mattinky

You're right, I should'nt have said piss on them, it was a very poor choice of words and I sincerely apologize to anyone that I offended. But I do feel like I have a valid gripe about adoption services, when I read about Jane's frustration it really hit home with me and I guess it made me a little "cranky" as well. Unlike the vast majority of people these days, I value my privacy DEARLY, or rather what little bit of it we have left, it's one of the cornerstones that this great country was founded upon.

I'm sorry, I thought this was a public forum, I did'nt know it was wrong to have an honest opinion about something. Maybe I'm not politically correct or in the "click" here but I have just as much right to post my opinions here as you do don't I? On the contrary, I think it's great that folks rescue these wonderful animals but by the same token I think it's pure BS that Jane has to go through all this hassle to adopt a dog. So are you saying that since I live in KY (btw, I just live here, I was'nt born or raised here) that I don't take good care of my dog? I assure that I'm not included in the 70% you speak of and I've yet to see any $50 BCs for sale at flea markets here. And no, I don't have an axe to grind with anyone here. I just voiced my opinion about the adoption process and got slammed for it. I'm terribly sorry that I don't fit in with the status quo and the "holier than thous" here. I was just trying to tell Jane that she was'nt alone with her frustration with the adoption process. I rescued my first border Collie in 1986, the folks at the shelter told me of the special needs of Border Collies and asked me if I was sure if she was the type of dog I wanted. I was also told if I decided I did'nt like her I could bring her back, no questions asked. I paid the fees and took her home, no hassle whatsoever. Fast forward 23 years and things have sure changed. I see/hear commercial after commercial on television, radio, newspapers and magazines begging people to adopt a pet but when they try to do so they get slammed with the over-intrusive adoption process. The reason I looked to rescue another BC was twofold, none of the local breeders I knew had any puppies at the time and the ones I looked at online were all priced at $750 - $1000 or more. Does it make me ineligible or unqualified to own a Border Collie because I can't afford one that costs $1500? I was more than willing to pay up to $500 to rescue a dog and travel a long distance as well if need be. And I also thought it would be a great thing to do, but when I saw the applications wanting to know my personal finances, proof that I owned my home, refrences, proof or employment, etc... I said no way, my personal life is nobody's business but mine. Over the years I've bought several BCs from breeders and not one, not one has ever asked me for any personal information. And don't tell me that all breeders care about is the money, the people I got Kate from were really nice folks and they too told me I could bring her back anytime no questions asked, we email each other all the time and I send them pics of Kate every few weeks so they can see her progress as she grows up. While I applaude the efforts to find these dogs a great home, the restrictive, and often outrageous and demanding policies make it hard to see that they want to do the best by these animals. These agencies claim to have the best of the animal in mind but many times their overly strict rules cost the dog a great home. You can’t judge a person based on some of things that these places do. Just because somone does not wish to have thier lives turned inside out by an animal adoption agency means they do not have the time for a pet…. Maybe some people who are perfectly capable and loving enough to take care of a pet do not wish to have perfect strangers pick through their personal lives and finances then decide for them whether they are “qualified” to own a pet. Some of us do value our privacy, and I feel the adoption process is overly intusive. I know people lie, but by the same token I'm sure that there are some people that want to adopt a dog and have impeccable credentials but don't treat their pets as they should, even though they look like the perfect pet owners to the adoption agencies. And just because some folks maybe don't have unlimited finances and a "perfect" home for a dog does'nt mean the dog would'nt have a good life or will be mistreated.

