I have noticed lately that a lot of you seem to be questioning the wisdom of our adoption conditions. Some of you seem to think that our conditions make it difficult to find homes for our rescues, or that we should amend our conditions because they are too stringent. Let’s take a look at our conditions one at a time:
1.) Family MUST have an existing animal.
Now a lot of you have said that we are discounting homes that would be good for our rescues because they do not currently have an animal. You feel that this should not be a condition for adoption. We disagree, and here’s why. Some of the rescues we work with (especially in our Turkish branch) have been through horrific abuse. Handing those animals over to someone who has never had a pet, let alone a rescue with history and issues, would be a grave mistake. The only way to ensure we have found the right home is by observing how the family treats the animals they already have in their home. Look at it this way, if you wanted your house painted, you would not hire an accountant who has never picked up a paintbrush in his life, you would hire a painter. When finding a home for a rescued animal who has been through hell does it not make sense that we want a home that can properly care for that animal because they have experience? Of course it does.
2.) Animal MUST live inside the home not in the garden.
We do not feel that an animal should be chained in the yard and forgotten about. That is no way for an animal to live. Most of you have expressed outrage at one time or another over so called “outdoor dogs” chained in yards with no human contact. Do I really have to explain this condition?
3.) Animal MUST be fed a raw diet.
We feel that a raw diet is the only way to feed a carnivorous animal. It is the only species appropriate diet there is for our companion animals. We have ONLY the best interest of our rescues at heart with this condition. Many of you believe myths and old wives tales about raw feeding, and as such are inclined to believe that dogs and cats should not be fed raw. You would be seriously wrong. We all feed our animals raw, so it would be hypocritical of us to expect those who adopt our rescues to do anything less. We know what kind of garbage comes in a dog food bag, do you? If you don’t understand our raw feeding condition, perhaps you should research raw feeding, here’s a link: rawfed.com
4.) The family will be a non-smoking family. Second hand smoke kills and makes miserable the lives of both humans and animals. Our rescues have gone through too much in his life already, at least now they will enjoy clean crisp air in their new home.
Is this really so difficult to understand? Are we not constantly harping on our smoking family members, telling them they should quit for health reasons? Do you really think that second hand smoke doesn’t affect pets? Do you think your pet is immune to second hand smoke? The health of our rescues is of tantamount importance, and we do not feel that they should be exposed to further health problems!
So in conclusion it is safe to say that Let’s Adopt will not be amending their adoption conditions any time soon. Our conditions exist for the good of our rescues. If you disagree with them, or don’t qualify for any reason there are many shelters and rescue agencies that do not have such stringent conditions for adoptions, you can apply for one of their dogs or cats. They may charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege of adopting their rescues, but you will probably qualify.
Even with our stringent adoption criteria, Let’s Adopt succeeds where other agencies fail. We find PERMANENT loving homes for our animals. Anything less would be completely unacceptable. Our interest is the lives of our rescues, and ensuring that the rest of their life is spent in a loving environment where they will be treated as part of the family. We do not feel we can do that responsibly without some pretty serious conditions.
Until Tomorrow Remember
BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!
Janette
25 Comments to “We Stand by Our Conditions for Adoption…No Exceptions!”
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Regina Dickerson says:
I understand your conditions. One thing I do like to ask what if the family did have a pet but had died, do you still consider them as a good adopter??????
Janette Hamilton says:
Unfortunately,existing pet means just that. Someone can say that they have had pets but we have no way of knowing if their statement is truthful or how they treated those pets. However there are many rescue agencies that do not have this requirement and so we would refer anyone not meeting our criteria for any reason to one of them.
N says:
Really? Have you never done a background check? Do you NOT have a slot for references? Are you also NOT aware that some dogs or cats CANNOT be around other dogs while in foster because of traumatic experiences? There are some who NEED to be isolated to learn to trust humans again. HOW DO YOU VERIFY? By simply verifying. To deny a person because they currently have no pets is just wrong. HOW do you know what the situation is, why the pet is no longer there? If you refuse to adopt to someone who currently does not have, you are missing out on someone who could be the world to whatever animal there is in need. People need to heal after the loss of a pet. Some require more time. Is THIS the person you want to overlook? I wouldn’t.
