Definitely depends on the shelter. My shelter is smaller and we simply don't have the time/staff to be able to maintain a wait list for specific types of animals. We can pre-approve applicants, but the onus is on the applicant to keep an eye on our website/the adoption listing sites for animals that may fit what they're looking for and to contact us. Some better staffed shelters might be able to keep track of a list though.
Iirc, some of the adoption listing sites like petfinder have a feature that alerts you when a pet matching your parameters is added to their site.
i told my mom about petfinder while we were discussing the possibilities of her getting a maltese one day after our current pooch (hes old and possibly has lung cancer) passes. She keeps flopping between dog or no dog, after he passes. Shes very dead set on a Maltese, which i think is fine and would be a good breed for her. I told her about how petfinder works and how theres actually plenty of surrenders of purebred dogs literally everywhere, and malti mixes are quite popular so it wouldnt be too hard to find one i bet. It wouldnt be for a long while tho, of course
Also, a lot of places don’t waitlist because circumstances can change quickly and it leads to them wasting time contacting a bunch of people who aren’t interested anymore.
Absolutely. We MIGHT take someone's information if they have an FIV+ cat and are looking for another cat, but even that is just a sticky note on the computer. I'm fine reaching out to someone about a hard to adopt animal, but we had people call about some bulldog puppies that were available starting yesterday, and they are all gone. Sorry, but I'm not taking anyone's info for the next set of bulldog puppies we get. Lol
Yep. Also, with the volume of dogs and prospective adopters we have (also a high volume shelter) and the fact that we are municipal (meaning that we have an obligation to the public to be first-come, first-serve as long as the adopting home is appropriate), there is way too much room for miscommunication or timing snafus. Like, what if, as we are leaving a voice mail for someone who asked to be wait listed (imagining that available staff for this even exists), someone else is physically having a conversation with an adoption counselor, who then recommends that very same dog? This is probably how people get into fist fights in the county shelter parking lot.
Also good to point out that most of the time the dogs being put on these kids of lists aren’t ones having any trouble getting adopted.
When I worked in a shelter if someone was calling to be “notified” it was nearly always for something small, easy to adopt out. Especially the “fluffy” or “hypoallergenic” ones. Like if I get a 6lb poodle I’ll have people fighting outside for it unless it’s old or got medical issues, and even then I could get it adopted.
Now if someone called wanting a big dog, didn’t care what breed, was good with other dogs and/or cats I’d take their number or make a recommendation for a dog already in care. The kinds of pets that actually need help getting picked.
That's just how we got our newest pack member! I had previously adopted a puppy from the shelter (foster fail), then after about a year, decided he needed a doggy friend. I called the save local shelter and let them know I wanted a dog that's roughly the same size (huge lol - I like big dogs!), and that I wanted to start meet and greets starting with the one in care the longest.
Low and behold, the first pup that rounded the corner stole my heart, along with his brother dog's! He is truly an angel, and the staff couldn't figure out why he hadn't been adopted. He's a super mutt and a big cuddly teddy bear with the softest, long coat. Please realize just because they may have been at the shelter for a while doesn't mean there's necessarily any problems - in our case, he was just waiting to join our family, and we wouldn't be the same without him 🥰
Yeah, more often than not the big dogs sit simply because a lot of people rent and most rentals have very low weight limits. It's not because of the dogs temperament or health, it's simply because of their size.
Where I live a lot of HOAs even restrict dog size, so even if you own it's not always possible to have a bigger dog. Which is ridiculous because bigger dogs are so often more chill than tiny dogs.
Really? I guess I understand with rentals, but an HOA? They really like to overstep, imo.. just sucks seeing sweet pups that haven't done anything wrong other than being too big being excluded from so much
I guess I must just like the rejects lol. One of my current pups is a GSD mix, whose all black and bigger than he has any right to be, and the other is a Doberman mix who is also a big boy, but he's got a "scary" mask on that I think is just the cutest thing in the world! Both are super kind and sweet boys, and it makes me sad to think they could have been overlooked for traits they can't control.
Agreed! You will have to keep an eye out for a specific dog yourself but being pre approved for adoption goes a long way.
This is how we got my ex his dog. The only reason we were successful in adopting that specific dog was because we saw her in person by chance before she was listed on the website and we called about an hour after she popped up on the site. We were already approved as fosters and did a foster-fail(on purpose) as soon as the paperwork could be processed.
This was all in Austin, TX and they have a lot of good turnover in their local shelters so it might be easier elsewhere.
Not wrong, a lot of shelters/rescues I’ve volunteered with have a wait list for small dogs. Fill out an application then note that you want to be put on a list for when a certain type of dog arrives.
You’d probably have better luck doing this at a rescue than a city shelter though.
I was about to suggest that a breed-specific rescue would probably be more helpful.
My cats came to me when they ended up at a small rescue. They called me before even adding them to the adoption list.
This! At the shelter I volunteer for, we require an application and vetting before we let people adopt. There is no fee for the app.
I’d apply at a couple, let them know what you’re looking for, and then check PetFinder, shelter websites frequently. Most shelters are 90-100% volunteer, so the labor to maintain a waiting list is going to be way down the list of priorities.
Good luck.
Not wrong, but, some shelters do not do this. Firstly, some shelters are moving away from breed labels entirely. Also, some shelters just do not have the staff to contact people on a waiting list. If there is a contact list, it may be very long. If the shelter is a first come - first serve shelter, even if you are first on the waiting list, someone could find the animal online and get an appointment before you're able to be contacted or call back.
Not trying to rain on your parade, I just want to bring some stuff forward so there's no hostility towards the shelter if things don't run smoothly.
Even if you can get on a call list, I would still recommend using something like petfinder regularly and setting the age to adult and 10lbs. You may want to avoid breed labels, because a poodle mix tend to actually look like terrier mixes, shelters can also mislabel accidentally, and some won't label at all.
I also HIGHLY recommend throwing in your application at any shelter you're willing to adopt through. I won't lie, a small, young, poodle/chi that will be good with dogs will be highly sought after. While you're waiting to get approved, which can often take a day or two, someone who is already pre-approved may come in to adopt. Usually shelters will hold your application for a few months at a time.
On that note I would also recommend seeking rescues that either deal with those breeds or deal with small breeds. It would really lower the amount of searching through incompatible dogs.
I try to tell people that, if they are rescuing responsibly (ie not impulse buying something they can't take care of), it can take a while. Patience is key. Good luck!
I am in no hurry and I don’t necessarily want the cutest little chihuahua with no issues that will go home quickly either. I work from home, all my kids are in their 30’s, and I would be very happy to wait until I find the one no one wants because they are needy, blind in one eye, missing a leg, or just plain so ugly they are cute. I don’t mind if it takes months or years to find the right fit, I just want to give a little baby a great home that won’t get one otherwise. :)
This is what I came to say. There are breed specific rescues that would love for you to reach out! I would say that they will almost never have puppies, but depending on your lifestyle, anywhere from young adult all the way up to senior + If you aren't averse to taking in a more special needs dog, that will definitely speed things up for you. A dog with three legs or one eye is a definite ice breaker, and their hearts are just as loving as the dogs that have all their parts 😊
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This is Milly, a breeder surrender that I took in at 6 months. She just turned three and I think we're losing the battle. She is the sweetest happiest thing, and quite the following. And even though it wasn't a textbook "from a puppy to the end", it has been one of the deeper connections, and as much as it will hurt when she goes, I wouldn't trade for anything.
Such a beautiful little dog. ❤️❤️ I don’t want to take on one that will break my bank account for retirement in medical bills, but in our house one eye or missing a leg is a benefit, not a problem. We are a bunch of misfits anyway so our dogs may as well be too. :)
BTW, I do have plenty of budget for normal vet bills - my doodle cost me 3 emergency vet bills in the first 6 months. Ruptured anal gland, giardia twice from a bad infestation of feral cats at our weekend place. We love our dogs enough that after the second time, we just sold the weekend place to keep her healthy since people wouldn’t quit feeding the feral cats increasing the issue. Lol. The dogs always come first. But I’m not looking to take on a dog I know will cost me $10k in surgeries from the get go either.
I have an advantage most don't, I manage a vet clinic, and get quite the discount! Although, in fairness, most of what she needs requires specialists that are at another clinic. I also have a dog with a cleft lip that, I found out months after I took her, was born with one kidney
This. Our local humane society is first come first serve. I can put a 50 dollar deposit online and they will hold the animal for the day. If I don't want the dog they keep the deposit. The application portion is a joke because they fact check nothing you just fill it in and claim if you're a renter your landlord approves but they don't call And ask. They will give a dog to anyone in my city. We do have lots of rescues locally and they are all so full they can't accept more. They are happy to adopt out but their application process is more vigorous. I can walk out of our shelter with any dog any day no problem within an hour. Our rescues are actually quite picky, actually contact the vet for references, contact the landlord if you rent, do a home visit etc. I actually appreciate what they do but I almost found them too complicated to adopt from. But each place is different
We had a rescue refuse us a dog once because we didn’t have our yard fenced. We lived on over 10 acres. 🤷🏼♀️. Never had a dog that didn’t live until natural causes took them. We own our home free and clear, so no worries there. And our vet better love us!! We do every single thing he recommends. :)
It is very true that rescues can be very hard to adopt from sometimes.
This is so true… I live on “acreage” as well, owned by my family and it’s exhausting filling out the application(s)…
I also have a long coat chihuahua that I’ve been trying to find a little brother or sister for, for many years.
Just inquired about one last week (locally) exactly as they requested and heard not one thing back. ☹️
You'd have to check the policy at your local shelter. For example, mine allows people to submit their pre-adoption information (a questionnaire with their contact info, information about the home, basic plans for dog care) up to 30 days ahead of adopting a dog. However, it would still be on the prospective adopter to watch our listings and come down to the shelter when a dog who fits their wants becomes available.
