Reputable Rescue Groups

By Lorraine Houston

I get a fair number of calls regarding dog rescue groups. I believe these inquiries stem from a directory that a small group of us started publishing some years ago. It lists specific breeds as well as all-breed rescue organizations and their contact information. Generally speaking, the dog rescue world has been a pretty tight-knit group of dedicated folk who work tirelessly to help dogs in need. Whether the dogs are a specific breed, small, large, senior, mixed or special needs, there is usually someone who can step up to the plate and offer assistance when called upon.

Over the last few years, a large number of new rescue groups have emerged, making it difficult to know who is who, what their policies are, what their experience is and how they operate. This is not to say that in the past the intricate details of each rescue operation was fully known, but it was a relatively small world where everyone seemingly knew one another to some degree, through Yahoo group lists, transport relays, home visit requests, educational dog seminars and/or collective fundraising events.

Don’t get me wrong, the addition of new rescue groups is not a bad thing, in fact it may be a good thing, an eye opener. However, it is the unknown entities, the more reclusive groups who focus more on the ‘adoption’ aspect of rescue rather than the long-term health and emotional well being of the animals, which has brought to light the need for more information sharing and further networking. Currently, there is even a voluntary Code of Ethics being drafted for dog rescuers. This will be publicly promoted, and posted on a website when completed, along with the names of the rescue groups who have pledged to comply. Not so far-fetched really when you think of the precious lives at stake. Will the dogs be treated well and properly cared for while in rescue? Will they be fully vetted and have their medical needs taken care of? In terms of adoption, will the dogs be suitably matched to a home where they will thrive and live a full, enriched life? From an adopter’s perspective, will you be given full disclosure of the dog’s personality profile to the best of the rescuer’s ability? Can you count on getting veterinary records and information on the dog’s origin (was she a stray, an owner surrender, what area is she from)? What kind of post-adoption support (training, transition, diet advice) does the rescue offer, if any? If for any reason you are not in a position to keep the dog throughout her life will the rescue be there for her?

For the public interested in adopting, it’s hard to know whom you are dealing with at the other end of the telephone or through an email exchange. Is this a legitimate rescue organization, a backyard breeder, a broker or even a puppy mill operation posing as a rescuer? How do you know what questions you should be asking and what should you look for?

Here are some guidelines to help you determine who is behind that doggy on the Internet.

The rescue will have a good working relationship with their local shelters and should provide references if asked. They should also be able to provide a veterinary reference.

The rescue should ask you to fill out a questionnaire or application prior to inviting you to come over and meet any dog. I realize that many people do not like to give out their private information over the Internet or telephone however, it is important for the rescue to get an idea of your lifestyle and experience. This is not meant to be an invasion of privacy but a way to determine suitability between the potential adopter (and their family) and the dog they are interested in making a part of their family and, hopefully, sharing the next 10-15 years with.

You will be asked to agree to a home visit. This is an important component of the adoption process. The rescue will want to have a representative visit the home to see where the dog is going to be living. Personally, I have found many home visits … interesting to say the least. A fully fenced yard to me means there is secure fencing around the piece of land that is attached to the house but perhaps people have other definitions of “fully fenced”. It’s important to be honest and forthcoming on your application; after all you are expecting the same courtesy and respect from the rescue.

The foster home or rescue facility should be clean and the dog(s) well cared for. Because some dogs are frightened and can be stressed with the presence of new people, not every dog will appear in a happy, engaging state. Listen to what the foster parent has to say about the dog’s progress, transition, training and personality. They know the dog better than anyone at this point and can offer invaluable information into suitability.

A good rescue knows their limits in terms of available foster homes, quality time for the dogs in their care and financial resources. If you have stumbled onto a group that is overcrowded, is dirty, the dogs have not seen a veterinarian and the dogs lack adequate exercise and stimulation. please report your findings to the local Humane Society when you return home.

An adoption contract should be a part of the rescue’s protocol. At a minimum, it should require you to be a responsible guardian, provide prompt medical attention when needed, provide basic yearly veterinary examinations and, if for any reason you cannot keep the dog, the contract should require that the dog will be returned to the rescue and not be given away (as Ellen Degeneres discovered), taken to a shelter or sold.

