The Zoomies

When adopting from a rescue, there are certain things that a potential adopter expects from the rescue. They want to know that the dog has been evaluated for any behavioral or health problems, and they expect that the rescue is being honest about the dog’s age, temperament, and any special needs. People adopt from rescues, expecting that the rescue will be supportive and helpful during the adoption process. They expect the rescue to be extremely knowledgeable about their breed (if it is a breed-specific rescue), and generally knowledgeable about various breeds and types (if handling a variety of dogs in their organization). People expect that rescues are doing a good thing for dogs in general, breeds in specific, and are making a difference in the homeless pet population.

These basic expectations are what I use to help define what I believe makes a rescue truly “responsible”. Unfortunately, there are “rescues” whose practices don’t fulfill these expectations and do damage to other rescues or shelter organizations, and to the homeless pet population as a whole, through their poor practices. Hopefully this list will help you determine how to find and define responsible rescues and how to avoid those who are not.

Dog Day at Shea by jrubinic

They take the time to get to know the dogs in their care

One of the reasons why I believe rescues are such a great source when looking to adopt a pet is the fact that they get to know the dogs in their care. They keep them in foster homes, where they interact with other animals and people, and learn their general behaviors. They make sure they don’t have any behavioral or temperament issues that could be a problem. This way, before you bring a dog into your home, you have the opportunity to learn more about them, and know whether or not they would fit into your lifestyle. When looking to adopt, a rescue can give you advice on whether or not what you are looking for in a dog fits the qualities that one of their dogs possesses. You want to be able to trust that the rescue’s analysis of their dogs is as thorough as possible, and that the dog you are getting is what is advertised. Of course, a rescue won’t know exactly how a dog will act in a new home, but they should get at least a general idea of their temperament and behavioral needs. This type of analysis cannot be done in a short period of time, and a responsible rescue should keep a dog in their care for at least two weeks (some believe that at least a month is necessary) to get to know them. Responsible rescues should be looking to make sure their dogs find the best match, so that they can ensure life-long and happy homes. They should also only be adopting out dogs that are sound, and not put them into situations where they won’t work well (such as in a home with small children if they are fearful, or cats if they have a high prey drive). Good matchmaking is an important part of rescuing, and getting to know the pets in their care is a vital part of making this happen.

Vet care/spaying and neutering occur before adoption

Another benefit of adopting from a rescue is being sure that the dogs are healthy, and you can feel confident bringing them into a home with another dog without worrying about transmitting illnesses. Dogs can get sick when living in the kennel environment, and a benefit of going through the rescue system is giving the dogs recovery time away from other dogs. A responsible rescue will have every dog see a vet for a basic analysis and to receive necessary shots. They will make sure every dog is spayed or neutered before leaving their care, and not rely on contracts or promises. This is important in making sure their dogs will not be used for breeding on purpose or by accident, and therefore adding to the dog overpopulation problem. Ask the rescue for the dog’s vet records. Not only will this ensure that they did get a proper veterinary analysis, you will also have record of what shots they need for their next yearly appointment.

Happy Logan

They provide a support system

A responsible rescue will provide a support system for those who adopt a dog from them. An important aspect that makes a rescue so beneficial to animals, and the pet population, is their dedication to making sure any animals that have gone through their system will never be homeless again. To ensure this, they want to make sure the relationship of home and dog is harmonious. If the new owner is frustrated because of behavioral issues, or feels like their relationship isn’t going well, it is important for the rescue to be there to give them advice and connect them with good trainers. A rescue should never make a home feel bad if the situation just isn’t right for the dog, or adopters. They also shouldn’t be quick to giving up on the adoption if what is really needed is time to adjust. This can be a difficult balance to achieve, but experienced rescuers can often feel out the situation to know what will be best. What is most important is that they are there for the new home, to discuss options and give personal and experienced advice. Feel free to ask a rescue what their policies are for new adoptions. Do they always want you to stay in contact? Is there an adoption trial period? What should you do if you need any help with your new dog? A responsible rescue should be happy to answer your questions and reassure you of what their policies are for any situation.

Moksi & Babette Portrait by thatsplenty

They have Breed Knowledge

A breed specific rescue can be a great resource when looking to adopt a purebred dog. Their network of foster homes and volunteers all come together because of a passion for a specific breed of dog, and they have a cumulative knowledge and experience aimed at helping their dogs find appropriate homes. I know that I often look to breed specific rescues for information about the breed’s history, behaviors, and issues, and expect that they can be a helpful resource. It is important for a rescue dedicated to one breed to find homes that are appropriate for them. They should be looking out for more than just the one dog needing a home, but also for the whole breed. They have the responsibility of adopting out dogs that represent the breed well, without temperament or behavioral problems that could damage the breed’s reputation. They should also be sure to find homes that fit the specific needs of those dogs: those who can show off and nurture their best qualities. All-breed rescues should also have a general knowledge of breeds, and know how to find appropriate homes for dogs of that breed or mix. I know that many all-breed rescue volunteers, when taking in a purebred dog that they may not know much about, take the time to do research on their breed for any specific traits that are important in finding them a perfect home. I really admire those who go through the trouble to look out for the best interest of the dog. I think it is a quality of a responsible rescue to do so, for the long-term benefit of the dog, and for the adopters. When looking at a breed-specific rescue’s website (if they have one), see if you can find information about the breed, and what type of home is necessary for adopting those dogs. For an all-breed rescue, look into their descriptions of adoptable dogs, and see if there is any mention of specific traits that dogs of that breed may possess. Of course, not all of this will necessarily be on a website, so speaking with the volunteers or foster homes will give you a better idea of their understanding and knowledge, which hopefully they will be happy to share with you.

