Florida man says pet adoption agency rejected him because of his age

[Zephie]

An elderly Englewood, Florida man who tried to adopt two Chihuahua puppies from an animal rescue facility was told he could not because of his age.

Ward Twining, 81, says he wanted to adopt two 11-month-old Chihuahuas from the nonprofit Rescued Hearts animal shelter in Port Charlotte.

The dogs had been neutered and were ready to go home with Twining until the group learned his age. A Rescued Hearts member says their policy prohibits seniors from adopting younger animals.

Phil Snyder, executive director of the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, said many rescue facilities have a policy on not allowing the elderly to adopt puppies or kittens.

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2038349.shtml?cat=565

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This is asinine. I know this area well, nearly everyone is on the older end of the spectrum. I'm wondering who they're expecting to adopt these dogs, it's not exactly densely populated with young families.

[walldude]

1. I had to jump through more hoops to adopt a cat than I did

to have a child. No exaggeration.

[greytdemocrat]

6. And try adopting a greyhound,

Some of the groups are nutz with rules. I honestly believe these people mean well but sometimes...

[kas125]

19. Some of those greyhound people are truly insane. What

they did to my dying mother, who had adopted three greys, was simply unconscionable. She had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer and lived for eleven weeks after the diagnosis. Four of those weeks were spent crying over those dogs because the people she was supposed to surrender them back to if she couldn't care for them anymore would not come to get them. She had me call them, she packed all their bowls, leashes, toys, ect. and had them in a big box on the dining room table. Every time she looked at it, she'd start sobbing and asking if I thought "her girls" would be okay without her. The cancer had spread to her brain and she had it in her head that she was supposed to stay away from the dogs because of the chemo, she said her doctor told her to keep them away from her. She was keeping them in a room with the door closed. For four weeks they were in the back room and mom cried every time she thought about them or saw their stuff and she just couldn't stand it. I called those people a dozen times and begged them to come and pick up their dogs and they finally admitted that they hadn't done it yet because they didn't have a place for them and they didn't want to put them in a kennel.

We finally called another greyhound organization who said they'd pick them up the same day and that their director would keep them herself so they could stay together for the rest of their lives. I called the first group to tell them that they had until four o'clock to come if they wanted their dogs back and they threatened to sue me! I told the woman to go ahead and try since I hadn't signed her stupid contract and that it was Greyhound Guardians who broke the contract by not coming to get the dogs. They did come to get them that day and were very nasty when they did. I was not at all heartbroken to find out that a year or two later their group fell apart and no longer exists.

I'll take just about any dog I come across who needs a home, but I will never adopt a greyhound!

[freshwest]

35. What a horrible bunch, and I feel for you, your mom and the dogs.

I had a similiar crisis situation over twenty years ago, the cruelty from a certain 'animal rights' shelter was hideous. I won't go into all the deatails because it still hurts, especially the pain of having to give up my family's beloved animals. Fortunately, our life stabilized and I had many pets that I loved and cared for and were part of my family all their lives in next two decades.

Unfortunately, the 'animal rights' shelter staff were extremely abusive and condemning without asking one fact. It was an entire group and we were in shock at their behavior. While I understand the stress of their jobs, it was pure hatred. They swore at us and said they would probably put our pets to sleep. We left in tears.

Folks like this give animal lovers a bad name. There are people who don't comprehend the incredible gift they have when they have the chance to have an animal in their life, that just abuse them or discard them like toys.

Those people don't go to the kind of effort that you and your mother did for these dogs. It's a shame that there are actually going to get more of these unfortunate victims of thoughtless and cruel gambling operations killed by acting this way.

When you say that you'd never adopt one again, I'm sure you don't mean the breed itself, but the group of control freaks that surround the trade itself.

My best wishes to you, I really feel for your poor mom who couldn't have any peace at the end of her life because of this!

