[SEPT. 27, 2000]  Have you been longing to open your home, your family and your heart to a homeless dog? If so, there may be an avenue open to you that you aren't familiar with: dog rescue. What is dog rescue, you ask? In a nutshell, it is groups of dog-lovers, usually breed-affiliated, looking to save homeless canines from being euthanized and to save at-risk dogs from bad living conditions. Their ultimate goal is giving these dogs a second chance at a happy life.

[Cuzack is a yellow Labrador retriever. Esther Sparks adopted him from the Springfield Animal Shelter. He's about 8 years old, a marvelous dog and very dear to her.]

I am a member of one such group, Northern Illinois Samoyed Assistance (NISA). NISA is a dog rescue organization which takes in homeless and at-risk Samoyed dogs. The dogs are picked up as strays, rescued from animal shelters, surrendered by their owners (for a variety of reasons) or rescued from abusive situations. There have even been instances where dogs were rescued from puppy mills.

The Samoyed breed is not unique in this regard. Across the country, there are breed rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club).

What does rescue do for the dogs that come under their care? You name it, they do it. Rescued dogs receive medical care, including heartworm testing, proper vaccinations, general checkups and treatment of any health conditions which are found. Dogs are cleaned and groomed. Spaying or neutering is also performed, and, in most cases, is mandatory before a dog can be adopted.

Once medical and grooming issues are taken care of, rescued dogs are placed in "foster homes" until permanent homes can be found. Rescue foster homes observe the dog, assess its temperament and try to socialize and/or train the dog if there are any problem areas. The goal here is to help the dog feel secure with people and to work out behavioral problems which might interfere with finding the dog a permanent home.

The primary goal is, of course, to take a dog which has come from a less-than-perfect situation and to find it a loving, responsible home. And rescue organizations do not take this task lightly. They have invested time, money and effort in the rescued dog and desire nothing less than to try and ensure that its new home will be safe and secure. Rescue organizations, more often than not, carefully screen potential new owners to make sure that they understand the responsibility of taking on a pet. Potential owners must fill out questionnaires, open their homes for "home checks," agree to the conditions set forth by the rescue organization and sign a contract to that effect.

Most rescue organizations have a standard adoption contract which the potential owner must sign upon adopting a dog. Clauses might stipulate that the new home have a fenced yard or that the dog never be left out unsupervised. A common stipulation is that if the new home "doesn't work out," for whatever reason, the dog should be returned to the rescue organization and not turned over to a shelter or given away.

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Potential owners must also pay a fee to the rescue organization to help cover the costs involved — a fee that varies from one organization to the next. Paying upwards of $100 for a rescued dog is not uncommon; however, considering the wonderful care, both medical and emotional, that the dog has been given by the rescue organization, the cost does not seem high.

In contrast, buying a puppy (or even an older dog) from a breeder is much more expensive. Also, a rescued dog has most likely already been spayed or neutered. It has most likely been socialized around people and given some basic training before being placed for adoption. The rescue organization can also give potential owners a lot of information about the dog, especially regarding its temperament and health conditions, which removes a lot of the guesswork involved in bringing home a "secondhand" pet!

Perhaps most valuable is the relationship the new owner forms with the rescue group. Rescue organizations are more than willing to educate, to answer questions, to assist with problems. Their goal is to give the rescued dog a new shot at happiness, and that involves working with adoptive families to make sure that everybody is happy in the new arrangement!

A large number of rescue organizations have websites, which list their philosophies and adoption criteria and often have pictures and descriptions of available dogs. One such example is the NISA website at http://www.samfans.org/nisa. At the site, there is an example of a contract, as well as organizational information.

Other websites with breed rescue information are listed below.

http://woofs.org/adoption/newlist.html

http://infodog.com/ads/rescue/rescue.htm

And the American Kennel Club has a central, state-by-state list of rescue contacts for each breed, as well as valuable breed information. Their site is at http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm. 

So if you have the space, in your home and in your heart, there are rescued dogs of all breeds just waiting for a second chance. Giving an adopted dog a happy home can be one of the most rewarding things you can do — for yourself AND for the dog!

[Cherie Rankin]

Animals for adoption

These animals and more are available to good homes from the Logan County Animal Control at 1515 N. Kickapoo, phone 735-3232.

