Knowing "everything"
I am sure this has happened to everyone involved in animal welfare. In fact, I could bet it has happened to rescue people more than once and when it happens, it discourages you to the point of not trusting what potential adopters tell you.
I am talking about the people who come to adopt who know "everything" there is to know about dogs and you cannot tell them anything. It doesn't matter what you try to explain to the people, they know dogs, have had dogs, are comfortable with dogs and you know nothing.
So they adopt what they think is going to be the perfect dog for them and three days later they are calling because the dog is exhibiting a behavior they don't like or won't put up with or can't explain and they want help.
So, you talk to them on the phone, or visit their home and explain to them what the problem is and they say, "Yeah, okay, I got it." You leave and 3 days later the dog is back at the shelter and the adjectives used to describe the dog can range from ignorant, stupid, dumb, aggressive and on and on. You guys know the kind of adopters I am talking about.
The dog is then confused because it has no idea why it is back, or even where it went for a few days. You are upset because the dog came back and are less trusting of the next person who comes to adopt that dog.
The key is you must not let one bad apple spoil the bunch. For every bad or uneducated adopter, there are several good ones. They will listen to what you tell them and ask questions if they don't understand. Their interest is genuine. They want to do the right thing for themselves and for their new pet.
If you fall into the latter category of adopters who really want the best for the animal, please visit your local shelter or rescue. Ask questions and expect answers. Shelters and rescues want to send an animal home with you, they just want to make an informed and good decision. You need a pet who you will love and cherish for the rest of the animal's life.
I am talking about the people who come to adopt who know "everything" there is to know about dogs and you cannot tell them anything. It doesn't matter what you try to explain to the people, they know dogs, have had dogs, are comfortable with dogs and you know nothing.
So they adopt what they think is going to be the perfect dog for them and three days later they are calling because the dog is exhibiting a behavior they don't like or won't put up with or can't explain and they want help.
So, you talk to them on the phone, or visit their home and explain to them what the problem is and they say, "Yeah, okay, I got it." You leave and 3 days later the dog is back at the shelter and the adjectives used to describe the dog can range from ignorant, stupid, dumb, aggressive and on and on. You guys know the kind of adopters I am talking about.
The dog is then confused because it has no idea why it is back, or even where it went for a few days. You are upset because the dog came back and are less trusting of the next person who comes to adopt that dog.
The key is you must not let one bad apple spoil the bunch. For every bad or uneducated adopter, there are several good ones. They will listen to what you tell them and ask questions if they don't understand. Their interest is genuine. They want to do the right thing for themselves and for their new pet.
If you fall into the latter category of adopters who really want the best for the animal, please visit your local shelter or rescue. Ask questions and expect answers. Shelters and rescues want to send an animal home with you, they just want to make an informed and good decision. You need a pet who you will love and cherish for the rest of the animal's life.
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