NSAL called my parents "too old" for a puppy! (long)

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KittyKatCopper
missing my handsome boy

Member since 3/09

1579 total posts

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Kat - HamptonsBride (LIW)

NSAL called my parents "too old" for a puppy! (long)

Ok..so i wrote on the previous post about my past experience with NSAL and how good it was 14 years ago. Now let me tell you about what happened to my parents today. Keep in mind i still think they are doing a wonderful job in saving dogs lives...but how my parents were treated was horrible.

My parents lost their 14 year old Border Collie in Nov..i adopted her from NSAL for our family back in 95. They went there today with my oldest brother who is 42 to look at dogs. They found a collie mix pup they liked and asked to see her. They all spent a bunch of time together in the "get to know you area" and they decided they would adopt her. They filled out all the paperwork..gave their vet and our neighbor of 30 something years (fellow dog lover) as a reference. Both were called, and gave good references saying how the dog will be going to the beach, hiking and walking all the time. My Dad een told the one guy working there this and the guy said "wow this dog is going to have a great life." They are both retired and active...Dad is 75 Mom is 70...they climb mountains and walk alot...they are not old couch potatoes.

ETA: After waiting about an hour a young guy comes out and tells them they are APPROVED but that they can't have the dog they were looking at because they feel they should get an older dog instead, and that it's more suited for them. He did NOT ask them a single question about previous dogcare needs..as their 14 yr old required meds several times a day & to be taken out almost every few hours due to the meds. The puppy they were looking at was on meds for worms & on antibiotics (my mom wanted to ask what for)

Meanwhile i was waiting at their house, because DH & I had a party to go to so my parents were going to dogsit for us. My neighbor, the reference had called & told me they were at NSAL looking at a puppy. That same neighbor brought over a cage for them to borrow. My parents & bro come home and i ask "where is the dog?" My brother says "we didn't get it" and i am thinking he is joking..so i say "shut up...where's the dog?" To which he says "they were denied...the guy said they were too old"...to which i reply "what was the guy's name & what is their phone #???"...my poor Mom looked like she was going to cry, my brother looked like he wanted to cry and my Dad was upset that that's how they were treated after years of donations and giving a dog a great life.

So i call and ask for a manager after briefly explaining why...after about 8 minutes on hold i speak to someone. When i ask his name he will only give his first name. So i ask "what is your last name?" and he says "you don't need that"...i gave him my full name and i basically told him that i thought it was wrong that he look at my parents and judge by that alone that they were not "capable" of raising a puppy. My brother even told them if anything were to happen to them, that there were 3 children that could gladly take the dog. The guy was basically no help and when i said i wanted to speak to someone in charge he told me i could e-mail someone.

I am still fuming that my parents were willing to give a pup a wonderful life & this is how they were treated. Why even let them take a puppy out? Why not tell them upfront that they should be looking at older dogs (which i think is dumb) but seriously...why call references and stuff if you are going to deny them on age alone anyway??? They are familiar with active dog breeds and understand the exercise & stimulus these type of dogs need...anyway if you made it this far thank you. I really blame the one young control freak guy that denied my parents. They said even some of the other workers kind of look surprised by the "verdict"...anyway...i hope everyone else has a better experience. I know my Mom will never go there again..and not out of spite, but out of sadness. I on the other hand would like to go and ask for Mr. NoLast Name and give him a piece of my mind! Chat Icon

I should add that my parents are the only ones i will leave my dogs with when we go away, because i know they will be well taken care of. I can leave without any worries..and my mom & dad were able to handle 3 dogs for 2 weeks at a time when that would happen. Here's my Mom on a hike with her old dog.

My neighbor, who was the reference was shocked. She called NSAL and went off on them. She was told she couldn't speak to someone about the "case" since she wasn't family.

I should also add my brother doesn't think they are too "old" to take care of his 5,8 & 10 year old kids on overnight trips.

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Message edited 1/10/2010 9:34:42 AM.

Posted 1/10/10 12:25 AM