Helping Animals or Owning Them?
What do you truly care about—helping animals, or getting one for yourself?
Sometimes, volunteers receive phone calls from people who are eager to adopt. When these passionate adopters complete an interview but later receive a polite rejection, emotions can quickly run high. Many of them demand an explanation—someone to clarify why they were turned down. The conversation can easily stretch to forty or even sixty minutes as tension builds on both sides.
This kind of situation reminds us to reflect on our intentions. Are we reaching out because we genuinely want to improve the lives of animals, or because we seek comfort and validation through ownership? True compassion lies not in possession, but in the commitment to help—whether or not we end up bringing an animal home.
Still, There Are Things Left to Say
There are still some things I wish to say. In truth, most animal protection workers know that explaining why an adoption application was declined rarely makes any difference in the heat of the moment. When someone is upset, no amount of reasoning helps.
Every word we speak over the phone can easily be twisted, misinterpreted, or used to fault our intentions. Most of these calls end abruptly—hung up on in anger—and are quickly followed by negative posts online as a form of release.
It's been more than a decade, and we've seen countless cases like this. Our volunteers have grown used to it, yet somehow, there are still things we long to say.
— From a volunteer's reflections
Being Declined for Adoption Doesn't Mean You're Not Good Enough
If your application to adopt a rabbit from the association was declined, please don't be too upset. A rejection doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with you. There are many reasons behind such decisions—beyond just care knowledge or ability, the association also considers a wide range of factors.
Sometimes, being turned down simply means that the applicant doesn't fully meet the current interview or assessment criteria. It doesn't mean you're being labeled as a "bad person" or that you'll never have a chance to adopt again. There's no need to overinterpret the outcome.
In fact, many applicants who were once declined continue to visit the association regularly—some volunteer at the shelter, help out during adoption events, or simply come by to spend time with the rabbits. The association always welcomes such kindness and willingness to be involved.
In a few cases, applicants who were initially declined later realized the reasons behind the decision after spending more time with the rabbits and the volunteers. Once they made the necessary improvements, they successfully adopted in the end.
Remember, being declined once doesn't close the door forever—it might just be part of the journey toward becoming the right match.
Understanding the Adoption Review Process
Since every adopted rabbit continues to have a meaningful connection with the association, we strive to ensure smooth and trusting communication between both parties after adoption. To maintain this positive relationship, we sometimes need to decline certain applications—even from individuals who may have solid knowledge or genuine intentions to care for a rabbit.
In particular, we may have concerns when applicants exhibit possible communication barriers, overly strong or rigid personalities, unstable emotions, or when there are signs of concealing health issues. Our goal is to foster mutual trust and open interaction between the association and adoptive families. Therefore, our review process considers more than just an applicant's knowledge—it emphasizes compatibility, honesty, and long-term cooperation.
Online Rabbit Adoption: Another Way to Show Love
Online adoption is also a wonderful option! Sometimes, when animal associations send rejection letters, they include thoughtful suggestions—such as recommending other adoption channels that may be better suited to the applicant. If you already have the right understanding of pet care and the heart to look after or help rabbits in need, there are many online communities where you can quickly find rabbits looking for adoption or provide help to those in urgent situations. These acts are all expressions of love.
The Rabbit Lovers Association has never believed that adopting through their organization is the only way to show compassion. Whether you adopt through online groups, shelters, or assist in rescue cases found online, all of these methods are wonderful and truly help rabbits in need. So, there's no need to insist on adopting only through the association. Online adoption groups are also a great choice!
Don't Let Emotions Trap You
Emotions can often cloud our judgment, especially when things don't go our way. Many volunteers have encountered situations where people, during interviews, express deep admiration for animal welfare organizations—praising their strict systems, discipline, and dedication to animal care.
However, once their adoption application is rejected, their attitude can shift dramatically. Suddenly, the same organization they lauded becomes a "selfish, arrogant, and heartless institution" in their eyes.
To some, "good" is merely what satisfies their desires, and "evil" is anything that stands in the way.
This raises a difficult question: when we judge others as good or bad, are we truly assessing their principles—or simply responding to whether they meet our personal needs?
True compassion requires patience, understanding, and humility. Only when we move beyond emotional reactions can we see the bigger picture and recognize that goodness is not about personal benefit, but about a consistent commitment to doing what's right—even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable.
