When I started in Rescue I was starry eyed. I had visions of wonderful dogs meeting wonderful people and having wonderful lives. Well my vision was skewed because while dogs are wonderful, people suck. When you work in rescue you learn not to trust people. It sounds horrible and counter productive but it's true. Especially in Giant breeds which are so hard to find good homes for.
I'm on several Dane Rescue lists/Newsletters/Forums. Something that comes around often is a post that is prefixed by DNA. Do Not Adopt. It's followed by a story of collectors, or people that adopt and do horrible things with the dogs. They give the people's names, all known aliases, phone numbers, addresses (Physical and e-mail), accomplices, the kinds of dogs they're after, everything. Often these people either act like a rescue looking to unload some dogs off of the over crowded more established rescues, or most often someone just looking for a specific dog and wanting to rescue as opposed to buying from a breeder. They talk the talk, and later we find out they don't walk the walk.
Danes are great bait dogs. They're big (Teaches the fighter to be brave), most of the time they're easily pushed around (Making the fighter feel superior, know he's a winner), their skin is easily torn (All the better to teach the fighter to rip into a dog), and very loose (Gives teh fighter something to grab onto), they have big litters, (Replenshing traning tools) and they're sorely over populated (Easy to get). All Giant dogs are great for medical testing, and worth more because of their weight. These stories sound horrible but we've heard them over and over again. This is why rescuers sound so wary when people try to adopt. The ones who've been at it awhile have suffered multiple heart breaks by stories like these and they're always in the back of their minds.
Smohr,
One of the tip offs that a person is a DNA is when they go around to a bunch of different rescues. I know that you meant it innocently, and honestly you did nothing wrong. You contacted different rescues because you wanted to make sure you found your dream dog! But these DNAs often go to different rescues 1) to get more dogs, and 2) more chances at getting dogs, even if they get rejected at other rescues. Sometimes people aren't given a DNA, just info goes around "Hey this person contacted me and 4 other rescues. Anyone else?" Someone contacting rescues out of their state, especially when there is a breed rescue in their state also raises flags. "Hey why won't the rescue there adopt to them?" Going out of state usually means there won't be a home visit. Another reason unscrupulous characters do it.
Don't get me wrong. As stupid and ironic as it is, dog rescue can be political, bloodthirsty and at times dangerous. People either put themselves first or the dogs first, and unfortunately there's alot of the former. But there ARE good rescues out there, don't turn your back on them! I didn't mean to go into a tirade, just wanted you to understand why something so innocent could make the rescues so upset.
Ang