Exactly! What do they do in the summer when it's hot? If you left your dog in extreme cold or heat in your car in a grocery store parking lot, you quite likely would be ticketed or maybe even have your dog taken away. But it's okay in their parking lot??

Well, if you lived close by, maybe you could do the paperwork, drive back home for your current dog, drive back to the shelter for your new dog ... but that's kinda silly, to put it kindly. Frustrating that they don't have provision for their own rule.

Scott...I'm so glad to hear your going to adopt. I can't wait to hear about the new companion in your life. Your the BEST, most caring person to be upset about this. Yes, their policy is not practical, but I'm glad they accommodated you with a room for Logan.

My neighbor waited 2 hours to look at dogs here and finally gave up and went home.

Good luck with your search for a new dog. Sorry I would never bring by dog there. Even fully vaccinated to much of a chance to pick up a parasite. Kennel cough is air born very easy to pick up, vaccine not a 100% effective.

Nyboy, I agree but Logan has all his vaccinations. Actually he just got more last Wednesday. So he's up to date. He also only came into contact with Paxil. But I'll keep a close eye on him.

I just wouldn't want to go thru the whole adoption process that took 4 long hours only to return him if they didn't get along.

Nicole, you have NO idea how bad I wanted to walk out. But I was hell bent on saving Paxil's life.

I just read some bad reviews of the shelter today. It said they are the highest kill shelter in my area. Most dogs are given 3 - 5 days before euthanized.

No doubt your new pup would be gone by now if you hadn't saved him. Just forget the process, enjoy the dog. I don't like leaving my dog in the car any time, but I do occasionally for 10 minutes weather permitting. It just makes me nervous, not sure why.

My local shelter has a long row of pits in cages and a long row of Chihuahuas in cages, not much else. I just don't understand it.

Me either. Our shelter was 90% pitbull mixes. Strange. And in some counties it's illegal to own a pitbull.

A lot of shelters here put down the pits and won't even try to adopt them out. I was there one day when a lady brought in a very pretty pit bull. They told her, if they took him they would euthanize him. She said "I don't care what you do with him.". I understand the shelter's position, and this one works hard to place as many dogs and cats as they can, but I thought it was cold of his owner. I had my doubts the dog even belonged to her.

I have a very negative view of our local shelter here. When one of my pitbulls was stolen he was used for fighting. When he was found,the police told me that they had to follow procedure and take him to the shelter,but I could just go get him. Fine. I was there before my beloved dog,waiting to take him. Well, the fat shrew who ran the shelter was hell bent on keeping me from getting the dog back despite my bringing his vet records,showing his vaccinations,and the police report stating that our door was kicked in when we were gone,and the dog stolen. She came up with every excuse why I couldn't have him. They tested him for food aggression, (nope,can't win there heifer,he knows sharing is caring) dog aggression (which despite being forced to fight,he had none,and still doesn't.) He passed everything with flying colors. Cause "whose a good boy?!?!?! Sammys a good boy!!! O yes he is!!!!!!!" He loves other dogs and had NEVER tried to harm them,despite being brutalized by those teenage abominations of birth who stole him. Okay, so it didn't help that when it got particularly heated,I offered to go get her a bucket of chicken to improve her mood,but still. The fact was, she had NO legal standing to keep the dog,especially as he was HORRIBLY injured, and I needed to take him to my vet immediately. The fact was,he is a pit bull and the *itch just wanted to kill him. I had to call the cops to get him back. But I got him. Take that,you evil, pit hating heifer.

I ran into a woman at the park where I used to walk said dog a few years ago. We had a horrible tornado that devastated our city. This woman had come strictly to volunteer at the shelter,to help the pets displaced by the storm. She told me an infuriating story about how they a pit bull was brought in,3 weeks after the storm. She was microchipped,so they had the owner come in. Trouble was,that after 3 weeks of starving in the street,the very FIRST thing they did was test the dog for food aggression. WHAT?!?! Let me tell you something,if I go to many HOURS without food, Lord help anyone who gets to close to me when I finally get a.piece of cheese or something. (I hate to be catty,as I'm overweight as well,.but I would think the huge heifer that ran the shelter would understand the sentiment) Anyway, the woman told me they told the owner they couldn't have her back because she was "dangerous" around food. She was horrified and refused to volunteer there anymore. (Btw,the woman DID get her dog,after a call to some relation,who is a local bigwig and a HUGE donor to the shelter and no doubt has a say in which continues to work there).

