Mary Ellen,

You can email ratbonesos@yahoo.com and cc: RBRGAP@yahoo.com.  From your phone number I would say you are in Texas. 

Hope this helps.

I forgot to say this .... I apologize if I've hurt anyone's feelings with the above post, because that wasn't my intention ..... I just feel that if you have a volunteer boarder or rescuer, you should be happy that there are folks out here that are willing to help, and not insult them by demanding an application or home visit, especially if they know what they are in for with a special needs animal like a rattie. It took many weeks of TLC just to get our Pom-poo to trust us not to beat her, and now she is one of the most loyal dogs I've ever owned. My advice, give your volunteer rescuers a break, not an inquisition

Used to feel the same way Linuxdog.  Then I started researching, reading and LISTENTING to rescue folks.  For the very reasons Gwacie just described - that's why home visits are done.  So guess what?  I went ahead  and volunteered as a foster for Ratbone and had a home visit.  It went well and we actually enjoyed it as it was another rat terrier lover doing it  - we had a long chat just about dogs. 

There ARE some people out there who will apply to adopt or who will volunteer to foster who have no business doing either.  So many rescues do the home visits.  If you are against it completely then perhaps you can find a rescue that does not require that in order to foster.

Sounds good to me!  Any way a rattie can be saved is a good way.

In my opinion, for what that's worth... if someone isn't willing to have a home visit, they have something to hide, and that's not a place I'd want one of my dogs to go....

Not accusing you of anything, I don't even know you.  I'm just voicing my opinion, which I am entitled to, as you are of yours.  But I stand by what I said.  No way would I allow one of my fosters go to a home that wouldn't allow a home visit. 

Ya know the other thing is by not doing a home visit you have NO IDEA where these dogs are going,. What if  you are a research lab or hoarder or dog fighter. Anyone can say "I have a great home and this and that" but maybe you really want rat terriers as bait dogs cheap. Who knows. I work with rescue and not only do we require a home visit but we do random follow ups as well. These dogs have been through enough to place them in bad situations. Maybe that is not yours but you can't trust someone's word these days, there are to many shady people out there.

I just read this about adoption and it's very true:  if potential owners have a bad attitude about the process it's a red flad they don't consider the dog's welfae important enought to jump though hoops. Theyr' not going to put a lot of effort into the dog right from the beginning. My rescue's I would have jumped through fire hoops if that's what it would have taken. Just something to think about.

This is not meant against you in any way but there is a method to the madness behind it. Patience is a virtue.

I just wanted to add something.....

when i applied for Kasey...... it took forever to find someone to do a homevisit....   it was over a month...  since i applied,  I was starting to look around for other ratties that were closer to home and go from there.....   I passed my reference check, application check and everything else.... all i needed was a home visit....   that was the only thing that was holding us back....  

But my husband and i decided to wait longer....   and for that time being, waiting for so long and we finally used the last resource to have someone to do a home visit because there were nobody close to my area to do it....   and i picked the person who i know was most honest and blunt about things....   just to assure them that there was nothing to hide. 

Oh yeah, i was getting frusturated.  because that was a long time.  So i talked to one of the people about the home visit, and she explained one of her experiences with me.  When she went to do a home visit.... the whole family was suppose to be there and to make sure everyone was agreeable to adopt the dog....  well, when she went there, it was just the mom and kids... and then her husband came home.... her husband was not in any agreement to adopt the dog and they were arguing!  So when something like that happens it's better that it happens before they adopted the dog, because who knows what would've happened to that pup if they did!  especially with the husband being mad and angry like that! 

So you just never know....  it's better to be safe than sorry.  even my husband felt "why would we need a home visit?" but that was of course before we learned about the mean ppl out there that were not so nice to animals....  

So now that i foster,  i feel better with home visits along with all the process of adopting the dog.  and i treat these fosters as if they were mine.... and i want them to go to a good home where they can be spoiled and be loved too. 

To give a dog to someone without doing a reference check(s), vet check(s) and home visit(s)  is like giving your kid to a daycare without doing research....  just dropping 'em off and not looking back...

I want to make sure my babies are going to save and loving homes.  Like someone said, words are cheap... I want to see for myself.  If anybody finds that offensive or intrusive, they don't need one of my dogs.  Plain and simple!

AMEN!

Thank you for your advise.  I was planning to breed him, but never found any one close by with a RT again.  His daughter is fixed.  The other puppy isn't and yes I do agree...I should have done that for him sooner. 

Please advise how I can contact a moderator to move my problem...believe me I do not want to give him up...I LOVE HIM, I am just hurt by his attitude towards me.  I always thought that they are supposed to be loyal to their owner.

I will to start fix him as soon as possible, then I will monitor him and see what happens.

Thanks again..

"I understand what you are saying. My life is an open book, however i live in a fallen down pig sty"

Actually as a person who has done home visits for Ratbone, my bigfest placement disappointment was with a family that was TOO clean. I saw red flags but thought these are adults and they know dogs can make a mess. I had to take my shoes off outside their home, put on some little slipper things, and then do the same thing for the backyard. Everything was white and antiseptic. A week into dog ownership they returned her. One complaint was that her feet got dirty when she goes outside for potty. I would much rather see a dog go to a "real" home than a showplace where they might not fit in.

I understand the resistance to home visits but having been involved with rescue for 4 years I think it is worth the risk of alienating a few people. Those people who are experienced and good with dogs such as the fellow on this thread who doesn't feel anyone needs to do the visit might see the benefits, even if those don't agree, if they had more information. Remember, these rescue groups are not only trying to weed out people who are unfit but they are also trying to match up the right dog with the right people and living situaiton so that adoptions are lifelong. People can get emotional seeing a dog on a web site that tugs at their heart strings when, in fact, that dog may not be suited for their lifestyle or home.

That's the beauty of human - we all see things from our own perspective.

Vickie