I absolutely understand how you feel. It would be easier to adopt a child. When my dear sweet Roxie died a couple years ago I thought I would lose my mind I was so upset over losing her. I knew the best thing for me to do was get another dog and I too thought that a rescue would be the way to go. Like you, I was short on money at the time and also thought it would be great to rescue a dog and give it a good home. After 3 or 4 months of trying to deal with these people I gave up and just bought my current puppy, Kate, from a local breeder that I know. I fully understand that rescues want to be sure that the dogs find a good home where they will be well cared for. But... they get way too personal with the questions and want way too much information, like pictures of the inside and outside of your home. Sorry, but pictures of my home are nobody's business, this is'nt Nazi Germany we're living in. I used to feel really sorry for the rescue services but I don't anymore after trying to deal with a few of them. Just fwiw, Kate has a great life here, she has lots of space to run and play, she's spoiled rotten, gets tons of love, attention and play time with me, goes everywhere I go in the truck and basically leads the life of Riley A friend of mine recently wanted a couple of kittens for her little girl so she went to a local shelter that had tons of kittens. She said they made her feel like a terrorist being interogated by the FBI, would not let her take any kittens that day and said they'd review her application and get back with her. A week later they called her back and told her that they thought she was unfit to have any kittens since they would be staying outside. Shes lives on a big farm and they would have had a great life, I guess it's better to just put them to sleep.... I say just look around and find a puppy that you can afford like I did and stop wasting your time dealing with rescues - my experiences with them were all bad. P*ss on 'em.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...-guide-dog.html

I've never heard of this movie, but thanks to this thread I have it on the way from Netflix...

Kate hates having her nails trimmed and was totally freaking out, I found it was the clippers that freked her out, don't ask me why... She's just 5 months old and her nails are small. I found I can use a big pair of regular toenail clippers and she does'nt mind a bit, nor does she mind me filing them down nice and smooth when we're done. You might try a different kind of clipper.

I've never had this problem, guess I must have a strong variety of grass in my yard...

All the BCs I've had over the years were females, with the exception of one male, and all the females did the leg lifting thing at times.

Aw, don't feel bad... I'm a big softie when it comes to BCs myself, btw, I think your dog has the most beautiful eyes! Thanks for the kind comments about Kate everyone!

Great story, somehow they know when to cool it... I have some friends I visit often and I always take Kate with me because their little girl just loves her. She will run and play with Kate all day long and believe me Kate is active to say the least LOL. Last week when I was there the little girl had just had her tonsils removed and was pretty puny, just lying on the couch watching TV and Kate laid there with her all day and was very gentle with her. I don't know how they know but they do...

I've been busy and have'nt had the time to check out these forums for a few weeks. I got on here tonight and read a bunch! My pup Kate is 4 1/2 months old now she's doing great and I have her 100% house trained (Woooooo!) Earlier today I was looking at the pics I took of her the day I brought her home (Feb 4th) and I can't believe how fast she's growing up! The first pic was the day I brought her home, the rest were taken this evening

I'm so glad to hear Jin is doing better!

Sorry to hear about Jin Hope it turns out for the good and believe me I know how it is to be that attached to a dog. Here's to a speedy recovery!

LOL, Kate learned all bout cats last Sunday, I took her over to some friends house, in her curiosity she cornered one of their cats up, got her nosed smacked and squalled like a little baby

I'm no expert so all I can do is tell you about my experiences with BCs... I think maybe you're expecting too much of Sam at his young age, My puppy Kate is 13 wks and she is behaving similar to Sam, she too has learned come here (both vocally and a when I whistle), sit, down, shake, roll over, go outside, leave it, etc... and she responds to the commands perfectly when she's in the house. When we get outside she does'nt do quite as well with them, in my case I think it's because there are so many more distractions outdoors - sticks and bugs to beat up, the neighbors dogs barking, new things to explore. Also, if I take her to say a friends house she is so excited from checking everything out and being out of her "comfort zone" that she does'nt listen well. I'd just keep working with him, he'll come around in time, every BC I've had has been this way when they're young and all have gotten better as they get a little older. I don't think you're bonding too closely with him either, I think the more attention you give a young dog the better - let him be a "dog" but lots of love and attention in addition to lots of discipline goes a long way in developing trust and respect. I think a dog that knows he's loved by his master will respond better to your commands and discipline and will work harder to please you.