Beware of dodgy rescue organizations

[Carol Brand]

Lately I've seen more and more dog "rescues" crop up that may or may not be legitimate animal welfare organizations.  Often times they are actually revenue generating operations for the people who run them. In Colorado, there is a woman who supposedly runs a Poodle rescue.  The term rescue gets fuzzy, however, when she travels out of state, picks up dogs cheaply and then brings them back and places them for large re-homing fees.  She starts to look more like a broker and less like a rescue.  What should people expect from a rescue?  

 

1.   Re-homing fees are typically less than $500.  

 

2.  People adopting pets should expect that the rescue has paid for medical treatment up to the point of adoption. The dogs should be healthy baring long term chronic health issues that will require life long treatment.  If the dog does have a long term health issue, it should be stable when it is adopted out.  

 

3.  Dogs will be spayed or neutered before they leave the rescue organization.  I don't know ANY illegitimate rescue organization that would allow an intact animal to leave.  

 

4.  Rescue organizations usually have ties to the larger dog communities.  For example the woman who does the real Poodle rescue in Colorado is a member of our national breed club rescue organization as Colorado's All Breed Rescue Network.   For Doodles, this means groups like IDOG.  

 

It is sad to say, but.... adopter beware!

 

 

[Adina P]

Every now and then I hear stories that bother me.  I have an acquaintance who is apprenticing under my trainer.  She recently took in a foster dog for a rescue that is out of state.  I believe the previous owners lived in the same area, but because the dog was from a rescue organization they 'owned' her once she was not with the owners anymore.  But NOT sure on that detail.

 

This dog was a nice pitbull mix with a history of cat killing (as in its previous owners weren't good about ensuring she wouldn't escape her home, nor were they good about training her to a reliable recall or at all). Got along well with other people and dogs, but had cat issues.

 

Basically my acquaintance saved the dog's life because it was going to be put down otherwise.  She trained it to work calmly around cats on and off leash. She put a Companion Dog title on the dog.  Then the rescue started freaking out because a home had not yet been found.  This person was willing to keep the dog indefinitely until the RIGHT home was found.  And the "right" home was very critical because this dog would NOT get another chance legally.  A couple weeks ago they actually gave her a 1 week timeline to find it a home or return it to the out of state rescue.  This was wholly ridiculous to me because frankly there was nobody in that rescue that was familiar with her specific training who could then train her future owners in keeping up the training.    LUCKILY, my acquaintance found this dog a home recently with excellent owners who are taking training lessons with the dog and look to be fully capable of managing this otherwise lovely dog.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I do think that Stuart's rescue group is legitimate - it is a Golden Retriver group BUT they are milking the doodle craze by the stupid prices.  The contract that I signed would require me to notify them if Stuart was ever lost or stolen and that I would have to return him if I was ever not able to care for him.  Also that they can come to my home to check on the animal and also that they can remove my dog if there is any misrepresentation or a breach of this contract.  However I will mention that I do not have too much respect that they did not know (or perhaps tell me) about the giardia before hand.  He was micro-chipped but not neutered - was this because they didn't want to have to pay for it or because the puppies had parasites?  Not sure.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

When you mentioned in your other discussion this morning what they charged you (as a rescue) I just about choked ..... and he wasn't even neutered!  I am so happy that you have him and he is worth every penny he has cost you, but I think the rescue is WAY overcharging!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Yes - he is worth every penny - it was never about the money though.  Rooney and I, along with dh adore Stuart. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

You could just make sure you are safe by trying to adopt from DRC and hopefully end up with a nice little guy like I did!!!  :)  Good warning post though, Carol.  This probably isn't something that most people even realize.  You try to something good by adopting a dog and then suddenly you get caught up in something like this.  These people should be ashamed of themselves...trying to make a buck instead of just trying to save/rescue innocent pups.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thanks for sharing this I see lots of crazy stuff on craigslist all the time too. Why can't people just be honest and treat dogs like they are supposed to. They are not money makers!!

[Lorraine Bromley]

I wish they were registered some how so that it would be very apparent just who is a  legitimate rescue! It is hard to visit the rescue groups that have all foster homes too!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

Burt Ward (Robin of the TV series Batman) and his wife run an organizatin in California called Gentle Giants.  From all I have read it is NOT a legitimate rescue organization. 

 

http://www.gentlegiantnews.com/index.php

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have read about that, too.

[Carol Brand]

Perfect example.  Gentle Giants is a dog broker, not a rescue organization.