Okay, here is our application for one of four male lab pups available through Labs4Rescue.com. I omitted only personal info such as address and phone numbers.
Time at current address: 15 years
Own or Rent Residence: Own
Specific Age Desired: Puppy
Please specify why are you interested in this particular dog? There just something about the kindness in the eyes of these specific pups which catches out attention
Would you consider a Special Needs dog? No
Will you accept a Lab-mix? Yes
Preferred Activity Level: Any
Preferred Sex: Male
Ages of all adults (including yourself) and children who live at your house: Two adults, 49 and 42, no kids
Do they share your interest in adopting a dog? Yes
Who is the dog primarily for? Adult
Who will care for, train and exercise the dog? Both adults
Does anyone in your household have allergies? No
If Yes, to what allergens?
May we visit your home prior to application approval? Yes
Pet Number 1, Name: Phoebe
Pet Number 1, Species: Dog
Pet Number 1, Sex: Female
Pet Number 1, Spayed or Neutered: Yes
Pet Number 1, What happened to the pet?: 6 year old lab/hound mix
Pet Number 2, Name: Kilgore Trout
Pet Number 2, Species: Dog
Pet Number 2, Sex: Male
Pet Number 2, Spayed or Neutered: Yes
Pet Number 2, What happened to the pet?: Yellow Lab. Died 4 weeks ago at age of 13 years of tumor on liver. Full description is on my blog: http://www.GuyWithTypewriter.com
Pet Number 3, Name: Casey
Pet Number 3, Species: Dog
Pet Number 3, Sex: Female
Pet Number 3, Spayed or Neutered: Yes
Pet Number 3, What happened to the pet?: Black lab. Died in her sleep 2 years ago at age of 12. We believe is was most likely also of tumor on liver.
Name of Current or Primary Veterinarian: Here I listed out vet’s name, address and phone, and stated it was the only vet we’ve ever had. (I likewise called my vet and gave them the okay to release records if requested.)
Will the dog be allowed in the house? Yes
How long each day will the dog be left alone (without humans)? Less than 2 hours per day
Where will the dog stay when it is left alone? In the kitchen/living room/dining room area
Are you familiar with the use of a dog crate to train the pet during your absence or at night? Yes
Is your yard fenced? Yes
If so, please describe the type of fence, its height and the dimensions of the fenced area? Cedar fence about 4 feet high. Yard is about 1/10th of an acre.
If you do not have a fence, will you install one?
What is the approximate size of the dog’s yard area? 1/10th of an acre
Will the dog be walked daily? No
Will the dog be exercised in a fenced yard? Yes
Will the dog be allowed to run free without supervision? No
Will you take the dog to an obedience training class? No
Have you ever owned a dog? Yes
Have you ever owned a Labrador Retriever? Yes
If you have a dog, does he or she receive monthly Heartworm preventative? Yes
Are you aware that Labs are active? Yes
Are you aware that the routine costs of maintaining a dog average over $500 per year? Yes
Have you ever sold, given away, or surrendered a pet to a shelter? No
Please tell us why you want a dog: We always liked having 3 dogs. (We don’t have kids, nor will we ever have kids) When Casey died, we felt bringing a puppy into the mix was unfair to Kilgore at his age. So we waited so he would get the most attention in his senior years. Phoebe is only 6, and thus we want to expand our dog family once again.
Please tell us a little of your lifestyle, your family including any special activities in which your dog would be included: Gorman is a writer/film editor who works at home (We have a full film editing suite in our attic). Kris manages a coffee shop. We are home a lot.
If and when you move, what will you do with your dog? Dogs will come with up, WITHOUT QUESTION. We are of the opinion that a dog is like a child. It should be against the law to just give away your dog, just as it is to give away your kid.
Do you understand the state and local ordinances concerning licensing and leashing? Yes
Have you, or any member of your family/household, been cited for leash law violations or cruelty to animals in the past? No
Please tell us how you became aware of Labs4Rescue and its programs:
Other: Gorman has edited videos for HSUS. A friend at HSUS recommended Petfinder, which led us to you.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about your application? If you want to see Kilgore and Casey, they were the star of their own little video which can be found on the first page of my site: http://www.GormanBechard.com. It’s a cute 45 seconds which will make you smile.
OK…that plus a $15 application fee got me this response:
Will you take the dog to an obedience training class? No
Thank you for your interest in Marley’s puppies…I have received many
applications under consideration. As I stated in my bios, one of my
personal criteria to adopt is a family committed to the future
education of their Lab. Per your application, you have stated that
this is not in your plan. You many want to consider another great
Lab.
Thank you
Edee
Labs4Rescue
Hmmm…kind of rude and abrupt, if you ask me. And all because I told the truth and didn’t check off a box which would have been so easy to check.
So I pull up the puppy’s pages, and this was the description:
VERY ACTIVE, VERY SWEET, AND READY DECEMBER 4! Marley’s Malcolm was born September 18 to Marley, a Yellow Labrador Retriever that was found abandoned just two hours before giving birth to a total of 10 chocolate puppies. Marley is a very sweet and mellow Lab, weighing about 55 pounds. Her rescuers have since adopted Marley and Labs4Rescue has been entrusted with 8 of her babies which will be ready to leave their foster home at approximately 11 weeks of age on December 4. We do not know what breed of dog sired these puppies, but we presume another Lab since they all have Lab features and they are all Chocolate with little if any white on them.