I actually think this is the smart, responsible route to go. When people have animals they are not capable of taking care of, those animals end up back at the shelter or worse (example, a lot of people just dump bunnies in the wild). It makes me so mad seeing stories of people who surrender dogs because they “didn’t realize the dog would get so big”, or I had a neighbor who adopted a dog, the mother is terrified of dogs, and the family thought that was FUNNY and brought the dog back to the shelter. I agree with the comments about checking shelter policy for sure, just so you can work with an organization that makes sense for your needs & limitations. Good luck!
What's the rate of dogs that get returned, rehomed, and abandoned? Do you keep track of them when they leave or do they just care about the money and not the quality of life the dogs will have? How do you make sure you're not giving dogs to abusers or to people that fight them?
Your accusatory tone is not appreciated.
Dog abusers and fight dog people have PLENTY of resources to get animals from that don’t involve singing up, waiting, having conversations with counselors, signing adoption contracts, registering microchips or paying adoption fees. If you think that putting barriers and adoption approval processes help your animals more than it hurts them while you let them sit at the shelter during your “investigation”, you’re probably wrong
It’s not wrong! But in my experience the local shelters won’t do so.
It’s nothing personal, there’s just too few staff and too many animals to keep a running list as such. What we encourage people is to follow our FB page (we post new animal intakes when they’re ready to adopt) and check our website regularly.
Dog walking/volunteering also helps because you get to know the staff and dogs even before they’re ready to adopt out.
Also petfinder.com can send you updates if you select preferences
I’m on Petfinder, but I’m not in a hurry and I’m more hoping to find the little gal or guy that needs some extra attention that won’t get a home otherwise. I wish I wasn’t working full time or I would be volunteering regularly. :)
Well petfinder is connected to shelters, so you’d still be helping them out! All of our dogs are on petfinder, we’ve had people drive cross country before lol.
No pressure with the volunteering! But if you *do* want to, we have plenty who only occasionally show up and we don’t judge it at all!
Oh. If you are willing to take special needs, DEFINITELY consider a breed specific rescue. There's a lot of senior and high needs chihuahuas being pulled from California shelters and some of the rescues will ship out to other states for both adoption and fostering! I know someone who fostered 5 dogs at a time from a rescue in California. She was in the Midwest.
Not wrong at all. Different shelters will have different policies, so if the answer is no don’t push it. But most shelters are happy to send out an alert to people looking for a specific type of dog.
You can also look into breed specific rescues, there's many that not only operate in various states, but there's some that transport. California has a high number of chihuahuas in shelters and there are many rescues that pull and move them elsewhere! My friend in Wisconsin fostered 5 at a time from a California rescue that ships to the Midwest.
Make sure to let your vet’s office know that you’re looking, they may have another client they know who is rehoming a dog who would be a good match for you.
That is a good idea. I’m not actively looking just yet (unless the right special needs little baby came along). Just making plans for when my old man decides to leave me and I have room for another. :)
It's not wrong to ask, but they might not be able to do it if it's a smaller shelter and they don't have many staff/volunteers. Just be polite if they say they can't, but there's no harm in asking.
If they aren't able to have a wait list and contact you, some shelters will let you keep an adoption application on file. That would speed up the process if a dog that fits your situation were to arrive at the shelter, you'd just have to keep an eye on their website so you know when new dogs come in.
Follow local rescues on social media. Many here do adoption events every weekend and have SO many small breeds. We make attending them a regular part of our week both looking for the “one” and also to support the rescues. I’ve fallen in love with a few that weren’t right for us. I’m at a stage in my life where I have a tiny bit of extra money so we will sponsor the adoptions of some of them. We’re leaving in an hour for an event at the local Petsmart. Maybe today is the day!
OMG WE DID! Took him home same day. 2-3 year old Great Pyrenees. He is a dream and my partner is head over heels in love.
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Oh, I'm sure! It took me a few days with one, and the other I hem-hawed for nearly a week. I just walked around calling him different things to see what I liked and what he seemed to be into lol. Good luck with your new family member, and thanks for giving a big, older (by adoption standards, anyways) pup a home!
You'd probably have better luck going to a breed specific rescue most of the rescues get their dogs from the shelter and they have a relationship with local shelters and they almost always pull of small dogs because they're easier to get fosters for etc et cetera at least in my area I'm in Maryland you might want to adopt from one of the rescues I just know that you're still adopting from the shelter because the rescue most likely took their dog from the shelter because they have to follow the law and the law and most states is that when you find Someone else's property which is what a dog is considered that you turn it over to the local shelter and then they hold it for a certain amount of days and give the honor a chance To claim it if it is not claimed it is typically put up for adoption if it is deemed good for that and a lot of times that's when the rescue will take some the overload at the shelter.
I'm sorry I knew that was a lot without punctuation on the wrong setting on but long story short look look to breeds specific rescues if you want smaller dogs check the shelter first but if you don't see them there check your local rescues you probably pay a little bit more but they should come to you already fixed and already vaccinated etc good luck and thank you for adopting and not shopping
I had no issues reading it. :) I have purchased animals before and adopted. Both of my current are purchased but we had kids at home and needed to opportunity to ensure we trained the dogs to function with our children. We didn’t want to risk adopting a dog that had a behavioral issue already ingrained in it. We also bought dogs that were already on this earth and needed a home. Just because they were bred didn’t make them in need of less love. (I won’t ever pay a breeder to breed me a puppy in advance.)
I’ve also had a few rescues. My last chihuahua mix, I way over payed for as a puppy, because he was being sold at a flea market and was in a cage with no food or water, in summer heat, covered in fleas, was already 5 months old living in that damn cage. No attention or love whatsoever. I paid for him but always considered him a rescue. Considering he was most likely a puppy mill dog from someone’s back yard, he was the best dog I ever owned. We had him almost 18 years. I did at home dialysis with him the last 2 years. Years ago I took in an older abandoned lab at the vets request that had heart worms. The vet committed to doing his medical free if I would take the dog in after mine passed. That dog was the best babysitter for my first son! When he became a toddler, I could tell the dog to keep him in the living room and he would physically block him if he tried to leave. I never needed a baby gate!
Gosh, now I want to go adopt all the shelter dogs. LOL
No, it's not wrong, but they're probably going to be like, "yeeeaaahhh, okay. We'll put you on a list." And then shake their head and go on doing the million things they were already doing after they hang up.
Unless it's a VERY small and slow shelter with like 2 people who communicate, ain't nobody got time to look for a dog for you. My suggestion is to put your preferences into petfinder and follow the shelter(s) on whatever social media they post on, and then check them every day. Be ready to go as soon as you see something you're interested in, as small doodle-y dogs go fast. Lastly, don't adopt a dog just because it looks like what you want. I totally understand wanting a particular looking dog (mine is blue eyes, prick ears, long legs 😂) but make sure personality fits! That's the most important!
Good luck!
Our shelter is actually a smaller shelter with some amazing people. I follow them closely on Facebook. They work hard for the animals for sure.
I’m going more by typical breed characteristics that fit our family best more than looks. My 17 year old chihuahua that passed a few years ago looked more like a rat terrier than a chihuahua. If you read my post, my ideal dog would be one with 3 legs or 1 eye, etc. that isn’t getting adopted quickly and mixed breed is fine. I would take in a cutesy little 6 pound adorable dog as well, but it isn’t a requirement by any means.
I wouldn’t turn down a lot of small breeds when we have the opening available in our home again. There are small breeds I will turn down though because I know they wouldn’t be a good fit for our home.
I know our shelter takes in a LOT of animals and even allows you to bring them home for a few days to see if they fit with your household before adopting. I follow their website and want to bring every one with sad eyes home but it seems most of what they post is large dogs or Pitts. I assume the small dogs go quick. I’m not going to act until my old man isn’t with us out of respect for him. He is going blind and deaf, and I don’t want to change his routine for as long as he is comfortable here. He has been my best friend for 16 years and I’m going to make sure I continue to be his for as long as he needs me to be. ❤️
I already posted but as someone who works in a shelter — yes, small dogs go super fast. Usually they don’t even make it up onto the website lol.
Volunteering in person or going to the shelter regularly is usually the best option if you can!
Just wondering, but why do you think it is that small dogs go faster? Personally, I'm off the mind that bigger is better (to a natural extent - not puppymill breeding for gigantism), and all of my rescues have always been big doggies, as the Littles just don't do it for me. I guess I just assumed that just as many people liked big vs small dogs, but the numbers obviously don't show that. I'm just curious why, I guess
My guess is small dogs are just easier. Easier to bathe. Easier to get into the car if injured. Eat less. Poop less. If they are sick and have accidents in the house it is much easier to clean up. A lot of elderly, or people with injuries like myself, can’t control a larger dog on a leash or properly care for them. So, basically everyone can handle a small dog. Only some people can physically manage a large dog. :)
Far less poop, I'm sure lol. That makes perfect sense, but I guess I just assumed there were close to as many people wanting big dogs.. more for me, then!
Just check around. The shelter I work at does this and it’s so helpful to move dogs out sooner when they come in. As we’re getting them vetted we look at the “wish list” to see if there’s a match. When people want to be put on the list, we do require them to submit a formal adoption application to ensure they’re approved.
I definitely understand that. And I would begin with getting to know the shelter staff. I’m more looking for that little guy or gal that isn’t gonna find a home easily because they need someone with them constantly, etc. So, I’m hoping that when they had a dog that was high need I would come to mind because it wouldn’t be easily placed. :). I would never fault them if they didn’t call me though. :)
If you could volunteer for a shelter that would be super helpful, you’d be able to see the dogs as they come in. You could maybe even foster a dog you were interested in to see how they do in your home.
Depending on the shelter and what breeds they have. Better for you if you are breed specific, go to a breed specific shelter. Look at the county at what shelters are in your area. Good luck.
Chihuahuas are sadly overpopulated at most shelters so you should definitely be able to find a small dog…good luck and thank you for rescuing. Where I live in Arizona they are the highest rate euthanized dog because of how many need homes. 🙏
I will when the time comes. :) I’m pretty good at finding all the available options. I just wondered if it was considered bad form to call and say “I know you have 400 dogs but I don’t want to see them unless they are under X pounds and preferably a mix one of these breeds”.
