In search of loving pooch friend

May 16, 2006 5:28 PM

I've been applying to adopt a dog in Massachusetts for about a year. I live in a tenant-at-will apartment, so they won't give me one. My situation is such that I rent from a friend, his elderly aunt lives downstairs and I look after her, and she would love to have the companionship of a dog during the day when I'm at work. But it seems I can't have one, even though my landlady has given me the go ahead. She is deaf and partially blind, but able to play with a dog. I read the post about dogs being euthanized in Georgia (May 11, MeFi) Maybe these people should advertise in other states. I'd be happy to pay the transportation fee for a long-life friend. I don't want to buy one from a breeder, because that's a waste. I want a nice, friendly pooch, I don't care what it looks like, just that he's in my lap in the evenings when I'm watching TV, and an inspiration to get me up early in the mornings for the morning and evening pee, happily clutching my plastic bag to pick up the poo. Anyone in Massachusetts have any ideas?
posted by WaterSprite to pets & animals (24 comments total)

Post on Craigslist?
posted by desuetude at 5:30 PM on May 16, 2006

Been there. Animals get scooped up in seconds, and the adoption fees are outrageous.
posted by WaterSprite at 5:38 PM on May 16, 2006

Have you looked on Petfinder.com?
posted by amarynth at 5:40 PM on May 16, 2006

Have your friend who owns the house adopt, then transfer ownership to you?
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 5:40 PM on May 16, 2006

Who is the "they" who won't give you one? I'd head over to the nearest grocery store. Most of them have a bulletin board and you can expect to find "dogs, free to good home" ads there.
posted by richg at 5:47 PM on May 16, 2006

I got my dog on Craigslist, because I was in college at the time when I was looking to get a dog, and adoption agencies don't adopt out to college students (which is ridiculous! As a college student, I had far more time to waste than I do now). I suppose I understand that hesitation, but still- snobby adoption agencies are one of my pet peeves (yuk yuk yuk). Keep your eyes on the ads on Craigslist everyday- I bet you'll find something.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:48 PM on May 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

Yes, I have tried PetFinder. "ThePinkSuperHero", I hear you - I applied at BuddyDog, our most reliable trustworthy dog adoption agency. I didn't want to be dishonest and try to get someone to adopt the dog for me, but a friend of mine is willing to adopt a dog in his name for me. I just don't want to scam anyone - although, it would be of benefit to the dog. It seems to me a lot of unloving people take dogs and then get rid of them, I plan to commit to my dog for the rest of his/her life/ "Amarynth", I have tried Petfinder, and that's where the dogs I apply for disappear immediately. As I said, I don't care what the dog looks like - I actually prefer a slightly homely, scruffy pet, but I also don't want one that's so old it's going to off in 4 years. I also don't want a puppy. Or something that's evil and will eat my neighbors, like a pit bull. A nice, goofy mutt is what I have in mind, and it seems everyone else does, too. I work 9-5 all week, and by the time the weekend rolls around, and I get to the shelters, it seems families have adopted all the cool scruffy friendly mutts. Anyway, thanks everyone. I'll keep watching for your ideas!
posted by WaterSprite at 5:58 PM on May 16, 2006

oh, and "richg" - the "they" is petfinder (more of an application than that of adopting a child!) and breeders, which I have given up on completely.
posted by WaterSprite at 6:00 PM on May 16, 2006

I'd keep at Craigslist - check it often, and e-mail as much as you can, since a lot of people fall through. I got my cat within a day or two of e-mailing a very nice guy, and he's perfect (the cat I mean). Couldn't ask for a better pet, or a faster adoption.
posted by kalimac at 6:06 PM on May 16, 2006

Try your local animal hospitals. Often times they will have a bulletin board of pets available, or will have animals that people have abandoned for inability to pay. If you are friendly with the staff, and leave them your phone number, they may be willing to give you a call when something comes up in the future, even if they don't have a pup in need of a home right now.

You could also ask them about breed-specific rescue leagues. These are organizations that are dedicated to finding homes for (usually) a specific breed of dogs. Many times they are less rigorous than the MSPCA shelters, and you can get a pure-bred dog for hundreds less than the breeders will charge.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:26 PM on May 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

On petfinder, did you check the classifieds? That's where we found our dog, as the regular rescue groups, adoption agencies, etc wouldn't adopt to us because my son was under six.

Brody came to live with us four years ago at age seven and it was the best thing we ever did.
posted by obeetaybee at 6:27 PM on May 16, 2006

Seriously, try the vet hospitals, like Rock Steady said. When we went to visit our kitty post-surgery at the vet hospital, one of the vet techs came up to us and asked, "Do you want a great big dog? He's really sweet." Unfortunately, we live in an apartment, and already have 2 cats. But our vet and his techs seem to regularly run across dogs and cats in their practice who may need a new home - eg. one cat wound up at a local no-kill shelter up for adoption from our vet hospital because he had gotten a serious eye injury outdoors, the owners said to put the cat to sleep because they couldn't pay for the surgery, our vet went ahead and did the surgery and when the cat recovered, set him up at the shelter for adoption. He's a cool guy.
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 6:51 PM on May 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

Take a friend with you to the animal shelter, find a dog you like, and have them adopt it for you. Then you take it home. Not 100% honest, but the dog's getting a good home. I can understand them not wanting to place an animal in a rent-at-will apartment, but it does sound like your situation is rather different.
posted by EarBucket at 7:01 PM on May 16, 2006

Did you go to the pound- the public one run by the county or SPCA, not the Human Society or no-kill shelters? If you don't have one, try the nearest rural county. they will adopt you a dog for $65, no questions asked.

