Hunt for Red Retriever

Ok, I know I'm gonna step on some toes here (and some of those toes are very close to me) but I just have to vent a little.

Ever since we lost our beautiful Golden Retriever a little over 2 years ago, our house has seemed a bit empty (even with 2 pre-schoolers running around). When we got him it was by accident. We didn't plan to get a dog then, and it certainly wasn't the right time to get a dog, but he picked us. Us. There was an instant bond that told us we couldn't let him slip through our fingers. He immediately became a part of our family, sleeping on our bed, cuddling with us, following me around everywhere, and doing all he could to please us. In return we did all we could to keep him happy, we fed him, loved him, and really believed he was a child to us. He was not your average dog. I could lay a stick across a doorway and tell him not to cross it, and he wouldn't. For the first 2 years of his life we didn't even have a fence in the backyard and yet he never left. And all he asked in return was a tummy rub and an ear scritch. I could go on and on about him, but I'm tearing up already.

Shortly after he died I felt his presence in the house. I felt that if I could just turn around fast enough I'd see him standing there. I felt this was his way of telling us to give that same love to another dog. Maybe it was just my way of grieving, I don't know. In any case we went and checked out many dogs but none of them, none of them made us feel warm and fuzzy and instantly connected like our big boy did. That feeling was/is very important to me. Being busy with 6 month old twins we decided to give up the search until now.

We've recently started talking about a dog again. The girls are big enough, and are starting to build up a fear of dogs, so we feel we need to get one sooner rather than later. I want my girls to grow up with a love of dogs. We talked about a puppy, but finally decided we would go with a rescue dog, so Bill contacted the local group and their response shocked me.

According to them we can't begin to think about adopting a rescue dog until we fill out an application, have an interview, and get this...a home inspection and then they'll decide if we would be a fitting adoptive family. Oh yeah, and it will cost us $400 for the privilege. I was stunned, but some good friends told me this is fairly standard. To me it is punishing the many for the fault of the one or few and doesn't really address the issue. It's suppose to avoid bad placements, but I've heard from more than one person that these still happen and it's sad when a dog has to be put down.

To me, if a person is an experienced dog owner, comes with good references on said topic, is willing to take on a rescue dog, and pay the fee, then the home visit is ridiculous. I'm told it's to insure the dogs will be safe, that there is a solid fence so the dog can't get out. I have a solid fence. What's to say that just because I have that fence that I will be vigilant about closing the gate? Or the front door to the house when I'm inside. I don't see where an invasion of my house is going to make any dog any safer. And what if I had a hole in my fence? All I'd have to do is promise to fix it.

I really think it should be more about the connection between the dog and the prospective family. If the connection is there, the dog is going to be safe.

Also, we're rescuing a dog for $400 for Pete's sake. Most people I know are not going to throw away that kind of money.

Lastly, it is a dog (and don't think for one minute I really believe that part) in most peoples eyes. I could go buy one, or pick one up at the pound with little to no scrutiny. I think this practice probably turns away more good families than they think and causes another possibly unforeseen problem. If we (or anyone else) doesn't feel like going through these hoops, and buys a dog, this dog may or may not be neutered/spayed and may end up producing a litter (or more) of puppies which could potentially be a larger problem.

I think the home scrutiny should be saved for those people who appear to be really shady after the application and interview, or even after they meet a dog. How is a home inspection going to tell them or us if we will be a good match for a dog. Short answer is, it won't.