And a diet of raw food? ONLY? Are you serious? IF someone is able to pass this idiotic list, well, how can you ensure they know what they are doing? Are you adopting out wildlife? IS there any way to be sure of this on vital ‘must’ on your list? How do you know this is what is best for DOMESTICATED animals? They are domesticated. YEARS have dictated the immune systems of domesticated animals. This may be what you feel is right, but a lot can go wrong for people who have no idea about a raw diet. Do you educate the small percentage who are eligible?
How do you ensure the pet will remain in the home? With the family? Some people believe the garage is part of the house. Some believe sending to the basement or a separate room is being part of the family. How do you ensure this? Do you follow up on the ones who are adopted out?
Smoking, well..if someone smokes outside, why is this an issue?
You are limiting adoptees by having this stringent list. I do not see where people who have records for grievous criminal sentences is not listed, nor do I see where you state a proof of the landlord allowing an animal onto their property. I also do not see many other things listed that are more important than feeding a raw diet, that other equally or more successful rescues state- clearly in their conditions. By keeping this to a limited few items in a list like this, you are not doing right by animals…I think you need to revise this, and add some more to this. Otherwise, people like me will think that you are not all you make yourselves out to be.
Wishing you success.
Janette Hamilton says:
That’s just it, HOW DO WE KNOW? The only way to know is to see the family in action with their present pet. If they do not have a present pet, then we can not do that now can we. We are not denying the person who has no pets the adoption of a pet, we just won’t give them one of ours, but there are plenty of shelters and agencies that will.
By the way there is NO SUCH THING as an animal that must be isolated from other animals in order to learn to trust humans. I have been rehabbing rescues for over twenty years and am a trainer and behaviorist, and separating an animal from other animals only serves to make them withdraw.
A raw diet are we serious? VERY, and we have no trouble placing our animals. We are 100% no kill. An animal is with us until it is placed, and they ALL get placed. In homes that give them ONLY the best.
As for your claims that our adoption criteria are idiotic, they are in place to serve our rescues, not people like you. Either you pass or you don’t, since we have no trouble finding people that do, we see no reason to change things, and have no plans to.
How do we know that a raw diet is best, simple some of the most well renowned veterinarians in the world agree that raw is a species appropriate diet for dogs and cats. Also we have evolved to the point of realizing that just because the manufacturer SAYS the food is good for your animal doesn’t make it so. We do not want our rescues fed garbage from a bag for the rest of their lives therefore they go to homes that are willing to feed them properly.
I am sorry that you do not agree with our rules for adoption, but thousands of others do, so I really don’t think i am going to worry about the few who do not care about their pets enough to be able to see that we are not in the business of finding just ANY home that will take an animal in, but of finding the home that will care for it and love it for the rest of it’s natural life.
Colleen says:
Janette, I have no issues with any of the conditions, I wish I could foster, though I am a smoker I do NOT smoke inside my apartment I go OUTSIDE, for the reason that I do not want my cats exposed to second hand smoke, and also for benefit to me, I smoke less, if I have to go outside.
I wish the landlords who own the building I live in didn’t have a 2 cats or one dog rule, or I would absolutely consider fostering.
Oh well….. maybe some day.
Janette Hamilton says:
We are waiting on pins and needles for that day believe me Colleen.
Robert Riley says:
I agree with some conditions and not others. It seems that you should not place conditions on adoption that have a higher standards than conditions on the treatment of humans. Second-hand smoke, a raw diet, and pets in the house are pretty over the top. Should adults who have not had children be allowed to have their first child? Should a dog’s diet be better than the diet that parents feed to their children? Should we uthanize the children of smokers because second-hand smoke is bad for their health – or perhaps it’s more kind to simply to sterilize them so they cannot have children?
Janette Hamilton says:
Do you realize that you can not become a foster parent in Canada if you smoke? I know I used to smoke and applied and was told to quit. Why? Because second hand smoke is unhealthy for children. You act as if adopting a rescue animal is a right. Make it sound as if anyone who wants one should just be handed one. How much good would that do?
A dog’s diet should be species appropriate and meet full optimal health needs just as a child’s should. If you would feed your child nothing but prepared garbage that was harmful to their health then no you should not have children, but we are not discussing children here.
Your comment about euthanizing the children of smokers is absolutely ridiculous and has no place in this discussion. If people are stupid enough not to go outside rather than subject their children to second hand smoke they are idiots, but that is also not my problem. We do not presume to tell people what is best for their children. However, we do have the right to set the criteria for what type of homes our rescues will go to, I am sorry if you do not agree, but it is what it is. There are plenty of other rescue groups out their that people who do not meet our criteria can adopt from.
