| Choosing a Rescue Dog | | | | behavioural baggage and problems, purely from |
| There is something immensely satisfying in taking | | | | the fact that it has been rejected at least once. |
| in a rescue dog, in many cases someone else has | | | | Some will have been in Kennels or the Rescue |
| either been unable to cope or it had became a | | | | Centre for some considerable time, that has an |
| burden or a nuisance, in some cases it is because | | | | effect on the dogs, especially those that are |
| of a marriage breakup, bereavement or for | | | | normally used to family life and constant attention. |
| allergy or medical reasons. What does amaze and | | | | The dog may have been put there because of |
| anger me is that some people take on dogs | | | | behavioural problems, which may include |
| almost as a fashion accessory and then discard it | | | | aggression, toileting, excessive barking destructive |
| when it is either no longer cool or convenient. See | | | | tendencies etc. |
| my poem "Do I go back home today" | | | | Rescued dogs are usually more than six months |
| The decision to take on a dog should never ever | | | | old, are housetrained, and mainly past the |
| be taken lightly the whole family must buy into | | | | chewing-everything stage, they are normally |
| the idea or the problems it can cause can be | | | | happy to be placed in a loving home. Many have |
| terminal for a relationship that may already be | | | | been precipitously uprooted from a loved family |
| creaking. | | | | by some misfortune, and some will have been |
| I have had clients that told me that they bought | | | | abused or neglected and need lots of patience |
| a dog so as not to look out of place when | | | | and tender loving care, to overcome the trauma |
| walking, they clearly hated the animals and the | | | | they have suffered in their short lives. |
| dogs sadly knew they were unloved and | | | | The initial adjustment can sometimes be difficult |
| unwanted. In most of these cases I | | | | as the dog may need to learn to trust again, or |
| recommended re-homing. | | | | even for the first time. Separation anxiety, fear |
| Dogs can be incredibly perceptive they can suffer | | | | of noises, and attempts to run away are |
| from loneliness, anxiety, stress depression, and | | | | common. But once past the first few months, |
| often grieve for lost pals and owners. Sometimes | | | | when the dog learns to depend on the kindness |
| they give up the will to live and die from their | | | | of his new owners, then the bond is forged. |
| grief. The owners do, not always reciprocate this | | | | Here are some points to keep in mind when |
| total and utter loyalty,, they sometimes take on | | | | choosing a dog. |
| dogs without thinking through just what a | | | | If your time is limited, choose a dog that needs |
| commitment long term dog ownership really is. | | | | little grooming, minimal training, and only moderate |
| This article is to give you some idea of what it is | | | | exercise. |
| like to take on a Rescue Dog. | | | | If your budget is tight, choose a small-to-medium |
| Which Rescue Group? | | | | dog that needs little grooming and minimal training |
| Rescue societies come in all shapes and sizes and | | | | ands less food. |
| with a variety of policies. Some rescue groups | | | | If you are an inexperienced dog owner, do not |
| have no facilities to keep dogs; they make | | | | choose a large dominant dog or a dog with high |
| referrals from the current owners to potential | | | | energy level unless you are committed to six |
| adopters. Others such as Battersea have | | | | months of steady, patient, consistent training and |
| enormous resources and large kennel facilities, | | | | a dozen years of daily walks of a mile or more. |
| All try and help owners find new homes for their | | | | If you have children or elderly people in your |
| dogs, give advice for solving problems, maintain a | | | | home, do not choose a large, dominant dog that |
| list of available dogs, and screen potential owners. | | | | needs lots of training and exercise or a |
| Most rescue societies are anxious to place dogs in | | | | high-strung dog that is fearful of high-pitched |
| good homes. A few are over-anxious and skimp | | | | voices and childish behaviour. |
| on temperament evaluation, health issues, or | | | | Be prepared to walk the dog at least twice a day |
| sterilization. And a few have such strict contracts | | | | and to clean up his/her waste. |
| and adoption procedures, that it is easier to adopt | | | | They may not be any background or information |
| a child. These are the ones that place very few | | | | on the dog not even the dog's original name or |
| dogs. And it is the poor dogs that suffer because | | | | age or even what crossbreed it actually is. Many |
| of this. If you have gone through an exhaustive | | | | will have been found wandering the streets cold |
| interview process only to be turned down | | | | and hungry. Whatever the case there are a few |
| because of some minor rule, it can be very | | | | principles and rules you should adhere to. |
| annoying in the extreme and puts some really | | | | Rule 1. Do your homework decide on size and |
| good people off taking on rescue dogs, | | | | basic type of breed before you even start |
