I have been a dog person my whole life.
That bumper sticker that says, "I like dogs more than I like most people"? True story.
I have very early memories of Snoopy decorations in the playroom/junk room at my mom's house. I cite this as one of the main reasons I love dogs.
I had two fantastic dogs when I was a kid. I still have pictures of them in my living room.
Until I realized I had no interest or aptitude for science, I thought I could go to veterinary school.
Pretty much the only reason I wanted to buy a house was to have a yard so I could have a dog of my own.
The four-door car? Same thing.
I adopted two Golden Retrievers from a local rescue group. Even though no one reads this blog, I don't want to name the group because I don't want to diminish the good work that the volunteers do.
As is common with Golden Retrievers, they both developed cancer. Different types of cancer, and at different stages of their lives, but still.
Since dogs don't articulate their symptoms the way humans do, canine cancer is often caught too late to be successfully treated. Such has been the case with both of my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic Golden Retrievers.
With both dogs, I feel as though everything that could have been done to make their lives comfortable while in my care was done.
I had to let my most recent Golden go in March. As any dog person and any of my friends will tell you, I was devastated. But, I also knew I would find puppy love again. In July, I applied for a dog with the same rescue group my two Goldens came from. This is also the same group that I myself have been volunteering for since 2005.
The adoption coordinator managed, in the course of about 10 minutes, to make me feel like I didn't do enough for my two previous dogs. She made me feel like I didn't deserve to have another dog. She told me I needed to be a foster "parent" first.
I didn't notice her telling all of the other potential adopters that they needed to foster first.
I can't say that I "like" this adoption coordinator, but I've never had any open hostility from her. She was not the person I dealt with for my previous adoptions. Her attitude toward me has always been one of indifferent disdain.
However, she doesn't know me.
Here it is, the beginning of November, and I still don't have a dog. I haven't even been called about a dog. I am not being considered for another dog. All because this little person with her power trip has decided not to pass my name along to the volunteers who foster dogs in this group.
I know she hasn't spoken to the fosters about my application because the few fosters that I spoke to at the last event I attended didn't know I had applied for another dog. If the fosters don't know you're looking, you won't be considered for a dog. If the adoption coordinator doesn't pass your name to the fosters, the fosters don't know you're looking.
See the problem?
Like I said, I don't want to name the group because I believe the fosters are doing good things. I think it's the coordinator that's the bitch, if you'll excuse the obvious dog pun.
I had heard from a couple of people that the adoption coordinator was petty and difficult. I had heard these things from people who have provided wonderful, loving homes for dogs. Not hoarders. Not crazy people. Decent dog owners. But, I didn't want to think that the group I had been volunteering for could be more interested in its human agenda than in finding good homes for animals in need.
I guess I finally have to pull my head out of the sand.
I wasn't expecting to jump the line ahead of other applicants for a particular dog. I wasn't expecting preferential treatment. I was, however, expecting a little bit of courtesy. I was expecting to be acknowledged.
So, I recently applied with another local rescue group that deals with Golden Retrievers. A volunteer called me the next day. They run things a little bit differently, but basically if they have a dog they think you'll be interested in, you are invited to a meet-and-greet to meet your potential puppy luv. I told that volunteer I was aware it isn't an overnight process. I am content to wait patiently.
I feel pretty good about this other group. Sadly, I have decided that I will not continue to support or volunteer with the group where my first two Goldens came from. It really should not be this hard to find a dog. Both rescue groups say on their websites that they have more dogs than they do places to put them.
Here I am. A home willing to take in a dog and spoil it silly. I am willing to provide medical care. I am willing to train the dog. I am willing to groom the dog. I am willing to love the dog.
And yet, here I am. Still waiting.