They have good relationships with others in their area

Although a lot of drama can occur between rescues, or between rescues and shelters, I feel that a responsible rescue will often have a good reputation within their community. They should be open to networking with other responsible rescues, and have a good relationship with local shelters. I don’t expect everyone to agree with every rescue’s practices, but a responsible rescue should have a positive reputation based on ethical practices and good relationships with past adopters. If you have any question regarding the reputation of a rescue and their practices, ask a local shelter or rescue. You can also ask an online rescue community like UCare Rescue for feedback from the experienced members. You will have to take everything in and make a final decision for yourself, but sometimes speaking with others can help draw attention to things out that you may have not noticed before.

Overall, I believe that a responsible rescue makes a positive impact for individual dogs, specific breeds, and for the dog population in general. They do this through finding the right homes, for the right dogs. They are always looking out for the best interest of the dogs, and for those who adopt them. The amount of time, money, emotion, and effort that is required in accomplishing all this is no easy task, and I greatly admire all that they do. I hope that what they have given can be returned back ten fold, and that their actions can inspire others to do the same.

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Once you find a litter that you like, how do you choose which puppy to take home? A responsible breeder will most likely match a puppy with you, but if you were adopting from a shelter or rescue, they will often have a whole litter to choose from. It can be tempting to go with the smallest, the sweetest, or the color you like most, but there is a better way to choose that will help you find a confident and solid puppy that can easily fit into your life. First things first, make sure the puppy looks healthy. Are his eyes bright and nose clear of discharge? Does he appear to be listless or is he bouncy and excited? Ask the shelter what medical exams and shots the puppies already have, and if they have been de-wormed. If the puppies appear to be healthy, and the shelter has told you that they are up to date with all vet care, now you can go into more detail in choosing the best puppy for you.

Photo by Close to Spectacular

The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test is well known for being a great way to evaluate puppies. In summary, the qualities you are looking for are:

Social Attraction: How does the puppy react when you call him to you? Is he happy to come to you or is he afraid? This measures his confidence and level of social attraction.

Following: What does the puppy do when you walk away from him? Does he want to be with you or is he hesitant? This measures their following attraction, and independence.

Restraint: How does the puppy act when you gently roll him on his back for 30 seconds? Will he struggle, settle, or show eye contact? This is used to measure his degree of dominant or submissive tendency and how he handles stress when socially or physically dominated.

Social Dominance: What is the puppy’s reaction when you gently stroke him from head to back? When he shows a reaction, does he cuddle, squirm, or jump? This shows the puppy’s acceptance of social dominance.

Elevation Dominance: If you cradle the puppy with your fingers interlaced under his belly and lift him off the ground for 30 seconds, how does he react? Will he struggle or relax into your hands? This test shows his degree of accepting when he is in a position of no control.

The test chart shows how to grade each reaction, and the summary will give you insight into the type of puppy he is and what type of owner will be the best fit.

Puppy Solitaire by tigerzeye

The second set of tests for the VPAT gives some more detail for that particular puppy’s strengths.

Retrieving: After attracting the attention of the puppy with a crumpled up paper ball, throw it a short distance in front of him and gauge his reaction. Will he chase it? Will he bring it back to you or run away? This test will show his willingness to work with humans.

Touch Sensitivity: Press the webbing of a front paw lightly between your thumb and forefinger, and then more firmly until you get a reaction, while counting slowly to 10. How long does it take before he shows a reaction? This measures his degree of sensitivity to touch.

Sound Sensitivity: After placing the puppy in the center of the room, have someone make a loud sharp noise (like a spoon on a metal pan) a few feet away from the puppy. What is his reaction to the noise? Does he locate the sound? Does he bark and move towards or away from it? This measures his degree of sensitivity to sound, and can be an indication of deafness.

Sight Sensitivity: After placing the puppy in the center of the room, take a towel tied to a string and jerk it across the floor, a few feet away from the puppy. Does he bark at it or run away? Does it interest or scare him? This will test his degree of intelligent response to a strange object.

Structure: Place the puppy gently in a natural stance and evaluate his structure with the provided chart. Good structural soundness indicates a dog that will be able to be more active, and work and play without issues caused by poor conformation.

Here is the chart that you can use to grade your puppy in his reactions to the various tests: Working Dogs

Using these tests can help give you an indication of the type of puppy you are looking at, however, it is always important to get him started in obedience training and have him well socialized, in order to raise him to be an all around happy and healthy adult dog.