Support sheltie rescue!

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lovemyshelties

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My husband and I adopted a sweet male sheltie in February 2009 and named him Bentley. Someone gave him up when he was just 1.5 years old. He is now 4 years old and a joy to be around. We rescued another sheltie in January 2011 and named him Murphy. This little guy is around 5 or 6 years old (he came with no papers or birth date from the so called "breeder") and just melts your heart. Murphy is smart (aren't all shelties?), gentle, and a real cuddle bug.

Puppies are cute too. We got our blue merle Zoey at 8 weeks. Her mom was a double merle and unfortunately we are dealing with some problems with Zoey that a behaviorist told us are genetic in nature. With lots of love, understanding, patience, and now medication, Zoey is coming around.

My point? Rescue dogs are not "rejects" and puppies from breeders are not always what you hoped for.
 
I couldn't agree more....both of my babies are rescue shelties and the sweetest, most loving and well behaved precious ones that you could ask for! I will only adopt rescue shelties, and we proudly support our local sheltie rescue - Southland Sheltie Rescue, California. Asking all sheltie lovers out there to support their local sheltie rescues as well!!

___________________________________
Rob
Katie - 14 y/o "Diva" tri
Laddie - 5 y/o One Eyed Cookie Thief & Casanova sable
 
I'm with you guys! Our Bela came to us from Sheltie Rescue of Georgia. I'm looking around different rescues in our region right now for another younger, peppier dog to join our pack and stir Bela up a little.

Nuthin' wrong with Bela - some behavioral stuff related to lack of socialization, but it's a challenge and a joy to work on with her - she blossoms daily and gets a little more confidence.
 
I would love to adopt but some rescue have a strict policy which make my family not eligible to adopt. I understand why they need one to ensure a good placement but some requirements are too much.
 
Living in an apartment, local sheltie rescue won't adopt to me (no yard/no fence rule...). I know some rescues will, but that depends on where you live and the dog. I even filled out a volunteer form (from emergency foster to transport) to never hear anything. I know that my area isn't as needy for volunteers as other places, but I wish I could help all the needy shelties I read about in other states cause there are so many of them :(

I just troll sheltie rescue websites from OH, IL, TX, etc and donate via paypal to help out when I can.

So just because I got Gavin from a breeder doesn't mean I don't support rescue or wouldn't be willing to adopt that way. Some people jump to conclusions about that, which is sad. Maybe one day I can afford a house here (not likely) or will move somewhere else where I can have a house with a yard and can adopt.
 
9Benua said:
I would love to adopt but some rescue have a strict policy which make my family not eligible to adopt. I understand why they need one to ensure a good placement but some requirements are too much.
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There is an interesting (and sad) phenomenon of rescues and shelters "cutting off the nose to spite the face" when it comes to selecting homes. Here's an interesting Nathan Winograd article on the subject. While the problem is more immediate in shelters (where animals are in an adopt-or-die position), it's still an issue for breed rescues: rescue resources (foster homes, vet funds, etc.) are limited, and super-strict adoption policies mean that pets stay in foster care longer and that there are fewer resources to go towards helping new intakes. It also - yes - turns potential adopters off of rescue ("We have lots of dog experience and so much to offer a pet, but we don't have a fenced-in yard, so we're rejected?").

Which is all to say that rescues need to critically evaluate their policies and procedures to figure out what's working and what isn't. Some aspects of the program may be functioning just fine, but others might need some research and improvement.
 
tofu pup said:
There is an interesting (and sad) phenomenon of rescues and shelters "cutting off the nose to spite the face" when it comes to selecting homes. Here's an interesting Nathan Winograd article on the subject. While the problem is more immediate in shelters (where animals are in an adopt-or-die position), it's still an issue for breed rescues: rescue resources (foster homes, vet funds, etc.) are limited, and super-strict adoption policies mean that pets stay in foster care longer and that there are fewer resources to go towards helping new intakes. It also - yes - turns potential adopters off of rescue ("We have lots of dog experience and so much to offer a pet, but we don't have a fenced-in yard, so we're rejected?").

