Help a shelter program
You love pit bulls and would like to help dogs in need, but can't foster at home? Why not become a cyber foster parent?
Start by visiting your local shelter and offer Internet exposure for their homeless pit bulls. The shelter must agree to several conditions. First, you need to make sure that the shelter will adopt out pit bulls OR the shelter is willing to adopt them out through you. Make sure you have the director's approval before listing and dogs. Secondly, the dogs should have several weeks of availability as rushed placements are not recommended. Finally, dogs you would like to list should be spayed/neutered prior to going to their adoptive homes. If the shelter you want to work with meets these conditions, you can participate on listing a dog.
You're welcome to print out any material on the site. We have a page of flyers here. In particular, our Pit Bull Information Packet is full of suggestions and recommendations for shelters.
Once the shelter gives you the go-ahead, there are many places online to advertise,including
PBRC Doglistings
Adopt-a-Pet
Rescue Me
Petfinder
You can add listings for each of the dogs. The descriptions of the dogs should be written with the help of the shelter manager or staff. You'll want to verify their restrictions concerning out-of-state adoptions, fees, adopting to homes with young children and other pets, etc. If you have access to a digital camera, you'll want to take several photos of each dog to include with their listings. Click here for tips on taking pictures and writing good descriptions.
When you are contacted by potential adopters or receive applications, you'll want to print out the information and deliver it to the shelter. The shelter is ultimately responsible for the adoption decision.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact PBRC.
Start by visiting your local shelter and offer Internet exposure for their homeless pit bulls. The shelter must agree to several conditions. First, you need to make sure that the shelter will adopt out pit bulls OR the shelter is willing to adopt them out through you. Make sure you have the director's approval before listing and dogs. Secondly, the dogs should have several weeks of availability as rushed placements are not recommended. Finally, dogs you would like to list should be spayed/neutered prior to going to their adoptive homes. If the shelter you want to work with meets these conditions, you can participate on listing a dog.
You're welcome to print out any material on the site. We have a page of flyers here. In particular, our Pit Bull Information Packet is full of suggestions and recommendations for shelters.
Once the shelter gives you the go-ahead, there are many places online to advertise,including
PBRC Doglistings
Adopt-a-Pet
Rescue Me
Petfinder
You can add listings for each of the dogs. The descriptions of the dogs should be written with the help of the shelter manager or staff. You'll want to verify their restrictions concerning out-of-state adoptions, fees, adopting to homes with young children and other pets, etc. If you have access to a digital camera, you'll want to take several photos of each dog to include with their listings. Click here for tips on taking pictures and writing good descriptions.
When you are contacted by potential adopters or receive applications, you'll want to print out the information and deliver it to the shelter. The shelter is ultimately responsible for the adoption decision.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact PBRC.
How to start a rescue
Anyone can start a rescue, but many burn out and are not around in a year's time. To build a successful, long-term rescue effort, clearly defined and realistic goals must be set. You must continually refer to your goals as you go about rescue activities. Your goals will define how your rescue will operate. You may want to consider partnering or volunteering with an established rescue before branching out on your own. You can visit our list of pit bull friendly organizations to locate one in your area.
In the beginning, rescuers should stick to smaller, manageable tasks. Understanding that you can't save them all is important. One breed, in a small geographic area, would be a good start. As people get to know you and you have a few placements under your belt, you might consider revisiting your goals and expanding them as necessary. It is important to set limits and stick to them because you can become quickly overwhelmed which leads to burn out. It is important for purebred rescuers to know and understand their breed so that responsible placements are made. PBRC breed information page is a good place to begin your breed research. We cannot emphasize enough, the importance of breed education and understanding. Irresponsible placements hurt us all, especially the dogs.
Issues to Consider When Setting Goals for Your Rescue:
Financing: Dog rescue is expensive. Adoption fees are a small source of income, but in most cases, the rescue will spend more on the dog than the adoption fee will cover. Expenses include advertising, shelter fees, veterinary bills, food, board, collars and leashes, toys, flea/tick and heartworm prevention, microchips, and grooming. Fundraising is an important and necessary source of income. How will you raise funds?
Legal issues and Licensing: Does your state have licensing for rescues? If so, contact your local animal welfare agencies and ask how to get your license. You also may want to consider incorporating. It can be expensive, depending on which state you live in, but a "not for profit" organization is important for fund-raising and tax purposes. You can do it yourself or contact an attorney.
Volunteers: You may want to consider recruiting others to help. They can help with expenses, fundraising and decision-making. Finding people that share your passion for your breed is not always easy, but local breed, obedience or all breed clubs may be good starting points.
Intake: Who will be responsible for accepting dogs? What criteria will you follow to screen dogs? Will you temperament test? Will you accept owner relinquished dogs or only shelter dogs?
Since you are on this page, we can assume you are interested in the bully breeds. What will those include for you? American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, will you include Bull Terriers if you get calls or American Bulldogs? Olde English Bulldogs? Catahoula Bulldogs?
Will you take only purebreds or will you accept any dog which closely resembles your breed? If you accept mixed breeds, how mixed? Some pit bull or mostly pit bull?
Do you want to cover one town, one county, one state or more? Remember, start small!
Housing: Where will the dogs stay once in rescue? Will they be boarded at a kennel or fostered in volunteer's homes? Pit Bulls should not share kennel space with other dogs.
Care Guidelines: What will be the minimum standard of care for your rescue? Rescues should be completely vetted including spay/neuter (at any age) but will there be additional training? Will dogs be crate-trained? Housebroken? Will they have any level of obedience? Click here for training information.
