Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Rescue dogs and kids

    Posted 07-30-2024 09:57 AM

    I'm wondering if anyone has data on dogs being adopted to homes with kids? I'm thinking specifically about stats on success/failures/bites/ etc. 

    I'm sure we have all seen the age restrictions put on the majority of adult dogs in shelters, making it nearly impossible for families with kids to adopt an adult dog- which really shoots ourselves in the foot as the majority of dog owners are families with kids. I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of shelter dogs are actually unable to live with children- but I've never found actual data on this subject. Any insights are greatly appreciated.


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
    #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment

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    Nikki Knopp
    Dvpt. & Comms Coordinator
    University of Calgary
    AB
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  • 2.  RE: Rescue dogs and kids

    Posted 08-05-2024 06:58 AM

    I haven't seen age restrictions in my local shelters. The only things I've seen are notes like "would do best with adults and older children that are able to redirect her and enforce the house rules" or "s/he is large and exuberant and may not be suitable for a home with small children". I seriously doubt there's data about that. It sounds like something shelters do in a misguided attempt to find the "perfect" home for dogs.



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    Maria Saucedo
    GIS Analyst
    Pets for Life at HSUS
    Baltimore, MD
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  • 3.  RE: Rescue dogs and kids

    Posted 08-05-2024 03:21 PM

    One of the programs of the non-profit I represent is a breed specific adoption group: Arizona Heartfelt Hounds. We find homes for retired racing greyhounds as well as other sighthounds. We don't adopt our dogs to families with children under the age of 15 years old. The Board made that decision following a number of issues we had with adopters who had children. I don't have the statistics, but I do know there are other greyhound/sighthound groups that have the same restrictions. 



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    Mary Flores
    Sol Dog Lodge and Training Ctr & AZ Heartfelt Houn
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Rescue dogs and kids

    Posted 08-05-2024 01:15 PM

    I have not seen any age restrictions in our local shelters. In my shelter, we will say certain dogs must go to a home with no young children, but only those dogs that are on the extreme side of nervous, are over exuberant and would accidentally mow small kids down,  or are extremely mouthy. And we have even made exceptions on that statement depending on the kids. If they are respectful of the dog and the dog likes them, we have gone ahead with the adoption. We do not have any data to my knowledge on the type of info you are looking for but most of our returns on dogs usually don't have anything to do with the kids in the home. 



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    Erin Robinson
    Foster Coordinator
    Licking County Humane Society
    OH
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  • 5.  RE: Rescue dogs and kids

    Posted 08-05-2024 01:19 PM

    I do know that many shelters are open to placing adult dogs in homes with children if the dog is a good fit. It's true that every dog is an individual, and age restrictions might be overly cautious. 



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    Daniel Burr
    Operations Manager
    Little Ones
    MA
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