kids under 12?

[Hellas]

Do you honestly know of a situation where a homosexual applicant has been refused because of their sexual orientation? I maybe naive, but I find that implausible in this day and age. I honestly feel anyone who makes a claim like that would more than likely have been rejected for a far more plausible reason. I know people have been refused because their lives haven't been stable enough and/or their financial situation, or even because they have unfenced swimming pools. I can't imagine any rescuers I know refusing gay people!!!

There is a whole thread about people being denied for weird reasons.

[Wonka & Nilla]

There is a whole thread about people being denied for weird reasons.

Here: Application DENIED!

[MylesyPug]

I am posting my response here rather than once again resurrecting a 5 y.o. thread. Through Facebook I know the person who made the comment about not adopting to gay people and I'm waiting for him to get back to me to elaborate. I also know dozens of people working regularly in rescue and did a mass-PM out asking their opinions on this and things that would make them reject an application. The people in these rescues are in CAnada; every corner of the U.S., from the very tip of the NE, to Florida, right up the middle and all over the west. From the ones that have responded so far every person has been appalled at the accusation of rejection due to sexual orientation and some have even said their best adoptions have sometimes been to same-sex couples. The situation of adopting to homes with children is something most treat on a case-by-case basis, but usually homes with very small children/toddlers are not seen as good fits, but once again not rejected outright. All respondents did state, however, rejecting without question homes where backyard breeding was being conducted as it goes against everything they are trying to correct in the pet world. Some even said with intact dogs they would look at it case-by-case if there was a medical reason and this was verified by a vet.

The one thing I noticed in the thread of "being rejected by rescues" was everyone was very quick to bash rescue but noone wanted to jump in and defend them. It's always about the negative, but where is discussion on the untold GOOD that is done in rescue? What would happen to the thousands of Pugs that end up in shelters, death hanging over their sad little heads, if it wasn't for the rescues stepping in? And no, they wouldn't all just be spotaneously adopted by the general public, because maybe 50% of the Pugs rescued from death row are deemed unadoptable because of various reasons, many of them minor and easily fixed. All the reputable rescues I know well and whose many stories of their charges and alumni I follow closely and donate to regularly, do not use "nonsensical" reasons for rejecting applications. They WANT forever homes; they WANT more space to take in more; they just want the homes to be permanent and loving! Seriously, they are not animal hoarders!! It really is insulting to think they don't want to adopt for "nonsensical" reasons. There may be rescues out there that are not on the same level as the ones I know well and run by loaners who are marginally loony. We know these exist.

Support rescue and be glad they exist. Donate to your local rescue and put puppy mills and backyard breeders out of business. Encourage breeding by people who do it to improve the breed by exhibiting and doing all the genetic testing and obtaining the relevant certificates, and of course breed the best examples of the breed.

Rant over!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Certainly no one is discounting the good that rescues do. I wouldn't devote so much of my life to it if it didn't do an enormous amount of good. Constructive criticism does not amount to bashing.

A good rescue does not warehouse dogs and make adopting from them so difficult and invasive of a process that good homes are turned away and dogs in need are turned away and die in shelters, are given away on craigslist by desperate owners or are forced onto other, less restrictive rescues to take up their slack.

I personally have the adoption packet for one SoCal rescue that requires a credit check, asks the potential adopter to do silly things, like agree to only feed from stainless bowls, searches in drawers and closets, etc. Needless to say they are always full......

There needs to be flexibility and reasonableness. A happy balance; assuring your animals go to good homes and giving the adoptive family a pleasant and minimally invasive experience. An overly restrictive, inflexible rescue will only create more demand for BYB puppies because getting a rescue is just too difficult and invasive.

I remeber fred campos of DFW Pug rescue told me he often got heat from individuals wanting to place restrictive rules on adopters, like no military, no small children, etc...he said when those people are saving 500 dogs a year, they can talk to him. Until then they have some catching up to do.

