Breed rescue groups look for dog-lovers

Among friends, Salt Laker Anne Dolowitz is known for an eclectic taste in the arts. When it comes to dogs, Dolowitz is strictly a standard poodle person.

"I love the personality. They have a sense of humor," she says.

But she never would buy one.

"My husband [Sandy] and I have gotten our dogs from poodle rescue groups. We believe in going with what already is out there," she says.

People often are surprised to learn many of the dogs "out there" in shelters are purebred, with hundreds of rescue groups nationwide mobilized to find permanent homes for the animals.

"At any one time, about a quarter of our shelter dogs are purebreds," says Temma Martin, Salt Lake County Animal Service spokeswoman.

That is why she and Cheryl Smith, executive director of Utah Animal Adoption Center (formerly Wasatch Humane), are high on breed rescue groups.

"They are volunteers who love their breeds. When we get a purebred, we try to alert the breed rescue group. Many make routine checks with shelters. Most have no facilities, so they place the dogs with 'foster' families until they can find permanent homes," Smith says, adding, "It takes some purebreds out of shelter populations, giving more time for other dogs to be adopted." While shelter staffs attempt to identify the breed or breeds of every dog, it can be hit and miss.

 "Sometimes we don't recognize a breed if it is rare in this area," Martin says.

Take Sandy Martin's late beloved Olivia, a Portuguese water dog, adopted from the Salt Lake County shelter as a "Lhasa apso-cockapoo." It was not until the duo went to puppy school that Martin discovered Olivia's true birthright.

"No one was more surprised than I when a woman asked, 'Where did you get your 'porty?' " Martin says.

"I didn't know what a 'porty' was."

Mary Harkins, national coordinator of "porty" rescue and relocation, says, "There are not that many Portuguese water dogs in need of rescue because it is not that common a breed. But we are a national organization and place rescue dogs all over the country."

Most rescues are adult dogs. There is typically a standard donation fee ranging from $150 to $350, which pays for shots, veterinarian checks, heart worm tests, spay and neutering.

The advantage to getting a purebred dog is that you can have a general idea of what to expect in size, breed specifics and temperament. But, experts warn, you have to do your homework. Not every breed will fit your family or lifestyle, and individual dogs within a breed vary.

Breed rescue groups obviously know their dogs. And they are fussy about who adopts the dogs.

Utah Friends of Basset Hounds, for example, requires a fenced yard with a lock.

"Bassets are scent hounds. They are notorious for following their noses somewhere and not finding the way home. And, they may be short, but they are not small dogs," says adoption manager Peggy Chudd, who adds, "They howl, too."

Martin and Smith know that people who love dogs have trouble walking though a shelter without wanting to take every dog home. But the best dog owners are the ones who know what they are getting. Those who don't do their homework may end up dumping their dogs at a shelter.

Labrador retrievers, for example, with their highly energetic nature and long puppyhood, make up a large part of shelter populations. Rescue groups are hard pressed to find enough foster families.

"Usually people give up on an active Lab between 9 months and 2 years old," says Barbi Carroll, with Utah Labrador Rescue.

On the other end of the activity scale is the retired greyhound racer, often found in local shelters.

"People think that greyhounds are hyper and take up a lot of room," says Michael Chandler, co-founder of Greyhound Rescue Adoption Utah Chapter. "But they are 'Velcro' dogs who attach themselves to you when they are not asleep on the couch."

Reference: www.sltrib.com

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