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?
Older. It also helps that the husband is home all day.
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
Definitely the older couple for all the reasons you gave.
Older
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.