Advertising: How will you get the word out about your rescue? There are many places online to advertise, including Rescue Me! and PetFinder. Check out our general dog rescue Links section for more rescue resources. When the dog has been spayed or neutered and is current on all shots, he can be listed on the PBRC site. You will need to fill in the listing form.
Screening: You will need to develop a process for screening applicants and determine who will be qualified to adopt from you. Here is a page with recommendations specifically for caretakers that are fostering and placing Pit Bulls, and here are some tips on screening potential homes. Rescuers also need to be aware of breed specific legislation (BSL) that may affect new homes. Always conduct a home visit and be sure to check references.
Contracts: You will want to have solid "transfer of ownership" agreements for dogs coming into rescue and adoption contracts for dogs going to new homes.
Follow-Up: How will you follow up on each rescue that you place? Will you be available to help the new owners with issues and problems that may arise during the adjustment period?
Returns: As a rescuer, you are responsible for the lives of the dogs that you place. There may come a time when an owner is no longer be able or willing to care for the dog adopted from you. How will you handle returns, whether they're due to people issues or behavioral reasons? If a pit bull shows inappropriate aggression, how comfortable are you with euthanasia?
Pit Bull rescue is challenging and not for the faint of heart. You will witness extreme cases of abuse and neglect more often than in any other kind of dog rescue. But these dogs have a strong will to survive and most will put their pasts behind them once in loving homes.
Pit Bull rescue is frustrating. The breed is misunderstood and maligned. Insurance companies are canceling policies and breed specific legislation is cropping up all over the place. Finding responsible adopters can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Pit Bull rescue is rewarding. When you take in a dog that has never been given a chance to be loved as a companion and put him in a home where he is a cherished family member, his smile will stay with you forever.
Starting a Successful Rescue
So You Want to Start a Rescue?
Starting a Purebreed Rescue
Starting Your Own Rescue and
Volunteer Info
Start Your Own Rescue
Ethics in Rescue
In the beginning, rescuers should stick to smaller, manageable tasks. Understanding that you can't save them all is important. One breed, in a small geographic area, would be a good start. As people get to know you and you have a few placements under your belt, you might consider revisiting your goals and expanding them as necessary. It is important to set limits and stick to them because you can become quickly overwhelmed which leads to burn out. It is important for purebred rescuers to know and understand their breed so that responsible placements are made. PBRC breed information page is a good place to begin your breed research. We cannot emphasize enough, the importance of breed education and understanding. Irresponsible placements hurt us all, especially the dogs.
Issues to Consider When Setting Goals for Your Rescue:
Financing: Dog rescue is expensive. Adoption fees are a small source of income, but in most cases, the rescue will spend more on the dog than the adoption fee will cover. Expenses include advertising, shelter fees, veterinary bills, food, board, collars and leashes, toys, flea/tick and heartworm prevention, microchips, and grooming. Fundraising is an important and necessary source of income. How will you raise funds?
Legal issues and Licensing: Does your state have licensing for rescues? If so, contact your local animal welfare agencies and ask how to get your license. You also may want to consider incorporating. It can be expensive, depending on which state you live in, but a "not for profit" organization is important for fund-raising and tax purposes. You can do it yourself or contact an attorney.
Volunteers: You may want to consider recruiting others to help. They can help with expenses, fundraising and decision-making. Finding people that share your passion for your breed is not always easy, but local breed, obedience or all breed clubs may be good starting points.
Intake: Who will be responsible for accepting dogs? What criteria will you follow to screen dogs? Will you temperament test? Will you accept owner relinquished dogs or only shelter dogs?
Since you are on this page, we can assume you are interested in the bully breeds. What will those include for you? American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, will you include Bull Terriers if you get calls or American Bulldogs? Olde English Bulldogs? Catahoula Bulldogs?
Will you take only purebreds or will you accept any dog which closely resembles your breed? If you accept mixed breeds, how mixed? Some pit bull or mostly pit bull?
Do you want to cover one town, one county, one state or more? Remember, start small!
Housing: Where will the dogs stay once in rescue? Will they be boarded at a kennel or fostered in volunteer's homes? Pit Bulls should not share kennel space with other dogs.
Care Guidelines: What will be the minimum standard of care for your rescue? Rescues should be completely vetted including spay/neuter (at any age) but will there be additional training? Will dogs be crate-trained? Housebroken? Will they have any level of obedience? Click here for training information.
Advertising: How will you get the word out about your rescue? There are many places online to advertise, including Rescue Me! and PetFinder. Check out our general dog rescue Links section for more rescue resources. When the dog has been spayed or neutered and is current on all shots, he can be listed on the PBRC site. You will need to fill in the listing form.
Screening: You will need to develop a process for screening applicants and determine who will be qualified to adopt from you. Here is a page with recommendations specifically for caretakers that are fostering and placing Pit Bulls, and here are some tips on screening potential homes. Rescuers also need to be aware of breed specific legislation (BSL) that may affect new homes. Always conduct a home visit and be sure to check references.
Contracts: You will want to have solid "transfer of ownership" agreements for dogs coming into rescue and adoption contracts for dogs going to new homes.
Follow-Up: How will you follow up on each rescue that you place? Will you be available to help the new owners with issues and problems that may arise during the adjustment period?
Returns: As a rescuer, you are responsible for the lives of the dogs that you place. There may come a time when an owner is no longer be able or willing to care for the dog adopted from you. How will you handle returns, whether they're due to people issues or behavioral reasons? If a pit bull shows inappropriate aggression, how comfortable are you with euthanasia?
