Finding dogs 'a forever home'

Martha Alexander's dachshunds sleep next to her in bed on down-filled pillows. So, when a local dachshund-breed rescue group turned down her application to adopt one of its animals because she used to allow her greyhound to run free in her front yard, she was miffed.

"Who are these people accountable to? They are God over these dogs. I have a lot of appreciation for what these people are taking on, but don't put it on your Web site if you're going to turn people down like us."

By many accounts, breed rescue groups are a dedicated, vital network of volunteers in the fight against pet overpopulation. They nurse dogs back from the brink of death, pay for veterinary care out of their pockets and board them, sometimes for months in foster homes, kennels or their own homes, until they can be adopted.

Perhaps, then, it should be no surprise that adopting from a breed rescue group requires far more than simply handing over a check.

Most require a home visit or a satisfactory vet history if the potential adopter has other pets. Many require a signed contract prohibiting the dog from being a strictly outside animal or passed to someone else without the group's permission.

Those who seek a dog for breeding or who strain at leash requirements need not apply.

The groups make no apologies for their requirements.

"It's not fair to move a dog to three or four homes. We want it to be done right for the last time. People do complain because it's like adopting a child," said Vickey Willard, coordinator at Houston Collie Rescue. "Our main thing is, they have already had a life living in the backyard. That's why it's in a shelter."

Troops of volunteers

Breed rescue groups do not have tax-dollar support or brand-name recognition like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Humane Society. They are volunteers who have enlisted in the war against pet neglect, abuse and abandonment. For some, that passion mushrooms into a nearly full-time job.

Cocker Spaniel Rescue of East Texas, for instance, started about 15 years ago with one woman trying to place one dog. Last year the group adopted out 242 dogs.

Many groups operate largely through Web sites showing cuddly and fuzzy faces in need of homes. The sites sometimes shout out for more foster homes and money. They also include adoption information and pose questions about how a dog will be disciplined, how often it will be exercised or how many hours it will be left alone. They warn potential owners about the breed's temperament and grooming requirements.

Rescue work also involves rehabilitating dogs that have been injured and sometimes long-term care of animals that cannot be adopted because of age or ailments.

Heartbreaking stories

After four years as a volunteer with Dachshund Rescue of Houston, Ron Pearson can tell any number of heartbreaking stories, ones involving dogs nearly starved or suffering from horrible cases of mange.

He recalls one dog that lost an eye and had its hind legs ripped off in a dogfighting operation. Pearson drove a 600-mile round trip to take the dog to a private sanctuary after its rehabilitation.

Many rescue groups raise money by selling cookies and T-shirts, holding garage sales and doing walks, said Guinnette Peebles, president of the Texas Animal Release and Placement Alliance and coordinator of Poodle Rescue of Houston.

After being turned down by Dachshund Rescue of Houston, Alexander bought a dachshund from a breeder. But the experience left her wondering whether more dogs could be out of kennels and foster homes if the rules weren't so restrictive.

'Big roadblock'

When dog owner Christina Porreca's lost dog was found and later turned in to a golden retriever group, she felt the group's members judged her lacking as a pet owner because her dog got loose and didn't have tags or a microchip to aid in its identification.

"It didn't feel good, and I didn't appreciate it," Porreca said. "It was like a big roadblock. It was like if your dog is lost you're not a good owner; too bad for you. I have mixed feelings about them."

Kent Robertson, director of the city's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, does not find the groups' demands unreasonable.

"They are wanting to put criteria in place so that the animal doesn't suffer or doesn't end up back in a shelter," Robertson said.

In fact, he said, BARC plans to initiate its own adoption questionnaire to identify possible red flags.

The Houston Humane Society does vet checks and calls landlords to make sure those wanting to adopt can have pets. Home visits are an option.

Spokeswoman Courtney Frank said her mother, whom she describes as a great dog owner, was turned down by an out-of-state greyhound group because it thought the electric fencing in her yard wouldn't keep the quick dog in.

"If they seem picky, it might be they know something about that breed that it needs," Frank said. "Certain breeds do have some restrictions. It's all in the spirit of finding a forever home."

Right dog, right family

About 61 groups are members of TARPA, a group that certifies organizations that meet certain standards for maintaining and placing rescued animals.

"When breed rescue (groups) screen, we want to know if you have proper fencing," Peebles said. "Can they afford grooming needs? Do they have small children? We're in a better position to match the right dog with the right family."

Pearson, of Dachshund Rescue of Houston, estimated the group turns down 10 percent to 15 percent of applicants. He usually doesn't try to explain why.

"We're not in it for the people. We're in it for the dogs," he said.

Reference: http://chron.com

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