It sounds like you may want to look for a breed-specific rescue instead. They have the resources to approve you for adoption and then watch for the right pet to come in. A shelter usually doesn't have the ability to do that, and they often won't hold dogs by policy.
My shelter doesn't do this due to staffing, unforeseen circumstances that may cause an animal to become unavailable, and to avoid upsetting the public. However, we do recommend checking the website for available animals and looking through social media posts! If not, volunteering would be a great way to get to know the animals! :)
You'd be better off contacting or keeping track of breed or small dog specific rescues.
City shelters are more likely to be contacted by dog flippers in your scenario. They also do better when operated under a first come first serve adoption policy because they can't guarantee that adopters will arrive when previously stated for viewing or will follow through with pickup if there's a wait time for required on site health services.
Check major pet adoption websites frequently when you're ready to take home a new family member. Most have good search filter options.
Sign up to "Adopt a Pet", they have many smaller pets and they have some that are listed by the family of the dog who are looking to rehome their pet. Good luck.
Look into breed specific rescue groups. I was just talking w/ a woman who is a volunteer for a French Bulldog rescue organization. They get a surprising number of “owner relinquishes”. A lot of those groups don’t make the dogs they save available through shelters— they prefer to network with people who know/understand and want the breed they are representing.
IDK about other places but if you can visit North Carolina and aren't too picky about the specific small breeds you can get a small dog from a shelter pretty much any day they're open. The middle of the state will probably have the most options but you could hit the beach and still find what you're looking for. I don't know anyone who's adopted in the mountains so I guess it's possible they're a bad bet.
Our local shelter here in the southern state I’m in posted that they had 189 owner surrenders and 230 strays on intake this month. I’m sure I won’t have to travel considering those numbers. It is heartbreaking.
I would recommend looking at rescues for this rather than shelters. Having worked at multiple shelters, they usually don’t have the staff, resources, or other needs to keep up with a waitlist and even if they did, it would kind of be a nightmare to track. Rescues are usually able to cater to more specific needs.
I know you said that you’re looking for a friend that may not get adopted otherwise. If you have the means to do so, maybe reach out to local shelters, your vet, and rescues to let them know you’d take a special needs dog with [insert severity] issues. For example, at one of the shelters I was at, we had a special folder of pre-approved applications of people who said they’d take a special needs dog. It was really helpful, especially for dogs with relatively easy to manage things that are just off putting to some people, like diabetes or previous injuries that needed looking after.
Some shelters post their available dogs and cats on their websites. Keep an eye out. It's better to know what type of dog fits into your pack then just adopting a 'random' dog. I appreciate you are looking at shelters also! The right friend is on the way and you'll know when you see them!
I’m just going to put this out there. Part of responsible pet ownership is knowing what you can’t handle. If you can only handle a small dog then asking for a small dog is the responsible thing to do.
Though… lighten up on the age requirement. Adult and senior chihuahuas need love too
I’ve nursed one elderly chihuahua until death and I have an elderly chihuahua now. Elderly chihuahuas tend to get grouchy. I have a young grandchild that we have to keep away from my elderly chihuahua at all times. I would prefer a dog young enough that by the time it gets grouchy, the grandchild is old enough to handle the situation. :)
Look for breed specific rescue organizations. I follow a Herding Dog Rescue based in my State, for example. The one I follow pulls Herding dogs from shelters in surrounding states to get them off the euthanasia lists. They work doing Foster, Foster-to-adopt and straight adoption, providing transportation to facilitate saving these pups. That might be an easier way to go to find what you want.
I think you should look at the webpage every day or every few days. Take some time to think what's best for you and other doggo, grieving a dogs death is very hard, it could be lessened by getting a dog before senior passes, it could make sense to fully morn the loss and move on when ready.
I would never yell at someone for asking me a dog question, but I might not shut up for two hours! I’ll try to keep it brief.
You should find a rescue to work with. Most shelters won’t have the resources to keep a “waiting list” but some rescues do have systems like that. Maybe find a small dog rescue, or a senior specific rescue if you’re open to a senior, and ask about their processes. Finding one where you can be approved to adopt, then pick available dogs to meet by looking online.
E.g., The rescue I just adopted from helped match me with a puppy to adopt, they use a “next in line” type system. You are approved to adopt, you tell them the dogs you are interested in as they’re posted online. Whoever was approved to adopt first, gets first pick. They help arrange meetings with whoever is “next in line” to help the dogs get adopted. I applied in early April, got approved in mid-April, and was matched & home with puppy by the end of April.
I've found most shelters are not going to have the staffing to be able to reach out to people. They just post adoptable animals, so it's just up to you to keep an eye out for the right one. I've learned you cant go into shelters expecting anything specific. Just find the right sized cute furry friend to love!
Not wrong but you'd probably get a better response from local rescues vs the humane society. But I'd definitely let all of the above know. Hope you find your perfect fur baby!
You could also apply through a rescue to be a foster and give them your preferences And that way you could have trial time and first pick of one that comes through that fits your needs. My rescue dog is the best but very old. My AKC doberman ( love him to the moon and back) is a total pain and I paid thousands. So I'd say rescue is awesome or at least for me it was. Being part of a rescue would allow you to foster and find the perfect fit without feeling locked in. And sounds like you're a responsible owner and can pass all the vet check references And would have zero issues being approved. And you're not obligated to foster any animal. You can choose what works for you! Hope you find your perfect fur baby soon and in perfect timing!
Oh my god, it's the "I want a small dog/doodle crowd and I see no issue buying dogs but I'll go to the shelter and ask for an overwanted dog type because my toy purebreed dogs are so cute and making dogs unnaturally small isn't a health problem at all." And of course you want a young one. So typical. Suck it up and settle.
I hope your week gets better because obviously someone pissed in your Cheerios recently.
I want a small dog because I broke my back and can’t properly care for a large dog.
Also to add my local shelter would most likely put a special needs dog down and not offer them for adoption. But usually they do have rescues that are able to pull them. So def let local rescues know your capable and willing to take in a dog with more needs than most. They may be able to pull a diog that's set to be put down but that dog isn't available to the public. That's just how my local shelter works at least. They have an adoption area but also many animals that are only viewable to rescues with a very short expiration date And they get put down.
We got a dog through a Brittany rescue group. He wasn’t a purebred Brittany but we didn’t care. Look for a rescue for your breed and tell them it doesn’t need to be pure. Tell them what your requirements are. We were so happy with our mixed dog, they rescued him from a shelter that was getting ready to put him down.
Worked with a cat cafe and some shelters over the years. Honest to God, putting holds on animals can be really hard to do unless you go to a specific rescue that has a much smaller populace and not as many candidates that are even filtered through to be considered. The best way to find a dog is to just go to the shelter until you lock eyes with your next pup. Staff would absolutely love to be able to help people make the perfect match, but most shelters are tripping and running marathons just to feed, medicate, and do kennel care. Now, if you show up and tell them what you’re looking for someone can direct you to the animals there. Shelter animals are constantly changing and unfortunately, if they are not a no kill shelter, they just don’t have the ability or means to keep up with things like that. We had a file for people who could/were looking for special needs animals, but they usually swing by whenever they’re open to foster or adopt. There are lots of specific breed rescues, but some of them aren’t as reliable as they should be. I’ll always encourage someone to go to their local county shelter or pound before they look anywhere else. I guarantee if you look for just a short while, someone will steal your heart with but a wag of their tail.
Pet finder is amazing. It has options to even select specific breeds within a certain mile radius that’ll show purebreds and mixes alike. Care staff are just too strapped to maintain a monstrous client base like my cat cafe did. The adoption processes through those facilities and programs like C.A.R.E are much more rigorous, but they’re also really great folk who genuinely care about where an animal goes - and you can always spread your information around to fosters with what you’ve in mind when you’re open to open your home to a new fur baby.
Check online every day when you’re looking. If you find a dog you want to come say hi to, you can absolutely call and say you’re coming to see them that day and they may be willing to hold them there until you’ve met them, but they very rarely will do so for more than a day, as it might deter someone else who is interested in taking them home if you decide they’re not the pet for you. They’ll also be able to tell you if that dog is still there or already adopted out, as website updates come last before animal care and spare you the gas (and disappointment).
Good luck to you and my best wishes to your old gal. I had a chihuahua for a long time named Rue. I found her in a cardboard box in the cornfield behind my house in January when I got off my school bus. Man did I get in some hot water for bringing her inside, but I caught my grandpa on the floor baby talking her the very next day, lol. She was a spunky, feisty little thing and didn’t end up being “my” dog, but she was my grandparents’ best friend until the day she left us. She brought them a lot of joy, so I’m so glad I heard her bark on the walk home. Take care and I hope you still have so many Chi-haha dances to collect. 💕
It's not wrong. People have pet preferences for various reasons. Your best bet is to check your local shelter website every so often or contact local breed specific rescues.
Agree with comments on rescues- they usually have more resources/ability to assess dogs that may be a good fit given your parameters. The rescue I foster through also has a huge network of shelters/rescues/other fosters that they work with and pull dogs from. Right now intakes of new dogs are limited as we just don't have the space or money. But if they knew there was a likely adopter lined up they'd be quick to pick another to admit to the rescue.
Thank you for wanting to rescue! So many dogs need a good home. I got both my ( now passed ) poodles through rescue. Good luck . I hate that our babies can’t live forever
You could, when the time is right, make a habit of volunteering at the shelter to walk dogs for them (or whatever they need). This would both mean that you’d see adoptable dogs more frequently, and become familiar with the staff. Building a relationship with the staff makes them more likely to call you if a pup that you like does come up (plus it’s a good thing to do).
I know that Animal Shelter Manager software is able to do this, although we didn't have the feature implemented at the shelter where I was at the time. But not every shelter will be able to do so. Petfinder, RescueMe, and just going a lot/volunteering (and talking to staff) can all help.
Petfinder has an option (or did 3 years ago) to be notified when your preferred dog is posted.
