kids under 12?

[11442]

Why will no rescue adopt a pug to a family with kids under 12, not matter what the circumstances.

my children are very safe around pugs and all small dogs for that, but we cannot get approved to adopt because they are under 12. My kids are gentle and we have many animals that they know how to and how NOT to play with. We own pugs now and my children never hurt them or anything. we also have very small pups fairly often that the kids know not to hurt.

Why won't rescues adopt to people with kids? i understand the risk of injury but every situation should be looked at individual right? i've been tryng to adopt for a long time and can't because of my kids ages.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

One of the issues people can have with rescue is that they need to have general rules to apply, and kids' ages is one that's easy to write and apply. There's several discussions on the board about rescues not considering individual circumstances for apartments, marital status, sexual orientation.... and kids is definitely 'one of those' issues. If you think of it from the rescue's standpoint... it's easy for a parent to say that the kids are good with dogs (and I'm not saying yours aren't) but parents see their kids through rose coloured glasses. Who knows what the kids do when mom and dad aren't watching, or what the kids' friends do? And there's the question of liability -- if a dog bites a little kid that's been teasing it, the last thing a rescue needs is a lawsuit. Even if it gets thrown out because the rescue isn't liable, that's a lot of hassle and expense for the rescue and volunteers. Or even worse, if the dog is accidentally hurt.....

I'm not saying that the thoughtless application of policy is a good thing, but I'm afraid that's the reality of it.

[11442]

Yeah just sad that people who want to help can't. I've applied for so many rescues and every time they ask the do you have kids under 12 I know I can pretty much stop right tree and not even bother. I know a lot of parents see their kids different but what about families with pets already.

I don't get why a rescue would be so anti family. Well I guess I get it but is still unfortunate.

Do they really discriminate that harshly against sex orientation, marital status and apartment dwellers? Now that really I don't get!

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Some rescues do discriminate pretty harshly, and for pretty nonsensical things.

[shaynapug]

For our rescue...it depends on the pug and its past!

[MylesyPug]

I would say most rescues look closely at the home and do it on a case-by-case basis. Most rescues will adopt to families with younger children depending on the pug and the home. I would say, knowing my many friends involved in rescue in North America, that the OVERWHELMING and primary reason no application from you would ever be considered is that you have a houseful of intact pugs and are actively and enthusiastically breeding your dogs for all the wrong reasons. You are anathema to everyone involved in Pug rescue, you are a backyard breeder.

[MylesyPug]

Some rescues do discriminate pretty harshly, and for pretty nonsensical things.

If they "discriminate" it's NEVER for "nonsensical" reasons. Their decisions are based on what is best for the dogs NOT whether or not the applicant will feel slighted. These dogs have quite often come from terrible circumstances and the rescues want to make sure the applicant can commit to love and care for the dog for it's entire life. This is about the DOG, not the applicant. Rescues are DESPERATE for good homes and would never let one slip away. Please don't bash rescues. I communicate regularly with rescue friends working at the coal-face and when yet another person bashes rescue because their application was refused and everyone jumps in to join in the bashing, rescue people become more and more despondent and wonder if it's worth it. Be thankful they discriminate! We love dogs. ALL dogs. We want those without homes not to go to ones that will treat the privilege of being an adoptive owner lightly. As mentioned, no rescue I know would ever consider a backyard breeder a suitable applicant. End of story.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

I'm sorry to disagree Mylesy, but when I hear of people not getting a dog because they are not married or are not heterosexual, when I know the people and they would make the best dog parents, it's nonsensical. I am also involved with a rescue, and have myself done a home check where I needed to raise a red flag for an otherwise excellent family. It broke my heart to do it. I am all for rescues being careful and doing a really good tight check, and screening out homes that are not appropriate for the 'right' reason but there are many stories of people not getting a dog for the 'wrong' reason and rules being applied too stringently. I'm not bashing rescue, far from it... just pointing out the occurrence of mindless application of policies without thought behind it.

[Wonka & Nilla]

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[MylesyPug]

I'm sorry to disagree Mylesy, but when I hear of people not getting a dog because they are not married or are not heterosexual, when I know the people and they would make the best dog parents, it's nonsensical. I am also involved with a rescue, and have myself done a home check where I needed to raise a red flag for an otherwise excellent family. It broke my heart to do it. I am all for rescues being careful and doing a really good tight check, and screening out homes that are not appropriate for the 'right' reason but there are many stories of people not getting a dog for the 'wrong' reason and rules being applied too stringently. I'm not bashing rescue, far from it... just pointing out the occurrence of mindless application of policies without thought behind it.

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!!!