[kas125]

46. Well, I have nothing against the breed, they're sweet and

loving and very lazy dogs, but the rules they come with are too much for me. They have to go to a special vet who charges three times what my vet does (I never did figure out why a regular vet can't care for a grey, but that was the rule), they have to have special diets, and it just seemed as if the dogs weren't really mom and dad's, they still belonged to the greyhound group. Plus, I always have had a thing for big, furry dogs. I adopted a golden retriever/husky mix two years ago. And I am expecting a call from the local animal control shelter tomorrow because I'm going to adopt a deaf dog who seems to be a collie/shepherd mix. I'm sure that if I ran across a greyhound who needed me, I'd take it but I don't think I'll be searching for one anytime soon.

And I'm very sorry the shelter people were so horrible to you and your family. You'd think that someone in that business would have a heart, but some of them only seem to care about dogs, not people.

[northernlights]

52. maybe instead of calling the nasty group that one last time

you should have simply let the 2nd group that promised to keep the dogs together for life take them. Why did you even give the nasty group another chance/ultimatum to come get dogs they clearly didn't want or care about?

While it's good that their group fell apart, did you ever wonder what that meant for the dogs?

I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset you further about this, but once the group revealed how nasty they were, why in the world did you let them take those dogs when you had a chance to get them to a nicer home? As you wrote yourself, it's not as if they could sue you or your
mother.

[kas125]

72. They weren't mine to decide. Believe me, if it had been up

to me, I'd have let the other group take them. It was my mother, who was always one for following the rules who insisted that we give them one more chance because she'd signed a contract saying that she was to give the dogs back to them if she couldn't take them. If your mom was in the shape my mom was in then, you'd have done every single thing she asked, too; I'd bet on it. They were never, ever nasty to dogs, only to people, lol. They worshiped those dogs. In fact, I told the leader of that group that I felt very sorry for her children if she has any and her parents as they age, because she didn't understand that sometimes people have to come first. There are two other greyhound rescues in the area and another two hours away from here, I don't think any dogs suffered because their group disbanded. And it's been seven years, so you didn't upset me all. Besides, what the pastor of mom and dad's church did to her was worse than the greyhound people. THAT I am still furious about seven years later.

[rdking647]

64. dont lump all resuces in with one bad group

some greyhound rescues do a great job. like all groups there are good ones and bad ones

[kas125]

74. This one was great for the dogs, just not at all good with

the people. I don't think all greyhound rescues are bad, I know that there are good ones. But I don't want to have someone breathing down my neck telling me what I can and can't do with my dogs, what they have to eat, and most especially what vet to use. I love my vet and have been going to him for 25 years. No thanks, I'll keep getting my dogs from the local no-kill shelter where they're just happy to have someone love the dogs without all the rules.

[spin]

33. I adopted a cat without going through any hoops ...

a young girl who lives near us brought a tiny kitten to our home. She said that her father found it in the engine compartment of his car and was going to kill it. This kitten was so small it would fit in my hand.

We made an effort to care for it and provided a place for it to stay outside. I named the kitten Grim as that is what I felt his chances of survival looked like.

I live with my son in law and daughter in a big old home that was once a hotel. My son in law basically hates cats and we had three dogs in the house, two Boston Terriers and a young Rottweiller. The kitten would play with the dogs and I remember one time the Rottweiller was carrying him around in his mouth.

My daughter talked my son in law into letting me have a cat in the house. We took Grim to a vet and he checked out as healthy so we had him neutered.

I believe he has a feral heritage as he is extremely intelligent but very wary of any strangers. He's my best friend and very loving to me but most people can't get near him.

[abelenkpe]

2. Was going to adopt a kitten a few years ago

But was turned down because I had a one year old. Many places don't want animals with young children either.

[flvegan]

3. I can understand their stance.

Don't know that I agree with it, but I know a number of animal adoption agencies have a policy like this.