A lot of adoption places have, imho, absolutely ridiculous rules and limitations on adoptions and questionable priorities. Some of them are run by outright collectors. Personally I won't deal with them at all anymore.
posted by fshgrl at 7:06 PM on May 16, 2006

not the Human Society or no-kill shelters

Is there something wrong with getting dogs from here? Both of our dogs came from the Humane society, one of which was on death row at the pound before getting picked up by the Humane Society. Just curious why you say not those places when those dogs need homes too.

One nice thing I found at the Humane Society was the meeting rooms to play with a dog and see how they are before adopting as well as the fact that they will let you return the dog if it isn't working out (unknown chewer, problems, etc).
posted by chrisroberts at 7:32 PM on May 16, 2006

Damn ... this is all alien to me. I've had dogs actually come up to me, begging to be adopted (when I lived in New Mexico), people set up in store parking lots to sell puppy mill puppies (now that I'm in Oklahoma), the classified ads are full of pets for sale and for free, and the dogcatcher's kennels are practically overflowing.

You need to visit the "flyover" country and you'll have your pick of pooches. No waiting period. Chihuahuas to Saint Bernards, and all sizes and breeds in between. We even have wolf hybrids, if you want to live dangerously and impress the neighbors. Y'all come!
posted by Seabird at 8:13 PM on May 16, 2006

I didn't want to be dishonest and try to get someone to adopt the dog for me, but a friend of mine is willing to adopt a dog in his name for me. I just don't want to scam anyone - although, it would be of benefit to the dog.

If none of the other suggestions work, I think you should take your friend up on his offer. Don't think of it as scamming, think of it as civil disobedience against good-intentioned, but ultimately ridiculous, bureaucracy. I think in this case the means justify the ends.

Just curious why you say not those places when those dogs need homes too.

I think fshgrl just means that the pound is less likely than the Humane Society to have such Draconian requirements for their adopters. It probably means that they care less about the welfare of the dog, but in this case that might be a good thing.
posted by granted at 8:15 PM on May 16, 2006

Yep, they're less restrictive. Not all good dog owners have a fenced yard, own their own home etc. and those are common requirements.
posted by fshgrl at 8:32 PM on May 16, 2006

I hate to be a "me too," but this is a seriously odd question for someone in Texas to read. We have all the dogs you want. Come and get 'em.

But seriously, good luck to you and your future friend. He/she's out there somewhere.
posted by Bud Dickman at 9:14 PM on May 16, 2006

We adopted a dog from a shelter for just the fee and the basic assurance that we weren't devil-worshippers looking for our next sacrifice. So keep checking different shelters and humane societies. Some have different rules.

Also, many rescues/shelters/h.s.'s will put their most adoptable animals on petfinder. Adoptable = cute little puppies, purebreds and the designer "breeds" like labradoodles. Not-so-adoptable = older dogs, dogs with disabilities, really ugly dogs, mixed breed mutts. So you might call a few of these places and ask if they have any other dogs that aren't listed on petfinder. They might back off on the rules a bit to get a dog out the door that has been unadopted for a long time.

Also, have you considered a cat instead? Much less work, and some are quite friendly and "dog-like". Might be easier on Auntie too. Just a thought if the dog doesn't work out.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:16 PM on May 16, 2006

I think in this case the means justify the ends.

By which I of course meant, "the ends justify the means"....damn it all to hell.
posted by granted at 10:32 PM on May 16, 2006

Can you drive out to a more rural county? I got my cat from the animal shelter in the town where I went to college. They didn't ask any questions. But maybe that was because they were happy to get rid of her - she bit three of the animal shelter employees while I was filling out the adoption papers.

She is 10 years old now and the sweetest thing ever.

Anyway, this is wierd to read since I live in Missouri, which is like the #1 state for puppy mills. We have plenty of dogs here.

You may want to check with breed-specific rescue groups. Many of them have "underground railroads" in which people in different states help to transport the dog to its final destination.
posted by Ostara at 11:00 PM on May 16, 2006

There's a program here in Virginia that's basically a foster program. You take care of a dog until it can be adopted out full-time, which can range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and then get a new one. Their requirements to foster aren't that strict (though to adopt they're stricter). The one I know of is Oldies But Goodies, which specializes in Cocker Spaniels, but there are groups for all sorts of types of dogs. Maybe this could be an option? (I'm assuming these types of groups are all over.)
posted by inigo2 at 5:09 AM on May 17, 2006

Thanks everyone. I'm going to go to the pound this weekend and every weekend until I find the right dog. All of your ideas were great!
posted by WaterSprite at 8:43 PM on May 17, 2006