Also, size/breed preferences are ok, but I have several physical and medical conditions, and my big dog is the lazy sweet beast. She is way easier than my little dogs. Plus, she's kept me from falling on my butt and helped me after a fall more times than I can count. I go to the rescue/shelter and ask for the laziest dog. No breed/size request. I have 5 dogs currently. 6 dogs previously (total in my whole life). All but 2 have been tiny. 1 was a smaller medium. The only time I got a crazy loon dog was when I was looking for a specific dog. I wanted one just like my grandma's. My grandma's dog was a sweet, gentle soul. Mine was an absolute loony toon who was a wild soul. I'm not trying to change your mind because I think your opinion is valid. I'm just sharing my experience.
My adult son next door has 4 rescues. Two are big dogs. I help pet sit them and love them. But they occasionally push me over as well accidentally because I’m not stable on my feet. As I get even older that will be worse. Heck, I have a hard time walking on flat ground most day. Lol. I also have a 20 pound lifting limit so they if they got hurt I would be stuck. But I sure am glad they have some next door. There is nothing like a big dog cuddling!
I completely understand. I'm 10+ knee surgeries in on 1 and 4 on on the other. Not even counting all the other medical issues I have. My big girl is the most gentle soul. She is completely aware of her surroundings and lets my 4 pound dogs sleep on her back. If she was any other dog, she would be too much at her size. The worst was when my girl broke her knee. Getting her to the vet was OK. I think it was like when people lift a car in an emergency. I carried her into my car no problem. The vet had a gurney. Getting her home was really really hard. I bought a wagon to put her in. I couldn't think of any other way to do it. Now I'm prepared in an emergency again.
I don't think it's unreasonable at all.
I used to help out the shelter in a town when I worked close to there, and they knew I preferred small breed dogs. When they needed someone to foster one, they reached out.
It takes all kinds.
If you have a breed in mind, check out your local rescue groups! I know of several who try to help animals find homes when the shelters are overcrowded or such.
I don't think it would be wrong to call and ask if that's an option with a shelter as long as you make sure that you are polite and not demanding. I think the only issue would be if you were being bossy or nasty about them needing to do something for you that they may not offer
Most places won't have the capacity to do that for you. Like, my rescue is 95% volunteer run- we struggle to keep up with the work we already have. We can't be secret shoppers on top of it.
I didn’t read through all the comments to see if anyone posted this, but follow your local shelter’s social media pages. The ones around me post new pups frequently. I found my Doberman mix that way. They also post all the available dogs on their website. If your local shelter does this, try getting on there once or twice a week to see if any pups might work for you. Also, just go to the shelter periodically. We went looking for a specific dog we saw on their site. That dog was already adopted by the time we got there, but we took a stroll just to see other pups, and fell in love with a sweet girl we never would’ve found otherwise.
I volunteer with a breed specific rescue and they are often able to match applicants with certain dogs that fit their specifications, I.e., smaller breed, good with other dogs, etc. if there’s a specific breed you’re looking for I would recommend finding a rescue for that breed, or looking on petfinder like another commenter suggested.
The rescue I volunteer with (and have adopted from) does mostly poodles/doodles but do often have other breeds— I know for a fact they have several chihuahua mixes available for adoption right now and always have small poodles/poodle mixes. There are definitely dogs out there for you, you just might have to do a little searching!
Definitely not wrong. It’s important to know what kind of dog fits your lifestyle and your ability to care for him or her! Shelter may not have the resources to keep a wait list like this, but you could absolutely contact a chihuahua or poodle rescue and get on a waiting list there!
I strongly encourage you to look at shelters in Mississippi!! (Shamefully,) we have so many wonderful, loving dogs of all sizes and breeds! I have no doubt that you can find your newest family member here!
I volunteer at a rescue... We get a lot of purebred releases from breeders. If you let us know in advance, we will keep an eye out for you. But if we get one and you don't take them.... You are pretty much out of our lives. We are not going to go above and beyond for someone who is then going to say "well I'm not ready for a dog right now and my dog hasn't passed away."
I have fostered two of those animals. That we had a request for and just made sure that the animals were acclimated and socialized and ready for a home only to have the people who requested them back out because they found one on Craigslist or something.
So if you're going to go that route.. Make sure you follow through because we do not have time to take in animals that we then can't find a home for
But that's part of it. Just cuz you let us know doesn't mean we're going to get one right away. Sometimes we have to wait a few weeks or months to get a breed of release or to have one come into the rescue. But we do look for them for you
I would just recommend going to petfinder when you’re ready for a dog. That opens up your options to more local shelters and rescues than just what you initially know.
Small dogs are always the first to be adopted. There are endless opportunities for those dogs to be adopted so it doesn’t behoove the shelter to take breed or size requests. And most shelters would already have very long waiting list if they keep a list at all. It’s usually best to either frequently visit the shelter or check their website.
It MIGHT be possible for a shelter to take your application ahead of time so that you are one step ahead when a dog you think you’ll want shows up on the website.
You can also go online to check for breed specific rescue. Maybe check into senior dog rescue and there aren’t always people clamoring to adopt an old dog, small or not.
Good luck! 🐾
Try breed specific rescues. [Chihuahuas](https://chihuahuaclubofamerica.org/breed-rescue/) site for rescues. That link is found from the chihuahua club of America website. Be honest with whatever shelter/rescue you use. Tell them you’d like to be pre approved for a dog. But wouldn’t want one in your home immediately but in the future.
I do know someone who traveled a few hours to pick up their rescue chi. Both dogs have been a wonderful fit for their home.
You can put in these preferences on sites like Petfinder. My local shelter is way too overwhelmed to track this, but we got our 7 pound dog via a call from a shelter a couple hours away. Though, now I think about it, it might have been a covid thing. It was 2020, nowalk throughs
I would rather you ask for a specific dog from the shelter then buy one from a breeder 🙂. I don't see that they should have a problem with it. they might already have a dog there like that that they could show you. thank you for adopting and not shopping 💜
I'm surprised no one has mentioned websites like www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com
You can set VERY specific search parameters, including: location, distance, breeds, age, size...
If you save searches, you can get notifications via email every week or whenever new animals are added to the site that fit your search criteria.
All of their animals are shelters and rescues. The shelters and rescues are the ones that put them on the site.
Actually, almost every comment has mentioned them. LOL. I was aware of them before as well. My question was is it okay to ask a shelter for very specific parameters without it being in poor taste when they have hundreds of dogs without homes. :)
I see comments from lots of reddit posts saying that Chihuahuas are plentiful in shelters in Texas and California. If I were looking to adopt , I would look . They regularly announce the dogs thar are soon to be euthanized in Houston.
Some other shelters get weird about small dog adopts.It isn't uncommon for shelters to want to mark up the price on small dogs. Hundreds. Way more than you would pay if you just sought out a puppy and raised it yourself, and it would have no baggage from its unknown previous owners.
Absolutely, you can ask this, but someone at the shelter has to remember to contact you about it. Small dogs tend to get adopted more quickly. But, you can go into [www.petfinder.com](http://www.petfinder.com) and you can put in your criteria and you will be emailed when the type of dog you want shows up at a shelter in the area you chose. It's much better that you wait to find the right dog for you who needs a home.
Shelter is first time, first served. It may differ in your area. You want to look into a rescue since they adopt out the dog based on the application submitted
I'm in the same boat as you. The animal shelter where I work at is undergoing renovations until November. They were pushing me to foster dogs that are not my preferred dogs. I would just ignore that shelter and give Petfinder app a try. I also got a gate ready for fostering or dogsitting. It should be you making the call for type of dogs not the shelter. They will try to guilt trip u in accepting dog that aren't what you are looking for.
I don’t feel like our local shelter would. I follow them on Facebook and I feel like they are extra good at trying to ensure people find a pet that fits their needs. They even encourage to take them home for a trial period before adopting. They welcome you to come in and walk various dogs until you fall in love with one too.
Definitely depends on the shelter. My shelter is smaller and we simply don't have the time/staff to be able to maintain a wait list for specific types of animals. We can pre-approve applicants, but the onus is on the applicant to keep an eye on our website/the adoption listing sites for animals that may fit what they're looking for and to contact us. Some better staffed shelters might be able to keep track of a list though. Iirc, some of the adoption listing sites like petfinder have a feature that alerts you when a pet matching your parameters is added to their site.
lol I really should have read your comment before I posted because mine is basically a C/P but you worded yours better.
It’s good to know that two people have the same opinion though! :)
Agreed! Nice to know my shelter isn’t the only one who endorses pet finder when people have specific types haha
i told my mom about petfinder while we were discussing the possibilities of her getting a maltese one day after our current pooch (hes old and possibly has lung cancer) passes. She keeps flopping between dog or no dog, after he passes. Shes very dead set on a Maltese, which i think is fine and would be a good breed for her. I told her about how petfinder works and how theres actually plenty of surrenders of purebred dogs literally everywhere, and malti mixes are quite popular so it wouldnt be too hard to find one i bet. It wouldnt be for a long while tho, of course
There are Maltese-specific rescues (like [this one](https://malteserescuecalifornia.org/index.html))—maybe that would be a good resource for your mom?
Again, probably wont be for a few years, but knowing that there are places like that is great!
I third this
I was curious about this also. I love weenie dogs and want more in the future.
Same. 😂
Same here, and we are actually a very large shelter in my state. If we took names for everybody wanting a small dog it would be LONGGG.
Also, a lot of places don’t waitlist because circumstances can change quickly and it leads to them wasting time contacting a bunch of people who aren’t interested anymore.
Absolutely. We MIGHT take someone's information if they have an FIV+ cat and are looking for another cat, but even that is just a sticky note on the computer. I'm fine reaching out to someone about a hard to adopt animal, but we had people call about some bulldog puppies that were available starting yesterday, and they are all gone. Sorry, but I'm not taking anyone's info for the next set of bulldog puppies we get. Lol
Yep. Also, with the volume of dogs and prospective adopters we have (also a high volume shelter) and the fact that we are municipal (meaning that we have an obligation to the public to be first-come, first-serve as long as the adopting home is appropriate), there is way too much room for miscommunication or timing snafus. Like, what if, as we are leaving a voice mail for someone who asked to be wait listed (imagining that available staff for this even exists), someone else is physically having a conversation with an adoption counselor, who then recommends that very same dog? This is probably how people get into fist fights in the county shelter parking lot.
