Breed Rescues and Shelters

Topic: Pet Identification

Filed under Dogs

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It is important to know a bit about the different places that most lost dogs find themselves ending up at if they are picked up by the dog catcher or turned in by an individual in the community. Since the terms rescue and shelter are often interchangeably, it is important to clearly define and understand the difference in the two. Both service a very important function within the community, however there are very different outcomes for the pets that end up in either on of the facilities.

Breed Rescues

In almost all cases breed rescues will be run by volunteers as part of a non-profit organization. This organization or group is typically run by an executive director and a board of directors that meet the requirements to be a non-profit organization based on the laws and regulations where the rescue is located. The breed rescue may charge an adoption fee for the dog, however that money is not used for profit, rather it is returned to the breed shelter to provide care for other dogs. In addition many rescues have vets and animal health professionals that either volunteer their time to treat the dogs in the rescue or charge very reduced rates for services. Rescues may also apply for and obtain different types of grants and monetary support or donations from local agencies to keep their facility open and assisting dogs of the particular breed. Since they are privately operated, they do have the right to decide which dogs they can and cannot accommodate within their rescue facility. Rescues work hard to rehome all the dogs that come into their care with the best possible match of a new adoptive owner or family.

Rescues are often called breed rescues since they tend to be designed to take in lost, abandoned, surrendered or seized dogs of a specific breed. This doesn't mean that mixed breed dogs don't often end up at shelters, but when this happens the mixed breed is usually very close in physical appearance to the breed that the rescue is designed to handled. For example, a black and tan German Shepherd Labrador Retriever that looks somewhat Shepherd in appearance may be found at a German Shepherd rescue, but you would not expect to find a Greyhound or a Jack Russell at that same rescue. Some rescues cater to all types of dogs but this is not as common.

Dogs can get into breed rescues by several means. If a puppy mill or backyard breeder has his or her dog's seized, they may be placed in breed rescues to help find new homes and treat the dogs before they are put up for adoption. Purebreds or some mixed breeds that are no longer able to be cared for by their current owners may be surrendered to the rescue so those professionals can find a good, safe and loving home for the dogs. Finally lost dogs that look like they may be purebred can be turned into the rescue from community shelters, dog pounds and SPCA facilities or other agencies within the community. Occasionally lost dogs may be brought into a breed rescue by the person that finds them.

Shelters will usually have one or two different options for caring for the dogs they take in. In many cases if not most cases both options may be appropriate for the dog depending on his or her health conditions and other factors. The first step for most dogs coming into a rescue is to have a vet examine them if there are any physical or health issues. The dogs are then kept in kennels and attempts are made to locate the owner. It the dog has a tattoo, collar and id tag or is microchipped this can be a relatively short and simple process.

Dogs that are not claimed within a few days or dogs that are surrendered, turned in or rescued will be farmed out to foster families to give the dog a more normal, natural life until a permanent new home can be found. This provides the staff a chance to see the dog in different types of households and try to make a good match with a new adoptive family. Dogs that are not adopted for some reason typically live their lives either with the foster family or families or within the rescue as they are no-kill facilities.

Rescues always insist that all dogs be spayed or neutered prior to leaving the facility. In addition many rescues require that vaccination records be sent to the rescue and if the adoptive owners cannot keep the dog they have to agree to bring it back to the rescue, not sell or give the dog away to someone else.

Shelters

Depending on where you live the shelter may be called the pound, the SPCA, or the animal shelter. These programs are typically run by the state or community and are funded through the government. Dogcatchers or Animal Control Officers work for the community to pick up stray and lost dogs, cats or other species of domestic pets. They also work to protect all types of animals and have the authority to seize and remove animals that are being treated cruelly or not properly cared for.

Since shelters are publicly funded, they are required to deal with all dog and animals that require their services. Literally thousands of dogs and cats are picked up and brought into these facilities per day. Living arrangements for animals in shelters are almost exclusively kennels, some which may be outdoors or others that are inside. Although every effort is made and laws are in place to protect the dogs and animals that end up in shelters, it is a very traumatic experience for most pets.

The sheer volume of pets coming into shelters means that there is limited space. Most shelters have a set date by which the pets must be claimed or re-homed before they are euthanized. Seven to ten days is the maximum amount of time allowed for pets to be claimed or found a new home since there are so many new pets entering the shelter.

Funding issues and time issues prevent most shelters from being able to spay and neuter each pet that is re-homed or adopted from the facility. Often shelters will offer discounts through certain vets within the community to get the dog spayed or neutered. Since many shelters have puppies, this does provide an incentive for prospective dog owners to check out the shelter or to leave their name with the shelter for a particular breed of dog.

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