Dog Rescue Testimonials

[Suezanne]

Hi Everyone :)

I'm writing an article to encourage people to adopt pets and I require some real life testimonials.

In this article I'm busting some common misconceptions people have about adopting e.g;

* Puppies or Purebreds aren't available from rescue groups

* Puppies are easier to train than adult dogs (which isn't always the case!)

* All rescue dogs have 'baggage'(again, not always true)

* I'm (the adopter) not experienced enough to rescue a dog

Any real life testimonials that address any of the above would be greatly appreciated.

Could you please include the following in your testimonials;

*Your Name/ State

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed

*Your adoption story

Thank you!

Edited August 16, 2015 by Suezanne

[hankdog]

Well I could write one about Jake, he has legendary DA, been a nightmare to train and I didn't have a clue how to handle him. 4 years later I've learned from brilliant trainers, I've come to terms with the fact that nothing's perfect and not every broken thing can be fixed but I live for my Friday training session, look forward to jumping on the couch with the dog whose cuddles are described as "the Jake experience" and can't remeber what my life was like before it was organized around a bulldog. Probably not the poster story but still special.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

*Your Name/ State Mrs Bucket (actually that was her name when I met her cos of the cone of shame she was wearing)

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed Frosty aka Evil hound, 7 ish now, 10 weeks old when I got her, Cattle dog something mix bitsa

*Your adoption story addressing the following points.

* Puppies or Purebreds aren't available from rescue groups

* Puppies are easier to train than adult dogs (which isn't always the case!)

* All rescue dogs have 'baggage'(again, not always true)

* I'm (the adopter) not experienced enough to rescue a dog

She was a 10 week old puppy. I went out to see a 6 month old red heeler x - when I got to the AWL - turns out the Red Heeler was gone already and unlike the website ad - it was a boy dog. I didn't want a boy dog. But they had this litter of blue heeler x - blue is my fave colour but I was prepared to take what I could get... the puppies were only 10 weeks old. Most of the litter had already been adopted - two left. One was very pretty but not friendly, the other was ugly cone head dog and extremely friendly but didn't do retrieve or tug or nothing. But did like people. And according to the staff - very loud at dinner time.

She's still really friendly and loud at dinner time.

The dog club I joined said that puppies could not be trained at all because they have no attention span and I was dumb enough to believe them - so she didn't get any effective training until she was about 14 months old and I learned a better way to train.

If she has baggage at 10 weeks old - I'm thinking it's all my fault. There's some breed instinct eg strong desire to chase cars and cats but I've managed to train her not to chase cars, bikes, joggers and cats that don't move.

I thought I was experienced enough in dog training until I got her. I'd lived with two other cattle dogs and trained them before her - but this one - utter fail. Had to learn not to use any aversives - cos she'd shut down and avoid me. Have learned heaps from her and have had to up my skill level. Still have heaps to learn.

She has a jumping dog title and can do some really fancy heelwork now. :) She's trained me to give her belly rubs when ever she wants. And to take her for two long walks a day.

[tdierikx]

As someone who fostered around 200 puppies for ONE rescue over a 6 year period, I can attest to the fact that puppies are indeed plenty available through rescue... but once their adoption advertisements go online, they do tend to have a lot of applications and rehome pretty quickly.

*Your Name/ State: Tracey - NSW

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed: Pickles - 5 - Camp Dog

*Your adoption story:

Pickles came to me at the age or about 9 weeks as a foster puppy.

She was born in an Aboriginal camp somewhere in the middle of the Northern Territory.

A lovely community worker had noticed that Pickles could not walk properly, and approached the elders to take her away and give her a better chance at life. Permission was granted, and Pickles made her way all the way to Sydney to the rescue I worked for.

It turned out that Pickles has a scar in her brain (cause unknown - and we don't speculate) that means that she can't feel very much in all 4 limbs. She goose-steps with her front legs, and splay walks with the back ones... it's an interesting sight to say the least.

Pickles was given the highest quality puppy food, and a course of medications to help make her stronger. Her physiotherapy involved playing with 4 other young foster pups I had in care at the time, a little bit of swimming (she hates water), and lots of love and attention.

