Agree / Disagree with adoption clauses

[GreyhoundGirl]

This has been a rather interesting thread on some other forums I've been. What do you do when you disagree with adoption clauses?

For example, I live on 4000 acres of fields and forests, so I let Jenny run loose daily. So, because greyhounds need to be leashed at all times, I've been turned down from greyhound rescue because I told them I'd let the grey off lead in an unfenced area.

Also, in some places part of the contract says "high quality dog foods can improve a dog's health and happiness, do you agree to feed a high quality food, such as Iams or pedegree"

What do you do in these cases? They mean well, but I would never feed a food like iams. Do you argue with them? Or say sure and do it anyways?

Share some of your own stupid adoption clauses.

[britishbandit]

I think some stipulations are totally valid. Others not so much. And definately not to agreeing to feed Iams or Pedigree. YIKES. I think in food cases, explaining that you know all about healthy nutrition for dogs, and why Iams and Pedigree are bad choices that you'd never feed would help them decide that you do actually know what you are talking about.

As for the off leash part, I can see that being a valid reason.

[TribalRats]

Well I can give you the rescuers argument as I run a rescue in California.

First of all in my contract it does say high quality food such as Canidae as that is what we feed. Usually this sparks a conversation between the applicant and myself which is the whole point behind me putting that on my application and contract. It gives me the chance to do some educating.

If I were to adopt a dog on which the contract said a high quality dog food such as Iams, I would put "high quality yes, I intend to feed Canidae"...or what ever food it is you decide upon. If they have never heard of it print out some literature from the internet and give it to them. Never know, you may get the chance to educate.

As for the no grey's off leash issue. Even though you have 4,000 acres with it being unfenced you would have a heck of a time catching a dog especially a Grey if it chose to run. So in my professional opinion I can understand where they are coming from. Perhaps once you have had your Grey and know your Grey depending on the individual dog you may be able to let it run off leash. in my opinion I would not adopt out any dog who would be let loose to run on 4,000 acres. There must be an enclosed area for the dog to ensure it's safety. I realize a person can not control everything however not being able to control a Grey's desire to run and chase is well known and would defiantly be a consideration in adopting one out. There is a HUGE responsibility on the shoulder of a rescuer to ensure as much safety as possible.

That said I WISH I lived on 4,000 acres.

[Beryl]

Those are stooopid!

I don't have any stupid clauses to share outside of the last one you mentioned. It comes in that form and "Would you feed people food?" I feed grocery store raw meat and home cooked. People wouldn't want to eat my home cooking for dogs because it doesn't have condiments and it includes vitamin mineral mixes!

I never thought about the leash issue because I never knew anyone who lived on 4000 acres!! I do know that some people take issue with some fenced backyard requirements. I can understand that because I think apartment dwellers should be able to adopt as long as they are willing to walk the dog and take the dog out for socialization.

Don't argue with them, always be truthful, but qualify your answers. Always consider the intent of the clause which is usually honorable.

The leash clause: Put an asterisk next to the question and answer that your grey would be leashed except when you take your dog on supervised runs on your privately owned 4000 acres.

The food clause: Yes, you would feed high quality food. Ignore the Iams/Pedigree reference. Rescues have less knowledge about nutrition than the vets who push Science Diet. Wait until after you've been approved and educate them when you are picking up the dog.

[KennelMom]

The only adoption contract stipulation I've broken is to keep a group ID tag on the dog at all times. Well, I have an ID tag on our dogs, but it's with our contact information. Most of our dogs weren't adopted from any group that's remotely near here anyway and I only use non-dangling tags on our dogs at home for saftey reasons. If the group wanted to provide me with a non-dangling tag, then I'd pop it on the dog's collar. edited to add: The groups are aware of this and have no issues. I have no reason to hide anything I do with my adopted dogs.

The "no off leash" requirement with retired racers is a VERY important one. I've looked for too many dogs that were lost b/c they "always stayed right by the owner's side"...that is until they saw something interesting enough to chase or were spooked. With greyhounds Trust Is A Deadly Disease. I board a greyhound that was adopted from a local group and the owner told me she'd moved to a house so the dog finally had a yard. It wasn't fenced, but her dog never runs off. You bet your butt my next phone call was to the adoption group to let them know. I owed it to the dog. What they ever did about it, I have no idea. Just another first time greyhound adopter who thought she knew more than, oh, every greyhound adoption group in the country

I've found groups within the same region will often alert other groups to an adopter who wasn't approved, if it was for a reason you are stating. They do this b/c they know people will move on to the next group and just lie about agreeing to that requirement. Groups I've worked with that get aout-of-area apps from areas with local groups will often touch base with the local groups to see if that adopter was already turned down and why.

