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This page has links for information related to dog rescue, foster care, and adoption. The methods I describe are based on my own personal experience, and in some cases on miatakes I have made and want to warn others about. They are NOT the only way to do things and may not even be the best way, but they have worked well for me. I will be adding some articles by other people about methods that have worked well for them.
Information related to training and to solving behavioral problems is mostly under topics of Training and of Problems .
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RESCUE
(Resources for Rescuers and Adopters)
- Adopters, Prioritize Your Wish List ! (how to figure out what qualites really matter to you in a dog to be adopted)
- Adopters, Keep in Touch with Rescue (how to make it easy for Rescue to tell you about dogs newly available for adoption)
- How changes in the Shelter Scene affect Adopter's Strategies (why you need to check shelter websites and Petfinder.com as well as staying in touch with Rescue.).
- Pairs or Singles ?, issues that arise when Rescue takes in two dogs from same home, and issues for Adopters considering multi0dog household.
- Why I don't do Long Distance Adoptions : concerning the risks and difficulties for dog, adopter, and rescue/foster home if a dog is to be adopted by someone who lives at a long distance from the location of the foster home.
- Adopter's Guidebook (detailed advice on caring for a newly adopted dog; also much information on my own methods of foster care; used in conjunction with the Adopter's Information Summary), revised 8/05.
- Adopter's Information Summary (concise summary of information on individual dog's temperament, behavior, medical, training, etc data). revised 8/05
- Simple Adoption Contract (extremely simple contract that I used in conjunction with Adopter's Guidebook and Adopter's Information Summary)
- Rebuttal to Kipling (The Power of a Dog) (poem)
- To those who want to adopt a young puppy
- "Seven Ages of Bouvier" how life stages relate to rescue and adoption issues
- see also articles on financial and tax issues, under "for Rescuers" below
- Backyard Breeders' Excuse List (excuses for bad breeding practices compiled by Denna Pace) phrases that can help you to red flag an irresponsible or casual breeder
- "How Could You?" by Jim Willis (the last thoughts of an abandoned dog)
- the story of Hazel, a backyard puppy mill breeding bitch abandoned by her owner and rescued (4/13/06) by BCNC. Warning : this story is not a pretty one !! But it illustrates loud an clear why you should avoid buying dogs from a backyard puppy mill or a large scale puppy mill.
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(This material is also for Shelters and Shelter workers, and for owners seeking to place their own dogs.)
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before and at the shelter, bail & transport
- How to Identify Bouvs at the Pound (distinguish from those other breeds most likely to be confused with Bouvier)
- Breed Identification Chart , chart comparing observable characteristics of Bouvier to those of a wide range of other breeds that might be confused with the Bouvier in a pound or shelter situation..
- photo pages of Bouviers in various states of appearance and photo pags of other breeds which may be confused with Bouviers --- this is a Coming Attraction that I am working on. I hope to have it ready by the end of March, 2005.
- What to Do When the Shelter Calls (guide for Rescue Chair or phone person in handling call from shelter saying they have a dog of your breed; handling the call and what to do next) by Ada Brann
- Sample Phone Conversation with the Shelter (shelter calling to say they have a dog of your breed ; how to elicit maximum cooperation through appropriate praise) by Ada Brann
- Bail Out ASAP (immediate need to get a dog out of the Pound)
- Transporting a Newly Rescued Dog Safely
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during foster care
- Adopter's Guidebook (detailed advice on caring for a newly adopted dog; also much information on my own methods of foster care and why I do what I do ; used in conjunction with the Adopter's Information Summary), revised 8/05.
- Adopter's Information Summary (concise summary of information on individual dog's temperament, behavior, medical, training, etc data). revised 8/05. can be used as periodic evaluation of dog's behavior.
- Foster Housing for Rescued Dogs, how to house the rescued dog : kenneling vs in house vs some of each.
- Pairs or Singles ?, issues that arise when Rescue takes in two dogs from same home, and issues for Adopters considering multi0dog household.
- How to do a Rescue of an Under-aged Litter , by Michelle Mace : rescue of puppies less than 7 weeks old , especially when the mother bitch does not accompany the pups.