The Gray Areas We Often Overlook
For a long time, Taiwan's education system has relied on a simple binary approach — answers are either right or wrong. Because of this, many people tend to view challenges or setbacks in life as absolute situations: one side right, the other wrong. In doing so, we often forget that between black and white lies a vast world of gray, where things aren't always so clear-cut.
The Love Rabbit Association is no exception. Its system was never meant to be perfect or to suit everyone. That's why throughout each stage of the adoption application process, we often emphasize that "not being approved may simply mean that the system isn't the right fit for you."
Being declined doesn't mean there's a problem with you, nor does it imply that you're "not a good person." It simply reflects that your situation doesn't align with the framework the association has set. So if your application is turned down, please don't take it to heart or feel upset — it's not about right or wrong, but about finding the right match.
The True Value of Adoption Over Purchase
The core value behind promoting adoption instead of purchase isn't about saving money, getting something for free, or showcasing personal compassion. The true meaning of adoption lies in helping animals in need, not simply satisfying one's own desire to have a pet.
This is why organizations like the Rabbit Lovers Association have a careful and comprehensive adoption process. Their interviews and guidelines aren't just meant to check if someone has enough knowledge or financial stability — they exist to ensure that every adopted animal ends up in a truly caring and responsible environment.
If someone reacts negatively after being declined and starts accusing the organization of being harsh or unfriendly, it often reveals that their main concern isn't the animal's welfare, but rather whether they themselves can obtain one. True adoption begins with empathy, not entitlement.
When both the adopter and the rescuer maintain good communication, mutual respect, and continuous support, their shared efforts can create an even greater positive impact for the animals they care for.
The Hidden Side of Online Criticism and Public Shaming
In recent years, many people have used the internet as a platform to vent their frustrations. Among them are those who were rejected from adoption programs—individuals who sometimes turn to online shaming or posting negative reviews to express their disappointment. These posts often gather sympathy and emotional support from others, creating an echo chamber of comfort and validation.
However, most of these so-called "complaint posts" tell only one side of the story. They rarely mention the reasons behind the rejection, which can be quite serious. In many cases, applicants are turned down because they are suspected of acting as proxies for someone else, have uncertain ownership situations, maintain an unclean or unsafe living environment, show up late to interviews, or struggle with in-person communication despite sounding articulate online.
Other possible reasons include obsessive behaviors, mental health challenges, or poor attitudes during meetings. Naturally, these details never make it into the online narratives. Some individuals may also be unaware that their own mental or emotional health issues are affecting the way they interact with the process or others.
The truth is, internet sympathy often comes from an incomplete picture. While sharing experiences online can help relieve emotions, a fair understanding of any situation requires hearing both sides of the story. Before joining a wave of public criticism, it's worth remembering that empathy should never replace discernment.
Foster Application Review Process
Although the interview is usually conducted by a single volunteer, after the interview each team discusses the case together. If necessary, they review the interview recordings and related phone call audio for thorough confirmation.
Only after this process do they decide whether to proceed with the adoption. This multi-step review system helps prevent bias or misunderstandings caused by individual impressions.
Therefore, the decision to reject an application is never made by one person alone—it is always reached through consensus.
Transparency in Pet Adoption
In recent years, organizations dedicated to animal welfare have emphasized the importance of fairness and transparency during the adoption process. To protect both volunteers and adopters, the Rabbit Lovers Association has implemented comprehensive documentation measures.
"The Rabbit Lovers Association records and archives all adoption interviews, including both video and audio, as well as all correspondence and documents, precisely to prevent one-sided online accusations like this from happening."
This policy ensures that every step of the adoption process is traceable, verifiable, and protected from misunderstandings or public misrepresentation online. It aims to build trust and accountability, reminding the community that transparency benefits everyone—humans and animals alike.
The Original Intention Behind Helping Rabbits
Expressing dissatisfaction through online shaming or negative reviews is certainly a personal freedom. However, think back to the original reason you approached the association in the first place—wasn't it to help more rabbits?
If, merely because your expectations weren't met, you now choose to completely deny all the efforts and value contributed by the organization, doesn't that go against your initial intention of helping rabbits? In doing so, you might even turn yourself into someone acting childishly out of spite for not getting to adopt.
Google reviews are open for everyone to write freely, but we all know that some of them come from a place of retaliation rather than fairness.