Unless you can run 40mph, your greyhound should be behind a fence or on a leash. Period. If you can't make that simple, saftey commitment to a greyhound, then you aren't the right home for one. Think of how far away they can get in just a few seconds...they can get lost in a heartbeat and not know how to find their way home. Finding a greyhound in heavily populated areas can be hard. On 4000 wide open acres, it could be impossible. When they are scared or spooked, they will often bed down and searchers can walk within feet of them and not see them - especially a brindle dog in the woods. Virtually impossible to find them if they aren't moving. Any time someone thinks it's a good idea to let their retired racer off leash, they should visit the Amber Alert forum on greytalk. It is just. not. worth. it. These dogs have been bred for THOUSANDS of years to chase first, ask questions later. A greyhound-mix or whippet-mix isn't the same dog as a retired racer.

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by TribalRats

As for the no grey's off leash issue. Even though you have 4,000 acres with it being unfenced you would have a heck of a time catching a dog especially a Grey if it chose to run. So in my professional opinion I can understand where they are coming from.

Good point Tribal. I never thought of it that way. Maybe it is time to get an enclosed area for your grey -- a big enclosed area. You can always take your grey for walks on those 4000 acres using a retractable leash.

[aquarian215]

ok I feed my dog iams, after reading this, I see it it bad, why? What food would be recommended? My husband told me iams was the best, and not to buy the cheap stuff, so thats why I get it.

[KennelMom]

Also, in some places part of the contract says "high quality dog foods can improve a dog's health and happiness, do you agree to feed a high quality food, such as Iams or pedegree"

I'd like to see an adoption contract that says that.

[KennelMom]

You can always take your grey for walks on those 4000 acres using a retractable leash.

Retractable leashes are not appropriate for greyhounds. They can be at top speed in three strides and will break that retractable leash or rip it out of someone's hand in a heartbeat. Then you have a dog spooked by the trailing leash causing them to run further and faster. Not to mention, if the leash doesn't break or drop, their neck and back can be seriously hurt by being yanked back when they reach the end of the line. The use of retractable leashes is included in some group's contracts or recommendations. IMHO, it should be in all of them.

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by aquarian215

ok I feed my dog iams, after reading this, I see it it bad, why? What food would be recommended? My husband told me iams was the best, and not to buy the cheap stuff, so thats why I get it.

Check out this link aquarian.
http://www.globalpaw.com/forum/dog-h...food-fido.html

[D.Schäferhund]

My encounter and my thing....

and I really hate it,
i can't have a dog because I am going to work, for more than 4 hours....
My fence is not high enough... there might be a Kennel on the property...

[aquarian215]

holy crap. I am gonna have to show that to my hubby. I feel horrible for feeding poor Dudley Iams.

[Kris]

The only adption clause that I've run across that bugs me says that they won't even consider you're adoption application until you've paid $10.00; and by that they also mean they won't answer any questions you might have. Me, I'm not going to pay them $10.00 until I know if I'll be rejected out of hand because I use an invisible fence or whether Darby would have a chance to meet any potential adoptee before adoption.

[Camz]

Originally Posted by britishbandit

Check out this link aquarian.
http://www.globalpaw.com/forum/dog-h...food-fido.html

do you know what I find strange about that list?

Well- story: the lady I'm thinking about getting my lappie puppy from feeds Natural Balance Duck and Potato (good list). I feel Fromm's Duck and Sweet Potato (for some reason it's on the bad list).

After literally comparing Fromm's to Natural Balance ingredient to ingredient, I found that Fromm's is a better quality food. I even had the clerks help me out with it, because they are actually knowlegable about dog food (ie, they don't ever recommend Purina or Iams).

Then again, there may be a difference between Fromm's Four Star Nutritionals (which is what I feed my dog) to their regular dog food.

Sorry to thread jack. Just saying.

[Ritz459]

Do rescues reject you automatically if you don't have a fenced in yard? Now, I could understand the reason for having a fence with a breed such as a Greyhound who NEED to have a fenced in yard for safety and exercise, but say for a breed such as a Lab or something like that.

I ask because we don't have a fenced in yard. We live on ten acres out in the country and fencing in our yard is WAY to expensive. We've raised a puppy for a Guide Dog orginization and not only were we approved by them, but we never ONCE had an issue with Sadie being outside running loose.
By the time I get another dog I most likely won't be living here, but say when my mom wants to get a Saint Bernard when we kids are all out of the house, I would love to point her towards a rescue, but most rescues won't even consider you if you don't have a fenced in yard, even if you say (and completely mean) the dog will never be loose outside. In the sometime near future we hope to get a big enough kennel for our two dogs that it could qualify as a dog run, but even then people tend to turn their noses down at you.

Is that fair, or if not having a fenced in yard is the only issue, should they dig a bit deeper and see if that is really an "issue" at all?