I just still can't stand rescues like that. I know that it all comes from a good place, but people get so wrapped up in the "best interests" of the dogs that they lose all sense of people skills. Not only do they forget how to speak with people, but they forget to get to know them. And that doesn't take a huge time investment. Read an application over quick, then call a person and talk... have a 5 min conversation. Any person worth his salt in people skills can get a good idea whether an applicant is worth bending the rules over.

Rescue and dog ownership are not black and white issues. They are gray. And rescues who treat guidelines as rules set in stone do more harm than good to the animals they are trying to "save."

Sorry... I'll get off my soapbox now... but I was rejected from FOUR rescues when I was looking for Hailey.... four. Because of stupid issues like a fence or distance....


ETA: Great idea, Brian Can I come work for your rescue?

Wow Claudia, I have to say i'm really shocked that the rescue pushes having 2 dogs instead of 1 if they're young... I honestly think that's irresponsible.

Tori, I 100% totally agree! We were denied by SO MANY rescues both before and after Mickey! The point is to save these dogs and place them in GOOD homes. Not turn people away left and right because they live in an apartment or don't have a yard. Hello?! Have we seen the economy lately?? Not everyone can afford to live in a nice big house, work minimal hours, have a 10ft fenced in yard and have 12983794 years of experience with Huskies... That's just silly now!

Anyway, I hope you can turn them around. That is my biggest gripe w/ rescues.

....which is why I am working to make exceptions, and not pass judgement before I've even had a chance to meet and talk to the person.

I'm hoping to make a few changes to the 'rules' and hopefully, it'll be seen more as guidelines instead!

Heck with the idea that a Husky needs a companion. I got Biko because I needed the extra companion, Adobo could have given a a rat's behind if she didn't have a mate. She would have been happy being the "only child."

I also was turned down last year just before I got Biko with no stated reason why.

We almost got turned by the rescue I volunteer for!

Wow, then I would definitely get turned down! My house isn't huge at all, we rent, the front gate of the yard is 4ft tall and not too sturdy to be honest....BUT...my dogs are so loved and cared for that everything else shouldn't prevent us from rescuing a dog that needs a good home. I never leave them outside unattended and stand by the gate when they're out in the yard (just in case). They get daily walks, weekly toys, and basically are the princess/prince of the house..lol.

That sucks that people out there that actually want to adopt a husky get turned down for minor things sometimes. I know that the rescues do it with dogs best interest in mind, but c'mon. You can feel a person out and know if they're the right match while taking other things into consideration of course.

Good luck Claudia!

It makes me sad to hear all of these issues with rescues. I hope this thread doesn't sour anyone to rescue. Just like everything in life there is good and bad. Most rescues do think dog first and human second, shelters and humane societies are usually less picky. There are pros and cons to each.

I used to foster for a humane society. I say used to because of this story.

http://www.itsahuskything.com/t2562-new-pack-member

I would have never placed a husky in this home. No fence, cats (dog was not tested with them), and no breed experience, just always wanted one for her daughter. I happened to be there when she and the daughter took the dog home, no interaction hardly at all. In fact the daughter seemed to care less (to her defense she was disadvantaged). I took it on myself to call the woman as a phone followup several months after (against the societies standard procedure) and got a very terse "he's fine" response.

All things considered I still think shelter and rescue dogs make the best pets, they just seem thankful and loving, at least in my experiences.

I have declined an application before because of the same reasons. AND they were going to leave the husky outside tied up.

Wow... I got my first husky when I was 21 years old and have never had more than one husky at a time. Over the past 24 years, I have learned alot about huskies by reading but mostly by trial and error. I do understand the rescue being "skittish" because the poor dog has probably already had a traumatic experience and they do not want to set the dog up for another failure.

We've had our huskies in an apartment, in a small house with a "mostly" fenced yard, in the country "with room to roam" and in our house now with a fenced yard. More than not having a fence or a large house, I think the idea of giving a husky "room to roam" is the scariest. Most everyone who says they want a husky tells us they will get one when they move to the country to allow the dog room to roam. "Really?", I usually ask them, "Cause if you give a husky room to run, they WILL run.... and end up in Canada."

I think as long as you are dedicated to providing human companionship to your husky, a single husky will have a wonderful life. You, on the other hand, will work yourself to death trying to be his constant companion and exercise partner and human play toy.... !!!

We have no rescues close enough to us to allow us to adopt
They also frown on giving a husky to a home with children under 10 (we finally have a 10 year old and can meet that requirement).
I agree that some of the rules that most rescues make mandatory should really be "guidelines" and the workers should be allowed to make exceptions.

Even my mom who does her own all breed rescue can be stupid about adopting out some dogs. I usually get on her case and have to tell her that not every home is going to be perfect. If you expect that, you're just going to end up keeping every rescue! (which she has 7 dogs of her own, so you can see why I'm so hardheaded that she cannot keep anymore!)

I did a homecheck for a family near me and they didn't have a fence, but sounded like they'd walk their husky all the time and seemed like a really good couple. The sibe rescue did approve them even without the fence! I really should check up on them and see how things are going.

Good luck with the adoption, Claudia! That's good that you're trying to go around the 2 dog "rule", if it makes sense for that dog and for that family. And kudos to you for volunteering!

The husky rescue our kids came from was AWESOME - they are so warm, gracious and welcoming, while being realistic and available for help post-adoption. www.huskycamp.com

We volunteered for another rescue, and even though I thought we showed we were an ideal household, had a high fence and had husky experience, we got turned down for the dogs we were interested in because we have full time jobs and wouldn't take 2 huskies at a time (with the exception of a few selected dogs they would allow us to adopt, one of which they told us not to put our hands in the cage! ) They actually have a ton of the dogs we looked at still there.

I got the adoption application approved AND approved to adopt a 'young' husky to her without another dog!

Nice work, Claudia! How'd you convince them?

Good JOB Claudia! its nice to see your hard work rewarded

Awesome Claudia!

Great job, Claudia! Keep up the good work

Yay! Good job and GREAT explanation!!!

ok...I have another adoption application that I need feedback on.

This applicant has had 2 huskies before, both has passed. They had one for 13 years and another that was a rescue, who they had just shy of 2 years.

On their application, they filled out:
-they have 5.5-6 ft fencing
-they are active
-no kids or small animals
-will be left along 6-8 hour/day
-doggy door to access inside/outside

That's all ok, but here is what they included on their application:

I do not believ a husky has to be leashed at all times. I would usually leash a husky for the first 2 years of its life, then allow the dog to hike with me off leash.

I know some can be let off leash in certain situations, but this statement makes me nervous about this applicant.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!