Animal 'welfare'.....PHOOEY!!!

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Probably not what you expected, but I'm a bit P.O.d right now, esp. after a rather hellish week at work.

My wife lost her toy poodle a little over a year ago to heart disease & old age; she was 14 when we finally had to have her put down. 10 days earlier, my 5 year old chessie had to be put down for an unknown kidney ailment that took it's toll rather quickly. Even though we only had him a couple of years, and my wife didn't want him initially, she became quite close to him and I think his death bothered her more than her poodles because his death was so unexpected.....he really liked to give 'hugs" (he'd bury his head in your chest with all the strength his 95lb frame could manage).

So we got the Labrador puppy last fall, but she's a bit of a 'wild child' and my wife really would like something that she can hold and cuddle with. So she started looking at some of the local animal rescue sites on line and found a cute little 7 month old Chihuahua mix that needed a home. However, when we called and tried to set up an appointment, we were immediately deemed "unfit" as potential owners.....because we have 'big' dogs! The idiot that my wife talked to told her that the big dogs will KILL the small dogs, and that they won't let people with big dogs adopt. My wife is now very depressed and upset.
I did some checking, and found out that this is somewhat 'standard' policy among most 'rescue' groups....what a crock!!! We had the poodle when we had big dogs, and she ruled the roost; the 'big' dogs didn't mess with her, and she actually would go and take their toys and treats away without a fuss. The whole thing has me steaming mad....here we are, trying to make a place for an unwanted animal, and instead of being thankful that someone wants to take her, we are denied....because, essentially, we are not 'breedist'. (or sizest)
I know I will no longer waste my time trying to get a dog from a rescue organization, and the next time they appear at the mall for "adoption programs", they are going to get more than an earful from me! We'll find my wife a pet, but at what cost? More unwanted litters? I think this whole thing is just some some people can have 'control' over others....

O.K., I'm done ranting.......thanks for listening (reading?)