Reputable rescue organizations will spay or neuter their dogs prior to adoption unless there is a serious medical issue and the dog is at risk. If this is the case, veterinary records should be provided with an explanation. Puppies don’t often come into rescue but when they do, it is possible for veterinarians to perform a pediatric spay or neuter surgery, and many rescue organizations are having puppies altered prior to placement. If you are applying for a puppy who is not going to be spayed or neutered before adoption, the rescue should have you sign a spay/neuter agreement. Expect to be asked for a deposit and get a document in writing that your money will be returned to you once you have provided proof of sterilization.

Dogs should be fully checked by a veterinarian, and should have been vaccinated, de-wormed, heartworm tested and microchipped prior to being released to a new adoptive home. All hard copy records should be available to the potential adopter. If the rescue cannot produce these records, ask which veterinarian they are using and call to verify before you finalize the adoption.

A reputable rescue will keep dogs in foster care until they are in the best possible health and ready for adoption. If the dog came into the program with medical issues, the rescue will wait until their veterinarian has given his/her approval for adoption. If the dog has ongoing medical needs, the rescue will disclose a health history, complete veterinary recommendations and long term prognosis. This may include a thyroid condition, diabetes, arthritis and/or special dietary needs as examples.

An adoption fee should apply, but should not be excessive. This fee is to help offset the medical expenses incurred, food and supplies. If you are adopting a puppy who is not yet altered and are being asked to cover the cost of spaying or neutering, question the adoption fee if it seems exorbitant.

Post adoption follow up should be part of the package. The rescue should be there if you have questions, concerns or challenges once the dog has become part of your family. Most rescues work with trainers and behaviourists and should be able to refer you to someone who can assist you if you are having training issues. If you have medical questions, the rescue should be able to put your veterinarian in contact with theirs. They can also put you in touch with the dog’s foster parents should you need to speak with them about a specific concern.

All this said, you might be thinking it’s just easier to go out and buy a dog and avoid all the questions, time and trouble. That is certainly your choice but keep in mind that a good rescue will provide you with invaluable information, they will have the dog’s best interests and yours at heart, they will have provided you with the dog’s personality profile to consider prior to adoption, the dog will already be spayed or neutered, fully vet-checked and microchipped, and a support system will be there for you and your canine companion post adoption. All dogs deserve a home where they are a cherished member of a family and because many rescue dogs have not experienced the best of humankind to start with, rescuers want to ensure the next chapter in the dog’s life is the best and the last.

I don’t want to derail this article and take it down another path, but I would be remiss if I did not mention that reputable breeders have a similar purchasing procedure in place and do not sell puppies to just anyone either.

Purchasing a dog or puppy through a source that requires only cash, cheque or credit card, with no questions asked is just not good enough and our beloved dogs deserve so much better. Unfortunately, people who are in the business of selling dogs are just that – in the business of selling dogs. Dogs are stock, product, inventory – call it what you want but that’s the reality and the more “product” the public buys the more stock is produced and the more dogs are exploited for profit and gain. Enter the puppy mills, brokers and backyard breeders that keep the shelves well stocked so to speak without any thought given to genetic defects or disorders, veterinary care, healthy diet or socialization. Most ‘health guarantees’ do not cover your vet bills; it simply means that they will ‘replace’ the puppy you have grown to love and cherish with another one. Just be aware that these puppies are literally being mass-produced and more than likely that puppy’s mother is living in horrific conditions, being bred every cycle and sentenced to a lifetime of misery, filth, confinement and loneliness. It really is a shame that the one true friend of man can be treated with such utter disregard.

Note that when you purchase a puppy from a pet store, a flea market, through an Internet puppy store or at a large-scale puppy supplier you are supporting the puppy mill industry and so it continues and grows. One of our biggest pet peeves is when people tell us they have “rescued” their puppy through one of the above avenues. Unless you have also purchased the mother who is often covered in feces, emaciated, has rotten teeth and has never seen the light of day you haven’t rescued a dog; you have purchased a puppy.

Adopting a dog from a respectable organization takes time, preparation and openness on the potential owner’s part but it will be one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

During this holiday season perhaps you will consider volunteering for or donating to a reputable dog rescue. By doing so, you will touch the lives of many dogs and embrace the efforts of people who work tirelessly on behalf of our devoted canine companions.

Lorraine Houston is a feature writer for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! and an evaluator for Therapeutic Paws of Canada and St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs. She is a member of the Etobicoke Humane Society’s dog adoption team and the director of Speaking of Dogs, an organization devoted to education, outreach and rescue. A Maxwell Award winner from Dog Writers Assoc. of America, Lorraine lives in Don Mills with her husband, two sons and family dogs. She may be contacted at lhh4dogs@rogers.com or through www.speakingofdogs.com