Adoption refused because of smoking

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Primary lung cancer (cancer coming from lung tissue) is rare in dogs, so the odds are very high that a tumor seen in the lungs is a metastasis from a tumor somewhere else. This is not always the case but it is a reasonable presumption. So in most cases, just seeing a tumor in the lungs is reason to suspect metastatic cancer.

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Lung cancer in dogs

Since there have been little or no studies done on lung cancer in dogs, it's my own personal opinion that the refusal to adopt a pet out to a smoker is based solely on personal bias. An ureasonable bias that would rather see an animal put to death or live the rest of it's life in a cage rather than allow it to know love and companionship that all pets deserve!

No dog has ever died simply from having a stinky coat! ;)

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Originally Posted by applesmom

Lung cancer in dogs

Since there have been little or no studies done on lung cancer in dogs, it's my own personal opinion that the refusal to adopt a pet out to a smoker is based solely on personal bias. An ureasonable bias that would rather see an animal put to death or live the rest of it's life in a cage rather than allow it to know love and companionship that all pets deserve!

No dog has ever died simply from having a stinky coat! ;)

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Exactly!! And I have never been told my dogs stink! I take great care of my dogs, and they smell, and look good!

"Primary lung cancer (cancer coming from lung tissue) is rare in dogs, so the odds are very high that a tumor seen in the lungs is a metastasis from a tumor somewhere else. This is not always the case but it is a reasonable presumption. So in most cases, just seeing a tumor in the lungs is reason to suspect metastatic cancer. "

This is EXACTLY what DJ died of. We are not smokers, and our dog still died of lung cancer. So apparently it doesn't matter, the dog can get lung cancer even if it lives with non-smokers. :rolleyes:

Oh good gosh. My mom smokes, and I've never ever seen any of our pets have any smoking-related illnesses. It might be harmful to something like fish or amphibians, but dogs and cats? That's just stupid. :confused:

I can understand an adoption place having a right to restrict who they adopt pets out to, it's their right.

I don't agree with it personally.

I, hubby & my mom have all smoked with pets in the house, we've had Dusty for 11 1/2 years (she'll be 17 this summer) and the only main thing she's suffering from is severe osteoarthritis (she does have some respiratory problems, but she showed up with them and are very minor). We've had Jack for 6 years and his only problem is constipation. We've had Pooky & Bear for 5 years and they have no problems. Cami we've only had 1 year and the kittens less than 6 months, but neither of them have any health problems.

I do realize that smoking can cause cancer and even allergies/athsma in pets, but I personally think that limiting pets to only homes without higher risks for some things that are long term is a little overboard. What's next, do they test our homes for radon, carbon monoxide, mold, and lead paint? Do they test the air quality if we live too close to a factory? There has to be a limit.

I understand the concern, but as has already been pointed out there are already too many animals unwanted dying in the streets and euthanized in shelters to be picky to a fault about adoptions. No two people are going to agree on the absolute best care for an animal and I think just finding someone that fits the major catagories for proper care (space, time, money, proper vet care, etc) would be sufficient.

Ah, I know two dogs that have died of lung cancer because their owners smoked. My aunt and uncles previous JRT, yes the same aunt and uncle who now have the seriously obese Meg who I posted a photo of and and a white GSD who belonged to a work colleague who smokes along with her husband.

The GSD was only 6 and the JRT was 10. They don't live far from each other either. Probably takes about 15 minutes to walk from one house to the other. If two dogs in such a close proximity can die because of their owners habit, how many more do all over the UK and elsewhere.

Sorry to dampen things here but I don't see why, if smoking can be so harmful to humans, that it can't also be harmful to cats and dogs.
I know many pets don't get lung cancer from living in smoking homes same as not all people get smoking related illnesses from either smoking themselves or breathing in somebody elses smoke but the risk is still there.
Many people wouldn't think of having their children breathing in their cig smoke...although some don't care...but they don't bat an eyelid when it comes to their pets.

I think it's silly to refuse an adoption because of smoking. I don't smoke, but i have friends that smoke when they are at my house. No one has ever said anything about my dogs smelling like smoke. Their coats are fine. In great condition at this time actually!

anywho, I agree that I'd much rather adopt a dog to a home filled with smokers than have a dog be killed. The risk of the dog getting lung cancer is slim, but possible. I don't think it's enough of a problem to refuse an adoption though.

Here is a link I found on the matter.

Seems that secondhand smoke is more risky for cats for various reasons but can be a risk for any pet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2165722.stm

Here is another link I just found.

"Epidemiology found that dogs in smoking households had a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer; a different study published in the same journal showed that long-nosed dogs, such as collies or greyhounds, were twice as likely to develop nasal cancer if they lived with smokers."

http://www.smokefreesociety.org/NewsClip/Pets-1.html

I don't think that is a valid reason to refuse adoption. However, I don't think kids/pets/other members of the household should have to be subjected to cigarette smoke. My personal opinion is that if you want to smoke, thats fine, but smoke outside/away from other people/pets. Many of the people I've worked with smoke, and I don't care one bit, as long as they do it outside, the smell of cigarette smoke makes me ill, literally...honestly I wouldn't want my dogs to have to breathe it in either. I would not refuse to adopt out a dog if the people smoked though.

I also wanted to add, because I didn't think to mention it before. In our house we have several air purifiers, one of them is quite large and expensive in the room we are in the most, and we open the windows to 'air out' the house frequently.

