| Over the past decade, breed rescue groups have | | | | behaviorproblems, if any, exist with the dog. |
| becomea major force in dog adoptions. These rescue | | | | This information is crucial to determining whattype of |
| groupslimit their effort to a particular breed of dog | | | | permanent home would be best for the dog. |
| including purebreds. This is a help to people who want | | | | For instance, one without children or one |
| a certainbreed of dog but can't or won't use | | | | withoutother pets. |
| breeders. | | | | Be leery of a rescue group that is trying to placea |
| To make the best use of a rescue group, | | | | dog that it has just obtained without having aninterim |
| however,there are a few things to keep in mind. | | | | placement. |
| 1. Watch out for scams. | | | | 4. Expect to be interviewed. |
| Some wholesale breeders and brokers who can't | | | | Responsible rescue groups do attempt to matcha |
| meetfederal and state laws advertise themselves as | | | | dog and his personality with an appropriate owner. |
| "rescue" organizations. Crooks have even collected | | | | They can only do this by asking questions |
| money fornon-existent rescue groups. | | | | includingwhat your experience is with dogs, what you |
| Unlike animal shelters and local humane | | | | knowabout the breed and what type of lifestyle you |
| societies,rescue groups usually do not have | | | | have. |
| storefronts. They area collection of breeders and | | | | Please do not be offended. I would never accepta |
| breed fanciers who performtheir services from their | | | | dog from a rescue society that did nothingmore than |
| homes. | | | | ascertain if I could pay the fee they want. |
| Ask any rescue group if they are incorporated | | | | 5. Be prepared for anything. |
| orregistered as a nonprofit group in your state. | | | | There are no overarching laws, regulations |
| The best way to find a rescue group is to go to the | | | | oroversight of rescue groups. Some are run |
| American Kennel Club's (AKC) website at search | | | | veryprofessionally and some are basket cases. |
| under the breed you're interested in getting. | | | | Unlikeshelters, they are rarely subject to any state |
| If no rescue group is listed, contact the national | | | | orlocal inspections. |
| breedclub and ask for references. | | | | You may call a rescue group and never get a |
| 2. Don't trust everything a shelter tells you. | | | | response. |
| In some areas, the county or charitable animal | | | | Part of the problem is the rapid turnover of |
| shelterfeels they're in competition with rescue groups | | | | volunteers involved in rescue groups. Realize that you |
| andtake pains to color these groups as irresponsible. | | | | may needto be very, very patient when dealing with |
| Some people who volunteer at shelters are | | | | arescue group. |
| animalrights extremists who despise anyone who | | | | Always ask how the dog came into rescue. |
| breeds dogsto serve as pets. This is a source of | | | | Somewell-meaning group members "rescue" any |
| tension as manyrescue group members are hobby or | | | | dog,especially a neglected looking dog, they |
| professional breeders. | | | | findoutside without an owner. |
| Some rescue groups have made this worse by | | | | The dog may or may not be abandoned but few |
| advertisinghow they "rescue" dogs from the shelter | | | | rescuegroups, in my experience, make much of an |
| implying theyare the guys in the white hats. | | | | effortto try to find owners especially if in their |
| A further issue of contention between the groups | | | | opinionthe dog does not appear to be well treated. |
| isthe fee charged to obtain a dog. Some rescue | | | | Find out if they check for microchips or tattoosand if |
| groups deliberately undercut the fees the shelter's | | | | you do get a rescue dog, have your vetcheck them |
| charge. | | | | right away for this as well as diseases. |
| Shelters may be limited by law or organization rulesto | | | | You may expose yourself to emotional trauma |
| charging a certain amount and can't compete onprice | | | | andeven liability issues if you wind up witha lost dog |
| with rescue groups. | | | | whose owner tracks him back to you. |
| 3. Ask about foster care for the dog you're | | | | As a final caution, it pays to make two or threevisits |
| considering. | | | | with the dog you're considering adoptingbefore |
| Responsible rescue groups place dogs in fosterhomes | | | | making the final decision. |
| to assess the dogs and determine what | | | | |