Thread: rescue yorkies
View Single Post
Old 03-18-2006, 04:35 PM   #29
livingdustmops
Princess Poop A Lot
Donating Member
 
livingdustmops's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 6,728
Default

Wow, I am pretty surprised at some of the remarks here but I will try to do my best to give answers from a rescuer's view point and this is only my opinion from my experiences.

A reputable rescue’s first priority is the dogs and not the humans. Many of these little ones come from very damaging circumstances and have been beaten; kicked, starved and just ignored (which is really cruel to a Yorkie). Our first priority is to make them well and for the most part this is out of our own pockets and the bill can run into the thousands of dollars. If the money doesn’t come from our pockets then we are putting on fund-raiser to raise money so we can keep the rescue going – either way it is either a lot of money or a lot of time we donate to save a few of these precious Yorkies. Rescue organizations do not receive funds from the state or even city funds like shelters do. A large % of people who are in rescue have full-time jobs and so a large part of our weekends are rescuing dogs, adopting dogs, training the dogs, socializing the dogs, running to the vets, washing dogs, walking dogs, feeding dogs. Some rescue’s cannot afford to do any of this but they give of their hearts and time pulling dogs out of pounds or awful situations and try to find new homes. They just can’t sit back and do nothing while millions of animals are put down every year.
I wish it were simple, that one could simply take in a dog and find it a home quickly. It isn't. The dogs that come in enter the rescue with a variety of issues from behavioral to medical, and all issues must be addressed before they can be placed. The new intake is taken to the vet for evaluation and necessary treatments are begun, and further appointments are made. Many if not most of the rescues need dentals and extractions of infected teeth, nail clips, treatment for a variety of problems from tick fever to glaucoma and occasionally surgeries to correct illnesses like LP which costs thousands of dollars.
Some of the rescues are social and some are not. Each dog is treated individually, concentrating on the dog's positive traits, and working on the negative ones, to overcome problems, some which are behavioral from neglect, abuse or a lifetime of struggle.
Some dogs come in eating everything, some refuse all food, some were spoiled, others were harmed, some are filthy, tick covered and matted, some are frightened, some are delighted at the change and some cry for several days for the very people who brought them in. All of them soon begin the road to their new life and the beginning of adjusting to change.
Once dentals have been performed, and dogs have had all inoculations, been neutered and micro chipped, licensed, (how much do you think this costs? Even with our vet giving discounts we spent an average of $400 per dog for the basics – over $2000 for medical surgeries) behavioral modification training begins. The dogs are taught to walk on a leash, to ride in carriers, slings, bags and travel bags, to behave in public and to value themselves and their worth. Each rescue has a story. Each is a beloved creature and each deserved a chance at a loving, caring home with someone who desires to spend much needed time with them.
One reason rescue is so strict is because of the following statistics.
•Only 38% of all dogs and cats will remain in their first home for their entire lives.
•Nationally, over 50% of all adopted animals are no longer in their adoptive home after just the first year.

We work very hard to find a forever home for our rescue’s and because of experiences that have happened to Yorkies we will not adopt to families with large dogs (to many Yorkies have been killed by large dogs), small children (broken bones or the dogs bites the children – did you know the rescue could be sued if the dog bit a child in the new home?) or people who work all day unless they can guarantee someone will come into the home during the day. We ask for fenced yards and fences around pools (many Yorkies have drown). Are we flexible with our rules? Sometimes we are, if the potential adopter can give us reasons why we should consider them. We are not going to take the chance after all the work and love we have put into these little ones to have anything happen to them again or their hearts broken again. We also have an age where people are too old and we don’t want these little ones abandon again when their owner dies. Remember, every choice we have to make is for the dog and not the human. Yes we ask personal questions because we are the caregiver of these animals and somewhere in this mix we feel that we have the right to guarantee them or at least attempt to give them a happy, loving home. When people get upset with these questions then we know immediately they are not meant to have a rescue as they will never understand these little ones have souls and are not to be treated as a possession.

Many people think rescues should be a cheap way to get a dog and that probably is the cruelest thing of all. These little ones didn’t ask to be bought by someone who really didn’t give a tinkers dam about them and threw them away when the medical bills were to much, or they were to busy or they couldn’t housetrain them. When a person adopts a rescue they are taking on more than just a cute dog, they are taking on a little one who needs love protection, food and a warm home. For those that adopt a rescue they get it – they understand that these little ones might have issues and might have higher medical bills but these people have a soul and see past all of these faults and do it because they know they are needed. They are our angels on earth and if you ask most people who have rescued one dog and bought the other dog – there is a very special place in their hearts for the rescued dog. My hat is off to each and every YT member who has ever adopted a rescue and had their hearts touched by these animals.

For those of you who care and want to help but can’t do the rescue work – donate some of your time at your local shelter or write a check to a Yorkie rescue for $10.00 or your local shelter. Buy a bag of dog food for your local rescue organizations as every bit helps. if you are interested in a rescue you can go to www.petfinder.com. but understand a Yorkie is not for every home.
__________________
Cindy & The Rescued Gang
Puppies Are Not Products!
livingdustmops is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!