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You must read this section prior to submitting an application. It covers our Adoption Fee and basic considerations. If you do not fulfill our requirements, please do not submit an application.
Collies and shelties want to be with "their people" and are meant to be inside dogs. They would be miserable left outside. We are seeking adopters who want their dog to be an indoor family member.
Our rescue collies and shelties are NOT guard dogs. They are meant to be members of a family.
We do require a fenced yard in most cases. (It may be possible for an adult or senior sheltie to do fine in a townhouse/apartment environment, where all outside activities take place on a leash.) For any of our dogs, we do not approve invisible fences, dog runs, or tie out chains.
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 persons whom we believe will adopt from us, and by the time a prospective adopter comes to Pueblo, most concerns have been addressed.
The dog may never be allowed off a leash unless it is in a secure area.
Collies and shelties must be on heartworm preventative, and must be placed on Interceptor. Heartguard has proven toxic and even fatal to these breeds, as well as to Australian shepherds and border collies.
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.
If you have other pets, they need to be spayed/neutered if you adopt from us. Your other pets must also be up to date on all vet care (shots and preventatives.)
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.
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.
ADOPTION FEE
Our adoption fee is a minimum $250 (which covers the veterinary care listed above), plus anything more that an adopter is generous enough to give to help other dogs in our program. A check for the adoption fee is mandatory when the prospective adopter takes the dog. We do not require, but would appreciate, donations to help cover expenses of dogs needing expensive vet care.
ADOPTION FEES INCLUDE
--Comprehensive veterinary physical exam
--Spay or neuter (even on puppies)
--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.
--Post-adoption advice (we are always here to help!)
ADOPTION PROCESS
People interested in adopting one of our rescue dogs first need to submit the Adoption Application on our website. We ask everyone to do this as a first step as it gives the most information about you. As we are all volunteers, we prefer to have this written information first before you contact us by phone. We attempt to notify everyone that their application was received via email, but not everyone will receive a phone call as follow-up. We suggest that you write the very best, most honest application that you can. It is our first glimpse into who you are, and many of our considerations are based upon your application.
Persons who meet our requirements and who appear to be a good match for our dogs will be interviewed at length over the phone by a volunteer. We will contact your vet as a reference.
If the match appears good, we will set up a home check prior to you coming to Pueblo to meet a dog. This step allows us to send a dog back home with the prospective adopter. If a home check is not done prior to you meeting a dog, you cannot take the dog. The home check will be done by a PCSR volunteer or by a volunteer with another rescue group if in another state. The home check is mandatory for everyone. It was done for the webmaster before she became a volunteer; it was done for our Chairman of the Board; it was done for our President; it was done for a CSU Vet School veterinarian. Some people take offense at a home check being done. If you are one of them, do not submit an application. (See the "Dog Fancy" criteria listed below). If we find it impossible to set up a home check due to lack of volunteers in your area, we will ask for detailed digital photos of your home, yard, fence, and gate.
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. The adopter must also pay the adoption fee at this time; this is mandatory. We usually have rescue dogs spend a night, weekend or week in the home of the prospective adopter to make sure it is truly a good fit. We check in with the family and when we are told, "Yes, we love this dog. The adoption is final," we post "Adopted" on the website.
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
We have found homes for dogs in not just Pueblo County, but all over Colorado, surrounding states and even across the country! Wherever you reside, if you would like to make a deserving dog part of your life, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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
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