Pit Bull rescue is challenging and not for the faint of heart. You will witness extreme cases of abuse and neglect more often than in any other kind of dog rescue. But these dogs have a strong will to survive and most will put their pasts behind them once in loving homes.
Pit Bull rescue is frustrating. The breed is misunderstood and maligned. Insurance companies are canceling policies and breed specific legislation is cropping up all over the place. Finding responsible adopters can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Pit Bull rescue is rewarding. When you take in a dog that has never been given a chance to be loved as a companion and put him in a home where he is a cherished family member, his smile will stay with you forever.
Starting a Successful Rescue
So You Want to Start a Rescue?
Starting a Purebreed Rescue
Starting Your Own Rescue and
Volunteer Info
Start Your Own Rescue
Ethics in Rescue
General Dog Rescue links
Visit the web sites below if you are looking for rescue organizations that list Pit Bulls, or any other rescue-related information.
Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It's also an Internet directory of rescue organizations that provide postings of the animals they have available.
Deaf Dog Education Action Fund provides education and funding for the purpose of improving and/or saving the lives of deaf dogs.
Adopt-A-Pet.com is a nonprofit organization founded in early 1999 for the purpose of saving the lives of animals by concentrating on hands-on, concrete work that produces quantifiable results.
SpayUSA is a nationwide network of people working together to provide affordable spay/neuter programs. Our goal is to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs and to stop the suffering.
Best Friends Animal Society website contains lot of news and information concerning animal rescue. Great site!
Pet Guardian Angels of America is a national pet rescue and adoption assistance service also offering general and health related articles and resources for all types of pets.
Hugs Society is dedicated to displaced and homeless animals. Worldwide shelter directory and other programs.
Unchain Your Dog is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of chained dogs.
Sunbear Squad, Inc. offers all-original knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help individuals prepare to report signs of animal abuse, animal neglect, accidents, and distress promptly.
MyDogIsCool.com - a web site that can help people save dogs from dying in hot cars.
Truckers report has some great tips and resources for traveling with your pet.
Ruby, Pit Bull Service Dog, on YouTube
Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It's also an Internet directory of rescue organizations that provide postings of the animals they have available.
Deaf Dog Education Action Fund provides education and funding for the purpose of improving and/or saving the lives of deaf dogs.
Adopt-A-Pet.com is a nonprofit organization founded in early 1999 for the purpose of saving the lives of animals by concentrating on hands-on, concrete work that produces quantifiable results.
SpayUSA is a nationwide network of people working together to provide affordable spay/neuter programs. Our goal is to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs and to stop the suffering.
Best Friends Animal Society website contains lot of news and information concerning animal rescue. Great site!
Pet Guardian Angels of America is a national pet rescue and adoption assistance service also offering general and health related articles and resources for all types of pets.
Hugs Society is dedicated to displaced and homeless animals. Worldwide shelter directory and other programs.
Unchain Your Dog is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of chained dogs.
Sunbear Squad, Inc. offers all-original knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help individuals prepare to report signs of animal abuse, animal neglect, accidents, and distress promptly.
MyDogIsCool.com - a web site that can help people save dogs from dying in hot cars.
Truckers report has some great tips and resources for traveling with your pet.
Ruby, Pit Bull Service Dog, on YouTube
Ethics in rescue
Emotional panic can create problems with home screening and placement
By Vicki DeGruy
In recent years, thanks mostly to the Internet, rescue has grown into a large army of loosely connected volunteers across the country, volunteers of widely different backgrounds and philosophy. The sheer number of volunteers and the speed with which they communicate today makes rescue more effective than ever and a powerful force in reducing shelter deaths but this diversity has also created some problems.
In the past, rescue was conducted primarily by responsible hobby breeders. With a working knowledge of dogs gained by hands-on experience from whelping to grave, they know what behavior is normal for their breeds, what sort of people are best suited to own them, and how to match those people with individual dogs to make lifetime relationships that work. They apply the knowledge and objectivity gained through their breeding experience to rescue.
Many of today's newer rescuers don't have this background, though. They're pet owners who may have had dogs for years but haven't been involved in the dog world on a deeper level. They have big hearts, good intentions and a lot of energy but they often have quite a different perspective on how rescue should be done. They're easily led by their emotions and are especially susceptible to the daily barrage of appeals from the Internet of "sweet dog to die tomorrow!" "last day for this dog!" "please help now or this dog will die!"
Emotion plays a large part in rescue work (none of us would be involved if these dogs didn't tug on our heart strings) but emotion as the driving force in a placement program can have significant drawbacks:
The bombardment of appeals never lets up and keeps many rescuers in a constant state of emergency, rushing to retrieve dogs and rushing to place them, in a frantic effort to keep pace. This emotional panic can lead to premature burn out and to unfortunate compromises in the selection of dogs, the quality of foster care, and the choice of permanent homes.
Experienced rescuers rank a dog's overall adoption potential as the most important factor when selecting which dogs they can save out of thousands in need. New rescuers are influenced more by the plight of the dog, putting priority on the immediate need to save its life rather than its suitability for future placement. Those in the worst shape or most danger of death are chosen first. By using that criteria, many rescuers become overloaded with dogs that are quite difficult medically and behaviorally.
A few rescue organizations specialize in the hard-to-adopt and can do a good job with them, but average volunteers often discover they've taken on more than they can handle. This difficulty and the urgency to save more dogs on death row can lead them to make hasty, poorly considered placements as they become desperate for homes.
