Rescue Me

So, you go to the shelter and fall in love with a dog. You choose to rescue it. You gather up all the necessities and take your bundle of joy home. And the next thing you know, you and this dog might both be living in the shelter because your landlord just left a notice on your door regarding your new “bundle of joy” who wants to bark and bark every time you are gone. The neighbors have simply “had it” and now you are simply asking, “Rescue me, please.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if the rescue dogs came equipped with a microchip detailing their food history and everything they’ve been through physically? And wouldn’t it be nice if they had a crystal ball hanging from their collar so you could look into your future with them and know in what way they could possibly disrupt your life? In a perfect world they would be rehabilitated, detoxed, and trained before being put up for adoption. I’m still holding hope for a perfect world.

Until then, in my experience, dogs end up in shelters for various reasons. Many cute, strong personality breed rescues were usually held as puppies so much that they didn’t know how to be or feel okay when they grew up and were put down. Many of them were trained to be more human than dog due to owners’ miss-education or simple ignorance when it came to the true definition of what it is to be a dog. And then, when the dog reminded their owners they were, in fact, still a dog, their owners were not pleased with this behavior. Some owners used anger and violence to scare the dog into proper behavior before seeking professional assistance, or abandoning them. These fear-based methods don’t work and can cause severe issues that must be overcome in order for them to be re-homed successfully. Or else the new owners could be the ones being re-homed.

My advice is to evaluate your lifestyle and then do your dog research. Once you discover the right rescue type and you are ready to bring them to a secure loving home that meets their “dog” needs, there are many breed types and mixed breeds available for adoption. Be sure to find one who’s issues you can manage.

Understand that dogs don’t know how to be okay on their own. We must take the time to train them to be okay with or without people present. One of the most amazing treats on the market today ideal for training rescue dogs is Barksters Krisps. Low fat and low calorie, wheat and gluten-free holistic Barksters are made in the USA and a safe treat for a new rescue whose dietary history is questionable. They are easily broken up into pieces and pack a huge crunch which makes them ideal for training your dog to feel safe and secure in their new loving forever home.

So remember to use your brain as well as your heart when making the decision to adopt and care for a dog this way you won’t be the one crying, “rescue me”.