[PharmaDrMan]

Something I was thinking about last night.

The Animal Welfare in Albuquerque has a very large intake of animals, so they always have a large amount of animals up for adoption. Out of these animals (cats and dogs) there are rescues who will pull, which isn't a bad thing in itself.

When I was there a few weeks ago I was speaking with one of the canine kennel attendants about a litter of what appeared to be purebred Siberian Husky puppies, who were all listed as 'on hold' since they wouldn't be available for adoption for several days (they had only arrived two days prior).

There were several other purebred puppies and young dogs that were on hold or listed as adoptable as well.

The kennel attendant had quite an attitude about it when she was telling me that all of them were being pulled/adopted by rescues. She said that the rescues would adopt them from AAW for the $40 fee, which includes the spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and licensing. Then they would turn around and re-adopt those same animals out through their own agency for $100 or more.

She pointed out all of the dogs that were on hold/adopted for a rescue in the kennel area we were in. The five Sib. pups, there was a very young boston terrier/mix looking pup, two absolutely ADORABLE little pit bulls with cropped ears named Romeo and Juliet, and a couple of the toy breed/size dogs.

I can kind of get where she is coming from, I mean the rescues basically take the most highly adoptable dogs out of the shelter system. Not entirely bad, but I can agree that it isn't very 'fair' when the shelter system is paying for all of the medical procedures and the microchipping and then the rescue gains over twice the amount of money.

I don't think I put this down very clearly, lol, but I was just curious on others thoughts on situations like this.

[JosephNF]

I get what you're saying. Is animal welfare a no-kill shelter? If not then I could see this being beneficial, as long as the rescues are no-kill. If animal welfare IS a no-kill shelter, then I don't think this makes much sense. In fact, it's a little rude. The rescues should take the less adoptable animals, place them in foster care, and allow animal welfare to have space to take in more animals. Those puppies will be out of there in a matter of hours. It's the old, the 'scary', the sick animals that need to go to rescue and wait out adoption there.

[TouccuraLar]

We have a great relationship with our local Animal Control.

[PharmaDrMan]

AAW just recently became a no kill shelter.

[heennaRaf]

I work with a shelter and we have great relationships with reptuable breed rescues.

[JosephNF]

In that case I don't think other rescues should be taking advantage of them.

[PharmaDrMan]

Well, obviously there is an agreement, otherwise the AAW probably wouldn't be allowing them to pull or adopt the dogs and puppies.

Its possible it was just a disgruntled employee. I don't know the whole situation, or anything about it other than what the kennel attendant told me, lol.

[heennaRaf]

It is possible maybe she has a relationship with those dogs and wants to see them go to homes herself? But I think it's much better sending them to rescues that have homes lined up than them just sitting there.

I don't mind sending our dogs to a reptuable breed rescue, of course I have a bond with the dogs but I want what's best for them and we get updates all the time.

[Edisesyethisp]

I can completely understand what you are saying. They way I see it is if they left the huskies they would be adopted anyway most likely and instead of taking them they could take some healthy,good temperament and adoptable mutts. But as Krista said they are breed rescues so they take the dogs that they like of that breed. If they have houses lined up why don't they say 'pop down to wherever as they have some nice pups'.

[JosephNF]

Well, as having experience being a kennel tech, I can personally tell you it is a miserable thankless job that pays minimum wage. I don't blame them for being disgruntled.

[heennaRaf]

I am a kennel tech right now, Liliana at my shelter but if we have potential experienced homes, we don't send them.

We had a siberian husky a few years back and he was going to go to rescue but a guy who has experience with huskies adopted him. But we have sent most of the purebreds to rescue.

[JosephNF]

Well I worked in an animal hospital, so maybe when you're doing rescue you feel more rewarded. I don't know, everywhere I've ever worked there have always been too many animals and not enough people, and when you're working 8 day weeks getting paid shit and being treated like shit it takes its toll, no matter how much you love animals. And from what I've heard of our SPCA, I'd take my old job back any time. Ugh. Baltimore just can't get itself together I guess.

[heennaRaf]

Yeah I can see the difference. I am blessed to work in an awesome shelter with a great boss and great furry co-workers. Others aren't so lucky but yes we are understaffed. I think shelters are really understaffed and some vet offices are too. Rescues usually are volunteers working together.

[Edisesyethisp]

I think if you work in a shelter you have to assume that there won't be enough staff. Where I worked it was just me most of the time with 150+ adults and pups and cats.

[heennaRaf]

I know that but I love what I do it doesn't matter if we are understaffed. I love my job hanging out with the dogs and cats all day. It's nice to get home to my own animals though if you know what I mean.

[sarasmid]

I think the big grip is that rescues take highly adoptable purebred dogs/pups and adopt them out at higher fees instead of giving the general public a chance to adopt.

I just went thru this with 3 French Bulldogs turned into my local shelter. They were going to let all go to the rescue, but in my case I was able to talk them out of one that they didn't already have a home lined up for. But before we left, more people came in and one women pitched a total fit. She said rescues are pulling the highly adoptable and then "selling" them on craigslist for $3-400.

I can see both sides. But I do think as long as it is a responsible rescue, it is better for certain breeds of dogs to go thru a reputable rescue. Shelters don't have the resources to screen potential homes and don't offer any sort help after adoption.

A lot people would adopt a Siberian Husky pup impulsively. I mean, they are adorable. But in reality, how many people are prepared for an active, high prey driven, escape artist? Siberian Husky rescue is going to screen the homes and be there for when problems arise. The shelter is just going to take back an adolescent Sibe and then the rescue is going to try rehab them in most cases.

[omaculer]

Some rescues use fosters so the animals are kept in a home-like environment. I think its difficult to know what a dog is really like in a shelter unless that's what the dog has come from, a kennel or puppy mill situation, maybe. In the case of the group I foster for, they only pull dogs that are facing the needle. The local shelter contacts rescue groups when a "kill day" comes up (they are running out of room) or if they have a purebred dog they have difficulty placing.

[RicardoHun]

I can see why in some cases a shelter would have poor relations with a rescue/s. Here there is one large municipal shelter for 3 cities. An overload of dogs and cats and there are a couple rescues that do everything they can do to make the shelter look bad in the media and to the public. This shelter does the best they can with what they have, the director would love to have a better system but the 3 cities that contract with them do not give them enough money for things. The rescues that should work with them, do to a point but then they turn around and bad mouth them at every chance they get.

The rescue that does it the worst will pull a dog from the shelter either for a $40 fee or free sometimes and then they turn around and try to adopt it out for $300 or more. Thankfully this rescue usaully deals with the Moses Lake shelter or owner surrenders, or gets their adoptees off craigslist ads.

I understand shelters frustrations with some rescues. It's just like breeders there are bad ones and good ones.

Courtney

[tipoketpu]

I am not 100% sure if this is true but I was told once that some shelters....specifically Miami/Dade in this case that if a dog has an application on it that person takes priority over a rescue. The pull fee for a rescue here is only $10, and the dog is speutered, chipped and vaccinated.