The reality of Rescuing

By Lorraine Houston

Our rescue organization had quite a rough summer. The entire process of ‘rescuing’ dogs can be challenging and emotional at the best of times, but these last few months have been exceedingly difficult for our group, whose special focus is to assist senior dogs.

Before I get to my summer story, there seems to be some confusion regarding the term ‘rescue’. When I first heard it many long years ago, I was working at the Toronto Humane Society in the adoption department and thought “Our dogs don’t need rescuing; they are not in any harm or danger, have fresh water available, are well fed and are not going to be euthanized. Admittedly, some dogs take longer to find homes than others but there is no ‘time limit’ on any of the dogs. Certainly ‘rescue’ is an overstatement” I found it rather offensive until a long-timer explained to me that basically the term ‘rescue’ meant an organized group of people who took dogs into their care when the shelter was at capacity and cage space was needed for incoming dogs or if the dogs were experiencing health, adjustment or behaviour issues, recuperating or were seniors.

To the public, the term ‘rescue dog’ conjures up a wide variety of interpretations. I remember not long ago telling my hairdresser that one of my dogs was a rescue from New Jersey (where we lived for five years). She looked impressed and asked me what breed of dog I had. I told her a Pomeranian. Looking confused, she asked me how could such a little dog find lost people in the thick forest?

I have been told many stories about rescue dogs. Stories such as “I rescued my dog from the pet store and paid $1,500.00 to do so” or “I have a rescue dog, she’s from a litter of puppies I found on the internet.” To me, these routes of acquiring a dog do not reflect what rescue represents.

The majority of dogs who come into ‘rescue’ programs are from shelters or are relinquished by their owners. Dogs from shelters are typically admitted as strays, investigation cases, abandoned or surrendered by their owners. This does not mean to say that all or even most shelter dogs need the assistance of a rescue organization. Shelters are quite capable of finding good homes for the dogs in their care however, as mentioned above there are a number of different scenarios as to why shelters will call upon rescue groups for assistance.

Okay, back to the challenging dog days of summer.

It started with a call from a Toronto area animal shelter about a 12-year-old Poodle mix who had been found as a stray. Next, we received a call from a young man about an eight-year-old Rottweiler. His mother had recently passed away and no one in the family could/would take the dog. Then we were asked to take a ten-year-old Lhasa Apso/terrier mix whose owner was hospitalized and being transferred to a nursing home where her beloved companion could not live. The calls and emails kept coming; an 11-year-old Poodle/Terrier mix whose owner passed away, a six-year-old Shetland sheepdog; owner now in a nursing home, a 10 year old American Eskimo; found as a stray. Not done yet. A 10 year old Chihuahua found abandoned whose teeth were literally rotting out of his mouth, an 8 year old Pekingese, stray who would not eat at the shelter, a nine-year-old Bichon frise who was found wandering by a school yard and last but not least a nine-year-old Hound/Labrador whose elderly owner fell and had to be moved to long term re-habilitation centre.

Some of the dogs required extensive vetting, professional grooming and several needed x-rays and surgeries. I’m sure most of you are shaking your head in disbelief right about now, but for people who are in this field whether it’s in a shelter or ‘rescue’ organization, this is pretty much everyday life.

For the dogs listed, and others like them it’s far from everyday life yet, they continue to put their faith and trust in people; accept and follow those who come to assist them. They share a common link – all are victims of human circumstance. They also share common virtues; most often they are house trained, walk mannerly on a leash, are well over the chewing stage, are dignified and experienced, like to cuddle up for quiet time but also enjoy a good romp or chase-me game (dignity be damned, at least until after playtime). Having fostered and adopted a goodly number of seniors over the years, I have had the profound privilege and gratification of spending ‘golden’ time with them.

The sad reality is that there will always be displaced dogs of all ages who - for whatever reason – need a second (sometimes third) chance at life and love. Perhaps you, or someone you know, would consider opening heart and home to a shelter or rescue dog. When it comes to dogs their unconditional, unwavering devotion knows no limits, including age. Those of us who have adopted a dog know the love they had yet to share.

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."

- Sydney Jeanne Seward

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