Frustration

[Newpiggiemom]

I posted a couple of days ago about trying to decide if we should adopt another dog to keep our dog company. After discussing it with the family we decided to try to introduce them and see if it works out. I contacted the officer who runs the shelter who told me that this really sweet dog has been in the shelter for 14 out of the past 16 months. He's a victim of divorce and the family getting an apartment and not being able to keep him. The officer said he takes the dog home sometimes on weekends with his family.

I asked the officer if we could try to come meet this sweet fellow this weekend through phone calls and several e-mails. He called me back because I was persistent. He told me he would call me yesterday to see if he could work it out. Of course, I have heard nothing back. I called yesterday, sent two e-mails including giving him my cell number so that he could reach me if I wasn't home. I called this morning again and left a message. I have heard nothing back.

This officer seems to care about this dog. I don't understand. I'm not asking anyone to give up a lot of time to do this. I would know if my dog was OK with him after just a few minutes.

The worst part of trying to adopt an animal is having to deal with people. This dog needs a home. I'm trying to see if I can give him one. I don't want to give up but I am not the most patient person.

Sorry for the long post, I just needed to vent I guess.

[newpiggiemommy]

I am so sorry to hear about all of trouble you are having! Maybe since he has been taking it home on the weekends his family is trying to talk him into getting it for them, and he is in the middle of a dilemma right now! Hopefully he will get back to you soon and let you know what is going on!

Good Luck! And thank your for rescuing!

[SerpentineSylph]

Originally Posted by Newpiggiemom

The worst part of trying to adopt an animal is having to deal with people.

I agree, the people sometimes do make the adopting experience unpleasant. The foster I dealt with to get Doc was wonderful, she was just a joy to deal with. But the phone interview woman... she was horrible. She called asking my fiance's mother about a cat - his mother is completely against getting another cat (they already have three) - when we were trying to adopt a guinea pig... So the woman called me up and said "She doesn't want the guinea pig. You should wait until you get a place of your own, once you're out of college and settled into your own place, and then adopt." I couldn't say anything to this woman to sway her mind, she had me in tears! My fiance called his mother, found out she was mad because she didn't want a cat, and he explained it was a guinea pig... like we told her originally, she was fine with guinea pigs. So my fiance called the woman back and told her, his mom was willing to speak with the lady from the shelter to let her know, and the woman said she didn't want to bother her anymore but that his mother and my father (???) would need to go visit the guinea pig to make sure everyone approved. We had already visited the guinea pig, who was an hour to and from, and to get my father who has no involvement in this to come down when he works ALL the time... It was stupid. The foster found out apparently, was incredibly furious at the woman's stupidity, and straightened everything out for us. We picked up Doc the following Sunday.


It can be frustrating, but it's totally worth it in the end. I'd do it all over again if I had to. Remember, we're not doing this for the people, we're doing it for the animals. Doc is a three year old boar with an unknown past, so most people would probably not be too interested. But we fell in love with him, he has the neatest personality and is the most photogenic little pig. He's full of life and love and just... I feel great having rescued him and the other animals in my life. I have some amazing companions by my side.

And that, despite the stupid people we encounter on the way, is what makes the entire process worth it.

[PigWooBus]

Wow, I had no idea these things could be so tough! I am going through the adoption process right now for the first time, and have become friends with the woman who is in charge of my application. I just realized how lucky I am! I will have to do something nice for her. I am planning on donating to the rescue.

Good luck with the dog, I am sorry to hear it's been so frustrating to you. I can only imagine.

[Newpiggiemom]

I still sit here frustrated and wonder when do I give up on this dog? After the officer had agreed to call me Friday to set up a time to meet the dog he never did. I called and left messages and sent several e-mails. I sent another e-mail yesterday to be sure the dog was still up for adoption. I did get a response that yes, he was still up for adoption. The officer stated that he had "family issues" and that is why he didn't call me Friday. I understand family issues but this is getting ridiculous. He said in his e-mail that he would call me today (yesterday, when I got the e-mail). Yet, no call. So I sit here today, wondering when to throw in the towel on this poor dog. It's so unfair. But I also don't want to keep waiting around for something that won't happen and there are so many dogs out there needing a home.

Our local humane society had to close down because there weren't any volunteers so in our area the dogs are all going to the pound. Maybe I should check with them. I don't know at this point.

[Newpiggiemom]

Another update. My children and I are going to meet our potential new adoptee this afternoon when the kids get out of school. I pray it works out. My dog, Honey will be the deciding factor. It took a lot of persistence, with calling and e-mailing but now we will know this afternoon.