Home screening
The physical aspects of home screening have improved a great deal thanks to the Internet as more rescuers work together to do home visits for each other, but frankly, the mental aspects have not. For example, an adopter may have the means and facilities to care for a dog, but are they really suited to own this breed and this particular dog? If there are medical or behavioral problems, will they be able to handle them? In the hurry to get dogs placed quickly in order to save others, those questions aren't always answered until after the placement is made.
As one volunteer told me, "we get the dog in a home first and work the bugs out later." This philosophy will produce some successful adoptions through the luck of the draw but it runs a much higher risk of failure than placements that are well-planned and requires a substantially greater investment of the rescuer's time in post-adoption counseling.
For a placement to be successful, a deep bond between dog and adopter needs to develop quickly. This bond must be strong enough to carry the person through after the thrill wears off and encourage them to overcome problems as they arise. The creation of the bond is a complicated thing and it begins with the meeting of expectations. The adopter has a vision of what his new companion will be like and he expects the dog to fit into it. If the dog doesn't meet these expectations, the resulting disappointment will prevent formation of the bond. If the dog hasn't been carefully matched to the family during the pre-adoption process, the chances increase that dog won't meet their expectations and the bond will not develop properly. Without it, the dog is more likely to be returned especially when unanticipated problems appear.
Placement mistakes
The most common placement mistakes I see are:
To accurately match dogs with adopters, you need to do two things: you must get to know the dog well and you must find out what the adopter wants in a dog.
Getting to know the dog involves keeping it in foster care long enough to get to know it! I'm amazed how many dogs are placed in adoptive homes within a day or two of being retrieved from the shelters, barely long enough to get them spayed or neutered, much less find out what they're like. Almost every dog is on its best behavior during its first two weeks in a new situation. It doesn't know what to expect or what the rules are so it does its best to stay out of trouble while it figures everything out. Many negative behaviors don't appear until this honeymoon period is over and the dog is more settled. Placing the dog before you really know what you have can set up the adopter for some unpleasant surprises.
Without getting to know the dog, it's impossible to match it correctly with a new owner. You need to find out as much as you can about the dog's personality, activity level, ability to learn and how it will behave in the common situations it will encounter as a family pet. These aspects can't be fully discovered in a couple days' time or within a rudimentary "temperament test" given at the shelter. You must live with the dog for a few weeks to know what you're trying to place. Once you know the dog, you can create a profile of the type of owner you think is best suited for it.
Interviews
Finding out what a prospective adopter wants in a dog isn't as hard as it might sound. It involves asking some well-aimed questions and listening carefully to the answers. During interviews, rescuers often talk more than they listen but listening is what brings out what you need to know.
When I'm interviewing an adopter, I want to know what their previous dog was like because that's usually the dog their current perception is based on. Was it quiet, noisy, active, mellow, good with children, etc.? What did they like most about the dog and what would they have changed if they could? What kinds of activities did they do with the dog? What do they hope to do with this one? Most of the time, you don't actually have to ask all these questions directly. Just ask them to tell you something about their last dogs (or the one they have now) and encourage them through the conversation. Most people will talk about their past pets indefinitely if you show you're interested and all of this information is extremely useful to you. It tells you what priority their pets have in their lives, how they're cared for, what behavior they're used to, and what they expect from their new dog.
Most of this information can't be gained through an adoption application. In my opinion, applications are meant to determine basic physical facts: who the person is, where they live, who else is in the household, get references, etc., facts that will help you do some preliminary screening. The application can tell you who might have the physical means to care for a dog but it will be your personal conversations with the prospective adopter that tell you whether that person will fit well, physically and emotionally, with the dog you have available.
Be honest about the dog and honest with the adopter. Many people can live happily with an imperfect dog but they need to know what the imperfections are so they can make an informed decision. Some beleaguered rescuers leave out important information for fear it will discourage the adoption. It's far better to be upfront and possibly lose the adopter now than to have them find out later that you didn't tell him everything they needed to know. Not only are they likely to return the dog, they'll feel that you deliberately misled them. Worse, they may be leery to try again with another rescue, turning instead to a purchased puppy that they believe they can mold into what they're looking for.
Don't force square pegs into round holes. No match is going to be a perfect fit but it should be close. If the dog will not work for this family, be willing to wait for another. If the dog has a problem that makes it a bad fit for most families, work to fix the problem before putting the dog up for adoption.
Experienced volunteers know that rescue is about more than saving lives. That's just the easiest part. The most important aspect of rescue is putting that dog into the right home where it will be loved and cared for for the rest of its life. That's the hardest part and the most satisfying. There are no shortcuts to making a good match but the results are well worth the effort.
By Vicki DeGruy
In recent years, thanks mostly to the Internet, rescue has grown into a large army of loosely connected volunteers across the country, volunteers of widely different backgrounds and philosophy. The sheer number of volunteers and the speed with which they communicate today makes rescue more effective than ever and a powerful force in reducing shelter deaths but this diversity has also created some problems.
In the past, rescue was conducted primarily by responsible hobby breeders. With a working knowledge of dogs gained by hands-on experience from whelping to grave, they know what behavior is normal for their breeds, what sort of people are best suited to own them, and how to match those people with individual dogs to make lifetime relationships that work. They apply the knowledge and objectivity gained through their breeding experience to rescue.
Many of today's newer rescuers don't have this background, though. They're pet owners who may have had dogs for years but haven't been involved in the dog world on a deeper level. They have big hearts, good intentions and a lot of energy but they often have quite a different perspective on how rescue should be done. They're easily led by their emotions and are especially susceptible to the daily barrage of appeals from the Internet of "sweet dog to die tomorrow!" "last day for this dog!" "please help now or this dog will die!"
