I've been in touch with the Colorado Aussie Rescue and MaxFund, so am considering their resources to help find her a home.

The world is full of bullies that will use any token to stimulate themselves. You must remember them from the grade school playground? Hopefully sweet kitty was rabid and bit him! Hopefully your little friend was adopted by a teenageish girl that dotes on his every whim providing him with a happy life of luxury. If you live near Michigan I can offer a two year old fixed female that still has her claws. I named her Favorite because that is who she aspires to be in a seven cat household. Her sister Star Trek is also people friendly and a bit bolder in personality. While friendly, sister Chrissy is shy so I'll keep her where she is comfortable. The others, Yoko, Lulu, Annie, and Jessy are fairly established as residents and have no plans to let me give them away. WAIT... I think I found your kitten's online diary... DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from shredding the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant and cough it up on the carpeting. DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favourite chair...must try this on their bed (again). DAY 762 - Slept all day so that I could annoy my captors with sleep depriving, incessant pleas for food at ungodly hours of the night. DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan... DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth and the tiny bit of flesh under my claws. DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer." More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The Bird on the other hand has got to be an informant. He has mastered their frightful tongue (something akin to mole speak) and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time. : ) lyra

Glad this is taking a better turn. I refrained from comment intially because I am both an adopter and a volunteer with rescue groups. Yep, we all have serious jobs and lives and fit this fostering and home visiting stuff into our evenings and week-ends. I don't think three weeks is excessive considering that in that time the application was reviewed, your references were likely checked, a home visit appt was scheduled and completed, and the application was approved. Two weeks would be ideal given that most of the visits happen on week-ends, but during busy times when volunteers are on vacation, three weeks doesn't sound like 'forever.' "It seems that in their eagerness to remind me that rescue dogs come with ''baggage'' and that I may want to adopt from a breeder if I'm concerned about health issues, they are less concerned about finding good homes for the dogs than their own agenda." I suspect that their 'agenda' is a permanent placement for the dog. Although you say that you would work with any dog with problems, your requests do raise red flags that would trigger any responsible volunteer to have the 'dogs change, dogs have issues' discussion with you or any applicant. It isn't 'personal'. What you probably ran into were experienced volunteers testing a bit (given your requests) to make sure that the dog wouldn't bounce again. Obviously, they found you sincere and a good potential home, so please forgive them for treating you like any other applicant. Many applicants are not experienced and many really do have unrealistic expectations that no dog can meet and see nothing wrong with returning animals if they don't magically and perfectly fit into the household. What strikes me oddly here is that they don't have photos of the dogs on a website. Maybe you could 'give back' (whether you do or do not adopt the pup you're interested in) by volunteering with the group and taking photos of the dogs for display on the groups website. By doing that you'd be helping many other dogs and many other applicants. Good luck, and do deep us posted.

I just posted on another thread about the Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program. My 2nd pup is from there and he is the most wonderful pal, happy since I brought him home a year ago. They have all types of dogs which are trained for a wide range of situations. You can find one in your area by going to petfinders.com. The program in your area may not be under the same name as here in CO. The positives with this program is their high level of training, a history of the dog's temperament and all medical completed. Not all pass the companion program, but this doesn't mean they are not trained well. I think about 1 in 10 actually make the rigerous requirements. The pets who fail are wonderful too, fully trained in at least 10 commands. My guy just liked balls too much and got diverted if one was around....a no/no for companion graduation. Link below is for Colorado, but an example of the animals available and story of the program. Here is a link that might be useful: Prison trained friends