My day job often has me operating in the animal rescue world, and this year it’s seen an influx of people adopting. With the pandemic forcing many to work from home, people are finally feeling they’re able to devote the time and energy to a new pet. While this trend is certainly one bright spot in an otherwise shit-tastic year, it can make it fairly competitive when it comes to adopting your new best friend. Plus, the actual adoption process can be difficult to navigate, since every organization seems to have a different application, policies and procedures. To help you out, here are 15 common mistakes people make when trying to adopt a dog.
1. You only apply to one organization for one dog’s profile you see
I always tell people it doesn’t matter if the organization has the dog of your dreams or not — if you’re really seriously ready to add a pet, mass apply to get pre-approved to all the reputable orgs in your area. Rescues and shelters get in a ton of applications, especially for certain types of animals (think puppies and small dogs). However, if you’re already pre-approved with an organization and see a dog pop up on their website you like, having that approval ahead of time gets you to the top of the line much quicker. Plus, many rescues will keep the criteria of prospective adopters in mind, and if they get in the kind of dog you’re looking for, they may reach out to you as soon as they intake that type of pup (even before they post about them publicly). Much like job applications, it can come down to a law of averages — the more you apply, the more likely you are to hear back.
Also, an application is NOT a commitment. It’s just an application. Even if you’re not quite sure, apply. It’ll take 15 minutes out of your day, max. Better to apply and be ready than not apply and miss out on a dog you’re already emotionally invested in.
2. You don’t fill out the entire application
They do read it all. Don’t skip anything, and if the question isn’t applicable, literally put N/A. If you don’t have certain supporting documents immediately on you (e.g. you live in an apartment and you need to show proof the building is pet friendly) explain you don’t have them yet, but are in the process of getting them. Also, don’t forget to input your correct contact info. You’d be surprised how many people forget this.
3. You don’t realize your lifestyle/wishlist/search criteria and the type of dog you’re applying for are at odds
Here are types of requests I hear all the time: “I want a hypo-allergenic dog that doesn’t bark, is already house-trained, can be left alone and not destroy things, and is good with kids. Oh, and I want a puppy.” *facepalm
Really, REALLY think about your lifestyle and whether or not the dog in your head is actually the dog that’s best for you. If you’re not an active person, I don’t care how cool direwolves look, a Husky is not going to be a good match. If you want the dog to be house-trained, don’t look at dogs younger than 5 or 6 months. If you want a quiet dog, do NOT get a Dachshund no matter how cute they look (I have a doxie mix. They don’t stfu on a good day).
Also consider broadening your search criteria. Be a little flexible — sometimes your ideal dog ends up not being so ideal after all, and because you were so fixated on one type, you miss out on a pretty awesome pup. Additionally, do your research about different dog breeds and dog life stages. People can sometimes underestimate the time it takes to train a puppy. They can also overestimate how well they can adjust to the demands of certain breeds, in regards to both behavior and health problems. A quick google search could save you a lot of potential heartache. Also, unless you really, really, really want a purebred (and in that case I actually think you should ask a vet or a good dog behaviorist to recommend a reputable breeder), at least consider a mix. Mutts are great, and they generally tend to be healthier because purebred dogs are to some extent ALL inbred (sorry, that’s just the genetic truth).
4. You state you’re not willing to use only positive training methods
I want to be clear — this is not me passing any sort of judgement on different schools of dog training. Instead, I want you to understand the psychology of a person who does animal rescue. You know those stories that make the news, like “dog was set on fire and left to die” or “person abandons 10 puppies in a dumpster” or “75 dogs were rescued from a puppy mill/hoarder/dog fighting ring”? For you, those are just headlines. For people that work in animal rescue, that's what happened on Wednesday. There is such a thing as compassion fatigue, and it takes a toll (some of the higher rates of suicide are actually found among animal welfare workers and veterinarians). If you want a small taste of what they face on a regular basis, set a Google news alert for “dog.” You’ll get an education real fast.
So when you fill out an application, think about your audience. Are some of the requirements they have over-the-top? Maybe. Are there way too many questions about specifics you haven’t even fully worked out yet (like “who gets the dog if you die”)? Probably. Do some of them have the processes that are incredibly complicated and difficult? Yep, absolutely. But keep in mind in their line of work, these people have probably seen some of the worst displays of behavior humanity has to offer. So be empathetic and try to be patient, even if it can get (understandably) frustrating.
5. You don’t have express approval from your landlord (if you rent)
Make EXTRA sure you’re clear on your building’s policies. If you don’t have their permission and you then don’t show that permission, the organization won’t adopt to you, it’s as simple as that.
