More About Dogs

Disclaimer: I strained a muscle in my neck the night before last and am now on several muscle relaxers and steroids and pain medication. If I don't make sense, you've had a forwarning.

Back to the dogs.

When I turned on the television last night, there was more, of course, on Ellen and Iggy, the rescue dog passed from Ellen to her hairdresser, then seized by the rescue organization. As Maggie said, a little common sense on everyone's part would have averted this disaster.

My sympathy, though, is for the rescue organization. I've gotten my last five dogs from rescue groups (I have three now; the other two died of old age) and I have the greatest respect for people who take in four, five and up to twelve stray or abused dogs to foster while trying to find them permanent homes.

I can also tell you it's almost as difficult to adopt a rescue dog through these organizations as it is to adopt a child. They call your vet to make sure that your other animals have had all their shots, preventative care and appear to be well loved.

They inspect your home. Depending on the dog, you might be required to have a back yard. My pool was a problem until I swore on my life I would not leave them alone in the back yard before teaching my prospective Australian Shepherd sisters to swim. They want to see your dog interact with other dogs or family members. And you do sign a contract that if there is any problem, any at all, you will return the dog to the agency.

Rules are there because many people who haven't had dogs before don't quite realize the commitment they are making. The dog, as my Aussies did, may chew up the house. Maybe they're not housebroken. Maybe they have anxiety problems and howl all night. A lot of people just dump the dog, or pass him along again.

The rescue group asked the hairdresser to come in and make an application. It's not just whether the daughters love the dog, it's whether this family will fulfill a ten or twelve year obligation. If they can't be bothered to go through the application process, why should the agency believe they will be responsible owners.

Someone -- not on this blog but elsewhere -- mentioned that the agency just wanted another fee. The fees usually don't begin to cover the cost of adopting out an animal. Usually there are vet fees, shots, and the cost of food over weeks and sometimes months. Most of the members of these rescue groups pay these costs out of their own pocket or scanty contributions. Nor does the fee cover the time spent in investigating a prospective home.

Threats certainly didn't help the situation. As Maggie said, an apologetic phone call would have gone a long, long way.

Meanwhile, people who devote their lives rescuing animals and trying to find good, permanent homes for them are being pilloried because a famous client couldn't be bothered to read a contract. I'm sure, too, she received the information orally as well. I sure did.

Sometimes rules are made for good reasons. I hate it that these rescue people receive hate mail and accumulate lawyer fees because yet another spoiled celebrity doesn't believe contracts and rules should apply to her. I'm sending a contribution today.