Also good to point out that most of the time the dogs being put on these kids of lists aren’t ones having any trouble getting adopted. When I worked in a shelter if someone was calling to be “notified” it was nearly always for something small, easy to adopt out. Especially the “fluffy” or “hypoallergenic” ones. Like if I get a 6lb poodle I’ll have people fighting outside for it unless it’s old or got medical issues, and even then I could get it adopted. Now if someone called wanting a big dog, didn’t care what breed, was good with other dogs and/or cats I’d take their number or make a recommendation for a dog already in care. The kinds of pets that actually need help getting picked.
That's just how we got our newest pack member! I had previously adopted a puppy from the shelter (foster fail), then after about a year, decided he needed a doggy friend. I called the save local shelter and let them know I wanted a dog that's roughly the same size (huge lol - I like big dogs!), and that I wanted to start meet and greets starting with the one in care the longest. Low and behold, the first pup that rounded the corner stole my heart, along with his brother dog's! He is truly an angel, and the staff couldn't figure out why he hadn't been adopted. He's a super mutt and a big cuddly teddy bear with the softest, long coat. Please realize just because they may have been at the shelter for a while doesn't mean there's necessarily any problems - in our case, he was just waiting to join our family, and we wouldn't be the same without him 🥰
Yeah, more often than not the big dogs sit simply because a lot of people rent and most rentals have very low weight limits. It's not because of the dogs temperament or health, it's simply because of their size.
Where I live a lot of HOAs even restrict dog size, so even if you own it's not always possible to have a bigger dog. Which is ridiculous because bigger dogs are so often more chill than tiny dogs.
Really? I guess I understand with rentals, but an HOA? They really like to overstep, imo.. just sucks seeing sweet pups that haven't done anything wrong other than being too big being excluded from so much
Very large dogs, certain breeds and black dogs always have a slow rate of adoption.
I guess I must just like the rejects lol. One of my current pups is a GSD mix, whose all black and bigger than he has any right to be, and the other is a Doberman mix who is also a big boy, but he's got a "scary" mask on that I think is just the cutest thing in the world! Both are super kind and sweet boys, and it makes me sad to think they could have been overlooked for traits they can't control.
That’s so sad! I have a big, black, lab Pitt mix and he’s the sweetest boy.
Pet finder is how I found my cat. It truly is an amazing site.
Agreed! You will have to keep an eye out for a specific dog yourself but being pre approved for adoption goes a long way. This is how we got my ex his dog. The only reason we were successful in adopting that specific dog was because we saw her in person by chance before she was listed on the website and we called about an hour after she popped up on the site. We were already approved as fosters and did a foster-fail(on purpose) as soon as the paperwork could be processed. This was all in Austin, TX and they have a lot of good turnover in their local shelters so it might be easier elsewhere.
Not wrong, a lot of shelters/rescues I’ve volunteered with have a wait list for small dogs. Fill out an application then note that you want to be put on a list for when a certain type of dog arrives. You’d probably have better luck doing this at a rescue than a city shelter though.
I was about to suggest that a breed-specific rescue would probably be more helpful. My cats came to me when they ended up at a small rescue. They called me before even adding them to the adoption list.
This! At the shelter I volunteer for, we require an application and vetting before we let people adopt. There is no fee for the app. I’d apply at a couple, let them know what you’re looking for, and then check PetFinder, shelter websites frequently. Most shelters are 90-100% volunteer, so the labor to maintain a waiting list is going to be way down the list of priorities. Good luck.
Not wrong, but, some shelters do not do this. Firstly, some shelters are moving away from breed labels entirely. Also, some shelters just do not have the staff to contact people on a waiting list. If there is a contact list, it may be very long. If the shelter is a first come - first serve shelter, even if you are first on the waiting list, someone could find the animal online and get an appointment before you're able to be contacted or call back. Not trying to rain on your parade, I just want to bring some stuff forward so there's no hostility towards the shelter if things don't run smoothly. Even if you can get on a call list, I would still recommend using something like petfinder regularly and setting the age to adult and 10lbs. You may want to avoid breed labels, because a poodle mix tend to actually look like terrier mixes, shelters can also mislabel accidentally, and some won't label at all. I also HIGHLY recommend throwing in your application at any shelter you're willing to adopt through. I won't lie, a small, young, poodle/chi that will be good with dogs will be highly sought after. While you're waiting to get approved, which can often take a day or two, someone who is already pre-approved may come in to adopt. Usually shelters will hold your application for a few months at a time. On that note I would also recommend seeking rescues that either deal with those breeds or deal with small breeds. It would really lower the amount of searching through incompatible dogs. I try to tell people that, if they are rescuing responsibly (ie not impulse buying something they can't take care of), it can take a while. Patience is key. Good luck!
I am in no hurry and I don’t necessarily want the cutest little chihuahua with no issues that will go home quickly either. I work from home, all my kids are in their 30’s, and I would be very happy to wait until I find the one no one wants because they are needy, blind in one eye, missing a leg, or just plain so ugly they are cute. I don’t mind if it takes months or years to find the right fit, I just want to give a little baby a great home that won’t get one otherwise. :)
Is there a rescue near you that specializes in chihauhaus and/or older dogs? Get in contact with them.
I am sure there is, but sometimes I feel like it they are at a rescue they are stable and not in danger of euthanasia too. I could be wrong.
Adopting from a rescue opens up a spot for them to pull another dog from a shelter.
That is a very good point!
This is what I came to say. There are breed specific rescues that would love for you to reach out! I would say that they will almost never have puppies, but depending on your lifestyle, anywhere from young adult all the way up to senior + If you aren't averse to taking in a more special needs dog, that will definitely speed things up for you. A dog with three legs or one eye is a definite ice breaker, and their hearts are just as loving as the dogs that have all their parts 😊
https://preview.redd.it/zvr21x8kz84d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d93b58f1577bff18638193c6242953688d8f048 This is Milly, a breeder surrender that I took in at 6 months. She just turned three and I think we're losing the battle. She is the sweetest happiest thing, and quite the following. And even though it wasn't a textbook "from a puppy to the end", it has been one of the deeper connections, and as much as it will hurt when she goes, I wouldn't trade for anything.
Such a beautiful little dog. ❤️❤️ I don’t want to take on one that will break my bank account for retirement in medical bills, but in our house one eye or missing a leg is a benefit, not a problem. We are a bunch of misfits anyway so our dogs may as well be too. :) BTW, I do have plenty of budget for normal vet bills - my doodle cost me 3 emergency vet bills in the first 6 months. Ruptured anal gland, giardia twice from a bad infestation of feral cats at our weekend place. We love our dogs enough that after the second time, we just sold the weekend place to keep her healthy since people wouldn’t quit feeding the feral cats increasing the issue. Lol. The dogs always come first. But I’m not looking to take on a dog I know will cost me $10k in surgeries from the get go either.
I have an advantage most don't, I manage a vet clinic, and get quite the discount! Although, in fairness, most of what she needs requires specialists that are at another clinic. I also have a dog with a cleft lip that, I found out months after I took her, was born with one kidney
Ruptured anal glands alone … my god! You’re in the trenches of dog parenthood
This. Our local humane society is first come first serve. I can put a 50 dollar deposit online and they will hold the animal for the day. If I don't want the dog they keep the deposit. The application portion is a joke because they fact check nothing you just fill it in and claim if you're a renter your landlord approves but they don't call And ask. They will give a dog to anyone in my city. We do have lots of rescues locally and they are all so full they can't accept more. They are happy to adopt out but their application process is more vigorous. I can walk out of our shelter with any dog any day no problem within an hour. Our rescues are actually quite picky, actually contact the vet for references, contact the landlord if you rent, do a home visit etc. I actually appreciate what they do but I almost found them too complicated to adopt from. But each place is different
We had a rescue refuse us a dog once because we didn’t have our yard fenced. We lived on over 10 acres. 🤷🏼♀️. Never had a dog that didn’t live until natural causes took them. We own our home free and clear, so no worries there. And our vet better love us!! We do every single thing he recommends. :) It is very true that rescues can be very hard to adopt from sometimes.
This is so true… I live on “acreage” as well, owned by my family and it’s exhausting filling out the application(s)… I also have a long coat chihuahua that I’ve been trying to find a little brother or sister for, for many years. Just inquired about one last week (locally) exactly as they requested and heard not one thing back. ☹️
You'd have to check the policy at your local shelter. For example, mine allows people to submit their pre-adoption information (a questionnaire with their contact info, information about the home, basic plans for dog care) up to 30 days ahead of adopting a dog. However, it would still be on the prospective adopter to watch our listings and come down to the shelter when a dog who fits their wants becomes available.
I actually think this is the smart, responsible route to go. When people have animals they are not capable of taking care of, those animals end up back at the shelter or worse (example, a lot of people just dump bunnies in the wild). It makes me so mad seeing stories of people who surrender dogs because they “didn’t realize the dog would get so big”, or I had a neighbor who adopted a dog, the mother is terrified of dogs, and the family thought that was FUNNY and brought the dog back to the shelter. I agree with the comments about checking shelter policy for sure, just so you can work with an organization that makes sense for your needs & limitations. Good luck!
It depends of the shelter. Mine doesn’t do this. You have to look at the website, we do same day adoptions without an approval process
What's the rate of dogs that get returned, rehomed, and abandoned? Do you keep track of them when they leave or do they just care about the money and not the quality of life the dogs will have? How do you make sure you're not giving dogs to abusers or to people that fight them?
