Is It About You? Or the Dog?

Sometimes we receive multiple applications for an adoptable pet. We wish that was that was the case for every adoptable pet! Nonetheless, a trend we often see is adoption applicants asking about our process or if we are planning to contact them anytime soon. So let’s talk about it.

From an adopter perspective, it’s important to remember that our organization is completely volunteer led. That means every single person who works with Knox Vintage does it for free, even the founder and director. We all have our regular full-time jobs, families, our own pets, and home responsibilities to care for. We typically use break times at work, or before or after work time (especially during the weekends), to do everything that needs to be done with the organization’s operations. If it’s an urgent matter, such as a medical emergency with one of our foster dogs, you better believe we are making it a priority. But other things, such as vetting applications or answering non-emergent emails, often have to wait. Yes, we know you are eager to meet the pet you want to adopt, but the priority is the well-being of the dog and the rescue. Since our foster dogs are always in a safe place, such as with a responsible foster pawrent or reputable boarder, we know that vetting applications can wait a few days.

The application review process isn’t as easy for us as it is for you.

1. First, we have to initially go through the answers on your application to make sure you already have the prerequisites that make you the right match for the pet.
2. If those prerequisites are met, we run a vet record check with any current or previous animals you own. This means we have to call the veterinarian office(s) during their business hours, which is usually when most of our volunteers are working their regular jobs as well. So timing can get tricky for this step and could take several days, maybe even a week, to get to.
3. If that passes inspection, it doesn’t mean you are the one who gets to adopt the pet. Remember that Knox Vintage always has the pet’s best interest in mind! So even though you might be an approved adopter, it doesn’t mean you are the best fit for that dog compared to other approved adopters.
4. Even after an adopter is selected, the rescue might have to hold on to the dog a little longer. They might need special medical care that the rescue is obligated to fulfill and, well, because that’s also the right thing to do. Because of this, it’s sometimes easier on the dog and/or the organization to keep them in the foster home during treatment or surgery recovery.

We will get into what approves an application some other time, but know that we are always doing what is right for the pets that are in our care.

Remember that it is not about you. It’s about giving these dogs a better life!

A little bit of patience goes a long way for us volunteers. We work tirelessly in our spare time because we love the quality of life it gives back to our animals. So before you “demand to speak to the manager,” think about who you are actually talking to and what the concern is about. Is it about you and your feelings? Or is this about the dog and giving him/her a better life?