In most breeds, rescue is connected with (and often partly supported by) a national breed club. Rescuers keep an eye on local animal shelters and try to "bail out" dogs of their breed whenever they show up. Other dogs come directly to rescue from owners who are unable to keep them; some are found abandoned. Sometimes rescuers are contacted by 'shelter walkers,' who watch for purebreds at shelters, or directly by shelter staff.

New rescue dogs are evaluated for temperament, health, training, and other things that might affect their ability to be successful pets. They're given necessary vet care and shots and washed and groomed. A few can be adopted out as soon as they're evaluated, but more commonly they stay in a foster home for several weeks or more. They may have medical problems or need some training before placement. Some are underweight, others badly overweight. Many are in need of grooming and sometimes they must be clipped to remove mats. Sometimes the dog has been abused or neglected and must learn to trust people before he can go to a permanent home; these cases can take a year or more.

Money for rescue comes from adoption fees, donations, sometimes the national breed club, fundraising efforts, and the rescuer's own pocket. Most rescuers do not break even at the end of the year and expenses often set the limit on how many dogs can be accepted.

Why Do Rescuers Do It?

For the same reason you want to adopt: they love dogs. Many rescuers have a lifelong commitment to the breed. Rescue is a way of giving something back to the dogs who have given us so much joy over the years. Other rescuers enjoy working with lots of different dogs, many of them with special needs. And there is a wonderful sense of fulfillment in seeing a frightened, unhappy, and sometimes sick animal come into the program, gradually improve, and finally leave to become a healthy, happy, and beloved member of a very special family.

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