5 Things to Know about Animal Rescue Groups
Over the past decade, breed rescue groups have become a major force in dog adoptions. These rescue groups limit their effort to a particular breed of dog including purebreds. This is a help to people who want a certain breed of dog but can't or won't use breeders.
To make the best use of a rescue group, however, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Watch out for scams.
Some wholesale breeders and brokers who can't meet federal and state laws advertise themselves as "rescue" organizations. Crooks have even collected money for non-existent rescue groups.
Unlike animal shelters and local humane societies, rescue groups usually do not have storefronts. They are a collection of breeders and breed fanciers who perform their services from their homes.
Ask any rescue group if they are incorporated or registered as a nonprofit group in your state.
The best way to find a rescue group is to go to the American Kennel Club's (AKC) website at www.akc.org and search under the breed you're interested in getting. If no rescue group is listed, contact the national breed club and ask for references.
2. Don't trust everything a shelter tells you.
In some areas, the county or charitable animal shelter feels they're in competition with rescue groups and take pains to color these groups as irresponsible.
Some people who volunteer at shelters are animal rights extremists who despise anyone who breeds dogs to serve as pets. This is a source of tension as many rescue group members are hobby or professional breeders.
Some rescue groups have made this worse by advertising how they "rescue" dogs from the shelter implying they are the guys in the white hats.
A further issue of contention between the groups is the fee charged to obtain a dog. Some rescue groups deliberately undercut the fees the shelter's charge.
Shelters may be limited by law or organization rules to charging a certain amount and can't compete on price with rescue groups.
3. Ask about foster care for the dog you're considering.
Responsible rescue groups place dogs in foster homes to assess the dogs and determine what behavior problems, if any, exist with the dog.
This information is crucial to determining what type of permanent home would be best for the dog. For instance, one without children or one without other pets.
Be leery of a rescue group that is trying to place a dog that it has just obtained without having an interim placement.
4. Expect to be interviewed.
Responsible rescue groups do attempt to match a dog and his personality with an appropriate owner. They can only do this by asking questions including what your experience is with dogs, what you know about the breed and what type of lifestyle you have.
Please do not be offended. I would never accept a dog from a rescue society that did nothing more than ascertain if I could pay the fee they want.
5. Be prepared for anything.
There are no overarching laws, regulations or oversight of rescue groups. Some are run very professionally and some are basket cases. Unlike shelters, they are rarely subject to any state or local inspections.
You may call a rescue group and never get a response. Part of the problem is the rapid turnover of volunteers involved in rescue groups. Realize that you may need to be very, very patient when dealing with a rescue group.
Always ask how the dog came into rescue. Some well-meaning group members "rescue" any dog, especially a neglected looking dog, they find outside without an owner.
The dog may or may not be abandoned but few rescue groups, in my experience, make much of an effort to try to find owners especially if in their opinion the dog does not appear to be well treated.
Find out if they check for microchips or tattoos and if you do get a rescue dog, have your vet check them right away for this as well as diseases.
You may expose yourself to emotional trauma and even liability issues if you wind up with a lost dog whose owner tracks him back to you.
As a final caution, it pays to make two or three visits with the dog you're considering adopting before making the final decision.
Louise Louis is a long-time dog person and operates the ToyBreeds.com website.
 Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:39 GMT Lebanese ruling majority accuses Syria of interfering in Lebanon - Xinhua
Xinhua - BEIRUT, Sept.5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese ruling majority accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of interfering in Lebanese internal affairs and not recognizing Lebanon's sovereignty, local press Naharnet reported Friday. Video: Sarkozy in Syria : the press is divided Editor's Notes: A losing battle, so far Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:59:29 GMT Nokia Forecasts Drop in Third-Quarter Market Share (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Juho Erkheikki Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Nokia Oyj, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, forecast a drop in third-quarter market share after competitors slashed prices and a new handset was delayed. Nokia Sees Market Share Slipping in Third Quarter Nokia Lowers its Third Quarter 2008 Mobile Device Market Share Outlook Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:50:07 GMT Dell looks to sell factories worldwide - CNNMoney.com
CNNMoney.com - By Scott Moritz Dell (DELL) is getting more serious about trimming costs and is exploring plans to sell its PC manufacturing plants, according to a news report Friday. Dell said to consider sale of factories Ahead of the Bell: Dell may sell plants, WSJ says Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:15:09 GMT Lavrov rejects Cheney's attack on Russia - CNN International
CNN International - By CNN's Matthew Chance MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia on Friday rejected sharp criticism by US Vice President Dick Cheney that its intervention in Georgia raises doubts about Moscow's reliability as an international partner. Video: Cheney Slams Russia for War Against Georgia Russia says Cheney fanning Georgian aggression Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:45:40 GMT In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem - Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal - By GAUTAM NAIK After struggling for years to improve the treatment of cancer, scientists now hope to fight the disease with the help of the same techniques that deciphered the human genome eight years ago: mapping it. What You Need to Know About Mapping the Cancer Genome Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:01:28 GMT PIECING TOGETHER A PLEA How the deal got done - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY JOE SWICKARD • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2008 Prosecutors rolled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's plea deal into court Thursday praying the wheels wouldn't fall off. Detroit Mayor Acknowledges 'Poor Judgment' Detroit mayor pleads guilty, to leave office Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:57:24 GMT Reviews of McCain's speech - MSNBC
