Wolfsoul, in Ionia County in Michigan they don't do a background check either. I hate when I am there and you know the dog will be back because it's not going to a good home. Several other shelters around us do background check, some just call reference and others don't do same day adoptions. One place I volunteer at does a questioner/background info meeting, then they will disscuss what type of personallity you want in a dog(not which cute dog you think you want) then you meet a few dogs, if the adoption coordinator thinks you are a match then you have to come back another time with any currents dogs to make sure they get along, then they schedule a home visit. Then if you are lucky you can adopted the dog. Sometimes it seems like county shelters have no standards and private resues might make it to hard that people won't adopted from them because they just don't want to get there hearts broke by a person who doesn't even know them! Anyways I strongly believe you should always look into adopting from a shelter or resue group! Both our cats and 2 dogs are resue or shelter animals and they are all awesome pets!