Are You Ready to Rescue?
This is a life-changing decision
for your family & future dog.
Is it the right time to adopt?
Adopting a pet is a major commitment that should not be entered into lightly. On average, dogs can live between 12-15 years or longer. Please make sure you are ready to make that commitment for the entirety of your future dog’s life. Make sure it is the right time in YOUR life for a pet.
We remind you, we are in the business of rehabilitating animals, not prioritizing human preferences or expectations in their new pet. We are NOT an adoption center, we are a rescue which means we are looking for homes to RESTORE these animals. While we do take into consideration your preferences, we can only place dogs into homes that make saving a dog's life their top priority.
Have you done your homework?
Do you know what type of dog would best suit your lifestyle? Have you read about things like about housebreaking, training, behavioral problems? Are you aware of the daily care necessary? Can you see yourself owning a dog for the next 12-15 years? Most dogs live 12-15 years, are you prepared to make this kind of commitment?
Do you understand decompression and the 3-3-3 rule?
Decompression
Shelters, temporary boarding facilities, and transportation vans can be a sensory overload for a dog who has been surrendered or found as a stray. Upon leaving this environment, your dog may have a nervous or scared energy when they arrive. Your job will be to provide your new dog with a quiet, comfortable “safe space” for them to call their own to help them unwind. You, the adopter or foster, must have patience and understanding that your dog will need time to acclimate to their new environment. No dog is perfect and each dog requires a unique amount of time. We will never fully understand our dog’s trauma but must approach them with love, encouragement, and respect. You must hold a “rescue mindset” and remain committed to your dog’s healing and decompression time. If you have other pets in your home, it may be an exciting time to get everyone acquainted right away, but this can be overwhelming for a new dog. Start slow and do not let your pets interact unsupervised until a relationship has developed.
3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months
In the first 3 days, your new dog will seem overwhelmed in their new surroundings and not feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Do not be alarmed if they do not eat initially since this is a stress response.
After 3 weeks, they will start to settle in, feel more comfortable, and realize this may be their potential forever home. They understand their environment and routines you’ve helped establish. This is when their true personality will start to emerge!
After 3 months, your dog will feel completely comfortable and themselves in your home. They will develop trust with you and a complete sense of security. They should have their routines fully dialed with you and will feel like they have found their forever home.
Do you travel frequently?
What do you plan to do with your pet when you travel? If you travel extensively, boarding and pet sitting can be costly. Do you have a neighbor, friend, or family member that can help?
Do you have the time to devote to a new dog?
Do you work long hours? You returning home will be the highlight of their day. How do you plan to exercise your pet before and after work? Will you have the time and patience to train your dog? Will you and your dog get daily quality time together?
Do you already have pets?
Are you sure your current pets will tolerate a new pet in the home? Have you considered the well-being of your current pets as your first priority? If you already have animals, have you checked to ensure that adding another animal will not violate your city limits or be in violation of any regulations of where you live?
Does everyone in your home want a new dog?
Your future dog will be a family member and everyone needs to welcome him/her into your home. Be sure everyone agrees not only on getting a pet but on which pet to make part of the family. Let everyone in the family have a say on your future dog before deciding to adopt. We cannot promise behavior, demeanor, energy levels, relationships with children, other pets, training, etc. because there are too many factors out of our control that must be managed by the homes they enter.
Please be sure you are ready to adopt before making this big decision. Ultimately, it comes down to you. What you give these dogs you will receive back 100x. Are you prepared for making this process about their rehabilitation and restoration and not you? Rescue is a selfless act which means human expectations, wishes, and wants come last.
Shelters are full of animals that were purchased or adopted by someone who did not think through these questions and as a result didn't follow through on their commitment. Adopting a dog on impulse can do more damage than good to a dog- make sure you can make a lifetime commitment to your new pet.