6. You don’t explain why you had to re-home a former pet
There are stigmas when it comes to re-homing pets, even if it was the best choice possible for the animal. Re-homing is a very personal and often painful decision, and it is completely up to you if you want to mention it. However if you do mention it, be transparent and thoroughly explain why, otherwise it might backfire on you.
7. Your entire household isn’t on board
Surprise puppies as gifts are great for viral videos on YouTube, but in reality they tend not to go down quite like you think they will. Just talk to everyone and get their agreement. In the end, it’ll save you a lot of heartache.
8. Realize you’re interviewing the org as much as they’re interviewing you
It might seem like when you’re adopting, the relationship is one-sided because well, supply and demand. But not all rescues are alike. Do your research — if you don’t get a good vibe from the organization, it’s totally fine to put them on pause. Plus, you’re allowed to ask questions — they might not have all the answers (like, say, if you’re looking for a dog’s lineage, good luck) but they might have super helpful info about the dog that isn’t necessarily in the profile description.
9. Ask the wrong questions
Here are types of questions that will quickly get your app rejected:
a. Is it ok to leave the puppy alone while I go to work?(Work time being 8+ hours). Specifically this is in reference for puppies, since they really shouldn’t be left alone (even crated) for a full work day until they’re at least 6 months. Even for adult dogs though, that’s a long time to be left at home without a break.
b. What’s your return policy? All rescues and shelters will take back animals they’ve adopted out if the adoption ends up falling through. However, it’s not a great start to come out of the gate with that type of question.
c. Can you leave them unfixed?/Will I be able to breed them? In some areas (for example, New York City) animal welfare organizations are required to spay or neuter the animal before they adopt them out. In general, rescue and shelters fix animals as a rule due to overpopulation policies.
d. Do I need to train the dog? (Also bad if you answer their question “are you willing to train your dog if needed” with a no). First of all, it’s unrealistic to expect you won’t have to do some training, because unless you’re Dr. Dolittle you can’t talk to animals and you’ll need to communicate to your dog how you expect them to behave (which is all training is really). Second, saying you’re down to training is more about you expressing your commitment to the dog and less about you becoming the next Dog Whisperer.
d. Is the adoption fee flexible? Short answer, no. Long answer, if you ask this the organization is going to think you’re not financially responsible and therefore can’t have a dog because you can’t afford it.
e. Are they hypoallergenic? Ok, this isn’t really a red flag question, I just find it annoying. To clarify — there are actually no hypoallergenic dogs. There are dogs whose type of dander and saliva may be less irritating to those with allergies (e.g. Poodles, Shih Tzus, Malteses, etc). However no dog is completely allergy-proof.
10. Don’t consider the city shelter first
Especially in major urban areas, there are SO MANY dogs there, and often municipal shelters can be more flexible than smaller organizations. Some are also open-intake (meaning they have to take everything that walks through the door), so they’re constantly getting animals in.
11. Don’t follow-up
They’re busy, and generally their inbox is full to bursting. It’s ok if, after a week or two, you follow up on your app. Just don’t be annoying about it — most of the smaller organizations are volunteer only (meaning the people who run them are essentially doing a second full-time job without pay). So be patient, but it is totally fine to remind them of your existence.
12. Don’t know how to look for adoptable dogs in your area
Petfinder.com. Adoptapet.com. Bookmark them. Petfinder also has a mobile app. Fun fact — both are owned by Purina.
13. Don’t realize you can foster first
A great way to see if a dog fits into your lifestyle is to foster! Essentially you take the dog into your home and promise to take care of it until the dog gets adopted. Some organizations will let you foster-to-adopt, though some are first come first serve. Either way, fostering is a great way to get a sense of the kind of dog that would fit best into your lifestyle. Plus, any supplies you buy for the dog (some rescues provide basics, but generally not much more than that) are tax deductible since it’s a volunteer role.
14. Don’t ask your network for help or recommendations
Maybe your neighbor volunteers at the shelter on the weekend, or you friend is a regular foster for a local rescue. Additionally, if people you know have adopted before, they can give you a good sense of that org’s process and what the experience is like. Plus, it always helps if when you list a reference, it’s someone the rescue already knows and likes.
15. Don’t believe them when they say “XYZ” on the application
Trust me when I say, anything they list on their website or on the application in regards to their policies is more or less written in stone. You are not going to be the exception to the rule, because of they make an exception for one, they have to make an exception for everyone — and then it’s not an exception, is it?
That’s it! Good luck, and congratulations on your future pup!