I think it does alot on cutting down on the lingering smoke, as well as regular cleaning to eliminate 'smoke film' deposits on windows/walls etc, and we shampoo our carpets at least 2x a year. The only reason I mention this is I got to thinking of how many non-smokers come over to our house and frequently mention the house 'doesn't smell like smoke' and I even have one aunt that is allergic to smoke and our house has never bothered her.

I only thought to mention that because I have been to smokers houses where even I can smell the 'dirty ashtray' smell, the whole house is covered in 'smoke film' and the even people smell strongly of cigarettes. Those homes don't have air purifiers, they don't open many windows and don't seem to regularly clean the 'smoke film', their cars are even worse.

I don't know if that actually has any long term benefits or not as far as health goes, but it does point out the differences in how smokers live.

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Originally Posted by wolf_Q

However, I don't think kids/pets/other members of the household should have to be subjected to cigarette smoke.

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RI has recently passed a law that you can not smoike in a car with a child under the age of 6 in the car. And they are trying to pass the same regarding the home.

Smoking is a "hot" issue just now.

I think it makes a difference if it is one person (as in the case which started this thread) or if it is the policy of the adoption program.

Just went back and read post #1 again. It is not clear from that if it was one person in a program, or one person looking for someone to adopt a pet she was fostering, not as a part of a program. In which case, she has the right to adopt out to whom she wants.

On the adoption issue, I'm a bit umming and arring on that one....undecided in other words. I wouldn't be bothered if a shelter refused to adopt to a smoking home and neither would I be if they did adopt out to a smoking home.

I was mainly pointing out that smoke is a risk for pets because it seemed that some people were stating that they didn't think it was.

If I was adopting out personally, I know I'd prefer pets to go to non smoking homes than smoking ones...providing either was suitable for the pet anyway but I don't know whether I'd block pets going to smoking homes providing they would give the creature proper care...fortunately, I don't have that job.
I think more shelters might develop issues with smoking homes with more evidence that comes to light about the risk it causes pets but I also think it would do wonders for the actual smokers if they tried to kick the habit also....maybe the creatures could be an incentive...they are good for humans in other ways, why not that?

Still, saying that, even if people smoke, it doesn't mean they smoke indoors, they might prefer to smoke outdoors to prevent smells or discolouration of walls etc...protect any children living in the house or out of respect for another adult/partner who lives with them and doesn't like smoke...in this case I doubt a pet would be at risk.....it's just hard to know what habits each smoking applicant has regarding their smoking and I don't think shelters want to start asking about a persons smoking habits and, even if they did, no doubt some people might fib about them in order to stand a chance.

I've always been anti-smoking from being a young child but I think it was the deaths of those two dogs that really made me think about pets living in smoking homes. When you personally know creatures that died because of it, it does have an affect on your opinion about it.

Oh, just saw Freedoms post.
In the UK, it gets even better, lol. They are banning smoking in all public buildings, places of work, pubs, clubs, even partially enclosed areas or areas where people have to congregate like bus stops and doorways to work places where smokers would use as a smoke area.
If you live in a council property, you cannot smoke in your house whilst there is a council worker in your home. I'm not sure if this extends to private hire workers etc...
Also, if you are in a car that is being used to give other people lifts, say co-workers who all get in the same car to save on petrol etc...you cannot smoke in those either...even if it is your own car.

This comes into force in July in England. Southern Ireland already has the ban in place.

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Originally Posted by Freedom

RI has recently passed a law that you can not smoike in a car with a child under the age of 6 in the car. And they are trying to pass the same regarding the home.

Smoking is a "hot" issue just now.

I think it makes a difference if it is one person (as in the case which started this thread) or if it is the policy of the adoption program.

Just went back and read post #1 again. It is not clear from that if it was one person in a program, or one person looking for someone to adopt a pet she was fostering, not as a part of a program. In which case, she has the right to adopt out to whom she wants.

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Freedom she's also a canine behaviorist and takes on the dogs with behavioral problems from many groups in addition to rescuing on her own. Not sure which catagory this dog fell into.

I do agree that a group or individual who has taken on responsibility for an abandoned pet has the right to choose where that pet is placed.

However it doesn't make any sense to me to deprive that animal of a loving home for the sole reason that the would-be adopter happens to be a smoker.

She and I are still debating the issue! ;)

Our city has a smoking ban on all indoor public places. Its great! its wonderful to be able to eat at a restaurant without getting smoke in my eyes or lungs or nose.

I smoked for decades, and have since quit. I gave my pets a good home, either way. They were loved and well cared for. If not for me, they would have all been dead.

Is smoking a nasty, smelly, dirty, harmful habit? You bet. Would everyone ... people, pets, kids ... be better off without exposure to smoke? Sure. I don't know ANYone who smokes who has ever said, "Oh, I'm so happy I'm addicted to this expensive, smelly drug!"

I suppose in this rescue's opinion, she is finding the best home possible for this dog. And I certainly understand that impulse. I honestly don't think that smoking ought to be much of a criteria, but that's JMHO.

But what rescues and shelters sometimes lose sight of is this: for every addtional month you spend finding the PERFECT home, while turning down VERY GOOD homes, that is a month that the space in your home or shelter is filled, and therefore other dogs are dying for lack of a place to go. I'm certainly not advocating adopting animals out to the first semi-passable home to come along, willy nilly. That does NO favors to those animals. But there is such a thing as taking TOO long and being TOO picky as well. That certainly does no favors for the dozens of dog who died, waiting for "perfection".