Here is a topic for discussion that was inspired by real-life events.
Two couples are both interested in a big, active dog at the shelter.
One couple is older. They own their home. Property is at least several acres, but unfenced. Husband is retired and home most days, puttering in garden and with hobbies. Wife works 30 or so hours a week. They formerly owned another big, active dog, who recently died of old age. They have a 2-year-old small dog who misses having canine company. They have a trainer who they have worked with previously and plan to do so again.
Second candidate couple is young, early 20s. They are renters. They also live on several acres, but their home property is fenced. They have another big, young, active dog, a female. They both work.
My bias in placing the dog was toward the older couple. While it’s true that they lacked a fenced yard for the dog, the fact that they own their home reassures me that they won’t be at the mercy of future landlords if they have to move for whatever reason. They also have the financial wherewithal to provide the dog with whatever medical or behavioral interventions he is likely to need. A week in training? Knee or hip surgery? Wouldn’t be a problem for these people.
Staff at the shelter was biased in favor of the young couple. The fact that their property was fenced, their youth, and that they were already dealing with a big, active dog made them seem more equipped to deal with the dog’s perceived need for activity.
I’m just curious: Where would most people, or most shelter staffers, end up placing a dog like this?
My vote is for the older couple for the reasons you stated. Also, I am older so I am probably biased!
Who got the dog?
I favor the older couple. They are more stable.
I see too many young people dumping their furbabies when no longer convenient.
Older couple all day.
Definitely the older couple but I am biased because I am in EXACTLY the same position.
Older, home all the time, big un-fenced property with acres and acres of woods for our long walk everyday and the financial stability and medical know-how to look after issues that arise.
We’ve had fifteen dogs over the years, many, many unadoptable for one reason or another and they all loved us and happily called this place HOME.
Older couple for sure!
Older couple without a doubt.
For sure the older couple. The all day factor, and garden. If they are eating fresh food from their own garden, the dog will defiantly be getting something other than kibble.
Older couple, definitely. Experienced, someone home most of the time, financially secure, no chance of new little human distraction. See it all time. New Baby, beloved Canine sidelined. Not beloved anymore.
Older couple also, same reasons!
In my more than 20 years of running a rescue organization I have found that it is important to listen to prospective adopters. I encourage them to talk and I will hear the clues to their suitability for a particular dog. From the description I’d be inclined to favor the older couple because of owning their home and apparent stability, but I would listen carefully to both parties, looking for those little details that will give me the insight needed to make the call. A home visit is essential.
Good advice. A home visit is absolutely essential, people can say anything. Even if they send photos, it may not show everything. They could have a fence, but gaps in it or under it. Another factor for me would be the dog’s behavior – is he a runner? The kind of dog who just disappears over the horizon if he gets loose? Or does he tend to hang on his property? I’ve had both extremes. My most recent rescue wouldn’t even leave the yard when he first got here. He’d be a type I would trust on an unfenced property.
like your comment home visit . you can even put a 30 foot leash on you and the dog to play ball if the older couple are in good shape. I use long leads out in front with my dogs because lawn is flatter to jump for frisbee
Completely agree with Joyce Fay. In my experience fostering dogs, I’d ask a lot of questions, then Listen to the answers. People can really give themselves away when you get them talking. But on the face of it, I’d pick the older couple too.
What about the dogs already in those current homes? I think it is very important for the dog needing a home to meet each of those dogs as well as the humans. What if the dogs don’t mesh well? Yes, some of that can change for the good over time, but why not see how they do meeting in a neutral area. The rescue I work with requires it. What if it turns out that the dog needing a home isn’t good with small dogs?
I would leave the dog with the older couple. From what I read they have everything that this big dog will need now and in the future.
Depends on just how old the older couple is, but I would place the dog with them. Why? Because the young couple already have one large, active dog in a rental. The landlord may be adverse to having two large, active dogs in his rental. Also, if this couple is needs, or wishes, to move, it will be harder for them to find a landlord willing to rent to a couple with 2 large dogs, and one may be back in a shelter. That being said, I feel ALL people who rent and adopt a pet from a rescue or shelter should be required to provide documentation from the landlord that they know and approve of any animals in the home and what restrictions apply.
With the information provided and considering nothing else, I would place the dog with the younger couple, PROVIDED they can produce a signed statement from the landlord that they have permission to keep a 2nd large, active dog. When I was younger, I had a Rottweiler female in my rented apartment. she developed cancer and didn’t have long to live. My landlady saw a Rottie pup at the shelter and told them I had permission to adopt him. then she called me and told me that I needed to get this puppy! and so we did! Being a young person (or a renter) should not disqualify someone, especially if the young people in this scenario get out with their dogs and actively work with them. conversely, being an older person shouldn’t automatically disqualify a person, either.
Older
Definitely the older couple for all the reasons you gave.