[InvisibleTouch]

7. I can understand it too, even though it's sad for the man.

I've had puppies come back to me from elderly owners who became ill and could no longer care for them, and then had to go back through the whole process of placing an adult dog. We were still lucky, because at least there was the means for them to come back to me. What happens if an elderly owner passes away, and none of the survivors know what to do with the dog? They could end up in a shelter, possibly to die there. I don't know that I agree with a blanket policy of "No adoptions above a certain age," because it's a shame to turn down good homes, plus pets add so much to people's lives - but I would want to find out what provisions there are for the dog in the event of the owner's death or long-term hospitalization.

[tblue37]

16. When I adopted one of my cats from a rescue society 5 years ago,

they had me sign an agreement (which I willingly did, of course) that if for any reason I wan no longer able to care for my kitty, it would be returned to them so they could make sure she was well-placed. Not only did I agree to that--I also asked if my other cats could go to them, too, in hopes of being placed together. I send donations to them, because I want to help them stay solvent so that if anything ever happens to me, they will be able to take care of my babies and find homes for them.

I am not that old--I was just 55 when I adopted that particular cat--but things can happen. You can get sick, get into an accident, or simply die. All my friends and family know that if something happens to me, my cats go to that rescue society.

When I was supposed to have major surgery a few years ago, I wrote out a check for $1000 to the rescue society and hid it in a drawer. I told my son and daughter and my best friend about it, and said that if I died during surgery, the cats and the money were to go to the rescue society. As it happened, I was not able to have the surgery after all, so I tore up the check, but if I had had the surgery and died, my cats would have been cared for and placed.

Neither of my kids and none of my other friends and relatives would be able to take proper care of my cats, and I would rather have them go to someone who would love them the way I do--and preferably together. I am just glad the rescue society is willing to take not just the one I adopted from them, but the other two as well. (I do have 4 cats, but the 18-year-old is not likely to outlive me. I doubt the other ones will either, but they could.)

(BTW, I am now 60, and my youngest cat is 8 months old.)

[bullwinkle428]

39. A great cat adoption agency out of WI encourages senior citizens

to adopt mature kitties, which makes tons of sense - you don't want to have to re-place the animal once their owner is gone.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. Totally valid. Sorry.Those dogs can live like 20 years.

It sounds like there is a perfectly good explanation for this.
Last I heard there were a lot of chiwawas ( I'm not even going to try to spell it right) because of the whole paris hilton fad. If you want a chiwawa, a search will most likely reveal an oversupply of adult or adolescent dogs.
Lets also not forget that dogs have needs. They need daily walks and mental stimulation. When the owner is 90 or 100 years old, if they make it that long what are the odds they are going to be able to meet these needs?

[arcane1]

17. Indeed.

I'll presumably be in my late 40's when I finally lose my cat. Getting another one would mean it would turn 18 or so when I'm in my 60's, and may have my own medical needs and expenses to deal with. Who knows if I could handle the needs of two? It sucks, but it's true.

With some added disclaimers, and shared responsibility, I could see it being a very good thing to allow people in their 80's to adopt pets. I can easily see me wanting one in my life at that age, but I would want the security of knowing it is cared for if I cannot do it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

22. Well you shouldn't be too decrepit in your 60's! I think owning a cat would be okay.

Owning a dog at age 80 is ok too but a puppy, let alone one that is a very long lived breed... what were to happen if the shelter OK'd this and then the owner went into a nursing home 10 years from now at age 91. The dog, then age 10, a senior by all counts, end up in a shelter again. This time not a playful little puppy but an old grouchy, probably under-socialized chiwawa. Not as easy of a sell.

[arcane1]

36. Exactly

If I'm in that situation, I would LOVE it if some group brought pets over to stay with me sometimes, but I could not assume ownership if I had any reason to think I could not handle their expenses in late life.

[Jack Sprat]

75. I wonder if it would be a strain on the animal

if they could be fostered by a set of 6 seniors, who could share them among themselves until they fell into bad health.

[RebelOne]

25. You are right. Chihuahuas have a long life span.

I have a 3-year-old Chihuahua that I have had since she was 6 weeks old. I am now 72 and I am afraid that that little doggie will outlive me. Fortunately, she was given to me by my son who is a breeder. So should anything happen to me, she will be taken care of.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. When my parents adopted their little Mutt Man

I had to write a letter to the rescue saying I would accept responsibility for the dog (which I do sincerely) if they pass away during his lifespan. At that time they were in their mid-70's.

