FAQ: Frequently asked questions & site map

So you've decided to obtain a new pet for your household. Before you purchase a new pet, why not check out your area animal shelter or humane society? By adopting from a shelter, you not only save the life of the animal you adopt, but also the lives of all those animals awaiting a vacancy in the shelter so they will have a place to go.

How to pick your dog

This is my dog, Jewell, I got her for my husband to work cattle.  She's the first dog I ever trained to work livestock, and a reputable trainer suggested I start her by tying the tip of a cow's tail (the hair only, LOL) to a cane pole and using it to teach her the directions.  She had no interest in the pole, but she seemed to like the water hose.   So I used it instead, and now....no one can pick up the hose without her just going nuts.  She likes to work cattle, but she LOVES the water hose!  She'll run round and round, then charge the end of the hose, mouth open, and attack.  If my hand is too close to the end she'll nip it in the process.  She's absolutely crazy about it, and if we bring out a rope, electrical cord, or anything that resembles a water hose she's rearin' to go!

After deciding what kind of pet is best for your household (another article altogether), visit the shelter to find the perfect addition to your family. Upon arrival, walk through the kennel in its entirety to view all dogs. Carry a notepad and pen so you can jot down the run number of all the dogs that catch your eye.

Next trip through, stop at each selected run to visit with the dogs. Do not hesitate to ask the kennel manager questions about the dogs -- although most may be strays and the volunteers may know little about the dog prior to its arrival, many are surrendered by their owners for one reason or another. For example, a family may have both a dog and a cat which do not get along, and the members may decide they like the cat better, so they take the dog to the shelter. Another dog may be surrendered because he decided to begin roaming the neighborhood looking for ladies. In both cases, the solution is simple: the first dog can be adopted into a home without a cat, and the roaming male can be neutered (as he will be if adopted) and kept in a fenced area. One family's problem dog may be your friend for life.

Temperment

Try to determine the dog's temperament:

• Is he rowdy or laid-back?
• Does he bark anxiously or quietly await your caresses?
• Does he cower at your touch or jump up on you, or neither?
• Ask about obedience training, as some kennels have volunteers come in to train the dogs and make the more placeable.
• Discuss with kennel volunteers their experiences with the dog and how he or she behaves.
• If you find a dog that you think you like, have it removed from the run so you can spend a little time with. It would not be unusual for a timid dog in the shelter to come out of its shell so to speak once you get it home, so don't be discouraged by the tucked tail and silent stares.
• A pup that just crouches at your feet in the noisy kennel may quickly pounce on that bouncing ball once you get it home.

Cooling off period

It's best if, after you find the perfect pet, you go home and sleep on it for at least one night. Discuss your decision with all family members, and make sure everyone wants the dog. But remember to check with the kennel on its holding policy, as some kennels will not reserve dogs but rely strictly on first-come, first-serve basis.

Getting good veterinary care

I'm on Chico in the picture, a rescue horse that no one could ride and stayed sick all the time.  He's been perfectly healthy since I got him and I let my nephew and niece ride him, he's so slow, steady and dependable. on horses

All kennels provide some form of veterinary care for the dogs. Find out what shots your dog has had and what he or she will soon need. It may be up to you to have the dog spayed, or the shelter may provide the service for you. Regardless of what has already been performed, all shelter personnel will recommend you take the dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a checkup. Although the shelter makes every attempt to keep the animals healthy, you must remember that many of the dogs come from a questionable environment with unknown medical history.

And finally, if your dog proves to be unhealthy or has other problems, PLEASE talk with the shelter about what you should do. They often will have experts available to get you through the hard times or offer training in an effort to make the adoption a success.

Starting your own rescue

For general help, I recommend you start by searching the web for other rescue groups and e-mailing the contacts for each asking for their advice.  If you want to be species - or breed-specific, search those areas first.  Also, the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association both have lots of written information available to guide you through the setup.

The first step, however, is to put in writing exactly what you wish to  accomplish.  This will be your mission statement and can be very   simple.  Determine what you want to accomplish within the next 5 or 10 years, then determine the individual steps to get you there. You'll definitely need to check with your state on filing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for your corporation, then find out the steps to be approved for non-profit status.  Fundraising is an individual matter; we (the Carroll County Humane Society) solicit individual donations, business support, hold adoption clinics and fairs, offer fundraisers, and sell imprinted T-shirts, caps, pens, etc. Some groups also get city or county funding.

If you want more information, please e-mail me directly and I'll try to get you started along the right path and put you in touch with some of the people who helped me get started.

Paula Colvett served as President of the Carroll County Humane Society in Huntington, Tennessee through June of 2001, and is now the Secretary/Treasurer. She works to provide a safe haven for the unwanted animals along with many devoted volunteers who devoted a large part of their lives to this endeavor.

Comments

Thank you for this article!
From: Jessi
Being a person that fosters over 20 dogs at any given time at my house, thank you for posting this!  There are so many great animals that are passed over or put down in the shelters.  I work for a no kill shelter and we are bursting at the seams all the time.

Rescued Bassets "on the job"!
Basset Rescue is a great way to save some of our friends who need new families. Take a look at Mo (Moses) & Zeke (Ezekiel) who are two rescued Bassets from Alabama who were rescued by the colorfully named Basset Slave! See what they do best - sniffing about for new olfactory delights.

I rescued my bone!

From: Sarah in Wisconsin:
I love your site!! I too have a Bassett that I adopted from Bassett Buddies Rescue of Wisconsin. I couldn't be happier with my baby Charlotte. She is around 2 years old according to vet papers.

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