Emotion plays a large part in rescue work (none of us would be involved if these dogs didn't tug on our heart strings) but emotion as the driving force in a placement program can have significant drawbacks:
The bombardment of appeals never lets up and keeps many rescuers in a constant state of emergency, rushing to retrieve dogs and rushing to place them, in a frantic effort to keep pace. This emotional panic can lead to premature burn out and to unfortunate compromises in the selection of dogs, the quality of foster care, and the choice of permanent homes.
Experienced rescuers rank a dog's overall adoption potential as the most important factor when selecting which dogs they can save out of thousands in need. New rescuers are influenced more by the plight of the dog, putting priority on the immediate need to save its life rather than its suitability for future placement. Those in the worst shape or most danger of death are chosen first. By using that criteria, many rescuers become overloaded with dogs that are quite difficult medically and behaviorally.
A few rescue organizations specialize in the hard-to-adopt and can do a good job with them, but average volunteers often discover they've taken on more than they can handle. This difficulty and the urgency to save more dogs on death row can lead them to make hasty, poorly considered placements as they become desperate for homes.
Home screening
The physical aspects of home screening have improved a great deal thanks to the Internet as more rescuers work together to do home visits for each other, but frankly, the mental aspects have not. For example, an adopter may have the means and facilities to care for a dog, but are they really suited to own this breed and this particular dog? If there are medical or behavioral problems, will they be able to handle them? In the hurry to get dogs placed quickly in order to save others, those questions aren't always answered until after the placement is made.
As one volunteer told me, "we get the dog in a home first and work the bugs out later." This philosophy will produce some successful adoptions through the luck of the draw but it runs a much higher risk of failure than placements that are well-planned and requires a substantially greater investment of the rescuer's time in post-adoption counseling.
For a placement to be successful, a deep bond between dog and adopter needs to develop quickly. This bond must be strong enough to carry the person through after the thrill wears off and encourage them to overcome problems as they arise. The creation of the bond is a complicated thing and it begins with the meeting of expectations. The adopter has a vision of what his new companion will be like and he expects the dog to fit into it. If the dog doesn't meet these expectations, the resulting disappointment will prevent formation of the bond. If the dog hasn't been carefully matched to the family during the pre-adoption process, the chances increase that dog won't meet their expectations and the bond will not develop properly. Without it, the dog is more likely to be returned especially when unanticipated problems appear.
Placement mistakes
The most common placement mistakes I see are:
- Not keeping dogs in foster care long enough to properly evaluate them and treat their medical problems before adoption.
- Placing dogs with owners not suited for them or not equipped to deal with their medical or behavioral concerns.
To accurately match dogs with adopters, you need to do two things: you must get to know the dog well and you must find out what the adopter wants in a dog.
Getting to know the dog involves keeping it in foster care long enough to get to know it! I'm amazed how many dogs are placed in adoptive homes within a day or two of being retrieved from the shelters, barely long enough to get them spayed or neutered, much less find out what they're like. Almost every dog is on its best behavior during its first two weeks in a new situation. It doesn't know what to expect or what the rules are so it does its best to stay out of trouble while it figures everything out. Many negative behaviors don't appear until this honeymoon period is over and the dog is more settled. Placing the dog before you really know what you have can set up the adopter for some unpleasant surprises.
Without getting to know the dog, it's impossible to match it correctly with a new owner. You need to find out as much as you can about the dog's personality, activity level, ability to learn and how it will behave in the common situations it will encounter as a family pet. These aspects can't be fully discovered in a couple days' time or within a rudimentary "temperament test" given at the shelter. You must live with the dog for a few weeks to know what you're trying to place. Once you know the dog, you can create a profile of the type of owner you think is best suited for it.
Interviews
Finding out what a prospective adopter wants in a dog isn't as hard as it might sound. It involves asking some well-aimed questions and listening carefully to the answers. During interviews, rescuers often talk more than they listen but listening is what brings out what you need to know.
When I'm interviewing an adopter, I want to know what their previous dog was like because that's usually the dog their current perception is based on. Was it quiet, noisy, active, mellow, good with children, etc.? What did they like most about the dog and what would they have changed if they could? What kinds of activities did they do with the dog? What do they hope to do with this one? Most of the time, you don't actually have to ask all these questions directly. Just ask them to tell you something about their last dogs (or the one they have now) and encourage them through the conversation. Most people will talk about their past pets indefinitely if you show you're interested and all of this information is extremely useful to you. It tells you what priority their pets have in their lives, how they're cared for, what behavior they're used to, and what they expect from their new dog.
Most of this information can't be gained through an adoption application. In my opinion, applications are meant to determine basic physical facts: who the person is, where they live, who else is in the household, get references, etc., facts that will help you do some preliminary screening. The application can tell you who might have the physical means to care for a dog but it will be your personal conversations with the prospective adopter that tell you whether that person will fit well, physically and emotionally, with the dog you have available.
Be honest about the dog and honest with the adopter. Many people can live happily with an imperfect dog but they need to know what the imperfections are so they can make an informed decision. Some beleaguered rescuers leave out important information for fear it will discourage the adoption. It's far better to be upfront and possibly lose the adopter now than to have them find out later that you didn't tell him everything they needed to know. Not only are they likely to return the dog, they'll feel that you deliberately misled them. Worse, they may be leery to try again with another rescue, turning instead to a purchased puppy that they believe they can mold into what they're looking for.
