Thanks, but this forum is usually cordial and easy even when there is a difference of opinion. This discussion is a great example.
One of the hardest lessons I've seen "new" vets confront is the difference between what is best medicine and what is real world situations. Rarely are we given free license to do everything indicated for treatment or diagnosis. But it isn't always a matter of money, many people don't choose to have their animals go through a complicated, painful surgery or treatment because of the pain and recovery.
What I have arrived at is a philosophy where my minimum level of care has to be met, after that there are often several alternatives that are acceptable, granted some are better than others. The problems develop when my minimum level of care doesn't match somebody elses.
As mentioned earlier, maybe education of kids and programs through schools is the way to achieve change. It sure has worked with recycling in our community.
Doug
* This post was
edited 07/20/08 03:56am by dturm *
Doug & Sandy
Megan (14 yr old Golden)
2008 Southwind
2001 Honda CRV
I sure hope the mentality is not charge higher to weed out the undesirables. Frankly it seems a bit elitist. Elitism will not find homes. And lets be frank many of these dogs come with issues, not all, so don't yell at me.
CEK0515 wrote: I sure hope the mentality is not charge higher to weed out the undesirables. Frankly it seems a bit elitist. Elitism will not find homes. And lets be frank many of these dogs come with issues, not all, so don't yell at me.
I won't yell...because this is just what I believe.
In many cases, who are we, really, to pick and choose what's good for others?
Frankly I haven't seen anyone yell on this thread, a difference of opinion(s) yes, but as Dr. Doug said usually cordial. I also appreciate Dr. Doug's consistently fair moderation and his valuable professional input. You rock Dr. Doug!
Undesirable owners will somehow find a way to adopt/buy pets no matter the price, many times those purchases are made on the spur of the moment and not well thought out. Chances are those pets will eventually wind up in rescue, perhaps for a second or maybe even a third time before either being finally adopted by a real forever home or put down. We see it all too often. Stopping that cycle is one of the biggest challenges in pet rescue.
You are right Barbara, in many cases we can't choose what is right for others or as in this conversation what is right for the animals in the viewpoint of everyone. What we can do is work hard within the system that exists and if changes need to be made then work hard to make them. Having been in the system for so long I see changes that need to happen but understand the differences in prices charged to adopt just fine.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
whimstock wrote: Dr. Doug is the best moderator on the entire Forum, IMHO.
See, there is something we can agree on!
CEK0515 wrote: And lets be frank many of these dogs come with issues, not all, so don't yell at me.
No yelling, but I think that's actually a very good point.
If you adopt a dog from a good foster-based rescue group, part of what you're getting for the higher adoption fee should be a dog with no or only very minimal issues. And those issues, if any, will be fully disclosed and discussed with you prior to making your decision to adopt. You're getting a dog who has lived in a dog-savvy foster home that's been able to really get to know and work with that dog and make a thorough evaluation of him/her.
The group I volunteer for won't put a dog up for adoption until he/she has lived in a foster home for at least a month, as it can take awhile for any issues to surface. They will tell you which dogs are barkers and which aren't, which will try their darndest to go over or under the fence every time you let 'em out in the back yard and which are perfectly content to sunbathe on the patio. They will tell you which dogs are content to sleep the day away and which ones need somebody home a lot of the time and require hours of exercise to stay sane. They will tell you which dogs are fine as "onlies" and which ones need a canine companion. They will tell you which dogs will try to kill your elderly cat and which ones want to be the cat's best buddy. They will tell you which dog will bust a gut before it'd do it's business in the house and which ones are still learning.
In short, a good rescue group takes a lot of the uncertainty out of adopting a dog. You should know the good, bad and ugly about that dog prior to making your decision. And that's knowledge you do not have when walking up and down the aisle at a county-run shelter.
And, a good rescue group will be there for you after the adoption if you need advice on training or behavioral issues, and they'll be there for you if for any reason you can no longer keep the dog. My group has a firm policy that if an adopter can no longer keep a dog, it comes back to us. No matter how full the foster homes are, a former dog is never, ever turned away. Even if we have to pay for boarding.
And all that, to my way of thinking, makes a higher adoption fee an overwhelmingly good bargain.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
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