|
Read this section prior to submitting an application. It covers our adoption fee and important requirements and considerations.
Collies and shelties want to be with their adopter and are meant to be inside dogs. They would be miserable left outside away from what they consider "their pack." We are seeking adopters who want their dog to be an indoor family member. The cover story in "Dog Fancy'" Feb. 2009 issue stated this perfectly: "With his beauty, brains and noble character, the collie attracts many admirers. This sensitive, dignified breed must be part of the family and is not recommended as only an outside or backyard dog. They don't need lots of acreage, but they do need lots of human contact." Stated perfectly! This is the same for shelties.
Our rescue collies and shelties are not guard dogs. They are meant to be members of a family.
For all puppies and almost all of our dogs, a fenced yard is required. It may be possible for a well-socialized, leash-trained adult or senior sheltie to do fine in a condo/townhouse/apartment environment, where all outside activities take place on a leash. We would determine this in a case by case basis. We don't approve invisible/electric fences, dog runs, or tie out chains. For a good explanation of why we do not approve invisible fences, click here to read information from our friends with Colorado Sheltie Rescue.
If you live out of the area (as many of our adopters do), please know that we gladly do long-distance adoptions, but we do not ship dogs. We require interested adopters to come to where the foster dog is to meet it. We communicate very thoroughly with people whom we believe will adopt from us, and by the time a prospective adopter comes to Pueblo, most concerns have been addressed. We also find a rescue person in your area to meet you and do a homecheck.
The dog may never be allowed off a leash unless it is in a secure area. Read more about why we require adopters to be safe -- not sorry -- with newly adopted dogs in the April 2010 Newsletter by Denver All Breed Rescue, of which we are a member.
Collies and shelties must be on heartworm preventative, and must be placed on Interceptor. Heartguard has proven toxic and even fatal to these breeds. Click here for more important information about this topic.
The dog must wear ID tags at all times.
If you cannot keep the dog, it must be returned to PCSR.
We do not adopt out dogs that will be given as gifts.
Adults in the household of the prospective adopter are the people who need to apply. Occasionally, we get applications from children and teens on behalf of their families. We realize that having a dog is a decision for the entire family, but we need to hear from parents.
We require our adopters to be at least 21 years of age and/or graduated from college. We require this because all dogs need good vet care, and vet care is expensive. Please consider financial obligations carefully and with the good of the dog in mind.
If you have other pets, they need to be spayed/neutered if you adopt from us (unless there is a medical reason). Your other pets must also be up to date on all vet care (shots and preventatives.) We will confirm all of this with your vet before proceeding with the application.
If you are unsure as to whether you can commit to a dog for the rest of its life (regardless of whether you move, change jobs, or get divorced) then please rethink your decision to adopt a dog. Adoption is for the rest of the dog's life and rescue dogs have already had enough turmoil in their lives.
Both collies and shelties can be barkers. If this will be an issue for you or your neighbors, please give this consideration.
These breeds do shed. These are double-coated, long-haired breeds. Their coats need a fair amount of care. A thorough brushing at least once a week and a bath periodically is needed. Weigh in the cost of going to a professional groomer.
Shelties can be shy with strangers.
Collies and shelties can be herding dogs, so this is something to keep in mind if you have young children or cats.
If you are considering a puppy, the adoptive home we seek is one where there are no children under 6 years old; the family members are active and up to the rigors and challenges of having a young dog; and someone can devote the time it takes to training and raising a pup. We give preference to someone who works out of the home or can be home part-time. A securely, appropriately fenced yard is essential.
ADOPTION FEE
Our adoption donation is a minimum $250, plus anything more that an adopter is generous enough to give to help other dogs in our program or to help cover extra vet expenses of their dog. (As our director Hope says, our adoption donation is a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $1 million). You are required to leave a check for the adoption fee (as well sign the adoption contract) before you take the dog home with you. We do not take partial payments, as this is hard for us to keep track of.
ADOPTION FEES INCLUDE
--Comprehensive veterinary physical exam
--Spay or neuter (even on puppies at a later date)
--Rabies shot
--DH2PP (Distemper/Parvo combo shot)
--Bordetella shot (Kennel Cough)
--Heartworm Test and 6 months' worth of Interceptor tablets
--Microchip
--Wormed
--Groomed
--Dental cleaning if needed
--Temperament evaluation
--A medical history record comes with each dog.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Submit the Adoption Application on our website. Your application will be reviewed by our director and possibly the foster parent. Then we contact your vet for a reference and call you for more information. A homecheck is required prior to adoption.
The next step is for the entire family who will be living in the home and, if possible, their current pets to meet rescue dogs. If everything looks positive, the prospective adopter fills out and signs the adoption contract. Adopting families sign a contractual agreement to provide safe, loving and healthy environments. You must pay the adoption fee when you take the dog away from the foster home.
Your dog then will be posted as "Adoption Pending" on the website. You will have 10 days to determine if this dog is a good match. If you still cannot tell if this dog will work for you after 10 days, let us know what the concerns are. We may give you more time or we may decide to have the dog go back to its foster home. Remember, our first priority is the dog and we must do what is best for him/her. Once we know the adoption is forever, we put "Adopted" on the website. If the dog still does not work out, the adoption donation will be reimbursed up to 30 days after the adoption date, but not beyond that date. We do not place dogs in homes that we believe will not work out, so please respect our decision.
ABOUT PC/SR DOGS
Our dogs can come from a variety of situations. We get dogs out of shelters, owner turn-ins, dogs found running loose, dogs who are abandoned because of their owners' death, dogs used for breeding at puppy mills, etc. We treat any medical condition the dog has. Then we spay/neuter every dog (no exceptions), bring them current on all shots, and begin them on heartworm protection. The dog is bathed, groomed, and put into a foster home for evaluation. Each dog stays in their foster home until the temperament is known and a good match can be made. We do not place aggressive dogs or known biters. Some dogs may have issues from their prior life that must be worked through. We advise on any known issues prior to adoption. Rescue dogs have plenty of love, affection and gratitude to give, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you saved a dog. We do not have a shelter. Dogs live in our homes as fosters. It is not possible to go to a "shelter" or central facility to view all our dogs. Interested adopters meet dogs in foster homes after a series of application steps have been completed.
PLACEMENT OF DOGS
The vast majority of our dogs find wonderful adopters in Colorado, but we also have adopted to folks in many other states. We do not adopt outside of the U.S.
Rescue Group Checklist (from "Dog Fancy")
Reputable, responsible, and reliable rescue groups do the following:
--are staffed by experienced volunteers
--operate as nonprofits, although they may not have official 501(c)3 status
--require a written application form the adopter, including a veterinary reference, if available
--require an inspection of your home
--bathe and groom the dogs they take in
--provide basic veterinary care (an examination and shots) prior to placement
--spay or neuter all dogs they place
--provide full disclosure about a dog's medical condition and behavior
--provide ongoing support, if needed, as the adopter and dog adjust to each other
--will always take back a dog if the placement does not work out
|
|
