When it comes to choosing a breed, many people want a certain breed: a Labrador, German Shepherd, Spaniel, or whatever. But when it comes to tacking, the economies of the situation, we can’t always afford the price of a purebred pup. Life and family get in the way, competing over finances. This is where Dog Rescues can step into the gap and fill a need.
Dog rescues are run by people who care enough about dogs that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their previous owners. The goal of these organizations is to find a new home with loving parents so that these unfortunate dogs can live out the rest of their lives in a safe and loving environment.
Dog rescues typically cater to a particular breed of dog. This makes life easier, as once you’ve found one for the breed you’re interested in, it’s simply a matter of signing up and waiting for the right dog to arrive. They will usually have a contact list that will keep you informed when new dogs come in.
Finding a dog shelter can be as simple as looking in the yellow pages or searching the internet. Doing a regional search by putting your city in the search terms will produce the results closest to you.
One thing you need to be prepared for with Dog Rescue is the third grade investigation into your suitability as a potential adoptive parent. Don’t worry, they stop before the bright lights and coshes.
Be prepared to give them details about the dog’s previous ownership, your family, your home and yard, and where you plan to keep the dog. They will also want to know about your experience training dogs and how you discipline your dog. And they’ll also spend time talking to you, trying to gauge your character and how it will fit in with the particular dog you’re thinking of adopting.
Be patient, there is a good reason for this. All they’re trying to do is make sure you and the dog are a perfect fit. The last thing they want is for the dog to come back to them at some point in the future. These dogs have already lost once. They have often suffered abuse and neglect and have fears and neuroses. Dog Rescue’s goal is to prevent that from happening again and give the dog a good chance of living a happy life for the rest of his days.
So, having said all this, what can you expect from a rescue dog? The obvious difference will be the price you will pay. Expect to pay a couple hundred dollars instead of the $1000 or more for a purebred puppy.
Why so much for a rescue dog? You need to remember that these dogs have often been abused or neglected and arrive at Dog Rescue in poor shape. They often have ticks, fleas, skin problems, worms, and poor or no vaccination records.
All of these things must be addressed before the dog can be considered ready for re-adoption. So the couple hundred bucks easily swallows up vet bills, feed bills, etc.
Which brings up another problem. Due to his previous owner and possible abuse and neglect, be prepared to accept that the dog you adopt may need additional treatment to repair the damage caused by the previous owners. Therefore, there may be an ongoing cost for additional treatment. Over time, your rescue dog may cost you more.
You can also expect your rescue dog to be older. Adolescent and older dogs are more likely to be rescued than puppies. There is an advantage to this as older dogs have developed their personalities so it is easier to get a feel for the dogs temperament and tailor it to your needs.
This combination of dog and foster parent goes both ways. You have to ask yourself if you are the right one for a rescue dog.
Cost factors aside, there are a number of things to ask yourself:
o Is my life and home stable enough for such a dog? Due to previous abuse, these dogs need a stable loving environment to repair the mental damage they have suffered.
o Can I or my family provide daily care, grooming, and medical care that may be needed?
o Can I provide any training or retraining that may be needed? Abused dogs often have incontinence problems that can take a long time to heal. Some dogs also need house training again. Can you face that?
o What age and sex of the dog do I want? Is an older dog better suited to your home? Many dog rescues have trouble finding homes for male dogs for whatever reason. Could you be an exception and provide a home for a male dog?
For obvious reasons, many of the best potential parents for such dogs are older couples. Usually, their children have grown up and left the nest and have the free time to give the dog the care and attention he needs to fully recover from the physical and mental stress he has endured.
There is another advantage to a rescue dog over a purebred puppy. Once his rescue dog has recovered from the mistreatment of her previous owners, he will have a dog who will appreciate exactly what he has done for him. He has experienced the bad and knows that now he has it good. The result is a friendly and loyal companion for life.