[michaz]

8. Many shelters try to pair up Senior dogs with Senior citizens. n/t

[Wilms]

9. I just wondered about that.

Thanks for the post.

[BillyJack]

23. Yes, I was thinking the same thing.....perhaps they would let the man

adopt a senior pet - they need homes too and are (probably) harder to place. I'd bet that there are a lot of really great older dogs out there that need a good home ~ especially in Florida.

[housewolf]

10. When I got a 10 month old pup last year, I seriously considered

the issue of my mortality. Being on the "plus" side of 60, getting a young dog caused me quite a bit of back-and-forth conversation with myself. Puppies are so energetic and require so much training, plus there's the fear that they'll be under-foot and cause a fall. Many home injuries are caused by people falling/tripping over their pets.

It's something seniors should seriouslly consider, but I'm not sure there should be blanket rules about it.

[Mnemosyne]

15. I went through a window face first tripping on one of my kitties a few years back.

I was so lucky, tiny scratches only, not one puncture. I put in safety glass.

Is that your puppy in your avatar? Such a sweet little thing! :loveya: Dogs are pure hope, aren't they?

[Warpy]

11. When the alternative is euthanasia,

I suspect he'll be allowed to take the dogs home.

81 and in good health doesn't seem like much of a problem for dogs. It's probably a bigger problem for cats that have an average lifespan of 17 years in captivity. The dog lifespan varies by breed and is quite a bit shorter.

I know this is probably my last cat and she'll be old enough to vote in June. If I crack at some point and need to have another kitty around, I'll be looking for an elderly cat on death row with few prospects.

[arcane1]

18. My cat turns 18 in May :)

and in June I turn 44. I totally relate.

[rdking647]

57. puppies are easy to place

i have volunteered in shelters for years. puppies,especially small dog puppies are easy to adopt out. Its the big dogs that are much harder to adopt.

also in general the smaller the dog breed the longer the life span. great danes 6-7 yrs is average,chi's 15 years plus is average

[HockeyMom]

12. I'm 62 and just adopted two kittens

from a rescue shelter in Florida. Ok, I did tell them that I have two grown daughters who have shelter cats. However, my daughters live 1,000 miles away.

I also told them that our two indoor cats, aged 14 and 20, recently had to be put down because of advanced age illness. They were quite amazed that our boy had lived to be 20 years old. He was only 6 years younger than my daughter.

No, they didn't given me a hard time adopting brother and sister littermate kittens.

[dana_b]

28. 62? you got years and years to go though

81 and puppies? That could be a problem - although if this gentleman had younger family/friends around who could take the dogs in the case of his death, I don't see a problem.

[HockeyMom]

50. My Mom had a 5 year old cat when she was 74

She was dying. Before she went into the hospital, she not only made out her living will, POA, funeral arrangements, but she also arranged for a neighbor to adopt her cat and spelled out in specifics how she wanted him to be treated, down to his special prescription diet.

[footinmouth]

13. Puppies can be quite a handful

They need constant supervision and lots of training. It would be especially tough to get them at 11 months of age if they've had no training. I was 58 when we got our 6 week old Golden Retriever and it was tough going. I was wishing I was 35 again. Seniors can be wonderful pet owners, but an older dog would have been a better fit for this man.

[Shagbark Hickory]

62. A SIX week old puppy?! Did you adopt or was this from a breeder?

[freshwest]

14. The solution is to adopt a policy like the place I had to turn my cat over did.

He was a rescue cat passed to me by a friend who rescued him first. Then my rental disappeared because of the owner's family conflicts and we had to go. My next place didn't allow pets, period.

I found a great place where they let me keep track of what was happening and I paid for them to keep him there until he found a home. They called me a few days later and said they'd done a blood test and he was positive for feline leukemia. I worried they'd want to put him down, although he was very healthy.