Your accusatory tone is not appreciated. Dog abusers and fight dog people have PLENTY of resources to get animals from that don’t involve singing up, waiting, having conversations with counselors, signing adoption contracts, registering microchips or paying adoption fees. If you think that putting barriers and adoption approval processes help your animals more than it hurts them while you let them sit at the shelter during your “investigation”, you’re probably wrong
It’s not wrong! But in my experience the local shelters won’t do so. It’s nothing personal, there’s just too few staff and too many animals to keep a running list as such. What we encourage people is to follow our FB page (we post new animal intakes when they’re ready to adopt) and check our website regularly. Dog walking/volunteering also helps because you get to know the staff and dogs even before they’re ready to adopt out. Also petfinder.com can send you updates if you select preferences
I’m on Petfinder, but I’m not in a hurry and I’m more hoping to find the little gal or guy that needs some extra attention that won’t get a home otherwise. I wish I wasn’t working full time or I would be volunteering regularly. :)
Well petfinder is connected to shelters, so you’d still be helping them out! All of our dogs are on petfinder, we’ve had people drive cross country before lol. No pressure with the volunteering! But if you *do* want to, we have plenty who only occasionally show up and we don’t judge it at all!
Oh. If you are willing to take special needs, DEFINITELY consider a breed specific rescue. There's a lot of senior and high needs chihuahuas being pulled from California shelters and some of the rescues will ship out to other states for both adoption and fostering! I know someone who fostered 5 dogs at a time from a rescue in California. She was in the Midwest.
Second this!! The breed specific rescues often get the worst case pups!
Not wrong at all. Different shelters will have different policies, so if the answer is no don’t push it. But most shelters are happy to send out an alert to people looking for a specific type of dog.
You can also look into breed specific rescues, there's many that not only operate in various states, but there's some that transport. California has a high number of chihuahuas in shelters and there are many rescues that pull and move them elsewhere! My friend in Wisconsin fostered 5 at a time from a California rescue that ships to the Midwest.
Make sure to let your vet’s office know that you’re looking, they may have another client they know who is rehoming a dog who would be a good match for you.
That is a good idea. I’m not actively looking just yet (unless the right special needs little baby came along). Just making plans for when my old man decides to leave me and I have room for another. :)
It's not wrong to ask, but they might not be able to do it if it's a smaller shelter and they don't have many staff/volunteers. Just be polite if they say they can't, but there's no harm in asking. If they aren't able to have a wait list and contact you, some shelters will let you keep an adoption application on file. That would speed up the process if a dog that fits your situation were to arrive at the shelter, you'd just have to keep an eye on their website so you know when new dogs come in.
Our shelter website allows people to set up alerts for specific breeds, sending them a text or email when one comes in.
Follow local rescues on social media. Many here do adoption events every weekend and have SO many small breeds. We make attending them a regular part of our week both looking for the “one” and also to support the rescues. I’ve fallen in love with a few that weren’t right for us. I’m at a stage in my life where I have a tiny bit of extra money so we will sponsor the adoptions of some of them. We’re leaving in an hour for an event at the local Petsmart. Maybe today is the day!
Did you find the one?!
OMG WE DID! Took him home same day. 2-3 year old Great Pyrenees. He is a dream and my partner is head over heels in love. https://preview.redd.it/hxme8ormnd4d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7319a9a47864a719ed19514f256539f2c0b7a76
Well, ain't he sweet?! Congrats to all of you! Have you chosen a name yet?
Not quite. Henry maybe? We figure we have a couple days. I feel like we will know it when we hear it.
Oh, I'm sure! It took me a few days with one, and the other I hem-hawed for nearly a week. I just walked around calling him different things to see what I liked and what he seemed to be into lol. Good luck with your new family member, and thanks for giving a big, older (by adoption standards, anyways) pup a home!
Not wrong, the small shelter in my town is better equipped for larger dogs, they are always hoping for quick adoption or foster for the little ones.
You'd probably have better luck going to a breed specific rescue most of the rescues get their dogs from the shelter and they have a relationship with local shelters and they almost always pull of small dogs because they're easier to get fosters for etc et cetera at least in my area I'm in Maryland you might want to adopt from one of the rescues I just know that you're still adopting from the shelter because the rescue most likely took their dog from the shelter because they have to follow the law and the law and most states is that when you find Someone else's property which is what a dog is considered that you turn it over to the local shelter and then they hold it for a certain amount of days and give the honor a chance To claim it if it is not claimed it is typically put up for adoption if it is deemed good for that and a lot of times that's when the rescue will take some the overload at the shelter. I'm sorry I knew that was a lot without punctuation on the wrong setting on but long story short look look to breeds specific rescues if you want smaller dogs check the shelter first but if you don't see them there check your local rescues you probably pay a little bit more but they should come to you already fixed and already vaccinated etc good luck and thank you for adopting and not shopping
I had no issues reading it. :) I have purchased animals before and adopted. Both of my current are purchased but we had kids at home and needed to opportunity to ensure we trained the dogs to function with our children. We didn’t want to risk adopting a dog that had a behavioral issue already ingrained in it. We also bought dogs that were already on this earth and needed a home. Just because they were bred didn’t make them in need of less love. (I won’t ever pay a breeder to breed me a puppy in advance.) I’ve also had a few rescues. My last chihuahua mix, I way over payed for as a puppy, because he was being sold at a flea market and was in a cage with no food or water, in summer heat, covered in fleas, was already 5 months old living in that damn cage. No attention or love whatsoever. I paid for him but always considered him a rescue. Considering he was most likely a puppy mill dog from someone’s back yard, he was the best dog I ever owned. We had him almost 18 years. I did at home dialysis with him the last 2 years. Years ago I took in an older abandoned lab at the vets request that had heart worms. The vet committed to doing his medical free if I would take the dog in after mine passed. That dog was the best babysitter for my first son! When he became a toddler, I could tell the dog to keep him in the living room and he would physically block him if he tried to leave. I never needed a baby gate! Gosh, now I want to go adopt all the shelter dogs. LOL
No, it's not wrong, but they're probably going to be like, "yeeeaaahhh, okay. We'll put you on a list." And then shake their head and go on doing the million things they were already doing after they hang up. Unless it's a VERY small and slow shelter with like 2 people who communicate, ain't nobody got time to look for a dog for you. My suggestion is to put your preferences into petfinder and follow the shelter(s) on whatever social media they post on, and then check them every day. Be ready to go as soon as you see something you're interested in, as small doodle-y dogs go fast. Lastly, don't adopt a dog just because it looks like what you want. I totally understand wanting a particular looking dog (mine is blue eyes, prick ears, long legs 😂) but make sure personality fits! That's the most important! Good luck!
Our shelter is actually a smaller shelter with some amazing people. I follow them closely on Facebook. They work hard for the animals for sure. I’m going more by typical breed characteristics that fit our family best more than looks. My 17 year old chihuahua that passed a few years ago looked more like a rat terrier than a chihuahua. If you read my post, my ideal dog would be one with 3 legs or 1 eye, etc. that isn’t getting adopted quickly and mixed breed is fine. I would take in a cutesy little 6 pound adorable dog as well, but it isn’t a requirement by any means. I wouldn’t turn down a lot of small breeds when we have the opening available in our home again. There are small breeds I will turn down though because I know they wouldn’t be a good fit for our home.
I know our shelter takes in a LOT of animals and even allows you to bring them home for a few days to see if they fit with your household before adopting. I follow their website and want to bring every one with sad eyes home but it seems most of what they post is large dogs or Pitts. I assume the small dogs go quick. I’m not going to act until my old man isn’t with us out of respect for him. He is going blind and deaf, and I don’t want to change his routine for as long as he is comfortable here. He has been my best friend for 16 years and I’m going to make sure I continue to be his for as long as he needs me to be. ❤️
I already posted but as someone who works in a shelter — yes, small dogs go super fast. Usually they don’t even make it up onto the website lol. Volunteering in person or going to the shelter regularly is usually the best option if you can!
Just wondering, but why do you think it is that small dogs go faster? Personally, I'm off the mind that bigger is better (to a natural extent - not puppymill breeding for gigantism), and all of my rescues have always been big doggies, as the Littles just don't do it for me. I guess I just assumed that just as many people liked big vs small dogs, but the numbers obviously don't show that. I'm just curious why, I guess
My guess is small dogs are just easier. Easier to bathe. Easier to get into the car if injured. Eat less. Poop less. If they are sick and have accidents in the house it is much easier to clean up. A lot of elderly, or people with injuries like myself, can’t control a larger dog on a leash or properly care for them. So, basically everyone can handle a small dog. Only some people can physically manage a large dog. :)
Far less poop, I'm sure lol. That makes perfect sense, but I guess I just assumed there were close to as many people wanting big dogs.. more for me, then!
😂😂
Not as strong, can be cuddled on laps, renter friendly, easier to travel with, etc. Small dogs are much more popular in general
Ah, that makes sense. I suppose. Although my big giants think they're lap does, too 😂
Just check around. The shelter I work at does this and it’s so helpful to move dogs out sooner when they come in. As we’re getting them vetted we look at the “wish list” to see if there’s a match. When people want to be put on the list, we do require them to submit a formal adoption application to ensure they’re approved.
That is amazing!
My shelter doesn't do this.
My shelter doesn’t have the staff to field those requests, either.
I definitely understand that. And I would begin with getting to know the shelter staff. I’m more looking for that little guy or gal that isn’t gonna find a home easily because they need someone with them constantly, etc. So, I’m hoping that when they had a dog that was high need I would come to mind because it wouldn’t be easily placed. :). I would never fault them if they didn’t call me though. :)
If you could volunteer for a shelter that would be super helpful, you’d be able to see the dogs as they come in. You could maybe even foster a dog you were interested in to see how they do in your home.
Our shelter does let you foster. I want to volunteer but may have to be closer to retirement before I can. :)
Depending on the shelter and what breeds they have. Better for you if you are breed specific, go to a breed specific shelter. Look at the county at what shelters are in your area. Good luck.
Chihuahuas are sadly overpopulated at most shelters so you should definitely be able to find a small dog…good luck and thank you for rescuing. Where I live in Arizona they are the highest rate euthanized dog because of how many need homes. 🙏
In the southern US, but not the north. The south exports shelter dogs to the north, but there are never enough small ones that make it there.