Take care,
Lisa

[MylesyPug]

I totally agree with you! But do you honestly know any rescue that wouldn't adopt to someone because of their sexual orientation? Do you think that is something that a group of people, dedicated to a particualr breed in rescue, would sit down at a table and decide to make policy? Come on now! And do you know any rescue that would happily adopt to someone that was the very essence of a backyard-breeder? I am sure there are rescues with some strict criteria, and some, on the face of it, may seem "nonsensical", but I am sure they were policies made by over-zealous board members with the best of intentions. I just can't believe exclusion due to sexual orientation would be one of them, unless, as one of my more witty respondents stated, it was the Westboro Baptist Church Pug Rescue and the Rev Fred Phelps was doing the adoption.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

I totally agree with you! But do you honestly know any rescue that wouldn't adopt to someone because of their sexual orientation? Do you think that is something that a group of people, dedicated to a particualr breed in rescue, would sit down at a table and decide to make policy? Come on now! And do you know any rescue that would happily adopt to someone that was the very essence of a backyard-breeder? I am sure there are rescues with some strict criteria, and some, on the face of it, may seem "nonsensical", but I am sure they were policies made by over-zealous board members with the best of intentions. I just can't believe exclusion due to sexual orientation would be one of them, unless, as one of my more witty respondents stated, it was the Westboro Baptist Church Pug Rescue and the Rev Fred Phelps was doing the adoption.

Not in California, at least none that I have heard of out here....but the bible belt may well be a different story.

There is no prticular policy that I am aware of in our rescue when it comes to breeders. I know sales of puppies is not allowed at functions. It is difficult to set policies that can say when responsible breeding stops and irresponsible breeding begins and that is subjective at best, so I would think it would be decided on a case by case basis. Unless there is a medical reason a particular animal cannot be altered all animals adopted out should be spayed/neutered so you can assure that particular animal will not become a breeder.

Take care,
Lisa

[MylesyPug]

The bible belt rescues responded in the negative on that. All of them. The line between responsible breeding done by an exhibitor to improve the breed, with all genetic certification in place and someone breeding any pug for cheap prices, without proper genetic testing and everything else, is pretty clear. Rescues easily identify the right and wrong.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Someone out to breed for profit without a deep and abiding love of the breed and their dogs, is unlikely to seek to adopt a rescue. While I may not agree with someone breeding who does not show or do all testing, I would not always say that this family is incapable of providing a loving home to an altered animal...I would need to consider the condition of their animals, how they interacted with their pets, etc. Just because I don't share someone's values does not make them bad people or abusive or neglectful pet owners. I try to set aside my personal feelings and beliefs and focus on their ability and desire to give that individual dog a good and loving home.

If you received an application for a dog from people who had horses or birds or fish and bred them, but did not breed for show....would you reject them for a dog? Even if in all ways they looked like they could love and provide for that dog?

....And i always hope that a good contact with a rescue and involvement in rescue will help to change people's minds and hearts. We cannot force people to follow us, we can simply give a good example and hope people are moved in a way to follow that example. You can change the world, but it requires a gentle and compassionate hand.

I'm sure both Louis Farrakhan and Martin Luther King, Jr. shared common goals, but which is more likely to change your mind and attitude....and the world? The most strident voices tend to turn people away, their message is lost in the delivery.....and all that gets communicated is the anger, the bitterness and the intolerance. You will never change people by alienating them.

Take care,
Lisa

[MylesyPug]

Oh good grief, 6 Beautiful Pugs! How did you elevate this to Martin Luther King and Louis Farrakhan? Earth to Lisa! Come in please! This has become like asking someone for the time and being read Stephen Hawkings "Brief History of Time" - in ancient Aramaic. I've gotta go and feed my Pugs. Good night to you and get some rest. Sounds like you need it. Good night!

[Suri]

[QUOTE[QUOTI'm sure both Louis Farrakhan and Martin Luther King, Jr. shared common goals, but which is more likely to change your mind and attitude....and the world? The most strident voices tend to turn people away, their message is lost in the delivery.....and all that gets communicated is the anger, the bitterness and the intolerance. You will never change people by alienating them.[/QUOTE]E]

Living in Virginia, it is so sad how much discrimination there still is,and don't fool yourself that it doesn't spread into all areas of society including rescues.