Another issue with the younger couple: are there children in the home? What age? They might reveal that they are planning to have a baby within the next year or two. That could be too much in the same year – new dog, new baby, and they might need to move to a bigger house.
Whew…that’s the truth! My husband and I were going to start trying to have a baby but we waiting for a puppy from our breeder. We both have children from previous marriage and decided that we had already purchased the puppy and we definitely didn’t want to have a puppy and a baby. I’m so thankful we put the baby on hold…our big Black Russian Terrier has kept us busy! We are still young so we have plenty of time for kids in the future.
I would need more information about the dog! there isn’t enough information here to make a decision. Also the dogs should meet before any decision is made
The rescue group I volunteer with gives fosters the power to choose the best match for the dogs; fosters can factor in many things, including the responses of the applicants and the dog during in-person meet and greet. In this process, the dogs and the humans usually make it obvious as to best match, but in the case where the foster feels there are multiple applicants who would make a good match, priority is given to which applicant applied first.
The municipal shelter I volunteer with adopts out based on who applied first; shelter fosters do have more leeway in placing dogs.
I am 33 years old and a renter. I have had dogs my entire life, including as an independent adult. I also work professionally with dogs (large kennel manager) and have for 15 years.
When I was in my early 20s, I was denied to adopt a miniature dachshund on the basis that I did not have a fenced yard. For a, let me repeat, miniature dachshund. Despite working in a daycare where I brought my other dog. Despite having veterinary experience. Despite having nothing but good references.
That dog was on the Rescue’s page for several YEARS after that.
In my experience younger people are more willing to put forth the expenses for their animals than older people. They are more willing to feed better quality foods and socialize their pets more.
You can’t simply look at the straightforward facts. You have to look below the surface. I’ve been a board member for rescues, I’ve performed behavioral evaluations on shelter dogs, I’ve fostered, I’ve transported, and I’ve used my own money to help dogs in need. I hike with my dogs, bike with my dogs, camp with my dogs. Yes, it was upsetting to be denied on the simple basis that I didn’t have a fenced yard.
Very biased reasoning. I am an older large rescue dog ‘owner’. He eats high quality, costly food and I would spare no expense for his health care. I have lived with him for eleven years, he is part of the family. He has a large back yard to relax and play in and loves the attention he gets from my grandchildren who also all have rescue dogs. I would sooner do without something myself than see him suffer or do without. Not many young people would or could do that.
I have to agree with Sylvia on many points. J’s opinion is very age biased. Talk to me in 30 or so years. If I’m still around, that is. LOL
Considering that nearly every response to this question voted for the older couple, and many of the responses offered stereotypes of younger pet owners as being unable / unwilling to take care of pets because of their age and fertility status, I think a claim of age bias against the elders is hard to defend (and I definitely fall into the “older” category myself). For argument’s sake, I would ask: how does this older couple plan to provide sufficient exercise for this “big, active” dog if they don’t have a fenced property? Are they active enough themselves to hike, bike or run with it every day on a leash? (the gentleman is described as spending his time “puttering in the garden”). Are they healthy enough to continue caring for the big active dog as they grow older still? Are they young / healthy enough that they are likely to outlive it? We’re told they own their own home, but does it necessarily follow they’re financially secure enough to have a new dependent? Many more questions to be asked, and I think it’s unhelpful to cry “bias” just because someone doesn’t share your (and everyone else’s) opinion.
Oh, wah. Read the rest of the post. If you think it’s acceptable to gloss over an adopter because they are younger and don’t own but it’s okay to make a dog miss out on a family that would love and care for it responsibly and the way they should, you’re the problem.
As I said, the whole picture needs to be looked at. If rescue organizations are going solely off of the points offered in this article they are neither responsible nor reputable. There’s much more that needs to be taken into consideration.
I agree, J. The entire picture needs to be looked at. I volunteer train/adopt out in rescue. I have stopped judging potential adopters on whether they have a fenced yard. It’s a plus, but balance all pluses w minuses. I wish I knew before what I know now.
That was a very strange and unfortunate decision that ended with the dachshund stuck in a shelter for years when there was your good home available. However, older people aren’t necessarily less able or willing to spend money on pets. Having attained a very comfortable retirement, I don’t have to worry about money in the way it was a concern in my younger years. I don’t any longer have to spend time away from the home/dogs, and we have many more opportunities to hike off leash which we are able to do 3 times a week.
I rented until I was 45, and actually had very supportive landlords. One place was on 5 acres in a lovely pastoral creekside setting where the dogs and I lived for 11 years. I think shelter/rescue staff should look at many variables and make the best decision they can. Plenty of renters are financially sound, and lots of homeowners are pending bankruptcy.
