TIPS FOR OWNER SURRENDERING TO A RESCUE: Every day, the rescue gets a dozen or so requests for us to take in dogs from around the local community in need of rehoming/a safe place to go. Obviously, we cannot accommodate a dozen dogs every day at our current size and network - and even if we could, there are 800+ dogs being put to sleep in the shelters everyday that could use that space as well. However, as a pet owner I sympathize with owners who are truly in difficult positions and really want to rehome their dog safely without having to resort to a kill shelter. There are so many simple things you can do as a pet owner that can help you be successful at rehoming your pet through a no kill rescue: 1) TIME!!! This is the biggest, most important thing that I cannot stress enough. Approach the rescue when there is still time to help you. Even if we had no dogs on a waiting list for a safe place in the rescue already (which we always do!), it takes us time to make arrangements for your pet - to find a foster placement that will suit your animals needs, or even just a foster availability at all in general! To arrange transport, supplies, etc. I get calls EVERY DAY of people needing a place for their dogs to go by tomorrow, I have even gotten calls of people telling me they were taking their dog to the pound in two hours if I did not help. I understand that in very rare circumstances such as death, hospitalization, etc. there are times when the situation really is this urgent - but a lot of times, if you are moving or something with the animal is not working out, etc. you have some time to make arrangements and a decision. Do not wait to contact us until you have been searching for a place for your dog for a month with no luck and now only have until the morning to find someplace - contacting a rescue should be an early step. Get them all of your dogs info and photos, so the rescue can add you to the wait list, and cross post in the mean time and help find your dog a home or arrange a foster placement during that time frame. Our networks might help your dog be rehomed without even needing to enter the rescue, and in the event it does not, we can arrange a back up foster scenario for the animal so we are able to provide a safe place for them before you run out of time. 2) VET CARE!!! At the very least, make sure your animals are current on their vaccines. A full set of annual vaccines without any additional office fees is only $22 (321-805-4800), and can make the difference between your dog being accepted to the rescue or not. Not because we cant afford the $22 (though if it is your pet, barring unforeseen financial circumstances, it would save us money that could be used for animals in more serious medical need), but because of the risk of illness it poses to your pet and to the pets in the foster homes. So many of the dogs that come into the rescue are sick, often with kennel cough and even Parvovirus, and we are nursing them back to health out of the animal shelter - so, if we take in your unvaccinated pet, we take on the risk of them contracting one of these illnesses from the sick dogs we are caring for and not only placing your pets life at risk, but also incurring additional medical expenses. Even if you are turning your dog into the animal shelter you should get them current on vaccines prior - yes, the shelter will do it for free once they are there, but the vaccines take time to build up immunities and your pet could become ill and wind up euthanized if turned into the shelter without current vaccines. We have had people find strays on the street who were willing to pay for vaccines and even spay and neuter if the rescue was willing to take them in - we do not expect less from owners who are surrendering their pets. You took on the responsibility of caring for these animals, and although we want to meet you halfway and do anything we can to help every animal in the community, we do expect you to contribute yourself as well. 3) BE WILLING TO FOSTER!!! If you contact us wanting to rehome a dog due to behavior - the dog is not housebroken, does not get along with your other dogs/cats/chickens/whatever, chews on stuff, has too much energy, etc. - Be prepared to act as that animals foster until we find it a permanent home. Not only can the foster space we have be better used for animals who will literally DIE today if they do not find a placement and get out of the shelter, but because we do not operate in a kennel facility and these animals go into someones home, why should we expect one of our fosters who volunteers their home and time to put their furniture/carpet/pets, etc. at risk so you can get the dog out right away? Your dog does not magically no longer have these behavior issues when it enters a foster home. We would be more than happy to supply you with the same crates/access to our behaviorist, etc. to work on the issues while we are looking for a new home for the animal - Who knows, maybe you might even make the situation livable for everyone involved and not need to give up your dog in the end at all? Unless someone has died, been evicted, etc. and put you in a position where you literally have NO WHERE for your dog to live - we will expect you to foster your dog while we look for a placement. Because, there are dogs out there who actually do have no where to live that need the foster spaces. We have no problem offering supplies, working on training, and doing ALL of the leg work on finding a home, checking the home out, etc. - Our foster homes are for animals in a real, true, serious need - homeless animals with no where to go and no one to help them. Your animal has you, so even if it is not a permanent fit, you can at least commit to sticking with it a month or two while we find a more permanent placement. NONE of this is aimed at someone specific, nor is any of it meant to be harsh or mean - it is actually meant to be helpful. We WANT to help you and your pets, we want to help every pet in this community - but it takes a community to do so. If volunteers can step up and open their homes to pets that are not theirs, including being patient through unsavory behaviors or dogs that are not a good fit, if residents can step up and sponsor or donate towards the vet care of the animals, then you as a pet owner should also be willing to do everything you can on your end to work with us to help your dog have a happy forever ending. Please take these things into consideration and help us help you and dogs all around the community by contributing your part to the safe rescue and rehoming of your pets.
Posted on: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:21:18 +0000
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