Colleen says:
And let’s not forget you cannot smoke with minor children in the car, that is also law. Here in Ontario anyhow, not sure about elsewhere. I won’t even smoke in the car if a non smoker is with me, when I did rescue transports, I did not smoke in the car as long as the dogs were in the car.
Janette Hamilton says:
Yes, that is true we do have laws against smoking in our vehicle with children present. Common sense laws, as second hand smoke can be just a deadly as smoking the cigarette yourself. Funny how people don’t protest when a child is involved, but say an animal has to go to a non-smoking home and they look at you like you have two heads.
maura says:
The only thing I disagree with is the raw food. I tried that with my rescues and couldn’t manage it. I feed Acana, free range grain free, which through my research is as close as i can get to pure. Judge me if you wish.
The rest is all logic to me.
Janette Hamilton says:
I am not going to judge you Maura, but i will ask why you couldn’t manage it, just out of curiosity you understand.
David Brickert says:
I looked at the Recipe List at Rawfed.com. Finally! Recipes that even I can follow!
Sincerely yours,
TypicalGuyDave
Janette Hamilton says:
That would probably be because they do not involve cooking, raw recipes are easy!
Willie says:
Janette, I believe that your conditions are fair and in the best interest of the health and well being of the animals. Nowhere is it written that everyone must adopt solely from your organization and must meet these conditions to adopt any animal, anywhere else.
All adoption groups have their own conditions for adoption. If someone doesn’t meet the conditions, as you mentioned, there are many other rescues that they can turn to for adopting. It is your right to chose what home environment they will live in.
I suggest you also add that the animals should not got to homes that use artificial air fresheners, especially since they will live 24/7 indoors and subject to the chemicals released in the air. These artificial air fresheners are are not healthy for humans and above all, not healthy for pets that will continuously be breathing them.
Janette Hamilton says:
I had never thought of the air freshener thing, mainly because i never use them, but it is something to consider.
Jacqueline says:
Hi Janette
I have a question to ask, that I think many people will wish to have answered.
If a prospective adoptive family makes an application to adopt, but has a frail senior that they know does not have much time left, would you be willing to come to a home check on how they are with the dog they have for a future adoption after that dog has passed. Would you be willing to accept that as having a dog, but understanding that they are waiting to adopt out of respect for their senior frail dog?
Janette Hamilton says:
Most definitely. The main reason we require another animal to be in the home is so that we can do just that, check the health and welfare of the current animal. It is perfectly understandable to me that someone may not want to bring a new energetic adoptee into their home with an ailing senior pet. But having said that, it is also the only way for them to qualify to adopt a pet, so yes i would be willing to pre-screen them for adoption before the death of their old and ailing pet. It is not that we do not believe that people who do not have existing animals can be good pet owners, it is that we have to have some sort of checks and balances in place to ensure our rescues go to good homes. We are more than willing to work with those homes in extenuating circumstances such as what you describe.
Gail says:
Why can’t you use vet checks/ references / home checks to tell if that person / family is up to your standards?
Do you also do a criminal background check for anything esp animal abuse?
I would also like to know where and when you got your certification to be a trainer?
Is this a registard rescue?
Is this a registard charity?
For me to want to apply to adopt, I will need honest info on this group.
Janette Hamilton says:
I do use all those things and then some but no animal will go to a home that does not feed raw. or meet any of the other criteria it is just that simple!
Janette Hamilton says:
“Why can’t you use vet checks/ references / home checks to tell if that person / family is up to your standards?”
Who told you I didn’t? A vet and reference check is done on every applicant.
“Do you also do a criminal background check for anything esp animal abuse?”
We do have our LEGAL ways of checking the background of someone wishing to adopt.
“I would also like to know where and when you got your certification to be a trainer?”
Why? Are you planning on becoming a client? That is the only reason i would have for releasing that information to you. My personal profession only provides me with knowledge of dogs, it has nothing to do with my rescue work other than I train our rescues free of charge.
“Is this a registard rescue?”
We are a COMMUNITY of rescuers that give our time to save animals, and rehome them as well as to educate the public to the wisdom of spaying and neutering. We do not require registration to do what we do.
“Is this a registard charity?”
Wea re not a charity, we are a rescue and advocacy group. We do not need to be registered because we do not collect donations.
“For me to want to apply to adopt, I will need honest info on this group.”
