Many people have their hearts set on choosing a certain dog breed – a Labrador, German Shephered, Spaniel, or whatever. We can’t always afford our top choice of a purebred puppy, though because life and family compete for the finances. Dog Rescues can save the day and fill this need.
Dog Rescues are run by people who want to help dogs that have been mistreated, abandoned or given up on by their previous owners. A Dog Rescue’s mission is to place these unfortunate dogs in a home with loving parents so that they can live out the rest of their days in a safe and caringv environment.
Find Your Breed
Dog rescues normally focus on a particular breed of dog. This makes your search easier, because once you have found a rescue for the breed your heart is set on, all you need to do is register and wait for the right dog to come along. Typically, these organizations have contact lists to keep members informed when new dogs come in.
You can find a Dog Rescue by looking in your Yellow Pages or by searching online. You will find the organizations closest to you by including your city or zip code in the search terms online.
Since the people that run the Dog Rescues care so deeply for these dogs, you must be prepared for the third degree investigation into your suitability as a potential adoptive parent. Don’t worry – they stop short of the bright lights and the coshes.
The Interview
They might ask about your previous dog ownership, your family, your home and yard, and where you plan on keeping the dog. They will also want to know about your experience training dogs and your discipline methods for your dog. Aside fro that, they will also spend time talking with you to get a feel for your character and how it will match with the particular dog you are thinking of adopting.
You must be prepared to be patient because they are trying to make sure that you and the dog are a perfect fit. They don’t want to make the wrong match and have the dog return to them. These dogs have already lost out once. These dogs have often suffered abuse and neglect and have fears and neuroses. The mission of the Dog Rescue is to avoid that happening again and give the dog the optimal chance of living out the rest of his days happily.
Pet Rescue is Not Free
So, how much will all of this cost you? Fortunately, you will pay only a couple of hundred dollars, as opposed to the $1000+ for a purebred puppy.
You may ask yourself why a rescue dog is still so expensive. It’s important to keep in mind that since many of these dogs have been abused or neglected, they come to the Dog Rescue very sick. They often have ticks, fleas, skin problems, worms and poor or no vaccination records.
All of these afflictions must be treated before they are considered adoptable. This adoption fee goes towards the vet bills, feed bills, etc.
Dog Therapy
This discussion about abuse and neglect brings up another issue. Since he was possibly abused and neglected, be prepared to accept that your dog may need further treatment to get in tip top shape. to repair damage done by neglectful previous owners. This treatment cost may be ongoing and over time your rescue dog may cost you more than a purebred puppy.
Also, your rescue dog will probably be older. The upside of older dogs is that they have already developed their personalities, so it’s easier to get a feel for a dog’s temperament and match it to your criteria.
This personality matching goes both ways. You have to consider if you are right for a rescue dog, not just if he is right for you.
Aside the financial factors, there are a number of things you have to ask yourself:
• Is my current living situation and household stable enough for a rescue dog? Due to the previous abuse, such dogs need a stable loving environment to heal the damage they have suffered.
• Am I able to provide the daily care, grooming and medical care that may be required?
• Can I provide the training that may be required for my rescue dog? Often, abused rescue dogs experience incontinence problems and that issue can take a while to overcome. Sometimes these dogs need to be re-house trained. Is that something you are willing to endure?
• What age and sex dog do I want? Is an older dog better suited to my household? Many Dog Rescues have problems finding homes for males dogs. Could you be a life saver and provide a home for a male rescue dog?
Older couples are often many of the best prospective parents because their children are older, have flown the coop, and are able to provide the time and attention that the rescue dogs need in order to recover.
There is another advantage to a rescue dog over a purebred puppy. Once your rescue dog has recovered from the poor treatment of his previous owners, then you will have a dog that appreciates exactly what you’ve done for him. He’s experienced the bad and knows he’s now got it good. The result is a friendly, loyal pet companion for life.