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Question for those who know about animal rescues
So, after watching a friend's two pugs for six weeks while the family moved to Chicago and bunked with her family until they closed on their new house, we realized we like having a dog. (We'd previously had a cat until about two years ago, when she died, and then we enjoyed being pet-free.) Anyway, I realized it works out very well in our home--I'm working from home full-time, and DH works from home 2-3 hours per day--so a dog would never be home alone that long.
Anyway, I casually was browsing petfinder, because I wasn't really sure I wanted to have a dog (I've always been the hold-up), and I fell in love with a little doll. A mix, two years old, 10 pounds. Just the sort of dog I'd want, and her description makes her sound very, very sweet.
So I emailed the rescue a week ago to find out if she was still available and what the process was if we wanted to meet her. She is available, and we were told to fill out an application, which we did the same day. Since then we've corresponded a bit, and now we're waiting to hear when we can meet her.
My question is this: is it normally this slow? I mean, I know it takes time and rescues are careful about adoption. And this dog needs to be spayed still, so it would be a couple of weeks (from last week) before we could have her, but I feel like it is like pulling teeth to get a response or any information. I mean, it has been a week. I want to know if we can meet the dog and when. But am I just being impatient? (This rescue has been around for 10 years, so it isn't brand new.) I don't want to badmouth the rescue if this is totally normal, so I don't want to say the name. Maybe I'm just excited and impatient. 
Re: Question for those who know about animal rescues
Thank you! We will do that if, by the time of the next event, we aren't further along. The dog is being fostered in Waseca, so I don't know if she'll be at the event, but attending would still be helpful, I assume.
And yeah, it is mostly staffed by volunteers, so I don't want to be abitch about it. We're just excited.
It is REALLY hard not to be impatient! I just about jumped out of my own skin waiting to hear back on Renzo!! It can definitely take a bit of time depending on how many volunteers a rescue has. Don't give up!! :-)
And YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY for you! How exciting!!!!! I obviously love doggies so I give this post five HUNDRED stars!
First of all ... congrats on deciding to be dog owners (or dog parents or whatever you want to be called). You will love it!
Second ... thanks for adopting!
Third ... as others have said, communication from rescues can be slow as they're usually staffed by volunteers who have "real jobs" to take care of too. Sometimes it's easier to get info and schedule things with shelters since shelters usually have paid staff members. In any case, be patient ... I know it's hard, but it will be so worth it when your new doggie comes home.
Mr. Sammy Dog
Depending on the rescue, you may have a few hoops to jump through before you can adopt, just be forewarned! we had to have a volunteer meet us at our house to make sure we weren't running a covert puppy mill, that we didn't live on a super busy street without a fence to contain a dog that might slip out the door, that we had an appropriately sized space for a dog of the size ours would be, etc. After we got that gold star, then we could look at dogs.
We adopted through a breed specific rescue and their policy is to be very honest about if someone is seriously considering a dog. That gives the potential family a little bit of breathing room to decide if they are, in fact, right for that particular animal without someone swooping in and snapping up the dog while you're still thinking about it. And they have a 2 week return to rescue policy if it doesn't work out as you'd hoped which I appreciate greatly. Our particular rescue also will take back the dog, no questions asked, if at any time your circumstances change and you're no longer able to care for the dog.
Can't say enough about rescue. Congrats and enjoy the ride!
Thanks for the additional info! The application was very detailed, so I wouldn't be surprised if we have a home visit. It would be fine, I think, as we have a fine sized house, and a large (for the city) fully fenced yard that is more than large enough for a 10-pound dog. I don't mind the wait, but I was just wishing for a little more info into the process from them so I'd know when things might happen.
You know, like "it takes us one week on average to review applications, then several days to set up a meeting, then a home visit within another week" or whatever!
We'd only ever adopt an animal, so no worries there. I'd never want to support a backyard breeder.
Congrats on wanting to adopt!!
Like others have said, unfortunately the response you have received can be pretty typical. I totally understand wanting to know what is going on and as a rescue volunteer (and foster) I do wish that rescues would be a little more responsive with potential adopters but I know that they do the best they can.
It sounds like this is the only girl you are interested in so as a pp said definitely find out if they are doing an adoption day and if she will be there. If you are open to looking at other dogs, I would say adoption days are a great way to meet a bunch of dogs and talk to the foster parent. A lot of times they are so different in person than what you perceive them to be by their online profile. I actually passed by my dog's profile many times without even considering her until I went to meet another dog at an adoption day where she happened to be as well and the rest is history!
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Yeah, for whatever reason I'm really drawn to this dog, but meeting other dogs at an adoption event is a good idea, because maybe the perfect dog for us will be there. I shouldn't rule other dogs out. I'm just sort of on the fence in general about having pets, but I'm so, so drawn to this girl, that it makes me really want to have her. That's why I am anxious to meet her.
Thanks for assuring me this is typical. I will revert to being patient!
I wanna know what rescue! I volunteer with one, so I'm wondering if it's one of "our" dogs. . .
But yeah, volunteers, slow, etc, everything everyone else already said.
I loved have the pugs, but boy did they shed! I do love them, but I think I'm looking for a dog that sheds a bit less. I get the pug love, though. They are adorable!
And I totally agree that it should be an involved process for adopting. You don't want people to not take it seriously.
Just wanted to second MN Pug Rescue! That's where I got one of my pugs from and couldn't be happier! They do shed though so I understand why they aren't the first choice for someone
I used to work at PetSmart and they had adoption events pretty frequently- more often they were for larger dogs but occasionally had smaller ones as well. It was always fun to work those days but hard too because I wanted to take them all home! I know Petco has adoption days a lot too.
Good luck! I hope you are able to get this one that you are so interested in or find an even better fit soon!