i actually want to help folks understand somethings about doing animal adoptions cuz lord knows, i have had enough returned failed adoptions myself over the years and i have taken in other rescues failed adoptions as well when a few would not take back their previous animals.
the pre-screen application can only ask certain things and it utterly depends on the insight and bottom line honesty of the person filling it out. they can neglect to tell you that their last three cats all disappeared and never came home one night..they could forget to tell you that they euthanized their 6 yr old dog because it had diabetes and they could not deal wih that. they might leave out that cat that sprayed in the house and they gave away to a GREAT barn home started to spray because they forgot to neuter.
they do not have to disclose that the creditors are calling and meeting the monthly rent is a problem, or dad has anger issues and there is a lot of yelling and slamming of doors going on in the house. they don't have to tell you that they are struggling with health issues or battling depression. it is really none of our business if they chose to do drugs or drink or party big time on the weekends or they go on a lot of vacations or work frequently out of town. they certainy won't tell you that they are too cheap to go to the vets, so either the animal gets better by itself or suddenly it may be dead.
when folks come here looking to adopt an animal..they put their best foot forward and leave any skeletons they may have... out of sight, at home in the closet.
you absolutely have to be aware of the possibility of all of that.
and then you have the homes without any major issues who have decided they want a certain new pet...say like... tina. really nice folks..clean and healthy lifestyle, beautiful house, good steady income, kind and generous. BUT..they both work fulltime, their three pre-teens are in hockey, soccor and dance..and tina's past life and current life here has always been with someone around 24 hours a day. how well do you think she would cope? but they want tina...they love her so much...she is so cute and tiny and they have such a wonderful home. yes they do but for her....it is not the right wonderful home.
when i tell them they can't have her, they are going to be disappointed and hurt (and mybe even angry) because i must think they are not good enough. they won't hear the reasons i give them...they stopped listening when i said no.
and then there is odie...saints is absolutely the very wrong place for this dog...and i am totally aware of it too. in the right home for him, odie would be a truly great dog..so what am i looking for him? a home with no other dogs and also no little kids. a place that can afford his medical care and has the experience and the patience to deal comfortably with him. so real nice young man comes along and thinks odie is the perfect dog for him...but he lives in a condo, he is gone 10 hours a day for work so for 10 hours odie is screaming and bugging the neighbors and no one is around to watch him if his bloodsugars drop too low. do i send the dog out anyway? i know saints is not ideal for him and this guy is a super nice and responsible young man and it gets odie the pain in the ass out of my house so should i hope for the best and let him go?
i don't think so.
we don't do them any favors by picking the wrong homes for them...all we do is add more instability and uncertainty to their lives which have already been filled with problems and issues. saints is not the perfect place for tina and odie but it is stable, it is reliable, it is kind and understanding and patient and it bends itself to the best of our ability to meet their needs as best as we can, every moment of every day....without excuses and without exception. so while they are homeless and waiting, they can always count on that.
i think folks do not always understand what i mean by finding them the right home. i don't mean i am looking for nice people who live in nice homes...i am looking for people who when the animal comes into their home..the animal fits comfortably into their life style and they fit well with the animal's needs and if everyone is content and happy and fits well together..then all should be forever well for both and i will never be needed again....yay!
I love my Nudge! So glad she is here even though she seemed fine at SAINTS too. A successful perfect fit. A big YAY!