Fees for animal adoption: dogs, $60/male, $65/female; cats, $35/male, $44/female. The fees include neutering and spaying.

Logan County Animal Control's hours of operation:

Sunday  –  closed

Monday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday  –  8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday  –  closed

Warden: Sheila Farmer
Assistant:  Michelle Mote
In-house veterinarian:  Dr. Lester Thompson

Brought to you by Best Friends Animal Hospital

[SEPT. 25, 2000]  It's National Dog Week! If you've been contemplating adding a puppy or a dog to your family, there is much to consider to ensure that your new canine companion that will be a good fit — both for your family and for your lifestyle.

First, be honest with yourself about how much time and money you have available to devote to a puppy or a dog. Then, do some research — on the Internet, in books and with breeders — to find a breed which will suit your situation. Breeds of dogs differ in the amount of exercise and grooming they require. Some breeds are highly independent and stubborn, while others are more readily "trainable." Some breeds require a lot of activity and stimulation to keep them entertained and out of trouble! And, of course, some breeds grow much larger than others and require a lot of space.

If there are children in your family, that too must be considered. Some breeds are known to be good with children, while other breeds tend to be more "high strung" and are not a good mix in families with small children.

Don't forget about the financial commitments either. Quality food, veterinary care, routine vaccinations, licensing fees, leashes, crates and/or kennels, toys and chewies, and grooming supplies can add up. There is no such thing as a "free" dog!

With a puppy, training and housebreaking can (and should) be time-consuming activities. There will be puppy-related wear-and-tear on your house. There will be accidents, as housebreaking won't happen overnight. A puppy must be properly socialized and trained in order to be a well-mannered member of your household. Remember that a majority of dogs wind up in shelters or abandoned NOT because they "bad dogs" — they wind up there because their owners either didn't take the time to train them properly or got tired of the responsibility. Make sure this isn't going to be you!

[Rollie is a 2-year-old adoptee owned by Cherie Rankin.]

If the responsibility of a puppy sounds like more than you want to take on, there are other options. Animal shelters and breed rescue operations have countless dogs available that need loving, responsible homes. With a little time and research, you can find a dog of almost any breed or mix that is available for adoption.

    Of course, with an older dog, there may be other issues to consider. An older dog may have special health needs. In this case, be sure that you are able and willing to meet them, both emotionally and financially. Potential owners are often afraid of adopting an older dog. These people might be pleasantly surprised! Older dogs are often calmer than their younger counterparts, demand less exercise and may already be well-trained. And as veterinary care technology advances, the life span of our canine companions keeps increasing. An older dog may, in all likelihood, have years of love and companionship to offer you.

Do your homework! In her online article "Choosing the Right Dog," Sari B. Tietjen makes the following suggestions.

— There is no substitute for making a careful study of each breed's characteristics and narrowing down the field until you are left with the one that best suits your temperament, lifestyle, accommodations and taste.

— Go to a dog show, buy dog books, consult websites and search out legitimate kennels. Talk to breeders and other experts about the breed you are considering.

If you decide a puppy is what you want, find a breeder who will work with you and answer your questions. DO NOT buy from pet stores or wholesalers. Ask to see the puppies' parents. Make sure that the parents are certified for hip and eye health and that they have good temperament. Pick a puppy who appears healthy and whose temperament seems well-adjusted. Then take it home and be a responsible owner!

If you decide that you would prefer an older dog, locate the breed rescue group for the breed you desire, or check your local animal shelter for a dog that suits you. Quality rescue and shelter organizations are more than willing to work with potential owners, as their top priority is finding good homes for the animals in their care!

There is a wealth of information available to you to help in your search for the perfect canine companion. Good breeders are more than happy to talk to you about their breed. Books on specific breeds, their characteristics and the commitment required of an owner abound. And, of course, the Internet has some wonderful sites. Two excellent sites are:

Dog Owner's Guide — The Online Magazine for Pet and Showdog Owners, at http://www.canismajor.com/dog/chbreed.html

The American Kennel Club website, at http://www.akc.org

(The AKC site has links for both breeder referral and breed-specific rescue contacts.)

If you invest the time in finding the perfect canine match, your dog will reward you with years of loyal companionship, countless happy memories and unconditional love. Happy searching!

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