Is this a normal policy at many humane societies?

Question

so my boss just lost his yello lab and he has decided he wants to get another dog. he has found it is just way to quiet at home without his dog. so he was looking on the humane society website and found this Flat Coated Retriever.

http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z242/sjpavelka13/?action=view&current=1219168713-l-thunder.jpg

anyway. he called the humane society and asked for an appointment to see him because he wants this dog really badly. they said he could just come in and see him. he called last Friday. and today he went and picked up his wife and they went to the humane society to see him but someone else had already filled out papers and wanted to adopt him. (nothing was guaranteed yet) in the mean time my boss wanted to see this dog really badly but they told him he couldnt since someone else was interested. they said it was a policy. now my question is, is this a normal policy at many humane societies?

Answer 1

I'm not sure about their policy on filling out papers, or calling about a specific dog.... but likely what happened was a simple miscommunication.  Whoever your boss spoke with on the phone didn't say whether the dog could be put on hold for him, or let him know that the dog could be gone by the time he cane to see it.  Likely just a new employee (or someone very, very busy at the time) who didn't know or forgot to give details.

Answer 2

Whoever gets physically down to the shelter first generally gets first dibs.  Or who ever calls first and has arranged a time.  First come, first serve.  Your boss can put his name down for the dog, and if anyone above him is not interested then he can have him.

Answer 3

I volunteer at a Humane society and yes that is a normal policy. The reason they do that is because the paper work is already filled out and that basically means for the most part that the people/person that filled out the paper work is getting the animal. Yes it is kind of unfair for the other person but Humane socities go by a first come first serve basis.  

Answer 4

Yes. If another family is interested in the dog, humane societies will place the animal on "hold" and not let anyone else see it since it is pending adoption. Your boss should wait around and see whether or not the adoption goes through. If this other family backs out or is turned down, then he will have a chance to adopt the dog. Not letting another family/person visit a dog that is pending adoption is a courtesy to the adopting family. What he should have done was ask that they not let anyone else see the dog until they could get there because he was very interested in adopting it. Most humane societies will oblige, and treat it as if the dog were pending adoption.  

Answer 5

Usually the process goes like this:

1. See the dog and call about it and see the soonest to come in.

2. Get in to see the dog to see if you really want it as soon as possible.

3. Fill out the paperwork while you're there. Even if you're not sure about the dog, fill it out anyway so you're covered.  It doesn't mean you are totally committed usually. It just means you have dibs.

4.  They check you out and your vet references and your home situation.

5. Approval or disapproval.

If he really wanted that dog, he should have gotten in there when he hung up the phone with them on Friday.  What took him so long?  There was a weekend in there and they are the busiest time at a shelter.  The dog is pending now so he should start looking at another one and if the original people are denied, he MIGHT be next in line or maybe there is a long line.  

I think it's a fair practice.  How would he like it if he filled out paperwork and was waiting for approval and someone else was looking at "his" dog?  

That looks like a great dog....real looker and nice pose.  

Answer 6

Sorry, but in my area, if there is more than one family interested, they all fill out the paperwork and the best possible match for the dog's needs is who gets the dog, not who gets there first.  They should've let him see the dog and filled out paperwork just like whoever they claim was interested.  Just because someone is "interested" doesn't mean it's a good home for the dog.

Answer 7

yes. The adoption is considered in process, so they don't want any one else to see the dog.  Also keeps the paper work straight.

Answer 8

It's pretty common, but probably more common in shelters that aren't high-kill, and don't have a huge problem adopting out dogs.

In some shelters, the high-kill ones, and the ones that have applications fall through quite a bit, they'll see several people and have them fill out papers, check them out and then decide. They also do this in some "picky" shelters.

Basically, yes, what happened to him is common, but not absolute.

Answer 9

Ok in my experience at working at an animal shelter I was a kennel worker.  I cleaned up after the animals stuff.  So I'm not 100% sure what happens in the area that takes care all of the paperwork.  But at the shelter I worked at, it basically was first come first serve. But there was always a chance that the first person interested would fall through and you could still put a hold on in you know.... just in case.  Then there was these little orange cards we'll put on the animals cage that would say something along the lines of "Sorry, I've already been adopted, but do take a look at some of my other friends."

There was never an incident when someone was not allowed to go ahead and still see the dog or even spend time with it if they so pleased even if it was already in the adoption process.  

I guess everyone does something different.

Answer 10

I GUESS ITS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE !? MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A DIFFERENT POLICY ,  ADOPTION AFTER INTERVIEWS ARE DONE TO ASSURE THE BEST HOME FOR THE DOG .