A breed rescue is an invaluable resource for both an animal lover and a dog

If you’re looking for a specific breed of dog you want to adopt, or have a full-bred canine you need to find a home for, consider looking into a breed rescue. Instead of purchasing a dog from a breeder, adopting one that needs a home from such an organization can improve the lives of both you and the dog.

What is a Breed Rescue?

A breed rescue is an organization that fosters dogs and attempts to find them permanent homes. Breed rescues can be local or national in efforts. Often local breed rescues are affiliated with national breed rescues, or share resources. Breed rescues also network among organizations to compound the good work they do for a specific breed, identifying homes for dogs thousands of miles from where the dog is located.

These organizations are often run and staffed by volunteers. They rescue specific breeds from shelters and abusive situations, arrange financial sponsorship and veterinary care, and arrange for transport. These organizations also screen and counsel adoptive families to make sure they are educated about the breed in order to ensure successful placements.

These groups are based on the dog’s breed. For instance, you might find a golden retriever rescue or a poodle rescue. These organizations will typically only accept dogs of that particular breed; however, some rescues will even take in dogs that are mixed with the type of breed their rescue is named after. For instance, a dalmatian rescue may take in or adopt out a dog that has dalmatian mixed in it.

These rescues will typically take in dogs that need homes. The organizations are usually made of volunteers who will foster, or care, for the dogs, until permanent homes are found. This often means taking the dogs home and feeding them and providing the care they need. The foster parents usually give them toys, bedding and all the comforts of home.

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The dogs will stay with a foster family until they are adopted. The volunteers typically also take them to the veterinarian to receive care, which includes vaccines; flea, tick and heartworm preventative and anything they need if they become sick or had pre-existing medical conditions.

These organizations are typically run only by volunteers, therefore, most of the money that is used to pay for supplies comes out of pocket. Some rescues will set up tables at pet stores in which they take donations. All dog supplies, over the counter medications and supplies are also welcome donations.

Finding a Breed Rescue

The Internet is an excellent resource in which to find a breed rescue, whether you are looking to adopt or place a dog there. Simply entering keywords such as ?breed rescue? or ?dog rescue? in a search engine can typically lead you to a rescue.

Some rescues display a myriad of information on their sites; however, some don’t due to limited time and resources. You may have to call and leave a message on the machine. Since the phone numbers often belong to the volunteers, there’s a chance you may have to wait to have your call returned.

If you are looking to adopt a dog, you will likely need to fill out paperwork and complete a few interviews before you are able to. These volunteers deeply care for the animals and want to make sure they are going to fit and compatible homes.

They may visit your home and will likely contact your current veterinarian to inquire about the care you give to any pets you may already have.

You can find a breed rescue when you are looking to find a home for a dog on the Internet and by giving a call or email, as well. A problem you may run into with rescues is that they are often full and don’t have any room to take in other dogs.

Each volunteer is typically limited to how many dogs he or she can take in at one time. Counties often restrict the amount of pets a person is allowed to have in his or her home and because of this, the rescue may not be able to take in your dog. You can continue to look for other rescues, or you can consider other options. However, breed rescues are often the best, as they don’t euthanize dogs because they aren’t getting adopted, unlike many animal shelters.

Helping Out

Since breed rescues are run by volunteers and donations, consider giving them supplies whenever you can. Many rescues will accept food, bedding supplies, bowls, collars, leashes and just about any type of dog supplies.

If you’ve ever used a rescue to find a home for a dog, consider donating supplies there. They probably took excellent care of that animal and used many resources to find it a home.

Breed rescues have saved the lives of many dogs and have found homes for even more. Thank them by giving them donations for saving your dog’s life or for helping you find a new canine companion.

Resources:

American Kennel Club: Breed Rescue Groups

American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue

Midwest Labrador Rescue

WolfSpirit’s Toy Breed Puppy Mill Rescue