They said, no, they'd put him on the list with animals that might not live their full lives, were older, had big health problems, etc. About a few week later, they called me when they found his 'forever home,' as they alled it. They found an older couple to adopt him, since they figured he might pass on before they did.

That's what this gentleman should have asked for if he'd known, an old animal who needed a home. Not sure why he felt he needed puppies. If he goes for a rescue pet who is old or has health problems, he should have no problem getting a pet.

[Shagbark Hickory]

27. Yes! A win-win for all.

A hard to adopt pet with health problems gets adopted, the owner gets companionship. It makes much better sense.

[Moondog]

20. ~

[Moondog]

21. ~

[Shagbark Hickory]

24. This was about a puppy. For a breed that will outlive the owner.

And end up in a shelter once again at an older, much less adoptable age.

[Moondog]

32. Yes,

I understand.

(And apparently I changed my mind about my post as you were writing a response. My apologies - I was not trying to be rude. I just decided not to leave a post standing that contained that much personal information.)

[Shagbark Hickory]

44. Don't sweat it. We've all been there before,

I will grant you that many of the adoption groups are too over the top. In this area some of them go to your home and inspect it etc. The public shelters OTOH, possibly too lax in my opinion. If this particular agency wouldn't adopt any pet to this person solely because of their age even if they had the means to provide the dog what it needed, I would not be supportive of that.

[Codeine]

26. Makes sense, especially with Chihuahuas.

They are often difficult to housetrain and can very rapidly become one-person dogs.

[catenary]

29. I'm sorry, but as a 'senior' citizen myself I agree with the policy.

I'm 69 and have determined the adopted pets we already have now will be the last young ones we will ever take in. (Not that we wouldn't give a home to an older doggie or kitty that happens along, though)

[Bluebear]

31. The man has no heirs who would take his dogs?

Do we know?

[catenary]

34. I suppose the local animal control...? Where we live there isn't any so we make

'prior' arrangements even without heirs. Not everyone does, though...it's not unusual to find pets that died because their 'owners' had done so before. It's terribly sad.

[lukasahero]

38. Heck, I'm 47 and I know my dog will be my last "pup"

I will adopt older dogs when Bella is no longer with me but that should be 15 years from now - too late for another puppy.

I'm looking forward to spending my days with old dogs at that point.

Oh - and hey - Welcome to DU!

[catenary]

45. You're the same age as my S.O. we have been together since July 1981

when he was just 18, we're sneaking up on 30 years (eek!) For the most part, humans are some of our least favorite animals :D

[DeadEyeDyck]

65. Oh come now

47 ain't nothing. Rarely do dogs live to 20 but they are the best friends a senior can have. No one should be without one.

[lukasahero]

77. I didn't say I'd be w/o a dog

I said I wouldn't have another puppy.

[HockeyMom]

30. Cockatoos life span is 40 to 60 years

So if you get one in your 30s, odds are it will outlive you. People write wills leaving their birds to someone.

[Auntie Bush]

37. I knew a couple of elderly ladies who owned a pair of Schnauzers

Their will stated that if they both died before their dogs...that the dogs would be euthanized...and they were. :( They were afraid no one else could give them as nice a home and as much love as they had. They were also afraid they might be adopted by someone who might abuse them. I felt so sorry for those dogs! Thank goodness more people don't think like this. Makes me sad to recall it.

[a la izquierda]

49. Jeez...

My husband has a few clients, one couple being a bit older. They've written into their will that my husband will take their dog if something happens to them. He's assured them that even if we live in Washington state (we live in Oklahoma now), all somebody has to do is call him and he'll come for the dog.
Good grief, putting one's dogs to sleep when they die. Yikes.

[rdking647]

67. our pets are in our will

our will states that in the case both my wife and i die that certain shelter will take all of our pets and adopt them out. In return we will leave the shelter the bulk of our estate.

[a la izquierda]

68. that's freakin' awesome!

good on you!:toast:

[rdking647]

69. our pets ARE our kids.

[a la izquierda]

Ours too.

