The older dog at the shelter was the one most adopters scrolled past. The dog adoption age discrimination is the bias the staff fights, and the lean is the same at any age.
“I kind of felt bad because I thought, ‘I’m not old,’” Mary said.
The Yorkie mix was being fostered, so Mary submitted an application for adoption. However, she received a confusing response from the organization.
The message read: “[We have] a philosophy of ‘adoption for life’… we feel there are other dogs that may be more suitable for you. In your case, it would be a dog aged three or older.”
Mary, whose husband passed away a few years ago, wanted a long-term companion. Seemingly, she’s the perfect candidate for any dog.
“I planned to get a young dog so that it will fly with me and be able to go under my seat and go wherever I go,” said Mary. “I think they made a very poor judgment, in the fact they don’t know me.”
Mary’s daughter, Melissa, emailed the organization about their decision.
“To just write it off because of a number, it was really upsetting,” Melissa said.
Fluffy Dog Rescue sent back another email saying: “We have established a formula for our older applicants to do our best to accomplish this. With that said, your mother fits into a category of only being able to adopt a dog that is three years or older.”
Mary doesn’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to adopt the Yorkie-mix.
“I just feel like I’m a good, loving person, and I could give a lot of love to a little dog, any dog,” she said.
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The dog adoption age discrimination is the bias the staff fights. The lean is the same at any age.
