Logo: Araki The X Factor - known as "Dooby Doo"
Taken from an article by Penny Aims on Examiner.com:
If you have tried to adopt a dog, you know what I'm talking about. Dog Rescues - so many in-depth, personal questions; just to adopt a dog! For goodness sake - do they really need all of that information?
After all - aren't these homeless dogs? Wouldn't any owner be better than being a dog, lamenting in rescue? Than being homeless??
Nope - as a matter of fact, those questions and in-depth applications have a purpose. The individuals who run these rescues have seen quite a bit of dog stuff in their day. They have seen the circumstances that brought these dogs into rescue in the first place.
There are a few "real" cases where a dog needs the help of a rescue because the owner has died or fallen gravely ill (please see the article "cancer leaves 2 dogs without an owner"), but the majority of dogs in rescues are there because they had owners who did things all wrong.
So, why does the application ask the names and ages of those in the household? Because they need to know if there are kids in the house that might be at risk if an inappropriate dog is placed in the home.
Why does the application ask you where the dog will be at night, or while you are away? Because many of the dogs in rescue are there because a prior owner had to get rid of them after neighbors complained about constant barking.
Why does the dog rescue care about training? Really, if it is your dog, shouldn't training (or not training) be your decision? Nope. Many of the dogs in rescues are there because nobody took the time to train them.
The dogs become unruly, hard to own and guess what? Dumped at a shelter or in a rescue. The dogs become somebody else's problem. Unfortunately, at that point, they are often out of control and require considerable work to even become adoptable.
Why should the rescue know about your prior dog-ownership? Is it really their business? Yep. If you had a couple of dogs that you got rid of after they peed in the house, or because you were having a baby, or god forbid - moving, the rescue needs to know.
You see, rescues would not function if dogs were not re-homed. There would be no need for organizations to exist if all owners kept their dogs, no matter what. If all owners altered their dogs and prevented unwanted litters of puppies. If all owners kept their dogs safely indoors, instead of out in a kennel or yard where they might bark, or even get out of a yard and possibly injure someone or something.
The questions on the application (and if you're lucky enough to get that far, those asked of you in a phone interview) have been designed to weed out the bad owners. Is the system perfect? No. Nothing is perfect. However, the situations that the rescue organizations have encountered through the years has given them a pretty good idea of what to ask in order to find exceptional homes for the dogs.
Why are exceptional homes needed? So these dogs do not end up without an owner again. So the dogs don't end up at a shelter where they might be euthanized. The rescues aren't able to take in every dog that needs a place to go. Too many dogs are in danger at the shelters.
So the next time you are looking to adopt, be prepared to complete a lengthy adoption application and to spend some time chatting on the phone with a volunteer. Don't be offended or annoyed - be thankful that those rescue-minded individuals care enough about the dogs in their care to ask the questions that need to be asked.
Rescue organizations find some phenomenal homes - amazing people are out there. That being said, so many of the dogs in rescue are amazing too. They are worth the time and effort and they deserve the exceptional home. They deserve a home that will keep them until the end of their days.
And a final note - a bad owner is not better than getting a dog "out" of rescue. Getting out of rescue, only to be left in a kennel for 10 hours a day or chained in a yard is not better than sitting in rescue. Those "sitting" dogs will eventually get adopted and the new owner will not be keeping them in a bad situation.
What happens after I contact Independent Tibetan Terrier Rescue?
The Officer will ask you about your experience with keeping dogs, your home & family, and any other relevant factors. Once approve, this means that if a suitable dog becomes available anywhere in the country, you will be considered as a potential new home. There is no need to contact every officer, we are all aware of all dogs in the system at any given time.
How long will I have to wait?
This is a question that we can’t really answer! The waiting list is not on a chronological basis, it is operated on a ‘best match’ basis, so dogs and owners can be matched up to their individual needs. As soon as a dog comes into the system we move as quickly as possible to get him into his new home, so you may wait a while and then find everything happening within a few days.
What if I change my mind, or find a dog elsewhere?