- "Seven Ages of Bouvier" how life stages relate to rescue and adoption issues
- Spay or Neuter Before Placement , and things to do before surgery.
- Housebreaking the Rescued Dog (especially an adult)
- How to Advertise the Rescued Dog to Potential Adopters (how to obtain initial contact with a pool of potential adopters; how to have them find you)
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dealing with adopters
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financial / tax issues
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if an adoption isn't working out
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miscellaneous rescue related
- Doing Referral Placements : discussion for Rescuers of how to help owners place their own dogs themselves by providing referrals of pre-screened adopters.
- Owner Surrender (direct to Rescue) compared to Rescue from Shelter : the advantages of accepting a dog directly from the surrendering owner rather than letting owner surrender to a pound and you bailing the dog from that pound.
- Charity Board (temporary board to enable owner to keep dog through an emergency rather than surrender it to Rescue, thus preventing the dog from needing to be rescued and placed.)
- Keeping Your Dogs Through Divorce (testimonial from someone who refused to give up dogs despite difficulties ; how rescue can help dog remain with divorcing owner)
- My First Bite (warning against risks of getting bitten accidentally when interfering in a fight between dogs)
- The "Feeder Hand" and the "Pickup Hand", new tools for rescuers and shelter workers to use in behavior modification, especially those that might result in a bite to the hand.
- guest article "Tips on Interacting with Fearful Dogs", by Nicole Wilde, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer), discussing your body language and actions when dealing with a timid or fearful dog.
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Issues related to Puppy Mills, Irresponsible Breeders
- What can we do about Backyard Breeders ? , " Backyard Breeders, Puppy Millers and Rescue", by BCNC Rescue Chair.
- Backyard Breeders' Excuse List (excuses for bad breeding practices compiled by Denna Pace) phrases that can help you to red flag an irresponsible or casual breeder
- the story of Hazel, a backyard puppy mill breeding bitch abandoned by her owner and rescued (4/13/06) by BCNC. Warning : this story is not a pretty one !! But it illustrates loud an clear why you should avoid buying dogs from a backyard puppy mill or a large scale puppy mill.
- How to Read an Ad , a guide to reading newspaper and web ads for puppies or dogs for sale, emphsizing the clues that tell you that the advertiser is likley to be a good responsible breeder or some kind of large scale or small scale puppy mill. Including a "Pop Quiz" of 7 more internet ads for you to analyze and then see my own analysis. In case this link does not show up properly , use link http://www.cal.net/~pamgreen/how2read_ads.html or cut and paste http://www.cal.net/~pamgreen/how2read_ads.html into your browser's go to space. .
- How to Respond to Ads , an article about conversations with breeders and rescue people. What are the questions you should ask to determine if you want to get a puppy or dog from this person. What are the "red flags" that indicate a breeder you should avoid like the Black Death ? What are the questions that you should expect to be asked.
- guest article "Designer Dogs : super mixes or mixed blessings ?" by Deborah Wood, reprinted with author's permission. As a rescue person or as an adopter , you will need to have a realistic view of this latest dog fad and the bad logic behind it. You will sometimes have oppertunity to prevent an intentional cross-breeding, thus preventing birth of future shelter intakes.
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Ideas on Legal Reforms
I will be adding this section sometime in the next few months I hope. Currently there are a lot of local city and county efforts to reduce shelter intakes and shelter deaths by various measures intended to reduce casual breeding. That is certainly part of the answer, but not all of the answer.
- Where are Shelter intakes coming from ? a call for a scheme of permanent identification for dogs and cats and DMV type registration of ownership and original source (breeder, pet shop), so that we can find out where the majority of shelter intakes and deaths are coming from. Without knowing the source of the problem , it is impossible to design a solution or legislate towards a remedy.
- Rational Approach to Licensing Pets, Pet Owners, and Breeders. This is a long analysis of some alternatives that might be more reasonable than those currently proposed . Current proposals over-emphasize spay/neuter and ignore owner education and need for dogs to be trained for good public and private behavior. I am proposeing to license owners and breeders based on educational attainments and track record of not causing trouble. I am proposing to license dogs based as much on their proof of basic training as on their spay/neuter status.