I'll probably never have human children, unless I move to Europe or Canada, where they can gain other citizenship and, for the love of god, health benefits.

My husband is patiently waiting for me to have a job where we'll stay for a long time- he wants to start a non-profit rescue center.

[a la izquierda]

78. Ours too.

I'll probably never have human children, unless I move to Europe or Canada, where they can gain other citizenship and, for the love of god, health benefits.

My husband is patiently waiting for me to have a job where we'll stay for a long time- he wants to start a non-profit rescue center.

[Auntie Bush]

71. You're the kind of wonderful people I wish the world was made of.

[Shagbark Hickory]

58. I've heard of this happening too. Get this... "because they will be too sad without me"

Very sad.

[Liquorice]

40. The reason this is wrong is because nobody knows how long anyone

else might live. That man could live to be 100, and a younger person could adopt a puppy and become deathly ill the next day. The people at the shelter cannot predict such things. Also, having a dog or cat is a great comfort for many people, and can even lengthen a person's life by giving them joy and companionship.

Of course if the man was clearly very ill or had obvious dementia, for example, that would be a different issue. But that would apply to a person of any age wishing to adopt.

[laundry_queen]

70. I somewhat agree.

My grandfather was nearly 90 when him and my grandmother got a new puppy (large breed). When my grandmother died a few years ago, my grandfather (then 98) had to go into a home. My uncle took the dog, who was already showing signs of age. Last time I saw the dog, last summer, he was 12 yrs old and in horrible shape (my uncle selfishly does not want to have him put down). My grandfather is still going, at 101.5.
So, the 'somewhat' to me means that so long as he has someone lined up to take the dog once he dies, I don't see a problem with it. My grandparents, despite their age, really had no problems training the dog, he was a very well behaved pup.

[DemocratAholic]

41. If he wanted to adopt a human baby would it be okay?

If this was a story about an 81-year-old who wanted to adopt a baby, I don't think anyone would be arguing that was a reasonable idea.
The people who work in animal shelters are very well aware of what happens to pets after they are adopted by people who do not have long to live. They are eventually returned to the shelter...older...often with behavioral problems...and essentially un-adoptable.

It's not only a question of living long enough to care for the pet, it is also a question of being sufficiently healthy to care for one. Dogs, especially, require a lot of time and energy. They need to be walked 3 times a day to make poop and pee, and they need EXERCISE. Caring for a dog is a big job!

People who do not have 20-30 good years left should not adopt a pet. Life is unpredictable enough, there are many pets that are homeless because of unforeseen circumstances. This is a foreseeable problem, and it is not fair to an animal to place them in a home with someone who is unlikely to be able to care for them for animal's entire life.

[Raine]

42. I adopted a Standard Poodle from their breed rescue group

and they had all kinds of requirements. They even came out and checked to make sure my yard was fenced wanted know where the dog would go if me and my boyfriend split up. The dog had to wear two tags theirs and mine and they told me if the dog ever got lose and they were notified they would take the dog and keep it and not return him to me. I had to sign a contract agreeing to all this plus pay $200.00 to them to adopt the dog. After all that they decided I would make a good pet parent and I got my dog. I had him for 16 years until he died of natural causes.

[Shagbark Hickory]

59. A lot of that is over the top and unreasonable IMHO. This OTOH, is not.

[FLPanhandle]

43. So they won't let him adopt because of his life expectancy?

I can see their side.

Of course then maybe they shouldn't let smokers, motorcycle riders, or skydivers adopt animals either...

[Auntie Bush]

47. Good point! Add alcoholics to that list.

They could likely die in an accident.

[Shagbark Hickory]

55. Actually they shouldn't adopt any pets to an alcoholic, no.

Motorcycle riders and skydivers isn't as risky as one might think.

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. Add anyone to that list. You could get hit by a bus/falling rock/piano

tomorrow.

