A woman was left 'speechless' after trying to adopt a rescue dog, having been told her lifestyle was too 'active' for the pooch.
Twitter user Alice Gray (@AliceJaneGray) shared screenshots of her email exchange with an unnamed animal adoption facility, writing: "I applied for a dog today. This is the story in four parts. I'm actually speechless."
Alice had reached out to register her interest in a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog called Angel, writing: "She's gorgeous! Please let me know what the process is."
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She then proceeded to share a bit of information about herself, referring to herself as an 'active 29-year-old professional, working from home full time'.
Alice wrote: "I am looking for a young dog as a companion and to make a family. I would love a dog that is active and enjoys running and hiking with me, as well as lots of cuddles and affection."
She then asked for any further information that might be needed in order to 'start the conversation about potentially adopting'.
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However, the response Alice received perhaps wasn't quite what she was expecting, with a blunt reply simply reading: "If you read Angel's description she is a calm puppy who loves cuddles.
"She is not at all suitable for active, running and hiking."
Not wanting to be shut down, Alice tried to fight her corner - having assumed that the shelter must be concerned that Angel was too young for her.
Saying she felt it was 'a shame' that she was not being considered, she wrote back: "As she is so young I obviously wouldn't have started her off with lots of activity until she's older.
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"But I'm hoping for a companion that can do that, can grow with me and do those things in the future."
But still there was no dice, with a final reply from the shelter's office saying the dog would have simply 'hated' being with Alice.
The email said: "It is nothing [to] do with her age. She would have hated it.
"We have a duty of care to your dogs to ensure they go to the right home for them."
The bizarre conversation has since racked up more than 220,000 likes and 15,000 retweets on Twitter, with many users commenting to say how 'absurd' they found it.
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One wrote: "I am belly laughing at the absurdity of this response. SHE WOULD HAVE HATED IT Genuinely one of the most joyless and tactless things I've ever read."
Someone else said: "I am speechless with you. As a longtime volunteer with a breed rescue, and someone who has fostered over 20 dogs, this response is whacked out."
Others said they'd experienced similar problems with 'picky' animal shelters, while some said they sided with the shelter.
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Another tweeted: "Rescues aren't perfect, but their intention is to find the most appropriate homes for their dogs. You seemed to want something out your dog that they felt that this dog couldn't offer. Had the potential for a bad fit and return of an older animal."
However, in a follow-up tweet, Alice defended herself by saying she had read the information about Angel carefully.
She said: "So this went a bit mad - just because this seems to be a reoccurring theme:
"1) I read the description of the dog very well. No where did it say she doesn't like exercise or needed limited walks.
"2) I wouldn't apply for a dog that I wouldn't be able to offer the right home to."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Viral, UK News, News, Animals, Dogs