These are horrible,horrible people. I really think they get some sort of sick pleasure in wielding power over those who want there animals back,and even more sick pleasure out of killing animals. Most strays around here are better off fending for themselves on the street. If they come by my place,they'll always get something to eat at the very least. Pitty party at amylou's!!!!!!!

Very sad.

I don't know if my animal shelter has that policy about potential pet having a meet & greet with dogs at home... sounds like a GOOD idea though. For ever, I always had dog... large ones. After losing last one unexpectedly, decided animal shelter was where I would go when I wanted another pet. I think animal "people" have a gene that makes them NEED to have an animal around. I went to my county animal shelter web site and started looking at their pictures. I didn't want a really young puppy... not that housebreaking stuff again!?! Didn't want a LARGE dog... last dog (90 lb Dobie) went down SO fast, I wasn't able to get her into car myself. One of the FIRST pics was a mini-Pincer... red just like last dog, only a year or 2 old. Found out quickly that young, smallish dog quickly have a line of families waiting to adopt. Went to shelter and dog section was sad/scary. Everything there was either a REALLY OLD dog (like 10-12 year old, gray faced labs) or pits/rotts. I've had rotties but no way would I feel comfortable adopting a full grown one from animal shelter. People can also LIE about WHY they are surrendering their dogs, right?

I took a few steps into cat room and a little arm reached out thru the bars and pretty much picked ME. I had NEVER had a cat before... didn't even have a carrier. DID have the required paperwork, filled out as much as possible. As I waited in line, the young guy (maybe 18-20) in front of me asked about "adopting SOME kitten"!! Woman at desk very briefly made eye contact with me and proceeded to pile on the paperwork. You had to provided information about where the animal would live (house or apt), was there a yard (fenced?), name and contact information of your vet. After he left, I just had to ask if what I had just seen was what I thought it was! She said... YES, periodically young guys try to adopt... and this is disgusting... what would become BAIT animals.

The shelter will not adopt out an animal that isn't spayed/neutered.

Thank you for your patience and for saving the life of a homeless pet!

Have volunteereed w/ different shelters. Many people do adoption in 2 steps, paperwork first and return later w/ dog. Others will have a family member or friend bring the dog later.

High euthanasia rates are deceiving. Those w/ high euthanasia rates often have an open door policy, and accept most animals. Many shelters w/ low "kill" rates - have low accept rates.

I volunteered w/ low euthanasia shelters and always feared what would happen to the cats & dogs that the intake volunteer did not accept. Sadly, there are things even worse than humane euthanasia.

Congratulations on the addition to your family!

@ gardenerlorisc, Most shelters are staffed by volunteers, often with limited to no education/training. Being a volunteer adoption counselor, and deciding who is safe to adopt a pet to, is the most difficult job I ever had (and my "real" job is in an ED/trauma center).

Good, responsible pet parents would be shocked by some of the things potential adopters admit to; we try to use those stories as teaching opportunities.

BTW - shelters often have different sinks to wash litterboxes and wash food/water bowls in, avoiding using the same sink to prevent disease (something like not using your toilet to wash dishes in).

Alright, I accept that but to berate someone for that length of time in front of "customers" is bad form in my opinion. I most likely would have walked out before stuffing her head down into the sink.

Grrr! Sorry you had a bad experience. My local adoption agency insisted on a "meet and greet" before the adoption was approved. I was able to put a "hold" on Maizie. I was able to schedule a same-day meet-up. Brought Robert in for the (very structured and staff-directed) meet-up, and all went well. This was in August, and there is no way dogs can be left in cars in South Texas! Thankful to have two sweet street dogs curled up beside me.

I have 2 dogs from private adoptions one 110 lbs and one 40 lbs and 2 cats that showed up as tiny babies out in my yard. Surprisingly they get along great. The bigger dog had never seen a cat before he was 8 years old!

I'm so glad you waited and got Paxil. I sure wish there were more folks like you.

You are lucky my shelter won't let you bring your dog to meet and greet...