On the second Saturday of each month Pet Rescue North in Jacksonville, Florida takes some of their dogs over to a local branch of PetSmart in an effort to stimulate interest in adoption for some of those animals in their care. One of the few ways in my all-too-limited schedule I am able to help this organization is to assist in the transportation and showing of the dogs during these events. Part of the duties, in addition to organizing this meet and greet, is to explain the adoption rules and requirements. One rule more than any other causes upset, indignation and tears . . . the organization will not adopt to homes containing children under seven years old!
I can understand the negative reactions upon hearing this—I have been around dogs almost all my life and many of my most important relationships with dogs occurred when I was very young. I have witnessed potential adopters on the cell phone almost screaming at the shelter’s director about how their child is in the store playing happily with a dog, about how the child and the dog appear to be getting along brilliantly, and about how their child would never do anything to hurt an animal. However, I thought I would take a moment to explain such rules, rules that are not that unusual for true no-kill shelters.
One of the more common reasons for a dog to be returned to the shelter during the trial adoption period is that the dog’s behavior has changed for the worse, especially around the children. There are many possible reasons. As the dog tries to establish its position within its new pack, it may become dominant or even aggressive toward small children. Conversely, as small children become more comfortable with a dog that seems placid or friendly they may unintentionally become too rough and the dog feels the need to protect itself. Whatever the reason, the parents cannot hand back their children so they hand back the dog. There have been many occasions where dogs that seemed to love children were returned in a terrified state. They cower or snarl whenever children are now in the vicinity.
Adoption rules for each shelter have developed through many years of experience. As a true no-kill shelter the one and only focus of the shelter is to find a forever home for animals that have already been abused or abandoned at least once in their life. This focus includes doing everything that can be done to avoid a failed placement. As I said, these dogs have generally been abused or abandoned at least once before, and a failed placement can compound or increase problems that stem from this treatment. Also, because many of the dogs are found as strays or rescued from puppy mills, other shelters that euthanize or in some cases homes that did not contain children the organization usually has very little in the way of history on the dogs. We simply cannot guarantee how they will react after an extended period in a home with small children.
So, if you see a dog that you would like to adopt and the shelter turns down your application because of rules such as this, please please please do not take offense. Try and understand the primary goal of the shelter. If you desperately want to adopt a dog . . . and I would encourage you to do so . . . and rules such as this prevent you from adopting from one shelter this does not mean that you are viewed in some way as a bad family. There are probably many shelters in your area with different rules that would be willing to adopt to you. Just remember, a dog is not a throwaway toy . . . adopting a dog is no different from adopting or raising a child!
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