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'There is no therapist in the world as effective as an adoring bichon.'
 LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All information contained on these pages is offered as a helpful service.  It it not intended as medical counsel or taking the place of professional guidance. Please seek the services of  a competent veterinarian or professional dog trainer at the first indication of problems.

Choosing a Rescue Group
 

     Whether you have a purebred dog or a mixed-breed dog that you must find a new home for, placing the dog with a rescue may be a satisfactory option. However, not all rescues operate alike, and, due to the overabundance of dogs or an overzealousness ego, may not be able to provide proper care and attention to your dog.   Listed below are some criteria that may help you choose a rescue.
 

  Rescues differ from kill shelters in that once a dog is taken accepted by the rescue, he is not likely to be euthanized unless insurmountable health or behavioral issues occur, or the dog becomes unmanageable (a biter).


     RESPONSIBLE:   Finding a responsible rescue may take some time. There are many rescues listed on the Internet.   In addition, your local shelter, your vet, or your groomer may be able to point you to one.  There is a rescue for nearly every breed plus rescues which devote their resources primarily to mixed-bred dogs.


If the rescuer shows up looking and acting like something out of a Ghostbusters scene, BEWARE!! 
Focus on rescuers who show genuine love and concern for the DOG.
If the rescue is focussed on numbers, move on .....G!

     INTERVIEW: Once you have found a responsible rescue, interview the person considered to be the lead contact.  Some rescues have gained nonprofit 501(c)(3) status but a group does not have to be nonprofit to be reputable . . .  nor does 501(c)(3) status automatically confer legitimacy.    If possible, contact some of their adopters.


Some rescues merely park your dog at a vet's office or kennel until a placement is made.  There is no conscientious long-term attempt to carefully assess the temperament, activity level and health condition of your dog in order to best find a good pairing of home and dog.

      FOSTER CARE:   Ask if your dog will be placed in a foster home or a kennel or vet's office until a good home is found.       Ask to see where the dog will be living until it is adopted.   Ask how long your dog will be evaluated before placed in a home.

      LENGTH OF FOSTER CARE:   Is the rescue prepared to keep the animal as long as it takes to find her a good home, possibly forever? 

      HEALTHCARE:   Does the rescue spay/neuter, and provide heartworm preventive and vaccinations, in addition to other medical necessities that may occur? Find out which vet(s) the rescue uses and ask them if the rescue acts responsibly on the animals' behalf.  


Geographic placements:  Stick with a rescue which will do personal follow-up visits with you pet.  Rescues which ship dogs to far away places are acting irresponsibly in our opinion because they have no way of doing responsible followup checks on that pet to be sure proper care and attention is being provided.
    
SCREENING A RESCUE PLACEMENT: 

Ask the rescue contact person how they screen adopters.  

- What sort of criteria must the adopter meet in order to qualify to adopt a dog from them?

- Do they adopt to person who will leave the dog alone much of the time?  or will the dog be expected to be outdoors?

- Does the rescue conduct a veterinary check on the applicant's previous and/or current animals? 

- Do they check the house to make sure it is an appropriate environment for the dog? 

- What are their policies on apartment versus house, owning versus renting? 

- How do they view the presence of small children, and fenced versus unfenced yards?

- Do they specify that the dog must be kept inside when the owner is not home, and that it is not to live outside in a doghouse, on a tie-out, in the garage, or be kept in the basement?

- Do they insist that dogs must be on leash outside fenced areas?


In short, do they genuinely care about the dog?
Do they select adopters who are serious committed to their pets' welfare?
     
PROVISIONS FOR RETURN:  Ask if the rescue requires an animal to be returned to them if for any reason the adopters cannot keep the animal. Ask if they impose an adoption fee and if so, how much. Is a contract signed? Ask to see a copy of it, and the application form.

     OPTIONS:  Many rescues are overburdened and can take only young, healthy dogs. If the rescue you have contacted cannot take your animal, perhaps they can recommend another rescue that may be able to take her.  If the rescue is short of volunteers, you might consider fostering the dog yourself until a rescue representive can do at least an hour long temperament & health assessment .... followed by initial screening of potential homes before sending potential adoptors directly toyou.  .  You will be called upon to abide by the rescue's policies, but if the rescue is proactive in seeking qualified adopters, it may be the most productive way of finding your dog that special new home.

     HONESTY:  Finally, be honest with the rescue about why you are giving up the dog. If the dog has a behavioral problem, the rescue should be aware of it in order to provide some needed behavioral modification while in foster care so that they can place the dog in the right home. Be honest about the dog's age, medical history, temperament, and background.  Finally, transport the dog yourself to the foster home.