Fine shelters, you win. I’m absolutely exhausted, saddened, and frustrated with shelters. I’ve been trying to find a companion for my dog. All I want is a small or medium breed dog, but I live in an isolated area in Alaska, and our local shelter doesn’t have any that would be a good fit. So I look at an organization nearby, but communicating with them is upsetting. I’m getting different crucial information from multiple people, and when it comes down to just filling out an application and setting up an appointment, I tell them I’ve already submitted multiple applications. I want to set up an appointment, and a week later, I get no response. I’ve been trying to communicate with them for weeks with little response. Phone calls go to voicemail with no call back. I go on Pet Finder (which honestly is a terrible website for someone who lives in areas like me) and see dogs I’m very interested in, but they never communicate with me after I send in an application. So many will say they don’t adopt outside of their county. Then they have a list of requirements: a large fee, home visit, multiple references, an interview, etc. I go to websites trying to find dogs where they say they’re the ‘largest rescue organization in North America,’ and yet they have like four dogs available. I don’t know what to do. I’ve spent COUNTLESS hours trying to find a dog to adopt, and it has been so incredibly frustrating and disheartening. So many dogs need adopting, and yet it feels like they’re not even interested in adopting them out.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I had a similar experience trying to adopt. It feels like a full-time job just to find the right dog.
Have you thought about reaching out to smaller, local rescues? Sometimes they have dogs that aren’t listed online.
I feel you. It’s like they have all these requirements, and then you get ghosted. What’s the point of even applying?
It sounds really tough. Maybe try contacting a dog transport service? They might help you find a dog that fits your needs.
Honestly, have you considered fostering? Sometimes that leads to adoption, and it might be a quicker process.