Adoption refused because of smoking

[applesmom]

This was a first for me! Now I'm wondering if it's a new trend...

A friend of mine who has done hundreds of rescues and fostering of both cats and dogs had found what she thought was the perfect home for one of her charges. Then she discovered that the person was a smoker and she turned her down flat, stating that she would never, ever place a pet in a smoking home!

I was flabbergasted! I've had multiple pets all my life. My parents smoked, my husband and I smoked, and never once have we had an animal with any illness related to smoking. Also after working for many years in vets offices I've yet to see a pet diagnosed with a smoking related illness.

Of course it is the rescuers choice to choose what they consider to be a proper home for an animal they've put so much love and care into saving.

But there are so many other things that go into providing a loving home, that if all other requirements were met; it seems a shame to deprive an otherwise unwanted and homeless pet of a forever home based on individual prejudice!

What's next? Dictating the brand of food the pet is to be fed; the type of bed it's provided, the toys it is allowed to play with, where and when it's to be walked?

No home is perfect!

[DrKym]

Actually it is a trend. I myself smoke, and had been dropped as a foster home for a Rescue I worked with although I smoked when approved.

The new director dropped several of us. It is also in our guidelines for a couple of the rescues I work with to deny apps based on smoking.

I figure they are just that, guidelines and won't comply. There are too many other issues to work on besides whether a person smokes.

[critter crazy]

phhhtttt...I smoke,a nd Idont understand that as well! WTH! Now I am gonna get refused from saviong an animal because of this? rediculous! Geesh, whats next, refusing me cause I drink too much caffiene?

[sumbirdy]

Both of my parents smoke and we've had several animals...none of them had any illnesses related to smoking

[cyber-sibes]

Geesh, whats next, refusing me cause I drink too much caffiene?

Have you been peeking in on us? Star loves to swipe my coffee!

I think it is riduculous to disqualify a potential home because a person smokes (although I'm a non-smoker & think every smoker should quit). Isn't it enough of a challenge to find decent homes for animals? I think some of these rescues are a bit too idealistic. Are they implying that smokers who own pets are abusive? If the animal will be fed, get vet care, live in a safe enviornment, and be loved, isn't that better than spending their lives in foster care or shelters?

[critter crazy]

Have you been peeking in on us? Star loves to swipe my coffee! Personally I think it is riduculous to disqualify a potential home because a person smokes (although I'm a non-smoker & think everyone should stop). Isn't it enough of a challenge to find decent homes for animals? I think some of these rescues are a bit too idealistic. Are they implying that smokers who own pets are abusive?If the animal will be fed, get vet care, live in a safe enviornment, and be loved, isn't that enough?

No coffe here(Yuk) but there is plenty of soda around, and I have had a few cans swiped!

But yes the point is, along as the dogs are being properly taken care of, what does it matter if the person smokes? My dogs are well taken care of, and I have neve had anyone say anything bad, because i smoke. Yeah I know I should quit, but that is beside the point. Smoking, has nothing to do with the amount of care my animals recieve. People are getting out of control. If they continue along this track, there will be no suitable homes for rescue dogs.

[lizbud]

It's a very dumb idea. Maybe this person needs a change in jobs. Just
have them be the one who leads to dogs into the euthanasia room every
day. After 1 week of that(if they last that long) then return them to their
previous job as interviewer for adoptions.I'll bet they would have a whole
new perspective.

[pitc9]

It's a very dumb idea. Maybe this person needs a change in jobs. Just
have them be the one who leads to dogs into the euthanasia room every
day. After 1 week of that(if they last that long) then return them to their
previous job as interviewer for adoptions.I'll bet they would have a whole
new perspective.

GREAT point!!

[cyber-sibes]

It's a very dumb idea. Maybe this person needs a change in jobs. Just have them be the one who leads to dogs into the euthanasia room every day. After 1 week of that(if they last that long) then return them to their previous job as interviewer for adoptions.I'll bet they would have a whole new perspective.

Liz, you are brilliant! That would certainly bring home the reality of it. I worked with a woman who had to do that. It broke her heart, and she finally quit the shelter because she couldn't adopt them all, and just couldn't bear to walk one more dog it its death.

[IRescue452]

If all else is great, I don't see refusing them. Of course, if there were two equal candidates, I'd be inclined to give the dog to the non-smoker.

People think I'm extreme because I wouldn't ever give an animal to somebody if so much as a fish wasn't in ideal conditions in the home. I consider that a show of how much research and concern they have for all of their animals though. But smoking, although I consider it a nasty habit, I could adopt a dog to. Maybe not a bird, but a dog ok.

Applesmom: many rescues dictate what type of food is fed. I don't blame them. I wouldn't want a dog eating kibbles and bits, the second ingredient is sugar!

[Lilith Cherry]

Denying a dog ( or cat) from a loving forever home is just downright ridiculous, not to say cruel! I have never smoked and wish others didn't either but I would never exclude someone for that stupid reason!

[buttercup132]

Well they can get second hand smoke too . Not to mention (The people who smoke wont notice) but it gets into the dogs fur and skin and isn't good. There is dogs that come into my work and smell gross because their owners smoke. I'm not saying they shouldnt be adopted out to homes that smoke but it dose harm them too.

[Pam]

It's a very dumb idea. Maybe this person needs a change in jobs. Just
have them be the one who leads to dogs into the euthanasia room every
day. After 1 week of that(if they last that long) then return them to their
previous job as interviewer for adoptions.I'll bet they would have a whole
new perspective.

I'll go one word beyond dumb Liz and say ridiculous. Everything you said is right on the mark. Gee, I wonder if human babies up for adoption must all go to non-smoking households. I never even thought of that. I am not a smoking fan. My husband smokes and I wish he didn't but we have always had pets and were never turned away from adopting from a breeder because of his smoking. This person is out of touch with reality I'm afraid.

[Freedom]

When I adopted Sugar last December, they clearly would NOT adopt out to a smoker's household. On their rescue web site - and on several others - it clearly states that dogs living in a home with a smoker have a 60% increased chance of lung cancer. I found it fairly standard when I was looking to adopt last year. No smokers' homes would be accepted.

They can't knowingly place a dog in a home where it will be injured. I think we all agree on that. They are taking that the next step, can't knowingly place a dog in a home where it will be at high risk for cancer. At least, I guess that must be the reasoning.

And I suppose, if you said to them that it is better to place the dog than PTS, they would counter "so should we place with a known animal abuser?"

I'm not saying this, don't jump on ME! I'm just trying to sort out what I think their view point is on this.

[sabies]

Ditto what so many others have said - is a trip to the euthanasia room better than a life with a smoker? I too wish every smoker would quit for their own benefit but that is irrelevant to adopting a pet.