Guide to Lake Norman Nightlife – November her 27 – 30,2025
- Guide to Nightlife in Lake Norman
If you’ve ever filled out a rescue’s adoption application, you were asked about current pets, past pets, experiences with pet loss, names of people who can vouch for you as a pet owner, etc.
The adoption process is in-depth, but for good reason. Our rescues, many of whom don’t come from great circumstances, depend on us to make sure they aren’t hurt again.
If you’ve let your current pets’ vaccinations lapse, we presume you will do the same with a new dog.
You can explain to us why your existing pets aren’t spayed/neutered, and we’ll listen (my female bulldog was 11 and not spayed when I started fostering – she had health issues that made spaying difficult).
We don’t consider it a good reason to not spay/neuter because you intended to breed your dog or you thought having him neutered would be too emasculating. Any dog adopted through rescue will be spayed/neutered at the appropriate age, usually at the rescue’s expense.
Your home does not have to be spotless, but when we do home visits, typically over Zoom, we want to ensure your existing pets are living in sanitary conditions and that there is enough space for each of them–and you–to comfortably co-exist.
If your dog is drinking from a bowl of murky, stagnant water, we’re going to see that as a problem. Or if you’re trying to adopt a Mastiff and you live in a dorm room (this actually happened), we’re going to suggest you wait until you’re in a different living situation.
As a seasoned home visit volunteer, my litmus test is if I wouldn’t leave my own dog in your home, I won’t recommend leaving any others there, either.
There are legitimate reasons that dogs end up in shelters, but if you have re-homed pets because you were moving or you started dating someone who didn’t like your dog, we’re betting you’ll do it again when the new pet is no longer convenient to your lifestyle.
BE HONEST with us, because if we find out from talking to a reference that you have another pet you didn’t mention or that you don’t live in the home you said you did, we’re going to doubt everything else you’ve told us.
Unfortunately, no matter how good the home, we have to reject applicants who apply for breeds that their neighborhoods restrict. We see it a lot with pit bulls/pit mixes, but German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Dobermans can also show up on restriction lists.
Harsh, I know … but it’s the truth. Those of us in rescue often burn the candle at both ends to ensure our dogs go to the very best forever homes. So if you cop an attitude with us, we’re going to return the favor by moving you to the low priority list.
The good news is that this issue is an easy fix: Just be nice. Have understanding for us and the enormous responsibility we have to our adoptable dogs.
This summer, Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks Rescue transitioned to Big Hearts Big Barks Foundation with a mission to raise money for underfunded animal shelters, reputable rescues, and other dog-related nonprofits like Shelter to Soldier. The Foundation is also working to implement a community-based spay/neuter program.
Our next event will be the Big Hearts Big Barks Foundation official launch on Saturday, July 16 at 11 a.m. at Lost Worlds Brewing in Cornelius. We will have a BBQ cookoff, and raffles, vendors, and delicious beers will be available for purchase. Register to participate or let us know you’re coming on our Facebook event page.
Sunny is a beautiful white pit bull who was used as a breeder dog and lived her life on a chain before coming into rescue. Because of her history as an outside dog, Sunny, while sweet, truly needs someone who has the patience to let her adjust and who will work with her on her anxiety issues.
For more information and to apply, go to www.bigheartsbigbarks.com.
When she is not working with local rescue to foster, helping with home visits and application processing, or hosting adoption events, Timina is her blue pit bull Stella’s full time Personal Assistant/Mom. She also has two human teenagers, who are way less agreeable than Stella. So they can have nice things, Timina works as a lead content strategist.
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