Some Common Misconceptions About Breed Rescues
Author Lillith Toney
No matter what breed you are involved in, if you do rescue, you
know people have a lot of opinions of what rescue is, what we do,
and how we do it. This page is for those who are looking to adopt
a dog from a rescue group, to clear up some of these misconceptions.
Misconception #1: Rescue groups are desperate to find homes
for dogs, and don't care who gets them as long as they are gone.
Fact: 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.
We spend many hours talking with potential adopters, getting to
know their situations. We visit their homes to make sure it is the
best environment for the particular dog to be in. In general, we
take the same steps a good breeder would to ensure that the match
we finally make is a good one. We are only human, however, and we
do make mistakes. But we always try to do what is in the dog's best
interest.
Misconception #2: Rescue groups always have puppies available.
I will have no trouble getting a very young dog, because they will
have one right there.
Fact: Only occasionally do most rescues have young
pups available. The majority of dogs we rescue are between the ages
of one and three years. When considering adopting a rescue dog,
you must be flexible in your expectations. There is no way for any
one group to have the exact dog that everyone is looking for. If
you are dead set on having a puppy, I would suggest finding a good
breeder rather than going with rescue.
Misconception #3: "You have to come pick up this dog
NOW, or s/he is going to the pound!"
Fact: I really wish every rescue group had enough
volunteers to rush anywhere in the state at a moments notice! In
truth, however, there are very few people involved with rescue.
For very popular breeds, there may be three or four "hard core"
rescuers (those involved in rescue on a daily or weekly basis) and
a handful of others who get involved on occasion, to transport or
foster dogs as they come in. For less popular breeds, there may
be only three or four people in the entire state who are involved.
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.
Misconception #4: 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.
Fact: 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 our own pockets. Some come
to us with treatable illnesses such as heart or intestinal worms.
Some have never been given the proper vaccines or vet care. Many
come to us unaltered (not spayed or neutered). We give each and
every dog vet care, to ensure that they are reasonably healthy when
they are adopted. We feed them nutritious foods and give them vitamins,
and any medicines that they need (such as Heartgaurd, to prevent
heartworms). It would be nice if all of these things came to us
for free, but they do not. 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.
Believe me, we put out much more than we get back! We are not in
rescue for profit. We do this because we love the breeds we are
associated with, and because we would rather take the financial
loss than see one of our breed suffer in an unhappy home, or be
killed in a shelter because no one came to adopt them.
Misconception #5: The breed rescue people will take my dog
if it is vicious or has bitten people and rehabilitate him/her for
me.
Fact: It would be nice if we in rescue had a magic
wand to wave and make every dog non-aggressive. Unfortunately, no
such wand exists, and 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 an on going
behavior, there may be no other solution. I would urge you to speak
to your vet, or consult an animal behaviorist before taking this
step. Nothing is more sad than euthanize a beloved family pet, especially
if there is something that can be done to correct the aggression.
Misconception #6: 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, cancer surgery, etc.
Fact: Breed rescue is not a free clinic for dogs.
We barely get by as it is. Vet care is part of pet ownership, just
as pediatric care is part of parenting. 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.
Misconception #7: Breed rescue will give anyone a pair of
intact dogs to start their own kennel, so they can breed puppies
and sell them.
Fact: As unbelievable as this is, many people
think we will do this. The truth is, we aim to REDUCE the number
of dogs who wind up in shelters, unloved and unwanted, not to help
boost those numbers. No ethical rescue person will adopt out a dog
who is intact, PERIOD. It totally defeats the purpose of rescue.
Misconception #8: Breed rescue groups scale fences in the
dead of night to take dogs out of abusive homes, kick in doors and
raid puppy mills.
Fact: We do none of this generally, though I have
heard stories of people taking a neighbor's abused dog then denying
ever seeing it. 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.
Misconception #9: 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.
Fact: Nope, not us. The first is 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. So
in that sense, I suppose they really are rescue dogs : )
Misconception #10: Breed rescue groups are against breeding
altogether, and have nothing to do with those who breed dogs.
Fact: Actually, many people involved with rescue
are breeders themselves. What we are against is irresponsible breeders
who don't know what they are doing. Breeding is not something to
be taken lightly. It is not something one just "does",
out of curiosity, to "teach the kids about nature" or
to make some extra pocket money. When done correctly, breeding is
not profitable, and is done ONLY to improve the overall quality
of the breed. There are many people out there who breed simply to
satiate the demands of the "pet" market, which ends up
weakening the genetic pool of the given breed. This is what most
rescuers are against, because we do not want to see anything happen
that will diminish the quality of the dogs we love so much.
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