Save the Puppies - Become a Breed Rescue Volunteer

By Brian E. Hill

Many of us grow up loving a particular breed of dog. You might have had a Cocker Spaniel when you were a kid, and enjoyed that dog's companionship so much you end up owning a series of those loveable creatures all through your adult life. In other cases, we like certain groups of dogs, the Sporting Group, the Toy Group, etc., and we end up selecting a dog out of that group, though maybe not the same breed all the time.

Although each dog is an individual, breeds have certain characteristics that you can depend on, in terms of activity level, temperament, and how easily they take to training. Knowing these characteristics helps you determine which breed fits your lifestyle. If over the years you own several dogs of the same breed, you will begin to spot which characteristics are uniform for the breed and which are unique to the individual dog. In time you might find you are becoming an expert in that particular breed.

One way to share your love for a breed of dog, and share your expertise, is to become a Breed Rescue volunteer. Rescue volunteers take care of dogs that have been abandoned, or "turned in" until a permanent home can be found. Dogs end up in foster care for a number of reasons. The owner might be moving to a place where it is not possible to keep a dog. In other cases the owner chose the wrong breed, perhaps one that is too active for that individual's lifestyle.

The rescue volunteer is responsible for food and medical care for the dog, and also provides a loving, supportive environment to help the dog over the trauma of being left behind by its original family. Some rescue dogs have behavioral issues, such as shyness, or fear of being left alone, that need to be worked out before the dog can be placed in his forever home.

By becoming a rescue volunteer, you are not only helping that individual dog, but the breed as well. When the dog under your care is adopted, the new family will discover what a wonderful breed it is.

Besides time, patience and a large enough home to accommodate having another dog visiting, a prospective rescue volunteer serves in sort of an intermediary role between the dog and the family seeking to adopt a dog. The volunteer often puts together a profile on the dog, showing any special training the dog might need, what type of household would be the best fit for the dog, and how the dog relates to children and other pets. This information is extremely helpful to the family thinking of adopting the dog.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a breed rescue volunteer, the American Kennel Club (AKC) website, www.akc.org, has a lot of information and a list of breed rescue organizations. You can also visit dog shows where breed rescue groups appear and meet the other volunteers in person to learn more about this very worthwhile activity.

When the time comes for the dog under your care to be adopted, it may be difficult for you two to say good-bye. But you can keep forever the satisfaction of helping a wonderful dog truly get a new leash on life.

Get your free report Dog Friendly Vacations. Visit Rose and Kate. Rose is our rowdy Irish Setter and Kate is our adorable Springer Spaniel. They even have their own blog. Brian Hill is the author of Over Time, he novel and several nonfiction books.