Considering Adoption... Questions

Garnet · #1 02-05-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi all,

I know I haven't posted in a long while. I don't have a lot of time to post but I am always lurking around here learning more about Boxers. Odin is doing great and he is about 1-1/2 years old now.

Anyway, we are thinking about adopting another puppy from a Boxer Rescue here in Houston. I filled out the very long, thorough application yesterday and they are supposed to call me soon to schedule a home visit--and that's the problem. My fiance is very upset at the thought of a stranger coming into our house and says that he will not allow it; he said he will meet them elsewhere and bring Odin, show them pictures, vet records, etc. but that there is no way they're going to inspect our house. He's paranoid because his last home was robbed 5 years ago right after a guy had been over to look at something he was selling.

So my question is... what is the process really like? I know lots of you must have been through this requirement before. Do they just kinda come in and glance around and check out the back yard, or do they have to go through every room of your house? We have a music room with all of his gear in there that he feels like they have no business seeing because the puppy will never be in there, for example.

I'm worried that we won't be able to adopt the puppy unless they see our house, because they make it pretty clear that it's a requirement. I know they will accept us if they see our house and yard, because it's perfect for another Boxer, so this is frustrating. Doesn't look like my fiance is gonna budge, and he said he'll talk to the rescue place and explain his feelings on the matter. I'm afraid they're gonna think we're hiding something.

Any insight?

LILYLARUE · #2 02-05-2009, 11:21 AM

I can see your F's concerns, but I don't think they will be looking in every room and closet. They only want to make sure they will be coming to a good, clean, healthy, safe home. They may not even go past your living room. They will ask where the dogs will have access and check your property for any hazards and make sure the dogs are inside dogs for the most part. They will look for outside kennels and chains on trees and such that would show that you keep pets outside, confined, which is a big no-no!

Maybe it would ease his mind to call them and state his concerns and see if they will ease them a bit. There is nothing wrong with asking the inspectors for a copy of their credentials (driver's license).

They basically want to know that you take care of your property and your living space which usually says you take care of yourself, children and pets. If your house is a hoggy mess, most likely you won't be getting a puppy from them.

Being honest with them, sharing your concerns will make the process a lot easier. But to ban them from your house ~ no adoption would go through.

sargboxerluv · #3 02-05-2009, 12:30 PM

I had a home inspection about 4 months ago. She wasn't even going to go upstairs until I told her my son had toads that she of course then wanted to see. When the rescue calls, ask them to go over the reason for the house check so you can better explain to your BF what they will be doing.

If he nor they will budge, you will probably not be getting a dog from them. But, you can always look for other possibilities, such as petfinder. That site lists dogs of all breeds from a lot of rescues and pounds. Sometimes they even do complimentary posts for people looking to rehome their dogs, but don't want to take them to a pound or maybe the rescues are full.

Good luck!

laurelheebsh · #4 02-05-2009, 12:46 PM

We just adopted thru a rescue this week, and with Green Acres in Wisconsin we had chosen a dog we were interested in from the website. So we actually went to their house first, met the foster mom and of course the dog. That gave us some peace of mind to have already met her.
When we decided we were still interested she and Chubs came over to our house the next week, to see how Chubs would do in our house. The foster mom basically checked out the yard to see that it was actually fenced like we said it was. We showed her where we had the crate from our last dog and the food bowls and that sort of thing. She certainly didn't open any doors that we had closed or look into closets or anything. We sat around and talked in the living room for 20 minutes and outside in the back yard for a little while.
I didn't feel that it was invasive, but I could see how you would be nervous, having something bad happen in a similar situation before. You might even want to meet them at McDonalds/Starbucks first, then have them follow you to the house or something. Then if you had a really bad feeling about the person, you could just say you changed your mind.

EAO76 · #5 02-05-2009, 03:45 PM

I am a volunteer for a rescue & I do home checks. The main thing we look at is the back yard & fence. We also like to see how safe your home is (for example does your front door blow open with every little breeze). I have never gone into someone’s bedroom or out of their main areas. We do ask to see where the dog will eat, sleep, stay when no one is home. If you have a pool or spa we want to see that there is a safety features so it’s not a drowning hazard. Its also a chance to see what type of people you are and get a feel for how the dog will be kept, treated, & loved.

Most rescue volunteers are female (at least that has been my experience); usually have dogs, kids, jobs, etc. I seriously doubt that you will get some unscrupulous person coming to your house. Believe me there is way more potential danger for the volunteers who have to go (usually alone) into strange people’s houses then there is for the person who wants to adopt. I have never once heard of a rescue volunteer being accused of doing anything shady. People who spend their time volunteering are not usually the type that would rob you.

Garnet · #6 02-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Thank you so much, guys! Your responses are a big help.