It's really a shame how so many animals are killed and then the adoption process is made to be so difficult. My county is very poor and really doesn't offer animal adoptions. My neighboring county which is not a whole lot better does offer dogs from the county animal shelter and there was an article in the paper recently about owners turning in their dogs because of a change in the regulations, dogs in that county cannot be tied up any more but have to be fenced in. I called and they will not adopt out of county. Now, what kind of sense does that make? That means that all the dogs that are turned in in the county will be euthanized. Who thinks up these things?

[PigWooBus]

Good luck, I hope it goes well! What kind of dog is Honey? I like that name, it just sounds like she has to be one of those really nice, gentle dogs. And what kind of dog are you meeting this afternoon? I used to be a little scared of dogs until I met my boyfriend (and his dog) and now I have come to really like them. I am always buying her toys even though she's not my dog!

[Newpiggiemom]

Yay! Samson is here! I brought my dog, Honey (she's a yellow lab mix, mixed with what, I don't know but she weighs 85 pounds) to meet him and everything seemed to go OK. She's not thrilled about it by any means but she's tolerating him pretty well. Samson is a Newfoundland/lab mix. He's black and has gorgeous thick black fur. They're both a little older dogs--Honey just turned 6 and Samson is 71/2 to 8 years old. He was in the shelter for 14 months and noone would take him because he's older. I actually met the previous owner when I went to pick him up. It's sad because he was obviously a loved dog. The previous owner came to visit him all the time. She had to get rid of him because she moved somewhere she couldn't keep him.

The shelter told me that we could try it out for a few days and see that everything worked out OK. If not we could bring him back. (I don't see that happening). My cat is definately not happy though. She thought one dog was bad enough!

[pig-in-paradise]

Yay, congrats! I'm so glad it finally worked out, you were very patient.

It's so nice that Samson seems to have a new home where he can grow old. Love the name, I had a Westie named Samson once.

[PigWooBus]

Aww, I'm glad it worked out. Labs are nice dogs, my boyfriend's dog that I love so much is a black lab. I have heard that they behave better if there are two (at least that's what he keeps telling me). Is there any truth to that?

[Newpiggiemom]

I'll have to let you know about how they behave. My dog Honey has always been very well behaved, she's the best dog. (Except for getting in the trash if she can reach it). I had two dogs previously, years ago and they didn't behave so well. Mostly it was our fault. They stayed in a pen which is something I would never do to a dog again, and then they started figuring out how to get out. They started acting aggresively towards people and they had to go. I won't let that happen again.

So far, things are going all right. Honey is not thrilled about him being here and I don't think she understands that he's trying to play with her. Maybe she'll get it shortly.

[PigWooBus]

My boyfriend's dog, Lucy, does the trash thing too! She is the nicest, sweetest, friendliest dog, and she knows what she is supposed to do and not supposed to do, but sometimes she just makes up her own mind about things. His parents say if they've gone out somewhere, and when they come home Lucy is nowhere to be found (meaning she's hiding in the basement) they know she did something bad. She also acts like she is going to sleep in her dog bed at night, and when everyone goes to bed, she gets up and sleeps on the nice furniture instead. When she hears them waking up in the morning, she gets up and tries to act like she wasn't sleeping there. It's pretty funny.

[Newpiggiemom]

Last update on the new addition. Things are going great here. My dog is accepting him although she doesn't quite understand how to play with him. I think she thinks it's a challenge instead of him trying to play. I hope she'll get the hang of it with time. She tolerates him being close and walking with her and she is more active now that he's around. She'll follow him outside and they're laying right near each other on the floor.

The only problem has been that I found muddy footprints on my ivory quilt

[Newpiggiemom]

Things are going great here. My dog Honey is laying right on the floor next to Samson (new boy). She doesn't understand how to play with him yet but I hope that will come with time. The only problem has been the muddy footprints on my ivory quilt when I came home from church yesterday. We'll have to work on that.

[newpiggiemommy]

Did Samson come neutered or did you have to do it?
He sounds like a big dog, I bet he is beautiful! I love newfies!
I am glad all is working out between the dogs. Poor kitty though! Those are both really big dogs, that kitty must feel a little small around them! LOL

[Newpiggiemom]

Thankfully, he was already neutered. That was one thing that attracted me to him when I saw him on Petfinder, that and being housebroken. His sweet face was the biggest though, and the fact that he had been at the shelter for 14 months and was older and noone seemed to want him. He has a forever home now and my kids love him.

My cat might be small in size but she's big in attitude. She's been putting them in their place in no uncertain terms. She has been known to block my first dog Honey from passing by her to get back in the house. She will lay between the doorway and the house and Honey will just lay down and wait. It's really funny.