We have 3 local shelters here in my town. One is exclusively foster homes and mostly cats, except they are getting 2 beagles this weekend if the transport fills. One is called a Humane Society, but has no affiliation with the National organization and charges a fee to intake owner surrenders and the third is in a shelter type building and was started by two women. Basically all are No-kill except in extreme instances such as unadoptability due to behavior issues or extreme illness. The Humane Society is extremely strict and not too rescue friendly as they would rather adopt their animals out for the adoption fee as opposed to surrendering to rescue and there have been many complaints voiced by people who did not qualify to adopt. The other two are more lieniant and almost always at capacity. We are the 4th largest city in PA and only have one animal control officer.

So, if you haven't already surmised, there are alot of homeless animals around up here. It is really sad.

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It only takes one person to throw an animal away
but it takes a whole team to find it a new home!

I am sorry you did not qualify and that may explain your perception. Sometimes we have to pass up on good homes based on the types of dogs we have or prior experiences. The guidelines we have set up are for a good reason. As I indicated we do not get the well mannered dogs into rescue and a typical family can have unrealistic ideas of what it takes to manage a rescue dog. Usually, if a family has a reasonable plan in place for managing their new, unknown rescue dogs, while they work, there can be a placement.
No organization is perfect and as you know in CA it only takes one mistake for an entire organization to be shut down or maligned. That, unfortunately, is the reality.
Again, I am sorry we were not able to help you find that special pup for your home bit I assure you it was probably based on a good reason.
We place many dogs in loving homes. Sometimes we make an error either in providing a dog to a family and the dog bounces back to us or in passing on what might have been a quality, loving home. Either way it is unfortunate and we always hope for the best.

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"Beau" Mr. Beaujangles Dancin on a Wim CD, RN , ASCA CD, CGC (RIP my shining star 1-17-11)
"Baylee" UCD Baylee Golden Butterfly Wings CDX, RN , ASCA CD, CGC
"Baxter" U-Ch Promise's Purpose Driven Vision CGC (looking toward the future)
"Blayze" Promise's D'Best Aim For The Goal'd(the new kid on the block)

Well mannered as in no training? LOL! All the more to be put in a home that has actually raised a golden from puppyhood! I have many friends that have adopted totally awesome beautiful mutts from the humane society. Which they knew nothing about their background. I honestly can't believe that would not apply to goldens also. I truly believe their heart and soul is in it but I also believe that it sometimes blinds them from doing the best thing for the animal. But no sour grapes for me. I am soooo pleased for making the right decision on getting my Wyatt Earp! One of the best decisions I have ever made! If I wouldn't had been turned down from rescue I would have never had the opportunity to have this awesome fella!

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I don't see this thread going anywhere good if it continues in the vein of berating a local rescue for not placing a dog with a forum member. It has not yet reached the level of prohibited forum conduct, but I can see it getting there quickly. We do not have all the information and speculation as to why a dog is not placed with a prospective adopter is just that, speculation. I suggest any further discussion of Wyatt's mommy's personal experiences with this particular rescue be taken to PM.

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I can see both sides of this arguement.

While living in Massachusetts, it was impossible for us to adopt from the golden rescue there because we had no physical fence, a child under six and the dog would be home by itself 5 - 6 hours on most days. That is 3 strikes. They don't even want to see your application if you don't meet the qualifications. It does leave a sour spot in your mouth. My husband and I had over 15 years experience with GSD's and Great Pyrs, raising them in the same scenario and we actually once had rescued a GSD ourselves from an abusive, neglected family. Our dogs had great lives, and when we did have issues, health or behavior wise, we put the money and time into fixing the issues.

Also, fortunately, goldens needing homes in Massachusetts are also really hard to find. Most people that adopt in that area, wait for these trucks to come from the south, and adopt the dogs sight unseen. This is why I had to go to a breeder to get Brady.

Because of the experience of rescuing on our own, I knew the hardwork that we had to put into our dog the first year we had her, because of her fears, etc.

I found when I tried to rescue here in KC, the process started more with a discussion on the phone or an interview, then I filled the application.
Because of the experience of rescuing on our own, I knew the hardwork that we had to put into our dog the first year we had her, because of her fears, etc. I knew not every dog would fit into our new home, invisible fence, three loud children, two cats and one dog, so we needed to find a dog that would fit that scenario, so the rescues here would pass me and my home as a adopter, but not for the particular dogs I either wanted or that they had available. I had to go over 200 miles to get my rescue MacKenzie, and it took a couple months to find her.

I just wish that some of the rescues were not all black and white, and would look at the whole picture instead of shutting people off before they ever applied.

I just met a guy who is an officer here at the Golden Retriever club. He was telling me about his rescue golden. He was on a list to buy a puppy from a breeder, when he heard this rescue had this dog available. They have no idea how old she is, but she is in her senior years. This rescue had a qualification that adopters had to have a fence, well he did not have one. He went and met the dog, and took the dog for a walk, and fell in love with her. He told them he needed to think about it for a couple days, because it was not his plan to rescue this time around. Well, he went back and adopted her. He asked how come they didn't care that he didn't have a fence, and they told him when they saw the two of them together, they just knew they belonged together. ( Of course he had also a history of two other goldens. ) He has had this dog for two years, and he is crazy about her.

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Wow! Serious? This whole thread was started because of one of my posts. Now I come back and tell of MY EXPERIENCE it is no longer up to the forums standards? Why wasn't it stopped before you knew I would come back to explain my posts? If this isn't bias I don't know what is.

There are other members that have had the same experience but mine is just speculation. Wow. Amazing!

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Thanks! I agree!

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The purpose of the reminder is because we only have one side to the story. There is no bias when we have one side. The "speculation" is about any reasons on the side of the rescue. You do not know the reasons behind the rescue's decision and neither does BayBeams. It is all, as I said, speculation. If you wanted to continue the discussion of that particular dog with BayBeams, I still suggest it be taken to PM. It cannot end up anywhere good in a public forum. Perhaps a reminder to read and take a breath before we react is also in order.

I think it is fine to generally discuss your experiences but going back and forth in a thread with a member who also volunteers with the rescue has the potential to end up in a very bad place, particularly if more people start chiming in. There is nothing wrong with discussing your personal experiences and no one said they were irrelevant or not up to forum standards. Again, please read what people write before reacting.

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Isn't everyone's experience posted on here speculation? However you personally pointed me out. Baybeams posts were very helpful.

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That is because there was a back and forth with a volunteer for the rescue. It has happened before on this forum (before I was a moderator) where things turned very ugly very quickly when prospective adopters and rescue volunteers go to battle over an adoption that did not end up happening. This was for your benefit as well as the rescue...there is no bias here. The purpose was to protect of your personal/confidential information should other people (ie new members to the forum who are directed to the thread with knowledge of your prospective adoption, which is what happened in the previous thread I referred to) decide to chime in with information.

Perhaps my use of "berating" was not a good word choice, so I apologize. I was typing quickly and the purpose behind my post may not have immediately been clear.

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