Harrison Forbes Helps DeGeneres Fight Back
Now that the fur has stopped flying in the Ellen DeGeneres dog adoption fiasco, PetSide.com spoke with animal expert Harrison Forbes. Forbes has trained dogs for over 20 years and currently hosts Pet Talk, a nationally syndicated radio talk show. He offered comments about the DeGeneres case and advice for families planning pet adoptions.
Q. How do you assess the DeGeneres case?
A. Dog adoptions are a big emotional issue. Clearly, the story was distorted because the facts got ahead of the events. The pet rescue agency (Mutts & Mums) had a contract which stated, "no small dog placements in homes with children under the age of 14. The woman at the agency was sticking to their rules.
But you cannot repossess a dog regardless of the contract. He was in a happy home. Maybe there should have been some leniency.
Q. Is the Brussels Griffon terrier mix too small for younger children?
A. The under 14 age cut off is not good. It may leave out lot of good adoptions. If I were writing an animal shelter contract, I would not exclude small dogs for eight- to 14-year-old children because it's a good age for a pet.
Children between the ages of eight and 14 are hanging around the house most of the time. They cannot drive. And the girls are not boy crazy. Some girls still play with dolls and often times a pet can be a substitute for that doll play.
Q. What's the best way for a family to adopt a pet?
A. Families need to do their homework and take time to make a plan. It's a family decision. I suggest families should sit down and talk about adopting a dog. First, you should narrow down the choices. Which type of dog fits your lifestyle? What size dog? Do you have allergies? Obviously if you live in the desert you don't want a dog with a thick coat of hair.
After narrowing down the choices, call several animal shelters. Speak to someone about the kind of dog you want. Many shelters have detailed knowledge of their dogs, especially the ones with foster care programs. They often keep observation notes on each dog's behavior. They will be able to assist you and even help refine your search. Then make an appointment to visit to the shelters.
Q. How many shelters should be visited?
A. I believe in the power of three which means you should visit three shelters before making any decision. Be sure to tell the kids, we are going to look at three shelters. Hold your decision until after you have visited all the dogs.
The people working at an animal shelter will respect you for being so serious about the adoption. It's also a good time to begin the paperwork and to read the adoption contract. This is the best approach and you are not wasting anyone's time.
Q. How can a family avoid overly emotional decisions on a pet adoption?
A. By waiting 48 hours. A family should spend several days thinking about the adoption before making that final decision. If you want the very first dog you saw, you can always go back to that shelter. There is no need to rush. There's a big choice for adoption among thousands of dogs at animal shelters.
Petside: Get Started
-
- 2010 NCAA Mascot Tournament
Vote for your favorite pet mascots to determine the ultimate NCAA mascot champion!
-
- Find a Breed
Browse dog and cat breeds to find your perfect pal.
-
- Diagnose a Condition
Use PetVet to research what's ailing your pet.
-
- Locate a Hospital
- Find the nearest accredited animal hospital.
Specials
Check out these deals picked by petside.com just for you!
Comments (2)
Joe M June 12, 2009 10:46 AM
visiting three shelters may be a bit unrealistic especially in more rural areas. Families can do a lot of research on line at Petfinder.com and view the various pets available in their community and they can obtain a lot of information on the requirements for each of those shelters. Then once they have done that type of research they can visit the shelter that most likely has the pet that is best for their family situation. And it is a lot easier to do the research on line and be removed from the risk of a purely emotional decision based on the pet that is currently licking your hand
VT June 30, 2009 12:31 AM
I need your help. On May 16 I adopted an 8 week old puppy, a boxer, beagle, corgi mix, from Pet Rescue of Larchmont, NY. The puppy was doing well. I housetrained her and we were bonding well. The only problem was she was nipping, a common puppy problem. My daughters and I agreed we needed some training. I hired a trainer from this group and the session was disastrous. The girls, my daughters, were terrified of the trainer. The following Monday, Pet Rescue of Larchmont came to our house when I was not home and only my 13 year old daughter was present. They trespassed and grabbed the leash from my daughter claiming that our puppy was a danger to her and my younger daughter's welfare. They drove off and my daughter was left on the doorstep in tears. I've filed a police report, contacted the group, written letters and yet I am still without our puppy and my daughters are devastated. How is this not a criminal act? The police say it's a small claims court issue. These people at Pet Rescue are extremists and unsuspecting people should be forewarned.
add your comment