Don't force square pegs into round holes. No match is going to be a perfect fit but it should be close. If the dog will not work for this family, be willing to wait for another. If the dog has a problem that makes it a bad fit for most families, work to fix the problem before putting the dog up for adoption.
Experienced volunteers know that rescue is about more than saving lives. That's just the easiest part. The most important aspect of rescue is putting that dog into the right home where it will be loved and cared for for the rest of its life. That's the hardest part and the most satisfying. There are no shortcuts to making a good match but the results are well worth the effort.
Placing a Shelter Dog
If you are reading this, you may be a shelter's visitor, volunteer, or employee, and would like to help a pit bull (or pit bulls) in a shelter.. Note that rushing an adoption to get a pit bull out of a shelter may not be doing the dog a favor. If the dog has less than two weeks of availability, we suggest working hard to find him a foster home.
First, you may want to contact specialized rescue groups in your region to see if they have room, but don't set your hope too high. Most pit bull rescues are overloaded and will probably tell you they are full.
PBRC cannot take dogs either as we are not a dog shelter. We don't maintain a database of referrals and all the foster homes we know are full. PBRC's mission is to offer educational materials, adoption information and funding to facilitate placement of dogs.
Be advised, it can take months to find the right home for a pit bull. The dogs should be temperament tested by someone experienced with this before being approved for adoption. While people-aggression should not be tolerated with this breed, animal-aggression, to a certain degree, is to be expected with a fighting breed. If the shelter doesn't have the staff to evaluate dogs, it may be in everyone's best interest to not adopt out impounded pit bull type dogs other than to specialized groups that take precautions and only adopt out pit bulls with sound, stable temperaments.
The dog should be spayed or neutered and have current shots. Please do not rely on spay/neuter contracts, especially with popular, indiscriminately-bred breeds, like pit bulls. Responsible, caring individuals would rather adopt an altered dog, while dog-fighters and other unsavory individuals prefer intact dogs. You will increase the dog's chance of finding a good home if s/he is altered prior to adoption.
Please avoid same sex-placements and multiple-dog homes, and do not place a pit bull without providing essential breed information to the new owner(s). You need to understand these dogs in order to find a good home for them. PBRC has a breed-information page that contains excellent information. Take the time to read it so you can, in turn, educate potential adopters.
Our recommendations page was specifically created for caretakers that are fostering and placing pit bulls. Check out the screening page for tips on evaluating potential homes.
Other ways to advertise include posting flyers at veterinarian's offices, groomers, pet stores and anywhere there is a public bulletin board.
There are many places online to advertise, too, including
Adopt a Pet
Pet Finder
Rescue Me
Visit our Links page for additional rescue resources.
We hope these suggestions are helpful. Good luck and don't hesitate to email us if you have additional questions..
First, you may want to contact specialized rescue groups in your region to see if they have room, but don't set your hope too high. Most pit bull rescues are overloaded and will probably tell you they are full.
PBRC cannot take dogs either as we are not a dog shelter. We don't maintain a database of referrals and all the foster homes we know are full. PBRC's mission is to offer educational materials, adoption information and funding to facilitate placement of dogs.
Be advised, it can take months to find the right home for a pit bull. The dogs should be temperament tested by someone experienced with this before being approved for adoption. While people-aggression should not be tolerated with this breed, animal-aggression, to a certain degree, is to be expected with a fighting breed. If the shelter doesn't have the staff to evaluate dogs, it may be in everyone's best interest to not adopt out impounded pit bull type dogs other than to specialized groups that take precautions and only adopt out pit bulls with sound, stable temperaments.
The dog should be spayed or neutered and have current shots. Please do not rely on spay/neuter contracts, especially with popular, indiscriminately-bred breeds, like pit bulls. Responsible, caring individuals would rather adopt an altered dog, while dog-fighters and other unsavory individuals prefer intact dogs. You will increase the dog's chance of finding a good home if s/he is altered prior to adoption.
Please avoid same sex-placements and multiple-dog homes, and do not place a pit bull without providing essential breed information to the new owner(s). You need to understand these dogs in order to find a good home for them. PBRC has a breed-information page that contains excellent information. Take the time to read it so you can, in turn, educate potential adopters.
Our recommendations page was specifically created for caretakers that are fostering and placing pit bulls. Check out the screening page for tips on evaluating potential homes.
Other ways to advertise include posting flyers at veterinarian's offices, groomers, pet stores and anywhere there is a public bulletin board.
There are many places online to advertise, too, including
Adopt a Pet
Pet Finder
Rescue Me
Visit our Links page for additional rescue resources.
We hope these suggestions are helpful. Good luck and don't hesitate to email us if you have additional questions..
Evaluation of a potential rescue dog
The following article appeared in the February issue of Texas Dogs, 1994.
By M. Shirley Chong - Copyright 1994, M. Shirley Chong
The call came in a few minutes ago: there's a dog of "your" breed at the local animal shelter; someone who is about to euthanize their dog was given your name by their vet as an alternative; an older man suffered a stroke and his daughter is trying to find a home for his beloved dog.
You're dismayed, excited, hopeful, and a little fearful--will this be an adoptable dog? You know that there aren't an unlimited number of good homes for your breed; you know that there are some dogs with temperament or health problems such that they probably could never be adopted. The health evaluation should be carried out by your vet; the temperament question is probably up to you.
The following is the evaluation that I use as an initial evaluation of a prospective rescue. It started out based on puppy testing, the only model I had available at the time, and grew with my experience and knowledge. It isn't finished or complete- it is only a rough guide.
