09/08/2024
So you claim to be a rescue.... what does this really mean?
In today's World, I see many Animal welfare groups only agreeing to take eaiser to adopt breeds. Turning away dogs/cats with fixable behavior or social issues. And my absolute favorite is when a pet is miss labeled as agressive when the people doing temperament testing are poorly educated.
When I entered the rescue world, I was fortunate enough to enter a program that didn't see limitations in any animal, we vowed to pull every string and try every button before deciding on an animal's fate. There are several boxes that we try to check before putting any pet up for adoption. People friendly ✔️ dog friendly ✔️ cat friendly ✔️ kid friendly ✔️
But what if they don't check all or even most of those boxes, How do you determine whether a life should be spared? Or whether it is better to free them from our world.
This decision is what separates rescue/rehabilitation from a shelter. How hard are you willing to work to help an animal thrive. This aspect of rescue is probably the easiest one for me. I will train as much as they will. Pets willing to learn are ALWAYS fixable. But CORRECT training is everything. It's important to remember during this process that many breeds do not get multiple chances to thrive. If they mess up in society it's THEIR life on the line, not mine. So foundation or base training is beyond important.
There is no such thing as a "bad" training tool. Especially when rehabbing a poorly socialized pet. E-collars, muzzles, prong collars are amazing when used appropriately. But all tools can be weapons when used incorrectly. This is why an understanding of animal body language is a MUST.
I don't require every pet to check all of the boxes. But they MUST be safe in society. If that dog agressive dog gets loose in the neighborhood, that could seal their fate. So pets who don't check all the boxes must be soldiers! If I hand that leash to a child, they should be able to safely walk that pet through the neighborhood. THAT is what makes an adoptable pet, secure obedience. Not how well they wag their tail ad another dog or human.
The final piece of success is understanding "we" are not the best in our field. There is always someone who can do it better. So just because you can't fix this pet dosent mean that no one else can. ASK FOR HELP! I am always talking to my vets, the trainers who trained me, and even newer trainers who may have a different training style than myself. Rescues tend to be quite possessive. But there is NO SHAME in handing off an animal to a program who may be able to help that particular pet.
As a whole, the rescue world needs to do better. Shelters are killing fixable pets every day, because no one is stepping up to the plate. So ask yourself this... are you a RESCUE?! or just another shelter?
And to my educated fosters in the trenches with me! We love you, you are valuable, and you are needed! Know your worth, and don't ever let someone make you feel any less special than you are! You're a dying breed and we need more of you 🖤
Photos of some (I wish I could post them all. But thar needs it's own album) of the pets I was trusted to rehabilitate by my rescue partners. Tha k you for letting me save them.