MSNBC - The AP’s Ron Fournier says McCain “preached bipartisanship and unity from a stage retooled to carry him out to the Republican faithful. McCain: I work for you ‘Change is coming,’ McCain tells GOP in speech Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:35:16 GMT Work At Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Many of us dream of having a beautiful, exotic bird... Read More Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More Caring for a kitten is a lot of work. With... Read More Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More Fleas have plagued dogs, cats, and their owners since time... Read More PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More Vaccinations play an important part in the preventive healthcare of... Read More Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they... Read More There seems to be an alarming trend to have cats... Read More Let's face it ? everything is cute when it's small... Read More Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is... Read More What is Canine Bloat?Bloat refers to the bloating of the... Read More If you have a passion to learn all you can... Read More Congratulations. You've decided to buy a bird, and you even... Read More Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More You do clean your house don't you? Well you have... Read More Doggie day care is becoming more and more prevalent in... Read More Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from... Read More If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More Large dogs and extra large dogs require more thought and... Read More You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More OriginDo you know that the adorable little puppy you bought... Read More Lemon TetraGlassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear... Read More
Adsense
websites
Buying a Custom Bird Cage
How To Toilet Train Your Cat
Horse Training Equipment: The 6th of 6 Keys To Developing A Partnership With Your Horse
Problem Barking-What to Do When Your Dogs Barking is The Neighborhood Nuisance
How to Care for Your Kitten
Do You Make These Mistakes Loading Your Horse Into A Trailer?
Old Fashioned Flea Control
Probiotics - The Good Bacteria
Dog Vaccinations: Doing Shots
Finding the Perfect Cat or Kitten for You and Your Family
The Truth About Declawing
Canine Selection: A Guideline for Picking Your Perfect Companion
A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine
Canine Bloat
Horse Training Gets A New Face Lift From A 108 Year Old Horse Training Manual!
Choose an Acrylic Bird Cage
Arthritis Pain Relief For Dogs ? Simple Home Remedies That Work
Goldfish Tips - Keeping The Aquarium Clean
Doggie Day Care is an Awesome Alternative
How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming
Housebreaking Dogs and Puppies - A Step by Step Guide to Potty Training Your Dog or Puppy
Dog Beds for Larger Dogs
So You Want To Own A Ferret?
History of Dogs? Or Maybe Wolves?
Lemon Tetra - A Perfect Addition for Your Community Aquarium
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Need a Low-Maintenance Pet? Try a Tarantula!
If you're like me, then you don't really have the... Read More
My Tips to Take Care of a New Dog
So you're bringing home that cute little puppy from the... Read More
Positive Dog Training Methods
Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More
Training Your Dog To Jump The Rope Trick: Simple and Fun Dog Trick
To teach a dog to jump, with your right hand... Read More
Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat.
So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into... Read More
Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
Oscar
Oscar is kind of a funny name and it fit... Read More
Housebreaking Dogs and Puppies - A Step by Step Guide to Potty Training Your Dog or Puppy
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
The Pros and Cons of Vaccinating Your Dog
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That's become the burning... Read More
Protecting the Smallest Member of Your Family: A Step-by-step Guide to Pet Insurance
Let's face it ? Fido and Fluffy are an important... Read More
Correcting Cats Bad Behaviour: How To Discipline Your Cat; Youll Be Happy; Your Cat Will Be Too!
At some time or another even the sweetest cat "misbehaves."... Read More
But My Pet Will Never Run Away (or Why We Need Licenses)
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
Tips to Help Solve the Three Most Common Dog Barking Complaints
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More
The Power of Dogs
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
My Needs are Simple and Few!
My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More
Westies Dogs ? Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More
Proper Diet For the Discus Fish
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More
Online Guide For Training A Dog
Guide for training a dogSo you can use a guide... Read More
How To Get Your Horse To Obey You and Look To You For Instruction
In the animal kingdom there is a pecking order. Richard... Read More
A Cat Tale
My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More
New Pet Tag Services Provide A Sense Of Security
The greatest benefits of ownership is knowing that your property... Read More
Dog Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
Dog Training CollarsHaving a pet means having to provide for... Read More
Is A Boxer Dog The Right Pet For You?
Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require... Read More
Humming Birds Make Wonderful Pets
Humming birds are wonderful birds that are smart, playful, and... Read More
Puppy Development
Puppy development and growth is very exciting. After a puppy... Read More
Pet |