Now, Pickles doesn't know that she's different, and she certainly doesn't let her funny walk stand in the way of enjoying life and all it has to offer to the fullest extent. She loves people, and other animals... even to the point of being a great help with all the other foster puppies that came after her.

Pickles was my 45th foster puppy, and my first "foster failure" - her joy for life is completely infectious, and I love her to death. She has taught me that life can throw us obstacles, but we can live with those and still have a great time. I couldn't think of my life being complete without her in it.

She is naughty to the extreme, cheeky as a monkey, and stubborn as a mule... and I wouldn't change any part of her for the world.

T.

Edited August 16, 2015 by tdierikx

[Leah82]

*Your Name/ State: Leah VIC

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed: Sarah, Poodle x Cocker Spaniel, 9 years old

*Your adoption story:

We looked at getting a rescue dog when we were told our Cocker Spaniel called Collie was going blind, he also suffered from separation anxiety so needed a companion while we were at work.

We wanted a female dog of similar size, similar age that we could be certain would not try and dominate Collie as he lost his sight.

Enter Sarah who at 7 years old had spent her entire life as a breeder in a puppy farm, she was very nervous to start with but bonded with Collie instantly as she had spent a lot more time with dogs than people up until that point. When we had her a couple of months we started taking her to obedience classes, she didn't display the usual excitement that comes with being around so many other dogs and people which was to be expected, this actually paid off as her attention was on me constantly and she flew through the first 3 months, going up a level at the end of each month. Sometimes I'd need to be a little creative in my teaching methods (the only way I could teach her to drop was to actually drop myself in front of her) but she definitely has a good capacity for learning.

2 years on and it's only very rarely that Sarah shows any sign of her former life. Her and Collie are practically inseparable, she's showing signs of a cheeky confidence that she wouldn't dare in the early days like pulling away her paw when I trim her nails and jumping up on the couch for cuddles without being invited. After 2 years Collie now has a play mate as well as a cuddle buddy, Sarah wouldn't have a bar of Collie's attempts to get her to play with him for a long time and now play time is a daily activity.

Sarah is my dog and I'm privileged to be her person who gets the extra special cuddles and excited welcome home spins. When I was younger I thought that if you wanted a dog to bond with you you need to get a puppy. Sarah is proof of how wrong I was.

[Little Gifts]

There is something important I wanted to add here about adopting a rescue dog that has been with a foster carer. While dogs (regardless of age) are in their care, foster carers (with the help of their rescue group) endeavour to:

- Toilet train

- Crate train

- Provide basic command training (sit, stay, walk on a leash, etc)

- Assess temperament and personality (so adopters know what type of dog they are getting)

- Address behavioural and health issues

- Socialise and expose foster dogs to a range of stimulus and experiences

- Provide a positive homestyle environment so the foster dog can successfully transition to a permanent adoptive home environment.

You will also get the above with a quality registered breeder but you will never get this from puppy farmed or BYB dogs regardless of their age or breed. You may also get some of this from a dog rescued from a pound or adopted through a shelter style environment. But for the money you pay why wouldn't you choose a dog with known temperament (even if it is only still a puppy)? Why wouldn't you choose one that already has positive toileting habits? Why wouldn't you choose a dog who can simply transition from one home to another with its routines, likes and dislikes already known? You also end up with a support network AND a return policy if you run into any transitioning problems.

People don't seem to see how much value there is in these kinds of rescue dogs and pups. The main goal of a foster carer, from the day that dog arrives, is to prepare them for a forever home and unlike pet shop dogs, none of that work is added to the sale price. We've done the road testing and trouble shooting all for you and are still offering our 'product' at bargain basement prices!

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

Little Gifts

I like what you've written and may have to copy that and paste it on another forum I belong to any time someone comes on there and asks for help finding a puppy mill special. If that's ok with you.