If you no longer wish to be considered for a dog, for any reason, please let us know. We will keep your details and will contact you if a suitable dog becomes available; it is always useful for us if you make contact on a regular basis in any case, so that we are aware of the homing options if a dog needs a home urgently.
Do you have a rescue centre where I can come and view the dogs available?
No, we don’t have a Centre for the dogs. A re-homed dog will usually come directly from its old home to the new one, via the Officer for your area.
Will I be able to see the dog before I get it?
If a suitable dog becomes available you will be contacted by the Officer who will usually have spoken to the previous owner and have all the details of the dog. It may be possible to provide you with a photo of the dog, but please remember that once a dog comes into the system it needs to be settled into its new home as quickly as possible.
What if we have problems with the dog?
Independent Tibetan Terrier Rescue Officers are experienced in matching the right dog with the right new home and will have checked the dog’s temperament and carried out a home check wherever possible. However, in the initial stages the dogs are obviously bewildered at the changes and it may take a while for them to settle in. We will aim to keep in touch with you during the first few weeks to give you advice and to help you through any problems that may arise. You may come back to us at any stage of the dog’s life for advice and information. We would never abandon a re-homed dog – we will always attempt to re-home him if you are sure that he isn’t the right one for you.
What if I turn down the first dog offered?
If for some reason you are unable to take the first dog that is offered to you, you can still remain in the system for another suitable dog, if one becomes available.
Will Independent Tibetan Terrier Rescue take the dog back if I change my mind?
We ask, please, that you be very sure that you really do want a dog before you request one from us, and that you are aware of the effect it will have on your home and family. It is very unsettling for the dog to be moved from home to home, but once he knows that you are now his family he will settle down and become a loving member of your family. But as mentioned before, we would never abandon a re-homed dog – we will always attempt to reallocate him if you are sure that he isn’t the right one for you.
Will I be able to ask questions of the previous owner?
We have found that it is preferable for contact between previous and new owner of the dog to be via our Officer, for many reasons.
The Officer asked if I am willing to make a donation. How much should that be?
We are always very grateful for donations if you are able to make one. Whilst the dog you take may well be healthy, we do sometimes have to take in a dog for some time and pay for costly veterinary treatments before he can be ready for his new owner. Anything you can give will go towards the costs of re-homing your dog, moving him between one home to another, calls between the Officer and both homes etc. Your local officer will discuss this with you - the health of the dog and your own circumstances will all be considered, so don't worry about this!
I have heard that Tibetan Terriers are anxious when left on their own?
This can be quite a common problem, particularly in the first few months until a dog is content that you will be returning home and haven’t abandoned him! If you are out all day every day, leaving a dog alone, you may need to think about whether having a dog is suitable for you. A Tibetan is a loving & affectionate dog who will be delighted when you returned and can be distraught when you leave. Some of our owners have solved this problem by having two dogs to keep each other company. A good place to look for help is www.acepet.co.uk. Acepet is a free on-line advice service & covers training information, behaviour, grooming etc.
Are Tibetan Terriers good in the car? With kids? With other Animals?
Each dog is different. Some just curl up in the car and go to sleep, others are really interested and try to look out of all the windows to see what is happening. Tibetan Terriers are generally very good with children and with other animals. They are pleasant friendly creatures who need a lot of love and affection – and they will do the same in return.
What about training?
All our re-homed dogs are different, depending on what type of home they have come from. Tibetan Terriers can be very responsive to training and they are very clean dogs. As a general rule your new dog will be house trained although he may need a little encouragement to know which spots he can use on your property.
Can we let him off the lead?
Tibetan Terriers can be notoriously cheeky when off the lead – you will need to keep an eye on him initially to determine what you can or can’t do with your new dog. Again, it may be helpful to refer to www.acepet.co.uk
Do Tibetan Terriers shed a lot of hair?
Tibetan Terriers don’t shed hair as such, so you won’t find loads of it on your furniture etc. However, they do have long hair that needs grooming to avoid it becoming matted, so you should take this into account. Even when clipped, a TT needs very regular grooming and the hair removing from his ear canal.
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