Adoption question...

[tall grass pugs]

The small boned fawn pug resident had her one and only professional nail trim for the four paw one price special of $236. Since then it has been lurk, pounce, brandish clipper, and back away thwarted.

[tall grass pugs]

You just have to contact SEPRA, former home of the world famous Higgins. Higgins entered rescue with no more life in him than a stuffed deer head. His foster mother reported his every progress, from moribund on arrival to climbing the back porch steps. Just as we world wide cheered his every progress, SEPRA underwrote his vet bills without a second thought. Higgins, his ancient body, now robust for his age graduated to a forever home. His foster mother who adored his scrawny self wrote that she wept tears as he walked to his new mother. It is forever recorded that Higgins didn't even turn his head to say goodbye. SEPRA recently was reported to have temporarily closed their doors to new intake. They are good people, and would just love you and Tilly to death.

[luluthepug]

Russ -

To play the devil's advocate here - YOU know you are a good pug person - but the rescue asking you for references and wanting to do a home visit doesn't. I think the home visits, references, etc are really for the protection of that rescue pug - to secure that illusive "forever" home for them once and for all (and not be returned, or sold on Craigslist a month later). You and all of us know that owning a dog - no less a pug - is no small undertaking. I think their due diligence is necessary to be sure that the dog is a good match for someone, and that someone is a good match for the dog. It can take several weeks for a good rescue to process an application - I think that is not a bad thing as it removes that "let's get a pug, they are soooo cute" adopter who might not really understand what they are getting into.

In our area, the all-breed rescues and the pug rescues have "events" where you can meet a dog. I know that the pug rescues ask you to fill out an application prior to going so their "due diligence" is done when you meet the dog. But I think going to the foster's home - after going through the application process is a better way.

As Ellen has done, I urge you to contact SERPA - have you looked at their pugs? Some very cute faces out there, with sad stories. Getting a home with you and Mz. Tilly would be like winning the pug lottery for them!

Kara

[TNPUGMOMOF2]

I would not let my foster go to a home if there was not a home check done by someone I trusted. I have learned a lot from a homecheck that would have never been uncovered from a application. I want to see that the people are who they say they are and are where they say they live, etc. All breed rescues are even more overwhelmed than pug rescues and I think you need to be patient and work with their system. Not saying all rescues are good, personally I think SEPRA and MAPR are great, but since I have fostered for both, I can tell you neither will allow an adoption without a home visit.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

I have done home visits for UMWPR, and I raised a red flag on one family who had not grieved the loss of their dear departed pug, and I worried that the new pug would be a poor replacement no matter how fantastic he was. UMWPR decided to take a chance on the family, and it has worked out very well. However, there is a close follow up with the family to make sure there are no problems. I didn't mind the home visit for Leto either, it was more a get-to-know-you session than anything, giving info on the rescue organization, and asking how we would deal with Leto's quirks and would we be willing to carpet stairs if necessary given his handicap. I think the home visit would be objectionable only if you had something to hide, if the rescue uses it as a session to identify future problems, and not pick apart whether or not you have the ideal fencing in the yard (unless you've asked for a dog that's a real digger, then that would be very appropriate).

As for personal references, I worry about the validity and how they are received by rescues. It's easy to give a name for someone that will give you a glowing recommendation. On the other hand, the personal reference may not know some things. I gave a recommendation for someone that wanted to adopt a dog, and as it turned out the person started having panic attacks after the dog's arrival and the dog had to be given back. Now I fear if I give a reference for a dog from the same organization it will be rejected out of hand, because I didn't know my friend was having PTSD after her cat had been accidentally poisoned a couple of months before when it was out on the prowl ... she was panicking because she was thinking the same thing would happen to the dog even though it was never out unattended.

And the vet check... I don't know what that's supposed to prove. I have a dear friend that will soon be adopting a dog. She was in California for most of her life, then in Sweden for her postdoc. She has been in Montreal, petless, for a year. She will probably be rejected by a couple of local rescue organizations because she does not have a relationship with a vet, but how are you supposed to get one if you've never lived in the country and have never been in a position to have a pet before??? Are you supposed to buy your first pet, so you can adopt in the future? But the rescues frown on buying...?

That's my 2 cents worth. I agree that some rescues are shooting themselves in the foot and not giving people a chance. However, they have to deal with dogs being returned. Likely the rules were made to address problems that were encountered, and then get carried out blindly and rigidly.

[CSollers]

We just adopted from MAPR. Yes, you have to jump through some hoops but ALL the people I dealt with were pleasant and I could tell their only concern was for the Pugs best interest.

[Pugpillow]

For those who are slagging rescues that do due diligence. do you seriously think that we keep the dogs unadopted unadopted longer than we have to? And have to turn away other intakes? All so we can spend more money on them and have to raise more fund-raising to cover our costs? Seriously?

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people in the world who apply to adopt pugs. There are also well-meaning people who haven't thought through the long-term effects of adoption. What we don't want to see is dogs recycled through rescue/shelters because each time they are, they suffer more trauma.

Get a grip, folks. The enemy is not rescue organizations trying to do a good job.

[GracieandOscar]

I just rescued this summer, we had to do it all. Application, home visit, vet reference, personal reference and a 6 hour drive to pick up. It was all worth it. I love my little Oscar more than I could ever say. I was quite cautious with the home visit, turned out to be a very nice lady: ) I would be iffy on exposing my pugs to a hot day, but you would be the best judge of safety for your furbabies. Best of luck with the process!