally.

 

[Mr Wilson]

SO cute!! The lab/pitt looks JUST like my boyfriend's mom's!!!! The only difference is her ears are a bit shorter.