The info is available for anyone to see if you look in the right place. We are the Canadian branch of Let’s Adopt Global run by Viktor Larkhill. We have over 12,000 members worldwide who can attest to the work we do on a global scale. Since we are a totally transparent group it would be impossible NOT to find honest information on us, we have nothing to hide. We do not charge a rehoming fee or an adoption fee therefore we have the right to impose whatever conditions we see fit on the adoption of animals rescued by our group. We have a great adoption rate, so should you decide NOT to apply to adopt one of our animals it will not be the most earth shattering thing that has ever happened to us I assure you.
Gail says:
Wow, lovely attitude.
I can see why many people are starting to question what you do and how you do it. From other things I have read about Victor, I wouldn’t associate myself with anything his hand is in. Oh and BTW, you do get money from using chip-ins. I have seen many of them. Lets be honest.
If you are going to say you are a trainer, people have a right to know where and how you were trained. I don’t want a joe-shmoe training my dog or even a potential dog just because they SAY they are a trainer.
I think I will find a more reputable rescue to get any animal I want.
Thanks for the attitude and time.
Janette Hamilton says:
Actually no one questions what we do and how we do it but you. While Let’s Adopt Global may have chipins, Let’s Adopt Canada DOES NOT, so try getting your facts straight before you start throwing accusations around. Secondly, IF you were hiring me to train your dog then YES you would have a right to demand to see my credentiaLs, since however, you are not a client, I am not obliged to provide you with anything. Since you also will never be a potential adopter with us I am not obliged to prove anything to you.
Obviously you have a personal vendetta of some sort against Viktor Larkhill of Let’s Adopt Global. Well I am here to tell you that that is your own personal problem and has absolutely NOTHING to do with LET’S ADOPT CANADA, which is NOT run by Viktor Larkhill. WE at Let’s Adopt Canada do NOT use chipins, and as I said before I will thank you to get your facts straight before attempting to trash us because you don’t see eye to eye with Viktor.
It is clear that it is not MY attitude, but yours that needs adjusting. Who the hell do you think you are to attempt to trash ALL of Let’s Adopt because YOU have a personal problem with Viktor? You are acting like a child! Grow up! So you don’t agree with the way we do things, and won’t be applying to adopt an animal from us? Am I supposed to prostrate myself before you and beg for forgiveness? Not likely, I have been rescuing animals for a very long time (a lot longer than I have been running Let’s Adopt Canada,)and I am well aware that I am doing NOTHING wrong or illegal, and am really not concerned with one person out there who disagrees with my methods. There are many more rescues for you to give your support to, I suggest you find one! Oh and for the record I usually show my credentials to anyone who asks, but then again most people don’t ask while trashing my group and my friends.
Gail says:
I did NOT trash BEFORE you gave me your holier then thou attitude. I asked questions which YOU took offense to. I don’t care how long you SAY you have been doing anything. Don’t mean you are good at it.
People are reading your posts to questions asked and believe me, they are laughing and seeing the REAL truth. I don’t care what you think of me and I certainly don’t have to grow up. Maybe the mirror isn’t your friend.
LAC is on many people’s radar and I know you don’t adopt out as many as you claim. Maybe you should take another look at the web site about the chip ins. As for slick vick, anything that he is a part of is poison. Anyone who follows his is poison. So thanks for alerting me and many others who already know about him that he is your cult leader. At least you did many a favor on that account.
Oh and I am not the only person who sees through the methods of this self procalimed rescue. Do Canada a favor and get out.
Janette Hamilton says:
Nope no offense was taken at all you just did not like the fact that I had answers. You also don’t like the fact that you are being corrected when you lump Let’s adopt Global and Let’s Adopt Canada together. I am going to say this ONE more time. You will NOT find ANY chipins associated with Let’s Adopt Canada, because there are none. Any chipins bearing the Let’s Adopt name have absolutely NOTHING to do with LA Canada. LA Canada is seperately run and Viktor Larkhill does not run this branch. Also I am not sure who this “VICK” is you mention but he is no part of LA Canada. I will tell you to get your facts straight because as usual you are running off at the mouth about something you have little knowledge of. LA Canada isn’t on anyone’s radar but yours, and since I am pretty sure you have not been declared ruler of the known world I don’t think I will let it get to me. You are obviously a petty little person with nothing better to do but try to attack people because Viktor Larkhill pissed you off. Viktor pisses a lot of people off, as a matter of fact so do I, but that would be because we refuse to compromise our high standards for the likes of you. I have had quite enough of your nonsense, you have more than had your say in this thread and future postings will not be approved. Have a nice day!