Adopting from a Rescue

This week brings to mind expectations surrounding adopting a dog. When a family or person is ready for a dog to enter their life there are so many things to consider and its very important to evaluate your thoughts and beliefs about adopting from a rescue. Perhaps you could write down your expectations on a piece of paper and go over them as a family. Why do you want to adopt a dog? Its a big decision and often people get disapointed when their new family member arrives and pisses on their wall or acts aloof or barks too much. Its important to know exactly where the line in the sand will be drawn. What can you deal with and what are you not capable of dealing with? The "entire" family needs to agree upon challenges they are able to endure.
Don't get me wrong...not all rescue dogs have major issues and some are so perfectly behaved that people cant possible imagine how the dog ended up in a shelter. So many dogs end up in pounds/shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dog. Here are just a few examples of reasons dogs are surrendered. 1) I had no idea the dog would be so big once he grew up and we can't deal with such a large dog.
2) I have to move and can't find a place that allows dogs.
3) My husband/wife split up and I can no longer care for the dog.
4) I didn't realize I was allergic to dogs.
5) I had a baby and have no time for the dog.
6) The dog wont listen to me and is destroying my home (usually a young dog that was never exercised and shown no boundaries but expected to behave).

Some of these reasons are legitimate and most are just reasons to get rid of the dog because they were never committed in the first place. Rescue dogs are often bounced around then end up in stressful shelters surrounded by the constand sound of barking. I have sat inside a dog kennel for a full five minutes to see how it felt and although dogs don't reason the way we do, they have a multiple array of emotions and a shelter is a terrifying place to be. I say most because some dogs in there spent their life on a chain and happened to get free one day to find him/herself with shelter,regular meals and reassuring pats and words from the workers. For these dogs...life got better. My short visit inside a kennel made me feel a sense of doom and despair. Listening to the panicked voices of dogs barking around me was enough for panic to set in.

Many of our rescue dogs are pulled out of shelters and the rest come from owner surrenders. The dogs are evaluated for temperment to see if they are good with other dogs, how are they around their food dish, are they fearful of men women, do they guard their resources etc.  Most rescues can determine the basics of the dog's demeanor. However, we can not ask the dogs what their past has been like, what scares them etc. We probably wouldnt want to hear what they have had to endure but it would give us a great deal of insight. We can guess by a sudden drop to the floor when we have an object in our hand that someone was mean or hit them in their past but its all time and patience to find out more. Next step is sending them into foster homes and the fosters do their best to discover more of the dog's likes and dislikes. Once we understand the needs of the dog we try our best to match them to a loving home. I say it over and over and over again to potential adopters. Time and patience is the key. Many of these dogs need to learn to trust again. Their trust was broken and you need to earn it back.

Some dogs are more resilient and bounce back as soon as some love and guidance is given, other dogs didn't have many obstacles to overcome. Yes, they miss their owners but were loved and are pretty confident and stable. Then there are the abused dogs, neglected dogs, dogs that were passed around from person to person with different experiences in each home. If you adopt one of these dogs, a gentle touch and lots of reassurance is the key. You can't take a rescued dog home and start with firm rules and try to get them to learn all the rules of the home immediately. Its too much for them to deal with in the beginning. Let them be themselves; gentle corrections with positive reinforcement is required. A bond has to be developed first. Trust, trust , trust...This is where your previous expectations come into play. Evaluate what you expected and ask yourself if it is a reasonable expectation.

Having said that some dogs will take over your home if firm boundaries are not in place so again its important to know as much about the dog as possible. Our rescue always tells as much information as possible and want successful adoptions so we are always here as a resource should anyone need input and suggestions. Please don't just give up on them...that's what everyone else in their past did. 

Dogs are a commitment requiring time and patience...in return an endless amount of dedication, loyalty and cherished moments to last a lifetime.