Breed Rescue Misconceptions

1.Rescue groups always have puppies available.

The majority of dogs rescued are between the ages of one and three years. When considering adopting a rescue dog, you must be flexible in your expectations. There are many advantages to consider with an older dog - they are probably full size; they are probably already housebroken; they are through the 'difficult' puppy stages of chewing on everyone and everything, and they may already have an understanding of some obedience commands.

2.. "You have to come pick up this dog NOW, or s/he is going to the pound!"

Most people in rescue work at least part time as well. If you are turning your dog over to a rescue group, you must have some patience while the details of the transfer are worked out.Many rescuers also have varied duties within the organisation eg housecalls on potential adopters, paperwork to do, in addition to looking after the dogs in their care. Please do not ask them, or expect them, to drop everything to collect your dog!

3.Rescue groups are desperate to find homes for dogs, and don't care who gets them as long as they are gone.

Rescue groups are usually very careful about placing the right dog in the right home. Some dogs have special needs, such as being an only dog, or being in a home with no children. All reputable rescue organisations will require you to fill in a form and will check out the details you provide.Most will also visit homes to make sure it is the best environment for the particular dog to be in. In general, they take the same steps a good breeder would.

4.The breed rescue people will take my dog if it is vicious or has bitten people and rehabilitate him/her for me.

Sometimes, bad genes and poor training/socialization combine to create an unpredictable dog who is vicious. If you have such a dog, the best thing to do is put him or her down. Certainly, not all dogs that bite once are vicious. One must look at the circumstances surrounding a bite or act of aggression. But if this is ongoing behavior, there may be no other solution.

5.The breed rescue people will take my old, dying dog and care for him/her in their final days or the rescue group will pay for my dog's spay/neuter,etc.

Breed rescue is not a free clinic for dogs. Vet care is part of pet ownership. If your dog is old and suffering, please, end that suffering. Yes, it is hard to do, but you have to look at the quality of the dog's life. If s/he can no longer get around on their own, they are not enjoying their life.

6.Breed rescue groups scale fences in the dead of night to take dogs out of abusive homes, kick in doors and raid puppy mills.

They do none of this generally. But this is what most people think of when they see/hear the word "rescue". When we say "rescue", it is generally in reference to "rescuing" the dog from a shelter, rather than see it be put to sleep when no one adopts or claims them. Some groups will not take owner turn-ins at all, opting to take dogs out of shelters only. As for puppy mills, if there is a raid on a mill (organized by the police or USDA, who license the mills), they will sometimes contact the local rescue groups to aid in caring for the dogs that are seized.

7.Breed rescue will give anyone a pair of intact dogs to start their own kennel, so they can breed puppies and sell them.

As unbelievable as this is, many people think rescues will do this. The truth is, rescue aims to REDUCE the number of dogs who end up in shelters, unloved and unwanted, not to help boost those numbers. No ethical rescue person will adopt out a dog who is intact - it totally defeats the purpose of rescue.

8.Rescue people are just out to make money. If they were really interested in helping find these dogs homes, they would just give them away rather than charge a fee.

While some rescue groups get a bit of financial support from a national club (either the breed's club or a national rescue for that breed), almost all money that is spent on the care of the dogs in rescue comes right out of their own pockets. They give each and every dog vet care, to ensure that they are reasonably healthy when they are adopted. They feed them nutritious foods and give them vitamins, and any medicines that they need (such as Heartguard, to prevent heartworms). Some rescues have made arrangements with vets to have the dogs treated for a reduced fee, and occasionally, national pet store chains will donate food to rescue groups. The adoption fee that is charged is only to help cover these costs.

9..Breed rescue groups are against breeding altogether, and have nothing to do with those who breed dogs.

Actually, many people involved with rescue are breeders themselves. What they are against is irresponsible breeders who don't know what they are doing. Breeding is not something to be taken lightly. When done correctly, breeding is not profitable, and is done ONLY to improve the overall quality of the breed.

10.These are the people who have dogs that sniff in rubble or avalanches to find bodies or trapped people or these are the people who train dogs to help the disabled.

The first is actually Search and Rescue, the second is Service Dogs. However, many of the dogs that are trained to work in both of the above groups are taken from shelters.

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