Malcolm, at 8 weeks of age, weighed 11.25 pounds. His fur is dark chocolate and he is all chocolate with only a white blaze on his chest and white tips on three of his toes with the exception being the right front toe. Malcolm is anticipated to be a large, high energy Labrador when he is grown. The puppies are working on their crate training in their foster home and they are very socialized with people and other animals. They love to play with each other, other dogs, toys, and they don’t shy away from water! To adopt one of these puppies, you will need to have plenty of quality time at home, be committed to obedience training, and to a lifetime of challenges and rewards associated with living with a Labrador.
Only one puppy can be adopted by each qualified applicant. Please read our website and adoption process carefully before applying.
For additional information about Marley’s Malcolm please email…
OK…nothing there about TRAINING CLASS…so I wrote back:
Edee,
I’ve stated this because we personal train our dogs, right by the book…quite literally, we follow Brian Kilcommons’ GOOD OWNERS, GREAT DOGS to the letter.
I’m home enough to be able to devote the time to training a new puppy.
And all three of our dogs have been very well behaved because of this.
However, if obedience class is criteria for getting one of these pups, and the above isn’t training enough, then we will agree to take the puppy to obedience class.
Please let me know…
Thank you,
Gorman Bechard
P.S. If you haven’t, please read my blog www.GuyWithTypewriter.com which in detail describes the death of our last pup and the pain. You will not find a more caring family.
To which she replied:
ok, will call to discuss further…thank you for expanation.
And call she did, the next day…
Imagine my surprised to discover the pups that one would think are in Killingworth, CT…at least that’s the only town mentioned in their listing, are actually down in Memphis, TN.
(Edee insists the listing specified that the pup was in Memphis. It absolutely did not.)
After hearing this I explained that I would like to meet the pup before making a decision. I mean, am I delusional, or is this the responsible thing to do?
Edee tells me this is not possible, that a lot of people rescue dogs before meeting them.
(My mind is reeling…irresponsible people perhaps. But I am also questioning what sort of dog rescue group would adopt a dog out to someone they’ve never met?)
So I offer to drive down to Memphis to meet the puppy before making a decision.
Again, this is squashed.
(Now I’m wondering what they might be trying to hide?)
The conversation ends, I find her tone condescending at the very least, so I write her this email:
Edee,
There is nothing on the pup’s listing that mentions Memphis. The ONLY town mentioned is Killingworth, CT.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12404292
Which I honestly feel is quite misleading.
I am also concerned that I offer to come down there to meet the dog, which I think is above and beyond in terms of responsibility, and that notion is squashed by you.
I also take issue that you are willing to give these pups up to people whom you’ve never met, but who just happened to answer the questionnaire in the “correct” manner, and happen to have the $350 fee.
Seriously, a lot of raised red flags.
Gorman Bechard
Edee never wrote back.
But, I cc-ed a bunch of the other people working for Labs4Rescue, and that night received an email about two other male labs, and did I want to see pictures?
Yes, I did.
I got the photos and a phone number AND the info that the pups are down in Louisiana.
I called, and spoke to a very nice woman who basically said I could drive down and pick up one of the puppies if I really wanted to meet it first.
I told her I would think about it…though having to go to Louisiana for a puppy seems ridiculous. Aren’t there a lot of unwanted pups in New England, or in New York, or Jersey? Hell…I’ll gladly take a three/four hour ride.
Now, as my application stated, I just recently did a little work on a puppy mill expose, and I know that 99.999999% of dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills. Seriously, Google any breeder and or distributor you see listed in ANY pet store, and that’s what you’ll find…they’re a puppy mill.
And I really wanted to do the right thing by saving an unwanted pup.
But after just three days of dealing with a rescue group, I’m ready to plop down $1500 bucks at my nearest pet store. Mind you, I WON’T. But if I’m feeling that way, I can only imagine the frustration of the average Jane and Joe who just want a dog.
The rescue groups should be helping to put good dogs in the hands of responsible owners, instead I’m seeing that they actually feed the need for pet stores and puppy mills by making the adoption process so over the top ridiculous, or my being misleading with their info, or both.
Rescue groups should be working towards eliminating the need for puppy mills.
Oh yeah, the woman in Louisiana said that unless it is noted that a dog is being fostered in a certain town, that I should have known that meant it was being housed down south.
Well considering it says that NO WHERE on their site, how am I supposed to know this? Through osmosis? Am I a mind reader?
I used the largest pet finding website to search for a LOCAL dog…but these dogs aren’t local. Which is fine…BUT TELL US. I would never have put in an application for a dog I could not see before bringing home.
I also feel it’s a nice way to get the $15 application fee. Bet those add up quickly.
So, yes, I’m frustrated and annoyed. And yes, I know there are probably people at Labs4Rescue without the rude attitudes. And who really care about the pooches. But as a dog lover, I do have a problem with bringing into my home a dog I’ve never met. C’mon, personality is so much. And we have another dog…I want Phoebe to feel comfortable and happy with her new little brother.
And likewise, I think it’s very irresponsible to adopt a dog to someone sight unseen, someone who has the $350 fee, and who just happened to check the right boxes.
Something just doesn’t seem right.
Perhaps I’ve spend too much time watching puppy mill footage.
Perhaps ignorance is bliss.
Or perhaps I’m just not fit to own a dog.
Guy With Typewriter 