What is "Rescue"?
Rescue is a volunteer job and it is more often than not a full time job. Rescue volunteers fine new homes for displaced rescue dogs/animals and educate the public about their chosen breeds are two of rescue's purposes. Wisconsin Dog Rescue was started in 1998 in an effort to open communication lines and network between shelters and reputable rescue groups/individuals
What is "A Reputable Rescue"?
- Ensures all pets are up to date on all shots, heartworm tested, on heartworm prevention, and received vet care before placement and provides vet paperwork upon adoption to adopter
- Spays/neuters all pets before placement when medically possible – or adopts out on a spay neuter contract and requires a refundable deposit if it isn't possible to do so prior to adoption. Also does follow up to ensure spay/neuter was done. Also reputable rescues NEVER breed animals in order to 'support' their rescue
- Temperament tests all pets in order to make the optimal placement
- Works carefully to match up the right forever home with the right pet, based on the pet's needs/personality/etc. Isn't afraid to say no to an adopter IF their situation is not optimal for the animal in their rescue's care
- Advocates for the animals in their care at all times - fosters animals in social settings
- Requires an application form and adoption contract
- Screens every potential adopter with a home visit - whenever possible - before a pet is placed there, including foster/temporary basis
- Requires that if the adopter cannot keep the pet, it is returned to their rescue, every time!
- Prioritizes working with shelters and owner-surrenders from within its own state first, * in the case of WI Dog Rescue, we prioritize WI animals before importing animals from other states
- If importing from another state, CVI's must be utilized in any transport
- Requires a legal release form for owner-surrenders
- Understands the limits of its resources; does not accept more animals than it has legal authority, space or time to care for.
- Is recommended as a "good rescue group" by at least two established non-profit shelters in its own state and can provide those references upon request of potential adopters
- Operates as an official 501c3 public charity OR as a not-for-profit entity.
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Where do rescue dogs come from?
Rescue dogs come from a variety of circumstances and places. Some are from shelters, having arrived as strays or owner-surrenders. The reasons they need new homes vary, but often we hear statements such as:
"We don’t have time for a dog anymore."
“We’re moving and can’t take the dog.”
“We’re having a baby.”
What does a rescue group or individual do when they are called to rescue a dog?
All rescues operate independently, but in general, the process goes like this: First, the rescue contacts the place or person where the potential rescue dog is located. After discussing the dogs traits and personality, the rescue may agree they can help this dog, and transportation is arranged. Upon entering rescue, the animals temperament is assessed. Then the dog is taken to a vet for a check-up, shots, heartworm test, and spaying/neutering. Back at the rescue, the dog may receive a bath, grooming, and finally, another temperament examination. Dogs are introduced to other dogs, cats, and people to see how they react around different things in a normal environment. After assessment, the dog is place into an appropriate foster care home. Once the foster period is up – this is where the rescue can learn the dogs’ behavioral traits and see first hand how they behave in a house – the rescue dog is available for adoption
Where are the dogs located?
Again, each rescue operates independently, and range in size from rescues with one dog at a time housed in their own homes to rescues with boarding facilities.
Aren't rescue dogs usually abused or neglected, making them dangerous?
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Most rescue dogs are the result of bad decisions on the part of the humans - not the dogs - such as getting a breed of dog that is not suitable to your lifestyle or . As for those that have been abused or neglected, many new owners tell us the dogs seem to understand their good fortune and respond by demonstrating an especially attentive and loving attitude.
What happens if I adopt a dog, but can't keep it?
Rescue takes the time and effort to very carefully match people with dogs, usually resulting in lifelong placements. If a dog does not work out in his new home, the dog MUST be returned to the rescue. All rescues require the new family to sign legal paperwork that addresses their commitment to keeping the dog, or returning it to the rescue if the placement doesn't work out.
How much does it cost to adopt a rescue dog?
A rescue's cost to spay/neuter, vaccinate it, feed it, test and/or treat for heartworm, put the dog on heartworm preventative, etc is usually around several hundred dollars per dog. However, the adoption donation a rescue receives when they place a dog is not based on how much the dog cost the rescue. It is important to note that rescue’s do not ‘sell’ dogs and your donation will most likely NOT cover the amount of money the rescue has spent on the dog. Your adoption donation goes to help fund the rescue’s overall efforts in re-homing all their animals and is not the purchase price of the one you adopted. Plus rescue's have to pay sales tax on donations for adoptions, so there are a lot of hidden costs involved to the rescue to get an animal to an adopter. Rescue animals are a huge value economically, as if you purchased from a breeder, all vetting costs would be your responsibility to pay for and they far exceed adoption donations asked for.
Why can't I breed my rescue dog?
The fact that there are more dogs looking to get into rescue than we have space for and more perfectly adoptable dogs being put to sleep on a daily basis in shelters across this nation, attests that there are too many dogs! Leave the breeding to the professionals! There are a multitude of costs involved in breeding so if you are not a professional breeder chances are very high that you will lose MONEY on your litter!!!! There are simply TOO MANY dogs looking for homes!
How do I adopt a rescue dog?
The first step is to fill out an adoption application and submit it to a rescue group/individual. After your application is reviewed and approved, you will be notified that you are now eligible to meet that rescue’s dogs. You will be asked to sign a contract when you adopt a dog and make an adoption donation to help fund the rescue.
