Since before lockdowns, we have been trying to adopt a dog from a rescue and getting absolutely nowhere.
I found a gorgeous Golden Retriever puppy (five months old) on one rescue this week, and completed an application form.
We are a three adult household, with 10 and 11 year old grandchildren. The 11 year old visits us once a week (she has two Springer Spaniels at her dad's house) and the 10 year old visits us once every three months. This was made clear on the application form.
I have today received an email saying that the dog is not suitable for a home with children.
I am shocked at this. How can a five month old puppy, of a breed which is known to be an excellent dog for families, not be suitable for a household where children only visit? Children who either have dogs currently, or have lived with dogs in the past.
Are they saying that if you're taking the dog for a walk, make sure you're nowhere near children? Is it realistic to only home a puppy (who has come from a breeder to the rescue - I don't know why, but they seem to have a lot from breeders when the puppies don't sell) where there are never going to be any children?
Or is it, as I suspect, that at 62 and 63, they think we are too old to have dogs/puppies? My son, who lives with us, is 30, so there will be someone around who can still exercise the dog (who will of course, also be ageing as the years go on).
I feel so deflated at this. We are committed to getting a dog, but it's beginning to look more and more as though the only way it's going to happen is if we go direct to a breeder, which we really didn't want to do, given how many dogs are in rescues waiting for homes.