| Some rescue societies go overboard in | | | | looking. Look at your working and time |
| establishing guidelines for responsible dog care. I | | | | commitments. Can you really afford the time and |
| recently lost a much-loved dog to cancer; I have | | | | expense of dog ownership? |
| two other dogs and decided that I would like to | | | | Rule 2. If you have children under five I would |
| take on another rescue. This well-known rescue | | | | strongly recommend against taking on a rescue |
| centre (no names) insisted on a lengthy interview | | | | dog, the temperament may be unknown or |
| and a home visit, even though they knew me and | | | | masked by the environment of the kennels. In |
| regularly contacted me for advice. Given what I | | | | most cases responsible rescue centres will not |
| do for a living I found that somewhat | | | | allow their dogs to be re-homed to couples with |
| institutionalised. They even said that the staff at | | | | young children. |
| the centre would have to go through this same | | | | Rule 3. Never buy on impulse or because you feel |
| procedure. | | | | sorry for a frightened and timid dog, especially if |
| Please try and support your local small rescue | | | | you are not an experienced and confident dog |
| charity. In my area. "Hounslow Animal Welfare | | | | owner. |
| Society" (HAWS) do a brilliant job with all types of | | | | Rule 4. Discuss what you want in a dog (e.g. an |
| animals, including cats, dogs, parrots, rabbits, etc, | | | | active dog that will play willingly, happily go on long |
| As does "Dogs in Need" click on either to go to | | | | walks, or a homely laid back breed of dog that will |
| their sites | | | | happily sit for hours by the fire, and only requires |
| All are run on a shoestring budget and run by | | | | gentle exercise. |
| unpaid volunteers. These are the charities you | | | | Rule 5. If you have decided on a pedigree check |
| should give too, not the big multinationals whose | | | | the breed requirements and possible problems, |
| vast charitable donations are eaten up by | | | | discuss the positive and negatives of that breed |
| enormous running costs, and political agenda's. See | | | | with breeders and the rescue staff. |
| my links for local and national charities. "Rant over" | | | | Rule 6. Don't expect to walk into a rescue centre |
| Rescue dogs should always be spayed or | | | | and walk out with a dog. They will need to check |
| neutered, vaccinated, and at least relatively | | | | your suitability to own a dog including your home, |
| healthy before purchase. A dog on medication for | | | | garden, and work commitments, in many cases |
| an ear infection or arthritis can easily go to a new | | | | they will pay a home visit and will require you to |
| home; a dog with heartworm or an active | | | | complete a long questionnaire. |
| respiratory or intestinal infection should stay put | | | | Rule 7. Once you have decided that you are going |
| until the disease is cured to avoid the stress of | | | | to re-home a dog then prepare the home and |
| relocation while under treatment. | | | | garden well before the arrival |
| Good rescuers try to match each applicant with | | | | Remember your new dog will be 'Stressed', |
| an appropriate dog. They know if a particular dog | | | | worried and uncertain of you, your family and the |
| likes kids, can get along with other pets, needs | | | | new surroundings/environment. He/she must have |
| lots of exercise, plays rough, is easy to train, is | | | | time to adjust. By taking on a rescued dog, you |
| afraid of men, jumps fences, etc. They cannot | | | | will be taking on his/her past too, and this could |
| make a good match if they don't ask questions | | | | be an unhappy one. |
| about the type of home the adopter will provide. | | | | Among companion animals, dogs are unmatched in |
| So be prepared for the following questions . . . | | | | their devotion, loyalty and friendship to humans. |
| Why do you want this breed? | | | | Anyone who has ever loved and owned a dog will |
| Do you have enough time and energy for a | | | | confirm that. The excitement your dog shows |
| Border Collie (or a Jack Russell Terrier, Labrador | | | | when you come home, the wagging tail at the |
| Retriever, or any dog for that matter)? | | | | sound of the lead being picked up, the delight in |
| Do you have a fenced garden? | | | | the games and it's head nestled in your lap, these |
| Do you plan to walk the dog a mile or more | | | | are just some of the rewards of keeping a dog. |
| every day? | | | | Having said that owning a dog is not just a |
| Will the dog live indoors or outside? | | | | privilege it's a enormous responsibility. These |
| Do you have children? How old? | | | | beautiful animals depend on us for at the very |
| Do you have other pets? | | | | minimum, food, water and shelter, but they |
| Do you plan to visit your Vet at least once a | | | | deserve so much more. If you are considering |
| year? Etc etc etc. | | | | taking a dog into your life, think long hard and |
| Choosing the Rescue Dog | | | | seriously about the commitment that dog |
| Most rescue dogs have had at least one home | | | | ownership entails. |
| and sometimes many. It will normally come with | | | | |