How do you choose a rescue organization? Here’s one basic choice that’s a matter of philosophy: Do you pick the group that does the best job of taking care of the dogs, or the one that does the worst job? Which one makes you want a dog from that environment? This is one of those questions with no right answer; you have to answer for yourself.
Diva was well cared for until her Dog Momma found her.
Either way, you want to know what a good environment looks like. Here are some clues:
- The dogs themselves and the areas they inhabit are clean. Messes—especially poops—are being taken care of. Unsanitary conditions breed disease.
- The dogs get out every day for exercise and fresh air. These are life essentials for dogs. If they don’t get enough exercise, they are likely to come to you a little nutty and needing to blow off some pent-up energy.
- Most of the dogs are basically happy and seem excited to see you. (Remember, barking isn’t necessarily hostile.) Dogs who are withdrawn and worried probably have not been treated well. Of course some rescue dogs will have had bad treatment before they got to the shelter. Go by what the majority of dogs are telling you.
Dog Yard at Kona Humane Society, Hawaii
Those are the basics. Some organizations provide premium-quality care, including training and socialization programs for the dogs. Hopefully they’re all doing a great job at getting the word out – look around, you may start to notice special events that give adoptable dogs exposure for their Mr./Mrs. Right to find them. Your local veterinarians can recommend organizations around where you live. On the Internet, Petfinder has become a go-to site that many rescues link to from all over.
I also like to deal with people who offer to take the dog back if things don’t work out. Not because you should plan on taking your dog back (!), but because the offer shows me that the people care about the dogs they put out for adoption.
You may also like to adopt a dog who has been living in a foster home. Some rescue organizations work primarily or exclusively with foster families. Dogs who have been in good foster homes are used to people and are usually housebroken. If you go this route, learn the “rules” of the foster home and consider reproducing them when you bring the dog home.
You can get the breed you want from one of the many breed-specific rescue organizations. Do some Internet research to find one as near you as possible. If you don’t find one in your state, call one that’s farther away, or call a local rescue group that doesn’t focus on your breed. These dog people all seem to know each other, and you might get a referral to exactly what you’re looking for. If you do have to travel to meet your potential pet, you’ll find it worthwhile when you consider how many years you’ll spend with this new love.