You will need to bring a collar, leash, dog toy (preferably a fuzzy one), comb, and toenail clippers with you. Remember that you will need to disinfect anything you use on a strange dog.
History - Write down as much of the dog's medical and behavioral history as is known. Try to get the veterinarian's name and permission to call that vet. Ask about the most common behavioral problems: housetraining problems, inappropriate chewing, jumping up on people, submissive urination, dog aggression, human aggression (find out whether it involved children, adults, or both). In the case of house training problems or chewing, try to determine whether they are manifestations of separation anxiety. Find out about the dog's diet, the amount of exercise they get, and whether or not they are crate trained.Take the history with a grain of salt; consider the source.
In the case of shelter personnel, is it someone who is good with dogs? In the case of an owner who is relinquishing their dog, judge their dog knowledge by asking what actions they took to try to resolve their dog's problems.
Meeting the Dog - If possible, have a chair available in the area you will be evaluating the dog. When the dog is brought in, let the dog greet you. Initial shyness is not a serious problem, if the dog will approach you within 8-10 minutes. Be aware of NOT being dominant--avoid direct eye contact, don't lean or loom over the dog, keep your body language soft and relaxed. Sit down and let the dog approach you. Look at the dog's face--what is it saying to you? Is the dog tense, fearful, dominant, relaxed? If the dog seems extremely relaxed, inappropriately relaxed, be aware of the possibility that the dog may be drugged (rare, but it happens). If you believe the dog may be drugged, be very careful--a very common effect of tranquilizers is to remove inhibitions and make a dog very unpredictable (because their body language is "off").
After the dog has approached you and seems comfortable with you, casually get up and move away. Does the dog follow you? Can you coax the dog to you? Or does the dog ignore you because they are so interested in their surroundings?
Physical Examination - After the dog seems comfortable with you, carry out the following examination. Be alert to possible discrepancies between what you observe and what you've been told about the dog (for instance, you were told the dog is nine months old, but it has heavily tartared teeth). If the dog resists at any point, back off! This is a pretty intimate examination for a first date--evaluate the type of resistance the dog is displaying. If it is wiggling, squirmy, goose-y evasion, it may just be excitement and/or a little shyness. If it is muscles tensed, lip raised, snarling resistance, this may be a clue to temperament problems. Especially in a shelter situation, remember the dog may be feeling disoriented, frightened, vulnerable, and especially defensive.
Assessing Training and Willingness - Put a collar and leash on the dog. Move around--how well does the dog follow you now that you have a leash on the dog? Tell the dog to sit. Many dogs do not know this command, so if the dog does not obey, gently help them with one hand on the collar and the other hand pressing behind the knees.
Praise! Does the dog seem to be happy with getting your praise? Try varying your voice tone up and down, louder or softer. Does anything you say elicit a tail wag?
Once you have some rapport built up, leave the assessment area (if you can). Let the dog become distracted by something new, then call the dog's name. Does the dog react in any way (including just flicking the ears)? Try a whistle. Note how distractible the dog is and how willing they are to respond to you.
When the dog is facing away from you, toss the toy past them. Note the dog's reaction. A high prey drive dog will either alert (or point) on the toy or lunge after it. Some dogs may ignore it entirely. Some dogs may shy away or cower. Let the dog go over to investigate the toy, and encourage them to pick it up. How easy is it to take the toy away from the dog?
Try to get the dog to bounce and play with you. Make squeaky noises, bounce, do modified play bows. What sort of play does this dog enjoy? Are they very physical. maybe even mouthy, or would this dog prefer to cuddle and be stroked?
Making a Decision - Deciding to accept a rescue dog usually means that you feel that particular dog is adoptable. It isn't unusual for someone new to rescue to accept one or two dogs that, due to health or behavior problems, are not adoptable--the rescuer simply keeps the dog(s). Over time, this is usually not a tenable method--sooner or later, the rescuer cannot keep any more dogs. I am not usually concerned about accepting a dog with a history of house training problems, inappropriate chewing, or jumping up. These problems are generally relatively easy to resolve. A dog that is somewhat shy (takes several minutes to voluntarily approach the evaluator) is usually adoptable. A dog that has chronic health problems or is older can usually be adopted.
The following reasons for not accepting a dog are based on my own personal judgment. Certainly, others may decide differently!
By M. Shirley Chong - Copyright 1994, M. Shirley Chong
The call came in a few minutes ago: there's a dog of "your" breed at the local animal shelter; someone who is about to euthanize their dog was given your name by their vet as an alternative; an older man suffered a stroke and his daughter is trying to find a home for his beloved dog.
You're dismayed, excited, hopeful, and a little fearful--will this be an adoptable dog? You know that there aren't an unlimited number of good homes for your breed; you know that there are some dogs with temperament or health problems such that they probably could never be adopted. The health evaluation should be carried out by your vet; the temperament question is probably up to you.
The following is the evaluation that I use as an initial evaluation of a prospective rescue. It started out based on puppy testing, the only model I had available at the time, and grew with my experience and knowledge. It isn't finished or complete- it is only a rough guide.
You will need to bring a collar, leash, dog toy (preferably a fuzzy one), comb, and toenail clippers with you. Remember that you will need to disinfect anything you use on a strange dog.
History - Write down as much of the dog's medical and behavioral history as is known. Try to get the veterinarian's name and permission to call that vet. Ask about the most common behavioral problems: housetraining problems, inappropriate chewing, jumping up on people, submissive urination, dog aggression, human aggression (find out whether it involved children, adults, or both). In the case of house training problems or chewing, try to determine whether they are manifestations of separation anxiety. Find out about the dog's diet, the amount of exercise they get, and whether or not they are crate trained.Take the history with a grain of salt; consider the source.
