As a rescue org, it chaps my britches when shelters do this.
One public shelter was notorious for giving out rescue contacts' PERSONAL cell phone numbers too -- our Director of Operations had to change her number, and told the shelter we weren't pulling dogs from them any more because of it until they changed their policy. We honestly had to create a lot of drama to make them stop doing it. We also shifted to GoogleVoice and screen every call because of that.
If we make it public by posting a "freedom ride" picture on FB, that's our choice -- they can follow on FB and we'll block them if they're inappropriate.
Our rescue's vet is also "TV famous" from Animal Planet, and people will call the clinic demanding updates on a rescue's medical-needs dogs--it's seriously crazy. She had to put a policy in place that only one contact with each rescue is allowed to talk to the clinic to shut down random wackadoos from calling the clinic pretending to be part of the rescue. And to keep weirdos and fraudsters from bringing dogs in and putting them on rescues' tabs at her clinic -- yes, really!
We've found that the "stalking" behavior is WAY worse with purebred-looking puppies. People glom onto them and decide they're going to get them and become real pests -- we might have 20 apps for 1 puppy so 19 people are going to be asked to consider a different dog. People can act really entitled ("nobody else could possibly be as good an adopter as me!"), even though some folks have been on a waiting list for a puppy for a long time (and have perhaps adopted seniors or special needs dogs in the past, getting them extra consideration because they've been so kind and giving with other dogs).
I've also had the issue with foster volunteers wanting to stay in the life of the dog they fostered through us, as they have trouble letting go. I don't want them bothering adopters for updates. We have a private adopter FB group where folks can share pics and stories with us and other adopters, and the fosters can join that group to see them. Some great adopters just want a dog, not a new group of friends, so they prefer to live their lives without staying in touch frequently--and that's totally fine (and fosters have to live with it).
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Maggie Thomas
President
Red Stick German Shepherd Rescue
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-28-2023 07:07 AM
From: Denise Pavitt
Subject: Should a shelter disclose what rescue a dog was transferred to?
We have a few situations of being stalked and harassed by "finders" with dogs that were transferred to us from a shelter. A "finder" brings a "stray" old dog to a shelter. Shelter takes the dog and then transfers the dog to our rescue organization. When the "finder" contacts the shelter to ask how the dog is doing, the shelter gives them our organization name and contact information.
As we know, "finders" are often owners. We have had several situations of being harassed, and stalked - one went on for several months even- because of this. As a 100% foster based rescue organization this becomes extremely concerning as we try to protect the privacy and safety of our foster families.
I'm fairly certain that it is not permitted to give out adopters information when a dog is adopted directly from a shelter. So why would it be ok for the shelter to give out our rescue information?
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#LawsandPublicPolicy
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Denise Pavitt
Senior Hearts Rescue & Renewal
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