I edited it some so it shared more of my own personal feelings and experiences. The following information may seem harsh, rude, and perhaps even heartless. If you plan on pursuing adoption from our rescue please continue to read no matter your opinion. The following things are meant as information only. You may not agree with some of the things said on this page, but please understand that these a
re the realities of many rescues. This is not to say that it should excuse rude or ignorant behavior towards you from a rescue group, but it lets you have a behind the scenes view to the world of rescuing homeless animals. It is not my intent to lecture anyone, and if you feel after reading this that you can not for some reason adopt from our rescue, please find one that you feel you can adopt from. There are many wonderful rescue organizations that you might find to be a good fit for you. Our goal here is to help educate you about rescue...what it is and what it is not. RESCUE IS NOT A SHELTER THAT YOU CAN JUST STOP BY TO VISIT, PICK OUT A DOG/CAT, AND TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES YOU. THERE IS NO PLACE TO DROP BY AND WINDOW SHOP, NO BUSINESS HOURS, AND NO TIMES WE ARE OPEN. Rescue is a group of all volunteers who have huge hearts for homeless dogs/cats, work full-time jobs, have families and lives outside of helping dogs in need. These people open their homes and hearts to the dogs, give them a place to live, and love them until they find a loving home. We take applications, screen them, and then have people come and visit with the dogs in our homes. RESCUE IS NOT DIAL A DOG/CAT, DIAL A PERSON THAT WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT MY TROUBLES, DIAL A PERSON TO UNLOAD MY DOG/CAT, OR RENT A DOG/CAT...
Rescue is a phone number or e-mail that reaches right into the home of a volunteer who has little time to deal with the guilt you are feeling over giving up your dog/cat. We have even less time to deal with you see-sawing back and forth between keeping the dog/cat and giving it up. Please do not think of us as cold or uncaring, but we don’t have time for every person giving up a dog/cat to cry on our shoulders. We have heard all the reasons for giving up a dog/cat before. Including (but not limited to):
* allergies, moving, housebreaking issues, money issues, new baby, too hyper, barking, sick, injured, nasty, uncontrollable, landlord doesn't allow, parents said no, owner died and nobody wants the dog/cat, divorce, marriage, too many animals, doesn't like new dog/cat, doesn't like old dog/cat, chases cars, chases cats, sheds too much, too much trouble, new job, wants too much attention
We are not cold-hearted, we simply have too many things to do and not enough time to do them all and still listen to how sorry you are about getting rid of your dog/cat. If you have done everything you could do before coming to rescue, you should not feel guilty. We understand things happen in people’s lives that make hard choices a necessity. We are not judging those who have done everything they could yet still have to give up the dog/cat. We just want those who haven’t taken the responsibility seriously to understand that we are not here to offer emotional support to them when they've made a poor decision and refuse to take responsibility for it. Rescue should be one of your last resorts. RESCUE IS NOT A BABY-SITTING SERVICE FOR YOUR DOG, A KENNEL,
OR A PLACE THAT WILL TRAIN YOUR DOG/CAT
Rescue is a place that dogs/cats who are homeless, about to be homeless, or in a shelter, come into where they will receive the medical attention, physical attention, and behavioral attention they need. Rescue is most times the only thing standing between a dog/cat and a gas chamber or heart-stick or if they are lucky a lethal injection. CAN I GET A DOG/CAT FROM YOUR RESCUE THAT IS NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED? A fundamental mission of our rescue is to stop irresponsible breeding and promote spay and neuter to help end an era of homeless animals. RESCUE IS NOT A PLACE THAT WILL TAKE THE MOST VICIOUS, NASTY, AGGRESSIVE DOGS/CATS AND KEEP THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN THEIR OWNERS MIND WHILE THE DOG/CAT IS MISERABLE. Rescue is a place where the unpredictably aggressive dogs/cats that are not safe for anyone to own, handle or be within 5 feet of are humanely put to sleep where they will be happier, and people will be safer. If YOU don’t want to deal with your dog/cats that bites, whom you've loved for 6 years, what on earth makes you think that someone else would want it biting them or their family? There is no farm with acres and acres of land or island that these dogs/cats can go to and live out their life happily. We do work with every dog/cat to see if they are just frightened, or have an issue that is fixable. Those who are scared or have an issue that is correctable we work with and allow them time to adjust and overcome their fear. We hire trainers to work with these dogs/cats too. Those who are aggressive are put to sleep humanely - PERIOD. RESCUE IS NOT A MAIL ORDER SERVICE TO FIND YOU THE DOG/CAT OF YOUR DREAMS, THE DOG/CAT THAT LOVES KIDS, OTHER DOGS/CATS, EVERYONE, DOESN'T BARK/WHINE TOO MUCH, IS PERFECTLY HOUSEBROKEN, IS 3 POUNDS, DOES TRICKS ON COMMAND, AND KNOWS HOW TO ACT IN EVERY SITUATION. Rescue is the place that gets calls from shelters and owners who have a dog/cat in need. Rescue is a place that goes into pounds before dogs/cats are put into the gas chamber and take their last breath. Sure, we may come across a dog/cat like the one described above, but chances are it will be adopted quickly and it will be a long time before we see another one like it. Dogs/cats are not stuffed animals….they have issues that need resolved from time to time. They require attention, stimulation, leadership and positive correction to behave well. We work with each dog/cat to make them better pets than they were when they entered rescue. When a new dog comes into your home, there will be a transition time. It will be up to you to make sure that transition goes smoothly by doing your homework BEFORE you bring a dog/cat home. It means following through with the suggestions of the rescue and being a positive, consistent leader for your new dog/cat. AND LET’S END WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND... RESCUE IS NOT A SERVICE FOR PEOPLE. Rescue is a service for the dogs/cats. We care about them; the dog/cat is who we are here to help. Helping you find the dog/cat of your dreams is a result of that, but our main concern here is the dog/cat and what is best for each individual dog/cat, which in the end should be the best decision for the adopter as well. If you have adopted one of our dogs/cats we WILL go above and beyond to help you make the transition smooth when they come to your home. We offer our trainers support if needed and we will consult with you on any questions or concerns you have. We WANT to help you make this adoption a success and take the necessary time and resources to assist you with this, but in the end you and your family are ultimately responsible to apply the principles taught to you and to follow the guidelines suggested to make the adoption work. We make it very clear from the beginning of the interview process if the dog has any issues that need to be worked on. PLEASE take our input seriously and don’t go into the adoption thinking things will just work out. You MUST be prepared to do the work that has to be done. Don’t expect us to sympathize with you if you want to return the dog because you are unwilling to do the WORK necessary to make the dog/cat behave. We commit to taking any dog/cat back into our rescue or helping you re-home them if your life circumstances change and you can no longer keep the dog/cat; but don’t expect us to be happy if you only have the dog/cat a week or a month and just don’t think they are a fit. We can read between the lines......99% of the time people just don’t want to do the work.
