In a recent case, a dog entered rescue from a shelter after being turned in by the owner's estranged boyfriend. The woman traced the dog to the shelter and then to the rescue group, but she did not get her dog back until she spent several weeks in negotiation with the group and agreed to abide by rules for exercise and veterinary visits. What to expect from a rescue group Actually, selecting a rescue organization as a source for an adult dog is somewhat like selecting a breeder for a puppy. Although genetic screening is not an issue because the dog is generally of unknown parentage, the rescue should have a clean facility, the dogs should be fit and friendly, the adoption process should be reasonable, and the rescuer should be willing to give references such as a veterinarian or a previous adopter or two. Rescue dogs should always be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and at least relatively healthy before purchase.
Good rescuers try to match each applicant with an appropriate dog.
They know if a particular dog likes kids, can get along with other pets, needs lots of exercise, plays rough, is easy to train, is afraid of men, jumps fences, etc. They cannot make a good match if they don't ask questions about the type of home the adopter will provide. So be prepared for . . . Many rescue groups send out an application to be returned before a potential adopter even sees the dogs. Some rescuers visit the applicant's home and check his references before inviting him to see the dogs.