EAO76, I especially appreciate your reply--I was really hoping someone like you would come across this thread. I completely agree with what you have to say about volunteers; I can't personally imagine them doing anything but what is best for the Boxers they're finding homes for. I also totally understand their reasons for wanting to come and check everything out, and I think it's very admirable. Hopefully my fiance will come around, although I do understand his concerns also.

I'll let you guys know what happens... if someone else has anything to add, please feel free.

mugsymom · #7 02-06-2009, 02:02 AM

Dear Garnet and All -
I just wanted to say, thanks for asking the question! We are currently mid-application process with our local boxer rescue. This will be our first dog, so I have been a little paranoid about everything. Our house is already childproofed, but I have been going around with dog eyes at every little thing and asking myself..."if the dog ate this...."

I guess it is always nerve-racking when you have your hopes set on something unknown. I will be rooting for you and your fiance! My dad is a retired police officer, so I tend to be extra careful, but even I don't have too many qualms about letting the rescue folks visit. They have big hearts, and they know you know their name and organization. Hope it all works out! Aileen

Claudia807 · #8 02-06-2009, 12:10 PM

Laurel, Becky didn't go through your underwear drawer? It's on the checklist! ;-)

Our rescue does things like Laurel described, which is to invite the applicant to meet the dog first and then we go to the applicant's home. A lot of times, we get an application and put the energy into processing it, only to find that the applicant purchased a puppy about ten minutes after hitting the "submit" button. So, we don't automatically do a home visit on every application - it'd just be a colossal waste of time.

We would never place a dog without doing a home visit, though. No ifs, ands, or buts. I am a foster mom and when I do a home visit, I basically just want to get a feel for where my foster dog will be living. Does it seem like a safe, loving home for him/her? That's what I'm looking for. I generally ask to see the yard. We've learned over time that sometimes folks will say they have a fence when what they have is a row of shrubbery.

We're definitely not trying to invade someone's privacy. Or make judgements about their housekeeping abilities!

BxrMommieNAZ · #9 02-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAO76

I am a volunteer for a rescue & I do home checks. The main thing we look at is the back yard & fence. We also like to see how safe your home is (for example does your front door blow open with every little breeze). I have never gone into someone’s bedroom or out of their main areas. We do ask to see where the dog will eat, sleep, stay when no one is home. If you have a pool or spa we want to see that there is a safety features so it’s not a drowning hazard. Its also a chance to see what type of people you are and get a feel for how the dog will be kept, treated, & loved.

Most rescue volunteers are female (at least that has been my experience); usually have dogs, kids, jobs, etc. I seriously doubt that you will get some unscrupulous person coming to your house. Believe me there is way more potential danger for the volunteers who have to go (usually alone) into strange people’s houses then there is for the person who wants to adopt. I have never once heard of a rescue volunteer being accused of doing anything shady. People who spend their time volunteering are not usually the type that would rob you.

I have to 2nd this. I've had 2 home inspections by 2 different rescues and both were extremely similar. They wanted to see that my wall really was 6 ft tall, that I had a latch gate, and landscaping in my backyard. They wanted to see the eating area, where the water was, and where my dog slept (I already had one), and where the new one would sleep. One inspection was for a foster home and that was about it, they went into my back yard, my family room, entry way, and my den (because I keep the food and water bowls in there), never went upstairs at all. On the home visit with another to adop they did go upstairs only because that's where my crates are kept and she wanted to see those since puppy would be crate trained.

All that have done it for me have been women, younger, and in my local area. I also spoke with them on the phone prior to them coming over.

Now I also have done a couple of home visits and that's really all I look for as well, the yard, wall, latch gate, where the dog will sleep, eat, if there's water available (if they already have pets), basically what the people claimed on their application matches reality and there was nothing "shady" going on. I was in and out both times in, oh about 20 minutes, and that included chatting with the people a bit. It really isn't a huge deal or stressful at all.

lexismum · #10 02-09-2009, 10:01 PM

I once did a home visit for someone who's application was PERFECT! Her phone interview was done by and passed with flying colors. Basically I was told that my home visit would probably just be a formality.

When we got to her house it was out of this world disgusting. You could tell this woman loved animals but had gone too far. She had too many animals and the house was full of filth. We walked into the a wall of urine smell, pee and poop all over. It was middle of winter and there were flys - lots of them - all over the place. There was fly ship on the counters and book shelves in the dining room where we sat. I was afraid to touch anything.

Needless to say this was one of those very few instances where the person seems absolutely brilliant on application and phone. Had I met her out of her house and listened to her story of rescuing cats with one eye and taking in dogs that no one else wanted, I would have thought she was perfect.

I'm not saying that is even remotely the case with you I just thought here is an honest to gawd true story. It still to this day amazes me when I think of it.