Rescue Me!

When looking for a pet, even if you are looking for a pure bread dog/puppy, try looking for rescues.  I know many reasons for not looking at a rescue, and I have listed them below.  Have others?  Let me know.  I may have experience with why a rescue is a good path.

• You don't know what the dog has gone through.
• You don't necessarily know that with a puppy, either.  Not saying breeder's don't love their puppies, but what if you go to a pet store?  You may luck out, you may not
• You want a puppy NOW.
• Really?  Even if you go to a breeder, do you know you will get one NOW?  If you do, you may not see it interact with other dogs/puppies, so how do you know how the socialization was progressing.
• You want a puppy.
• What is wrong with older dogs?  You get one that is one to three years old, it is:
• Already potty trained.
• Already past the point that aggression would manifest.
• Bonding is still more than possible.  
• You get one that is older than three years, you still have MANY years of love ahead of you.  If you already have dog's, older may be better.
• You want a pure bread dog.
• No Problem, there are many pure bread rescues.  
• Look anyhow, we almost adopted two dogs because we wanted a border collie.  Then we found a shepherd that fit the bill and we almost got her AND the border collie.
• Some rescues that aren't pure bred rescues get pure bread dogs.  Meg was initially at a Humane Society until she was picked up by the rescue we worked with.
• You want a guarantee.
• Is there a guarantee with anything in life?  At least with rescues, there are usually two week 'trial periods' to see if things work out.  Rescues can also tell you if the dog is good with kids, other dogs, cats - things you may not know with a puppy.

Hubby and I went through all of these questions and we chose to go to a breeder for  our first several dogs.  While our friends had good luck with rescues, we also heard negative stories.  Then, unfortunately we had a bad experience with a dog.  We loved her to pieces, but she developed behavior problems.  We went through behaviorists, veterinary medicine and were on our way to a specialist and things led to us having to say goodbye.  She was not yet three.  Neither Hubby nor I were ready to do puppy training again and we were a little dog shy.  We worked with Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue to find our Meg.  She is the perfect dog to help us heal from what we went through.  We met her and her foster parents and we introduced her to our family.  Things went beautifully.  It also did not go quickly.  When you are working with rescues, also note the following:

• It will feel like it is a part time job.  The applications are extensive and, when you are selected, there are referrals and inspections.  Know that the rescues are trying to make sure the dog is a good fit for your family.  We are knowledgeable, experienced dog owners - we felt this way.
• If you have an electric dog fence, know that some rescues will turn you down without going any further.  You may understand, as we do, that not all dogs are suited for a fence.  If you are willing to put one it, make sure the application states that somewhere.
• Be flexible, and place several applications.  You are not the only one looking for a dog, and as stated before, they are trying there best to find a good home.  Reach Out Rescue had a dog that we were interested in, but they said he was not good with cats.  They suggested several other dogs.  That is why we almost had two dogs - one of the dogs they suggested was a beauty that we fell in love with the pictures.  We brought Meg home before we heard back front he rescue, so we opted to not introduce two new dogs at once.   tI am happy to say Vega found a good home.