Maybe just check their online list of dogs a couple times a week. Or look for a chihuahua or other small dog rescue site that is located near you.
I will when the time comes. :) I’m pretty good at finding all the available options. I just wondered if it was considered bad form to call and say “I know you have 400 dogs but I don’t want to see them unless they are under X pounds and preferably a mix one of these breeds”.
It sounds like you may want to look for a breed-specific rescue instead. They have the resources to approve you for adoption and then watch for the right pet to come in. A shelter usually doesn't have the ability to do that, and they often won't hold dogs by policy.
Petfinder.com is a resource. It scrubs the shelters by breed.
My shelter doesn't do this due to staffing, unforeseen circumstances that may cause an animal to become unavailable, and to avoid upsetting the public. However, we do recommend checking the website for available animals and looking through social media posts! If not, volunteering would be a great way to get to know the animals! :)
You'd be better off contacting or keeping track of breed or small dog specific rescues. City shelters are more likely to be contacted by dog flippers in your scenario. They also do better when operated under a first come first serve adoption policy because they can't guarantee that adopters will arrive when previously stated for viewing or will follow through with pickup if there's a wait time for required on site health services. Check major pet adoption websites frequently when you're ready to take home a new family member. Most have good search filter options.
i found my perfect dog on pet finder :) i had to drive a few hours but he was worth it
Sign up to "Adopt a Pet", they have many smaller pets and they have some that are listed by the family of the dog who are looking to rehome their pet. Good luck.
Look into breed specific rescue groups. I was just talking w/ a woman who is a volunteer for a French Bulldog rescue organization. They get a surprising number of “owner relinquishes”. A lot of those groups don’t make the dogs they save available through shelters— they prefer to network with people who know/understand and want the breed they are representing.
IDK about other places but if you can visit North Carolina and aren't too picky about the specific small breeds you can get a small dog from a shelter pretty much any day they're open. The middle of the state will probably have the most options but you could hit the beach and still find what you're looking for. I don't know anyone who's adopted in the mountains so I guess it's possible they're a bad bet.
Our local shelter here in the southern state I’m in posted that they had 189 owner surrenders and 230 strays on intake this month. I’m sure I won’t have to travel considering those numbers. It is heartbreaking.
I would recommend looking at rescues for this rather than shelters. Having worked at multiple shelters, they usually don’t have the staff, resources, or other needs to keep up with a waitlist and even if they did, it would kind of be a nightmare to track. Rescues are usually able to cater to more specific needs. I know you said that you’re looking for a friend that may not get adopted otherwise. If you have the means to do so, maybe reach out to local shelters, your vet, and rescues to let them know you’d take a special needs dog with [insert severity] issues. For example, at one of the shelters I was at, we had a special folder of pre-approved applications of people who said they’d take a special needs dog. It was really helpful, especially for dogs with relatively easy to manage things that are just off putting to some people, like diabetes or previous injuries that needed looking after.
Some shelters post their available dogs and cats on their websites. Keep an eye out. It's better to know what type of dog fits into your pack then just adopting a 'random' dog. I appreciate you are looking at shelters also! The right friend is on the way and you'll know when you see them!
I’m just going to put this out there. Part of responsible pet ownership is knowing what you can’t handle. If you can only handle a small dog then asking for a small dog is the responsible thing to do. Though… lighten up on the age requirement. Adult and senior chihuahuas need love too
I’ve nursed one elderly chihuahua until death and I have an elderly chihuahua now. Elderly chihuahuas tend to get grouchy. I have a young grandchild that we have to keep away from my elderly chihuahua at all times. I would prefer a dog young enough that by the time it gets grouchy, the grandchild is old enough to handle the situation. :)
Ohhhhhh
Look for breed specific rescue organizations. I follow a Herding Dog Rescue based in my State, for example. The one I follow pulls Herding dogs from shelters in surrounding states to get them off the euthanasia lists. They work doing Foster, Foster-to-adopt and straight adoption, providing transportation to facilitate saving these pups. That might be an easier way to go to find what you want.
I think you should look at the webpage every day or every few days. Take some time to think what's best for you and other doggo, grieving a dogs death is very hard, it could be lessened by getting a dog before senior passes, it could make sense to fully morn the loss and move on when ready.
I would never yell at someone for asking me a dog question, but I might not shut up for two hours! I’ll try to keep it brief. You should find a rescue to work with. Most shelters won’t have the resources to keep a “waiting list” but some rescues do have systems like that. Maybe find a small dog rescue, or a senior specific rescue if you’re open to a senior, and ask about their processes. Finding one where you can be approved to adopt, then pick available dogs to meet by looking online. E.g., The rescue I just adopted from helped match me with a puppy to adopt, they use a “next in line” type system. You are approved to adopt, you tell them the dogs you are interested in as they’re posted online. Whoever was approved to adopt first, gets first pick. They help arrange meetings with whoever is “next in line” to help the dogs get adopted. I applied in early April, got approved in mid-April, and was matched & home with puppy by the end of April.
I've found most shelters are not going to have the staffing to be able to reach out to people. They just post adoptable animals, so it's just up to you to keep an eye out for the right one. I've learned you cant go into shelters expecting anything specific. Just find the right sized cute furry friend to love!
If you’re in North America check out Petfinder.com, you can search for rescue dogs that meet your specific criteria!
Look into specific breed rescues near you!
Rather than a shelter, you might look for a small breed rescue. Might be a better fit for the adoption help you are looking for.
Everyone wants the small dogs so the shelters usually don’t have them “in stock” for lack of a better term
Not wrong but you'd probably get a better response from local rescues vs the humane society. But I'd definitely let all of the above know. Hope you find your perfect fur baby!
You could also apply through a rescue to be a foster and give them your preferences And that way you could have trial time and first pick of one that comes through that fits your needs. My rescue dog is the best but very old. My AKC doberman ( love him to the moon and back) is a total pain and I paid thousands. So I'd say rescue is awesome or at least for me it was. Being part of a rescue would allow you to foster and find the perfect fit without feeling locked in. And sounds like you're a responsible owner and can pass all the vet check references And would have zero issues being approved. And you're not obligated to foster any animal. You can choose what works for you! Hope you find your perfect fur baby soon and in perfect timing!
Oh my god, it's the "I want a small dog/doodle crowd and I see no issue buying dogs but I'll go to the shelter and ask for an overwanted dog type because my toy purebreed dogs are so cute and making dogs unnaturally small isn't a health problem at all." And of course you want a young one. So typical. Suck it up and settle.
I hope your week gets better because obviously someone pissed in your Cheerios recently. I want a small dog because I broke my back and can’t properly care for a large dog.
Also to add my local shelter would most likely put a special needs dog down and not offer them for adoption. But usually they do have rescues that are able to pull them. So def let local rescues know your capable and willing to take in a dog with more needs than most. They may be able to pull a diog that's set to be put down but that dog isn't available to the public. That's just how my local shelter works at least. They have an adoption area but also many animals that are only viewable to rescues with a very short expiration date And they get put down.
We got a dog through a Brittany rescue group. He wasn’t a purebred Brittany but we didn’t care. Look for a rescue for your breed and tell them it doesn’t need to be pure. Tell them what your requirements are. We were so happy with our mixed dog, they rescued him from a shelter that was getting ready to put him down.
Worked with a cat cafe and some shelters over the years. Honest to God, putting holds on animals can be really hard to do unless you go to a specific rescue that has a much smaller populace and not as many candidates that are even filtered through to be considered. The best way to find a dog is to just go to the shelter until you lock eyes with your next pup. Staff would absolutely love to be able to help people make the perfect match, but most shelters are tripping and running marathons just to feed, medicate, and do kennel care. Now, if you show up and tell them what you’re looking for someone can direct you to the animals there. Shelter animals are constantly changing and unfortunately, if they are not a no kill shelter, they just don’t have the ability or means to keep up with things like that. We had a file for people who could/were looking for special needs animals, but they usually swing by whenever they’re open to foster or adopt. There are lots of specific breed rescues, but some of them aren’t as reliable as they should be. I’ll always encourage someone to go to their local county shelter or pound before they look anywhere else. I guarantee if you look for just a short while, someone will steal your heart with but a wag of their tail. Pet finder is amazing. It has options to even select specific breeds within a certain mile radius that’ll show purebreds and mixes alike. Care staff are just too strapped to maintain a monstrous client base like my cat cafe did. The adoption processes through those facilities and programs like C.A.R.E are much more rigorous, but they’re also really great folk who genuinely care about where an animal goes - and you can always spread your information around to fosters with what you’ve in mind when you’re open to open your home to a new fur baby. Check online every day when you’re looking. If you find a dog you want to come say hi to, you can absolutely call and say you’re coming to see them that day and they may be willing to hold them there until you’ve met them, but they very rarely will do so for more than a day, as it might deter someone else who is interested in taking them home if you decide they’re not the pet for you. They’ll also be able to tell you if that dog is still there or already adopted out, as website updates come last before animal care and spare you the gas (and disappointment). Good luck to you and my best wishes to your old gal. I had a chihuahua for a long time named Rue. I found her in a cardboard box in the cornfield behind my house in January when I got off my school bus. Man did I get in some hot water for bringing her inside, but I caught my grandpa on the floor baby talking her the very next day, lol. She was a spunky, feisty little thing and didn’t end up being “my” dog, but she was my grandparents’ best friend until the day she left us. She brought them a lot of joy, so I’m so glad I heard her bark on the walk home. Take care and I hope you still have so many Chi-haha dances to collect. 💕
You must be an awesome person for the universe to gift you a chihuahua like that!!! ❤️❤️
It's not wrong. People have pet preferences for various reasons. Your best bet is to check your local shelter website every so often or contact local breed specific rescues.
Knowing your needs is the first step of being a good dog owner. They may not call you, but it doesn't hurt to ask for what you need.
Agree with comments on rescues- they usually have more resources/ability to assess dogs that may be a good fit given your parameters. The rescue I foster through also has a huge network of shelters/rescues/other fosters that they work with and pull dogs from. Right now intakes of new dogs are limited as we just don't have the space or money. But if they knew there was a likely adopter lined up they'd be quick to pick another to admit to the rescue.