I feel this belongs in here tho it isn't a testimonial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ChMYMHvpJ0c

[Little Gifts]

Feel free MRB. It bugs me that we do all that for dogs to give them the best ever chance of a new home and some people still think they are damaged goods not worth considering. Even worse are the people who complain about paying an adoption fee. I mean the rescue gets them for free right? Just cause their original owners didn't value them doesn't mean that we don't.

And I loved that clip - dogs have more uses than a Swisse Army Knife!

[MadWoofter]

*Your Name/ State - Kim - NSW

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed - Fleming, Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) age approx 5 at adoption (now around 13)

*Your adoption story

Fleming came to me originally as a foster. He was found in rural Vic and was transported up to Sydney to the rescue group I volunteered at with his father. He had some noticeable medical issues with a bad hind leg limp and bits of skin out of him. This was put down to fighting with his father. He came to me malnourished, with bad skin & coat condition, and a lot of fear. Very quickly we realised that his rear leg was a real problem, and after consultation with the vet and the rescue group, it was decided to amputate. We don't really know what happened, but by the extent of the injury we think he had been hit by a car at some stage and never taken to a vet. He was in immense amounts of pain until we amputated, and had obviously had the injury for some time as he had already 'adjusted' to using three legs.

Again we can only speculate on what his life was like, but judging by his reactions to certain things, it was apparent that he had been beaten with a broom, a hose, big sticks etc. He used to run at the slightest loud noise, quiver and shake in fear and was just generally miserable. It is a credit to Fleming that not once did he bite in fear or pain.

It took a long time to get him physically good, and when the rescue group closed down and he was still with me 12 months later it was a very very easy decision to make - Fleming was now officially a "foster failure".

He's been with me now for about 8 years, and he is an absolute delight. He loves people, dogs, and kids, he tolerates the cat, and his goal in life is to please me. Because of that he was very easy to train, and he is just about perfect ! He still has some fear-induced issues, for instance I have to be careful when I get the broom out to sweep the floor as he can get into a panic and run off (to hider under the nearest bush). If he is scared about something he goes and hides and sometimes it can be difficult to get him to come inside. Loud noises can startle him and scare him off, so I am always mindful of him and make sure I don't make large loud gestures or swing brooms around him.

Fleming is just an absolute delight, and I love him to bits :) He is my pin-up boy for rescue, and is a prime example of a dog not having (too much :)) baggage despite his horrible start.

[sparkycat]

*Your Name/ State - Sparkycat-SA

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed - Nicky, Borzoi age 3 years

*Your adoption story

Nicky lived with her 2 litter sisters with a single man who adored his girls. Very sadly he died alone and was not found for some days. The 3 Borzois were put in a boarding kennel for a couple of weeks before a friend of mine was contacted about them. My friend got the 3 of them from the boarding kennel and took them back to his place - he already had 2 Borzois. The relatives of the owner couldn't take them and were happy for them to be rehomed. The breeder was interstate and was also happy for them to be rehomed.

As soon as I saw the photos on Facebook and heard the background story I offered to take one.

Nicky was rather scared, nervous and upset when I collected her. She has been with me now for almost 3 months and she has fitted in perfectly with my Borzoi, Lappie and 2 cats. She is the sweetest most affectionate best behaved delightful dog I have ever had !

Nicky's 2 sisters were also rehomed in SA.

[Dame Aussie]

*Your Name/ State - Kat / VIC

*Dogs Name/Age/Breed - Mosley / 11 weeks when adopted, now almost 7yo / Anatolian x Maremma.

*Your adoption story -

I was working at a shelter when Mosley was surrendered. We were told he wasn't good with children - he was an 11 wk old puppy. I believe the owners just didn't know what they had taken on as he was already quite a large pup. The vets at the shelter were a bit worried about him being rehomed and returned due to his expected size and mix. I fell in love instantly and said I'd take him.

A few people questioned whether I'd be able to deal with him but I can say almost 7 years later he's a brilliant dog. He's been challenging in that the breeds he is made up of are both very independent so he kind of does his own thing, and he is a barker which can be a challenge in suburbia, but we manage.

His temperament is faultless. He loves everyone, other dogs, children etc and is just a big cuddle monster :) we're so glad we adopted him :)