Adopting a pet from a local shelter is a great way to help save an animal from an uncertain future. But what if you want a purebred? Can you pick the breed you want and still save a life? With a little help from a breed rescue, the answer is yes.
Many dog owners admire the unique looks and personalities of purebreds, but also worry about the fate of millions of pets euthanized each year.
What many people don’t realize is that there are specific breed rescue organizations for almost every breed of dog, placing dogs in need with new families.
Rescue groups are an invaluable resource in the ongoing battle to keep millions of pets from being euthanized.
With armies of volunteers, these organizations not only rescue their specific breed from shelters and other situations, but provide them with medical care. In many cases, these dogs are rescued just days – even hours – before euthanasia is scheduled.
The success of rescue groups is due in part to how well they work co-operatively with local shelters and humane societies.
In a shelter situation, it can be difficult to not let pets be adopted by people who may not be the best match for the pet. With a breed rescue, both dogs and applicants have the resources to be carefully screened to help find the right match between an individual dog and its new family. Rescue organizations can provide a much-needed way of "buying time" for some of these pets.
As it is for the Kingston Humane Society, it is the goal of rescue organizations to find each and every pet its forever home.
Breed rescues routinely receive young, healthy pets from families whose circumstances prevent them from properly caring for the animal.
In Kingston, our humane society, and our breed rescue organizations, have become proficient at matching the right dog to the right person. By evaluating the dog’s personality and thoroughly screening the potential owners, breed rescues and our humane society have achieved high success rates placing dogs in lasting homes.
In addition, education about the breed before the adoption and strong follow-up support after adoption helps new owners through this transition period.
Be prepared to be patient when adopting from a breed rescue organization. You should expect to fill out an application, provide references and have a home check done. In most cases, a good rescue organization will probably take one to three weeks for the entire adoption process.
I know of one kind Kingston family who rescued their first Bouvier 15 years ago. They had such a positive experience, that they went on to save the lives and provide a wonderful home life for seven more Bouviers. Why not let their success inspire you to provide a forever home for your next companion?
Courtesy: http://www.kingstonthisweek.com