In the case of shelter personnel, is it someone who is good with dogs? In the case of an owner who is relinquishing their dog, judge their dog knowledge by asking what actions they took to try to resolve their dog's problems.
Meeting the Dog - If possible, have a chair available in the area you will be evaluating the dog. When the dog is brought in, let the dog greet you. Initial shyness is not a serious problem, if the dog will approach you within 8-10 minutes. Be aware of NOT being dominant--avoid direct eye contact, don't lean or loom over the dog, keep your body language soft and relaxed. Sit down and let the dog approach you. Look at the dog's face--what is it saying to you? Is the dog tense, fearful, dominant, relaxed? If the dog seems extremely relaxed, inappropriately relaxed, be aware of the possibility that the dog may be drugged (rare, but it happens). If you believe the dog may be drugged, be very careful--a very common effect of tranquilizers is to remove inhibitions and make a dog very unpredictable (because their body language is "off").
After the dog has approached you and seems comfortable with you, casually get up and move away. Does the dog follow you? Can you coax the dog to you? Or does the dog ignore you because they are so interested in their surroundings?
Physical Examination - After the dog seems comfortable with you, carry out the following examination. Be alert to possible discrepancies between what you observe and what you've been told about the dog (for instance, you were told the dog is nine months old, but it has heavily tartared teeth). If the dog resists at any point, back off! This is a pretty intimate examination for a first date--evaluate the type of resistance the dog is displaying. If it is wiggling, squirmy, goose-y evasion, it may just be excitement and/or a little shyness. If it is muscles tensed, lip raised, snarling resistance, this may be a clue to temperament problems. Especially in a shelter situation, remember the dog may be feeling disoriented, frightened, vulnerable, and especially defensive.
- Eyes: the pupils should be appropriately dilated or contracted (according to light levels); the pupils should be the same size. Check dilation by using your hand to shade one eye--the other pupil should also react to the change in light level. Note whether there is any milkiness or opacity (possible cataracts).
- Ears: should be clean without an offensive odor. If the ears are reddened, and there is waxy buildup, the dog may have an ear infection or mites. If the dog is extremely worried about your examining their ears, this may be a clue that the dog has had repeated ear infections in the past or is feeling pain in that area.
- Teeth: should be white and sparkling, but probably aren't. Judge the condition of the teeth against the dog's stated age.
- Joints: flex each of the dog's legs and gently squeeze the long bones. Take note of any areas of tenderness and how the dog reacts if you find an ouchy area.
- Muscles: Feel along the dog's neck, shoulders, loin, and hindquarters in a firm, massaging motion. Note any areas of tenderness. Also note the dog's reaction to the massage--does this dog enjoy body contact?
- Feet: examine the feet and nails. Try to clip a toenail--is the dog resistant?
Assessing Training and Willingness - Put a collar and leash on the dog. Move around--how well does the dog follow you now that you have a leash on the dog? Tell the dog to sit. Many dogs do not know this command, so if the dog does not obey, gently help them with one hand on the collar and the other hand pressing behind the knees.
Praise! Does the dog seem to be happy with getting your praise? Try varying your voice tone up and down, louder or softer. Does anything you say elicit a tail wag?
Once you have some rapport built up, leave the assessment area (if you can). Let the dog become distracted by something new, then call the dog's name. Does the dog react in any way (including just flicking the ears)? Try a whistle. Note how distractible the dog is and how willing they are to respond to you.
When the dog is facing away from you, toss the toy past them. Note the dog's reaction. A high prey drive dog will either alert (or point) on the toy or lunge after it. Some dogs may ignore it entirely. Some dogs may shy away or cower. Let the dog go over to investigate the toy, and encourage them to pick it up. How easy is it to take the toy away from the dog?
Try to get the dog to bounce and play with you. Make squeaky noises, bounce, do modified play bows. What sort of play does this dog enjoy? Are they very physical. maybe even mouthy, or would this dog prefer to cuddle and be stroked?
Making a Decision - Deciding to accept a rescue dog usually means that you feel that particular dog is adoptable. It isn't unusual for someone new to rescue to accept one or two dogs that, due to health or behavior problems, are not adoptable--the rescuer simply keeps the dog(s). Over time, this is usually not a tenable method--sooner or later, the rescuer cannot keep any more dogs. I am not usually concerned about accepting a dog with a history of house training problems, inappropriate chewing, or jumping up. These problems are generally relatively easy to resolve. A dog that is somewhat shy (takes several minutes to voluntarily approach the evaluator) is usually adoptable. A dog that has chronic health problems or is older can usually be adopted.
The following reasons for not accepting a dog are based on my own personal judgment. Certainly, others may decide differently!
- Dogs in the end stages of terminal illness. Sometimes an owner can't bear the thought of the dog's impending death or the possibility of euthanasia. They convince themselves that maybe, in a different home, or with a wealthier owner, a cure of the dog's illness or disability will occur.
- Dogs with a history of severe human aggression. If the dog has inflicted a wound on a human being that required sutures, is not usually adoptable for reasons of legal liability.
- Dogs that will not approach the evaluator within 10 minutes. Such a dog will find it very difficult to adjust to a new home (if ever!), not to mention the extreme difficulty in showing this dog to potential adopters.
- Dogs that try to attack the evaluator on sight.
- Dogs whose legal ownership is in question. It would be terrible to place a dog in an adoptive home, then find out later that the legal owner is trying to reclaim the dog.