- On the Relationship of Domestic Pets and Humans as being a Symbiosis , ie that the relationship between dogs and people is normally mutually beneficial and likewise that between cats and humans and that any legislation that purports to promote dog and cat welfare must recognize this and promote and protect that relationship. Dogs and cats should not be exterminated nor turned loose to "go back to the wild."
- Fanatics : Owner's Rights, Animal Rights, a discussion of fanaticism at both ends of the spectrum : at one end, those who feel animals are property and no laws should limit the owner's actions ; at the other end, those who feel animals should not be owned at all.
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(and BCNC foster dogs)
(recent and current)
For a more up to date listing of dogs currently available and of those recently placed, please see the page Bouviers Available in Northern California which includes my own listings, or see my listings on Petfinder
My "du Clos de la FouriËre" ("from the enclosure of the animal pound") Rescue, for Bouviers, Bouvier crosses, and Bouvier "pretenders", is now on Petfinder.com at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/CA899.html. I joined Petfinder to get needed extra exposure for those dogs who are not purebred Bouviers and thus are excluded from the Bouvier Club of Northern California's rescue program.
For Rescue contacts in Southern California, please see Bouviers Available in Southern California.
- currently AVAILABLE for adoption : will no longer be on this page ; see the links just above.
- already ADOPTED
I am going to eliminate most of these stories as they can be found on Bouviers Available in Northern California. I will just leave some representative cases here.
- Ashley, new intake June 15, 2006. I have not yet posted her information. she is young (9 months) bitch and came to me very timid and afraid of people , but has improved substantially in her first 3 weeks. ADOPTED 2006.
- Shady, adult neutered male, is AVAILABLE ; a good dog with one behavior issue. PLEASE READ THIS PAGE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Shady went through some tough times but is a genuinely adoptable dog. ADOPTED by myself after being in foster care for two years.
- Alfred , an adult neutered male, smart and pushy, needs a packleader, has been ADOPTED
- Poirot, 2 year old boy, cute and clever, not a Bouvier, but some kind of terrier mix, has been ADOPTED.
- Chewbacca, 10 month old Bouv puppy has been adopted.
- Ophelia2 year old bitch, has been ADOPTED.
- Thurman, rescued from bad situation, sweet well behaved neutered male, has been ADOPTED.
- Peavy, 3 year old girl, sweet submissive is rescued by Tri Valley Animal Rescue, has been adopted.
- Hard Times aka "Hardy", has been ADOPTED by a very special home.
- Hope, has been ADOPTED
- Lucky, a Bouvier x Golden bitch, has been ADOPTED.
- Boon (aka BooBoo), former BCNC foster dog, has been ADOPTED
- Bouclette has been ADOPTED !! (UPDATED 10/22/03)
- Zorro now ADOPTED (UPDATED 8/16/03)
- Jake has been ADOPTED (9/21/03)
- Jackie, catching a nap in her new home ADOPTED
- deceased during foster care
- Hazel, a backyard puppy mill breeding bitch abandoned by her owner and rescued (4/13/06) by BCNC. Warning : this story is not a pretty one !! But it illustrates loud an clear why you should avoid buying dogs from a backyard puppy mill or a large scale puppy mill.
- Sage, elderly neutered male Bouvier, AVAILABLE for adoption; a very sweet gentle dog with some health issues. He died in my care after a year of good quality living.
- Princess, gentle 13 year old bitch, abandoned by her owners. A few months after rescue she was diagnosed with Lymphoma, but thanks to treatment she was able to live another 9 months and died peacefully in my care at age 14 plus.
- Zeke (an apparently nice dog but proved to be unpredictable biter , too dangerous to place, therefore euthanized)
- Jewel (terminally ill when rescued ; able to enjoy a period of happy life before surrendering to her illness.)
- Jose (secretly ill when rescued ; incurrably suffereing, therefore euthanized)
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"before" & "after" photos
- "Before" : how Bouviers really look as seen at the Pound
- "After" : how rescued dogs look after a period of good care
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