I’ve found some rescues and fosters simply don’t want to place their dogs. The bar is so high no one could pass it. Your problem was with the rescue. I doubt anyone would have been good enough for that mini-dachshund. Sounded more like a failed foster in that they simply didn’t want to give it up. I also suspect that some rescues aren’t really rescues at all. They just went through the legal paperwork so they can get tax breaks, accept donations and can legally keep more than the limit of dogs for their local ordinances.
As for your bias toward older owenrs, my parents spent thousands on their previous dog, Candy. They basically had unlimited resources. She was everything to them and they never had to make a decision to put a dog down simply because they couldn’t afford treatment. Not so with younger families. Candy got the best food and snacks, she had plenty of socialization and unlimited attention. She was walked every night, even in the rain. And my parents were into their 80s. Candy died when they were both 89 after living almost 14 years. A very good age for a lab mix. (lab, golden, german shepherd). No dog could have had a better life.
My “bias” was simply anecdotal having worked in the industry for over a decade. It seems the majority of customers who are rude and argue pricing are older. I get plenty of rude younger customers too….those are the ones who are the most entitled by far. They’re just willing to pay more.
Every age group has pros/cons. My point, maybe poorly worded, was that it’s imperative to look at the entire picture, not just the facts presented in the question at hand.
I would need to see how the couples and their current pets interact with new dog before I would make a decision. I believe how the other pets/owners react would be the bigger deciding factor for me.
I would have gone with the older couple for all the reasons you stated, but especially because they own their property so they are less likely to move around a lot or run into landlord issues AND they already have a relationship with a trainer that they plan to continue. I would want to make sure that the trainers methods were positive only and that the trainer was cognizant of the emotional needs of a dog coming out of a shelter environment who might have some trauma from the experiences that led him to be there.
Older. It also helps that the husband is home all day.
Definitely, the older couple. He is home with them. The younger couple probably both work and could not devote the same time to training and socializing…as well as all the above sited reasons.
Definitely the older couple. My husband and I are older and adopted a large dog (our first) 3 years ago. Because I work from home I am able to spend a significant amount of time with the dog and cannot imagine how young couples who work full-time are able to provide the necessary companionship and afford the necessary medical care.
Definitely the older couple, primarily for the reason that they own their own home. Rentals could be sold and the new landlord not allow pets. That could happen in five or seven years and if they can’t find a dog friendly rental, which is as we all know, difficult, what would happen to the dogs then. Older, very large dogs off and don’t make it out of shelters…
I don’t have enough information yet. I need to know exercise routines, past experiences, talk about their past dogs and a big one for me – feeding and food. The home visit will tell me a lot too.
older couple. I don’t think not having a fence is a problem, but when I went to adopt a dog 11 years ago, many shelters would not even talk to me since my yard wasn’t fenced. I finally found a dog online and went 200 miles to get him. He is the best dog ever. A long hair Jack Russell who was 2-3 years old. He is now deaf, but we use hand signals and clapping. I would never have left a dog outside by himself even if it was fenced. Too many squirrels, snakes, etc. I waited until I wasn’t working full time and now he has both of us to dote on him.
Thank you. A fence is no substitute for supervision. I have always made my dogs come inside with me even if it is for only a few minutes. Especially terriers can tunnel themselves out under any fence, unless there is a significant underground component.
I would also consider the interactions of the dogs and people. In my experience I have had more dogs returned for not getting along with owners dogs then from moving. I also look at how much the dog likes the person wanting to adopt. It is not only cats that pick their owners. It also depends on what breed of dog is being adopted out. An Greyhound or a husky will need a fenced yard more then a Golden Retriever. So breed and behavior of dog, such as prey drive, must be taken into consideration. I would need more information to decide
The older couple hands down! Dealing with two big rambunctious dogs might be too much for the younger couple who work all day.
I would tend towards the older couple, providing their current 2-yr old dog (who is still thinking like a pup) will get to meet the prospective newcomer. What is the age of the large dog? Is it older and not interested in being bothered by a younger one?
I am retired and my dog benefits from my being around all the time. A friend of mine is also retired, but loves to travel and her 3 yr-old dog exhibits separation behaviour. I think each case is different. Bottom line, be honest about the quality of life you promise to your new dog. Nothing is guaranteed, but living in a rental has a higher level of risk. The next landlord may have a strict rule about large dogs and dogs in general.
I, too, vote for the older couple. Innoway, the fact that the younger couple has a fenced yard may lead to an over-dependence on this. Running late to a big meeting at work? leaving no time to walk the dogs? throw them in the backyard to play. having a new baby? sorry dogs, but maybe it’s best that you live in the backyard in a nice warm doghouse. … you can always be honest with the older couple, explain the concern about not having a fenced yard and ask how they plan to keep the dogs from getting out and roaming around.
Definitely the older couple. They have the time, the space and they are both at home. I have had a dog all my life and even when I was working, my Boston Terrier we