[DemocratAholic]

48. if you disagree with this shelter's policy

anyone is more than welcome to start their own animal rescue shelter...
and then you can place puppies with all the senior citizens you want.
i suggest you install a revolving door, because the pets will be returned soon after they are placed.
and make sure you have lots of room for all the un-adoptable pets that are going to be returned with behavioral problems after living with pet owners who were not capable of caring for them.

i find it really strange that people are questioning this policy of an animal shelter, as if they had put this policy in place to be mean to senior citizens or something. the sole reason for the policy is because it is in the best interest of the animals, and they don't want animals returned to the shelter, in worse condition than they left...and completely un-adoptable...thus leaving the shelter in the position of having to care for the animal for it's entire life, or worse, having to put it to sleep.

before you open your mouth, think about it. or better yet, go and volunteer at a shelter, and see what they have to deal with.
the animals are at the SHELTER because people couldn't care for them, or didn't want them anymore.
my goodness, anyone is welcome to go and buy a pet at a pet store if you want a pet. it's not like a shelter is the only place you can get one. but you certainly shouldn't expect a SHELTER to be placing animals with people who couldn't be expected to outlive the pet. that is absurd!

[ScreamingMeemie]

61. You know, before you type something, take a breath. Your response

was really rude.

[DemocratAholic]

73. if anyone thinks

that my comment was directed at them personally, or i had any intention of being rude to anyone, i apologize with utmost sincerity.

i saw this discussion trending in the direction of accusing shelters of making up some kind of unreasonable discriminatory policy, while no one was defending the incredibly difficult job they contend with. i felt compelled to come to their defense. if i didn't choose my rhetoric carefully enough to avoid offense, that was not my intent and i apologize.

[ScreamingMeemie]

76. Sorry. Yes, I took it as directed toward the OP>

Take care. Apologies for misinterpreted intent.

[rdking647]

66. exactly

[TNLib]

51. This is just sad

I see all these unwanted pets around. Strays and shelters in my area packed with animals and I know it's probably similar in Florida and yet the rescue shelters make it impossible to adopt animals. If you have children of a certain age I bet this group wouldn't let you adopt either. This is the kind of nonsense that keeps back yard breeders in business.

[Shagbark Hickory]

53. No.... irresponsible buyers keep backyard breeders in business.

Don't go blaming the shelter for that too.

[rdking647]

63. dont shop adopt

buying a dog from a breeder is stupid.
why would you pay hundreds of dollars for a "pure bred" when mutts are healthier in general and you can get an animal from a shelter for a hell of a lot less.

I volunteer at a shelter and have for years.. there are to many unwanted animals out there for people to keep breeding. I wish dog and cat breeders had to pay an exorbitant tax until the unwanted animal problem was greatly reduced.

I do what I can with my time and money but im just one person. thankfully Austin is well on its way to becoming a no kill city,having just had its first month at a 90% save rate,the definition of no kill
Id take more pets in but I have 6 and my wife has said no bringing anything else home (although a sad sack case may be dog number 4,he is currently undergoing needed medical treatment and once he is healed if no one want him I expect him to be ours.)

[rdking647]

54. i understand why

I volunteer for an adoption agency. heres why they wont let an elderly man adopt puppies.

1. does an 81 year old have the energy to keep up with and properly train a puppy?
2. and more importantly. a chihuahua can expect to live 15 years or so. hes 81 now.. can he reasonably expect to be able to properly care for the puppy for the rest of the puppies life..

Im sure he would be able to adopt an older dog. but a puppy can be easily adopted by a more suitable adopter

[northernlights]

56. some of the private rescues have insane rules, but

at least some of the rules are intended to keep the dogs from ending up in revolving doors and back in shelter care or worse. The prospect of puppies outliving senior people is real, and when the dogs are no longer puppies they'll become harder to adopt out. So they're trying to do what's right for the dogs, which is, after all, their first priority.

I'm sure there's a point when I won't be allowed to take in a shelter dog because I'm too old. But I know of shelters that waive rules for their harder to adopt dogs...such as senior dogs.

Personally, when I'm older I plan to take in senior dogs so that they can spend their last years in a home instead of shelter.