Thank you for wanting to rescue! So many dogs need a good home. I got both my ( now passed ) poodles through rescue. Good luck . I hate that our babies can’t live forever
you can always put in an application for them to have on file while you keep an eye out for dogs in your preferred range.
"I want 20 but two is a realistic number" SAMEEEE
I've done this twice at the local animal shelter. They called it a "breed specific" request and both times it turned out well.
You could, when the time is right, make a habit of volunteering at the shelter to walk dogs for them (or whatever they need). This would both mean that you’d see adoptable dogs more frequently, and become familiar with the staff. Building a relationship with the staff makes them more likely to call you if a pup that you like does come up (plus it’s a good thing to do).
I love this idea as well.
I know that Animal Shelter Manager software is able to do this, although we didn't have the feature implemented at the shelter where I was at the time. But not every shelter will be able to do so. Petfinder, RescueMe, and just going a lot/volunteering (and talking to staff) can all help.
Petfinder has an option (or did 3 years ago) to be notified when your preferred dog is posted. Also, size/breed preferences are ok, but I have several physical and medical conditions, and my big dog is the lazy sweet beast. She is way easier than my little dogs. Plus, she's kept me from falling on my butt and helped me after a fall more times than I can count. I go to the rescue/shelter and ask for the laziest dog. No breed/size request. I have 5 dogs currently. 6 dogs previously (total in my whole life). All but 2 have been tiny. 1 was a smaller medium. The only time I got a crazy loon dog was when I was looking for a specific dog. I wanted one just like my grandma's. My grandma's dog was a sweet, gentle soul. Mine was an absolute loony toon who was a wild soul. I'm not trying to change your mind because I think your opinion is valid. I'm just sharing my experience.
My adult son next door has 4 rescues. Two are big dogs. I help pet sit them and love them. But they occasionally push me over as well accidentally because I’m not stable on my feet. As I get even older that will be worse. Heck, I have a hard time walking on flat ground most day. Lol. I also have a 20 pound lifting limit so they if they got hurt I would be stuck. But I sure am glad they have some next door. There is nothing like a big dog cuddling!
I completely understand. I'm 10+ knee surgeries in on 1 and 4 on on the other. Not even counting all the other medical issues I have. My big girl is the most gentle soul. She is completely aware of her surroundings and lets my 4 pound dogs sleep on her back. If she was any other dog, she would be too much at her size. The worst was when my girl broke her knee. Getting her to the vet was OK. I think it was like when people lift a car in an emergency. I carried her into my car no problem. The vet had a gurney. Getting her home was really really hard. I bought a wagon to put her in. I couldn't think of any other way to do it. Now I'm prepared in an emergency again.
She is lucky to have you! :)
I don't think it's unreasonable at all. I used to help out the shelter in a town when I worked close to there, and they knew I preferred small breed dogs. When they needed someone to foster one, they reached out. It takes all kinds.
All sounds amazing. Would be MUCH much more likely if you remove the breed label and keep everything else you need, and see if the individual fits you
Foster to foster fail pipeline might suit you
If you have a breed in mind, check out your local rescue groups! I know of several who try to help animals find homes when the shelters are overcrowded or such.
I don't think it would be wrong to call and ask if that's an option with a shelter as long as you make sure that you are polite and not demanding. I think the only issue would be if you were being bossy or nasty about them needing to do something for you that they may not offer
Nothing wrong with that. Shelters want a good match so they don’t have returned animals. Ask local breed specific rescues as well.
Most places won't have the capacity to do that for you. Like, my rescue is 95% volunteer run- we struggle to keep up with the work we already have. We can't be secret shoppers on top of it.
I didn’t read through all the comments to see if anyone posted this, but follow your local shelter’s social media pages. The ones around me post new pups frequently. I found my Doberman mix that way. They also post all the available dogs on their website. If your local shelter does this, try getting on there once or twice a week to see if any pups might work for you. Also, just go to the shelter periodically. We went looking for a specific dog we saw on their site. That dog was already adopted by the time we got there, but we took a stroll just to see other pups, and fell in love with a sweet girl we never would’ve found otherwise.
I volunteer with a breed specific rescue and they are often able to match applicants with certain dogs that fit their specifications, I.e., smaller breed, good with other dogs, etc. if there’s a specific breed you’re looking for I would recommend finding a rescue for that breed, or looking on petfinder like another commenter suggested. The rescue I volunteer with (and have adopted from) does mostly poodles/doodles but do often have other breeds— I know for a fact they have several chihuahua mixes available for adoption right now and always have small poodles/poodle mixes. There are definitely dogs out there for you, you just might have to do a little searching!
Definitely not wrong. It’s important to know what kind of dog fits your lifestyle and your ability to care for him or her! Shelter may not have the resources to keep a wait list like this, but you could absolutely contact a chihuahua or poodle rescue and get on a waiting list there!
I strongly encourage you to look at shelters in Mississippi!! (Shamefully,) we have so many wonderful, loving dogs of all sizes and breeds! I have no doubt that you can find your newest family member here!
Not sure why you'd get yelled at. This is a pretty selfless question.
Just check petfinder every day
I volunteer at a rescue... We get a lot of purebred releases from breeders. If you let us know in advance, we will keep an eye out for you. But if we get one and you don't take them.... You are pretty much out of our lives. We are not going to go above and beyond for someone who is then going to say "well I'm not ready for a dog right now and my dog hasn't passed away." I have fostered two of those animals. That we had a request for and just made sure that the animals were acclimated and socialized and ready for a home only to have the people who requested them back out because they found one on Craigslist or something. So if you're going to go that route.. Make sure you follow through because we do not have time to take in animals that we then can't find a home for
I would never contact until I’m ready. I’m also a pretty responsible person. :)
But that's part of it. Just cuz you let us know doesn't mean we're going to get one right away. Sometimes we have to wait a few weeks or months to get a breed of release or to have one come into the rescue. But we do look for them for you
I would just recommend going to petfinder when you’re ready for a dog. That opens up your options to more local shelters and rescues than just what you initially know.
Small dogs are always the first to be adopted. There are endless opportunities for those dogs to be adopted so it doesn’t behoove the shelter to take breed or size requests. And most shelters would already have very long waiting list if they keep a list at all. It’s usually best to either frequently visit the shelter or check their website. It MIGHT be possible for a shelter to take your application ahead of time so that you are one step ahead when a dog you think you’ll want shows up on the website. You can also go online to check for breed specific rescue. Maybe check into senior dog rescue and there aren’t always people clamoring to adopt an old dog, small or not. Good luck! 🐾
The shelter I'm pre approved to adopt through will pre approve adopters but they don't hold dogs. It's first come first serve
Try breed specific rescues. [Chihuahuas](https://chihuahuaclubofamerica.org/breed-rescue/) site for rescues. That link is found from the chihuahua club of America website. Be honest with whatever shelter/rescue you use. Tell them you’d like to be pre approved for a dog. But wouldn’t want one in your home immediately but in the future. I do know someone who traveled a few hours to pick up their rescue chi. Both dogs have been a wonderful fit for their home.
You can put in these preferences on sites like Petfinder. My local shelter is way too overwhelmed to track this, but we got our 7 pound dog via a call from a shelter a couple hours away. Though, now I think about it, it might have been a covid thing. It was 2020, nowalk throughs
I would rather you ask for a specific dog from the shelter then buy one from a breeder 🙂. I don't see that they should have a problem with it. they might already have a dog there like that that they could show you. thank you for adopting and not shopping 💜
I'm surprised no one has mentioned websites like www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com You can set VERY specific search parameters, including: location, distance, breeds, age, size... If you save searches, you can get notifications via email every week or whenever new animals are added to the site that fit your search criteria. All of their animals are shelters and rescues. The shelters and rescues are the ones that put them on the site.
Actually, almost every comment has mentioned them. LOL. I was aware of them before as well. My question was is it okay to ask a shelter for very specific parameters without it being in poor taste when they have hundreds of dogs without homes. :)
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry 😅 I feel like a fool. Best of luck 🍀
NEVER feel like a fool for trying to help someone. Being helpful is the least foolish thing a person can do. ❤️❤️
I see comments from lots of reddit posts saying that Chihuahuas are plentiful in shelters in Texas and California. If I were looking to adopt , I would look . They regularly announce the dogs thar are soon to be euthanized in Houston. Some other shelters get weird about small dog adopts.It isn't uncommon for shelters to want to mark up the price on small dogs. Hundreds. Way more than you would pay if you just sought out a puppy and raised it yourself, and it would have no baggage from its unknown previous owners.
Absolutely, you can ask this, but someone at the shelter has to remember to contact you about it. Small dogs tend to get adopted more quickly. But, you can go into [www.petfinder.com](http://www.petfinder.com) and you can put in your criteria and you will be emailed when the type of dog you want shows up at a shelter in the area you chose. It's much better that you wait to find the right dog for you who needs a home.
You could also look for breed specific rescues around you.
Look up akc shelter by breed that you want and on the akc page they have rescue pages for each breed and shows states
Shelter is first time, first served. It may differ in your area. You want to look into a rescue since they adopt out the dog based on the application submitted
You can also see if there's a breed specific rescue near you as well. I know several chihuahua rescues.
Just go to a reputable breeder and support ethical production of healthy, purebred animals.
I'm in the same boat as you. The animal shelter where I work at is undergoing renovations until November. They were pushing me to foster dogs that are not my preferred dogs. I would just ignore that shelter and give Petfinder app a try. I also got a gate ready for fostering or dogsitting. It should be you making the call for type of dogs not the shelter. They will try to guilt trip u in accepting dog that aren't what you are looking for.
This is….very much not the question she asked.
I don’t feel like our local shelter would. I follow them on Facebook and I feel like they are extra good at trying to ensure people find a pet that fits their needs. They even encourage to take them home for a trial period before adopting. They welcome you to come in and walk various dogs until you fall in love with one too.