Which is all to say that rescues need to critically evaluate their policies and procedures to figure out what's working and what isn't. Some aspects of the program may be functioning just fine, but others might need some research and improvement.
Click to expand...

I too don't like how the deciding factor comes down to whether or not you have a yard or not. I find that those with back yards, the dogs actually tend to get LESS exercise. Because people think 'exercising' the dog is letting them go out in to the back yard for a couple of hours on their own and that's all the socialization they need. People living in condos and apartments I find have to be more physically active with their pets by taking them out every single day and is actually more beneficial for the pet in the end. Atleast that's how I see it over here. We have tons of people out every single time of the day. It's great to see all the dogs get some walking. On the residential roads, I see dogs barking at us from behind the fence and no owner in sight. After a two hour play time at the park and heading back home, I cross by the same fence and the dogs still there. Alone. Meh, makes you think twice. A YARD doesn't really mean anything really. Definitely something rescues should think about, those that make it a deciding factor.
 
I actually had a relative tell me I should apply from my Mother's home (with a huge yard and fence in another state with a decent amount of rescue shelties) because she'd be more likely to be approved and then just take the dog with me to CA.

Besides the dishonesty factor (which is a big thing to me), the whole idea I find ridiculous. I do understand that rescues put a lot of time, money, and love into their dogs and want the best homes for them. It is easier/quicker/etc to just not consider people who aren't perfect than for volunteers to spend a lot of time doing home checks on all the people who are less than perfect and where 50% or more might not pass muster. I just wish there was a "happy medium".

Maybe I can win the lottery, buy a $500,000-$700,000 house with a yard here (that is what it would cost, seriously, for a small house with a yard here in a neighborhood where I would feel safe walking my dog at night), and get a rescue sheltie. never give up hope!
 
tofu pup said:
There is an interesting (and sad) phenomenon of rescues and shelters "cutting off the nose to spite the face" when it comes to selecting homes. Here's an interesting Nathan Winograd article on the subject. While the problem is more immediate in shelters (where animals are in an adopt-or-die position), it's still an issue for breed rescues: rescue resources (foster homes, vet funds, etc.) are limited, and super-strict adoption policies mean that pets stay in foster care longer and that there are fewer resources to go towards helping new intakes. It also - yes - turns potential adopters off of rescue ("We have lots of dog experience and so much to offer a pet, but we don't have a fenced-in yard, so we're rejected?").

Which is all to say that rescues need to critically evaluate their policies and procedures to figure out what's working and what isn't. Some aspects of the program may be functioning just fine, but others might need some research and improvement.
Click to expand...
I too belong to group of unadoptable houses... thank you for posting this article, GREAT discussion, this policy "lets rather kill animal than adopt it to people" fits well with HSUS positions, although it is unclear to me why shelters will operate under HSUS rules?
I would love to help our local sheltie rescue but except monetary I can never hope to be of help. Not only I have no fence but I also don't like to live by yesterdays science so all those "yearly vaccination for everything under the sun" protocols hmm... not exactly is the rule in my house and my dogs are out so much the they really don't need bordetella shots because they are constantly exposed to it and I refuse to ruin health of my dogs by neutering them at 4 weeks old/ sacrasm here/...
I greatly respect and support with donation our IL rescue which moves tons of dogs, am always suprised how looong other states keep their pups on their websites... but we will probably never see eye to eye on some things:sadsmile:
 
If I go by the "have you got a yard or not?" rule I would never get any of the rescued shelties adopted out! :lol: It'll take forever because 80% here live in apartments!

I take a more flexible approach. All I truly care about is how committed the family is to caring and loving the dog and whether it will be a part of the family. Everything else I can teach, help or make better. First time owner? Just need to be willing to learn! Apartment, no yard? Just walk the dog morning and evening and take the dog out on weekends.

I wouldn't adopt out a sheltie to a family with a huge fenced in yard, and a maid to clean up after the dog if the family doesn't pass the "committed + part of the family" part.
 
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