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Frequently Asked Questions About Rescue Where do rescue dogs come from? What about dogs that have bitten someone? Are whippet rescue dogs retired racers from the dog tracks? What happens to rescue dogs when WRAP gets them? Why do rescues require spaying/neutering? Who decides whether an applicant is approved? Why should I adopt a rescue whippet instead of finding one in a shelter? Why do you ask so many questions on the application? If this is a dog that was unwanted, why do I have to pay for it? Rescue
takes in dogs whose first homes did not work out or who have fallen
on hard times for various reasons. Rescuers take care of their
medical needs, address behavioral issues, and assess temperaments
to be sure these dogs can be healthy and happy pets. Most rescues
are operated by volunteers who specialize in one or two breeds
with which they have years of experience. Some take in all breeds
or even mixed breeds. Each rescue operation is different. Some,
like Whippet Rescue and Placement (WRAP), are large organizations
with traditional or current ties to a national breed club. Others
were started independently of the breed club. Some are local,
statewide or regional in coverage rather than national. Many rescuers
are simply individuals or families who work virtually alone to
save as many dogs as possible in their own areas. Where do rescue dogs come from? Rescuers
keep an eye on local animal shelters and try to "bail out" dogs
of their breeds whenever they show up. Other dogs come directly
to rescue from owners who are unable to keep them; some dogs are
found abandoned. Sometimes a post on the internet leads rescuers
to a dog in need. Many rescued dogs come from good homes where they were loved and cared for, but were given up for reasons unrelated to the dogs themselves: divorce, severe financial distress, a death in the family, a move. Some of them have come from homes where they were neglected or even mistreated. And yes, some are given up due to behavioral problems. A rescue dog ready for adoption has lived with an experienced dog fancier long enough to have had many of those issues addressed. No responsible rescuer adopts out a dog with serious behavioral or physical problems unless he/she tells the adopter in detail what the issues are and makes sure that the adopter is equipped to handle them. It's true
that many rescue dogs have some baggage. Some of them have had
a tough start in life and not all come through it unscathed. But
most people who adopt or work with rescue dogs believe that these
animals know that they've gotten a second chance and try harder
than the average dog to fit in. Rescues are often the best
dogs, no kidding. What about dogs that have bitten someone? WRAP does not adopt out biters.
The whippet is not a breed that bites under anything but the most
extreme circumstances; one who has bitten a human usually has
a severe temperament problem and should not be placed in another
home. If the rescuer who took in the dog feels that the biting
incident was truly an isolated incident due to extreme pain, fear,
etc., the rescuer may choose to keep the dog as a personal pet,
but it will not be adopted out by WRAP. Are whippet rescue dogs retired racers from the dog tracks? No. Whippets are not often
raced commercially, so fortunately, there are not large numbers
of them coming from the tracks, as you see in greyhounds. Although
some whippets do indeed race, it is hobby racing organized by
the owners. The racing whippet goes home with his owner and usually
sleeps on the sofa or curled up in the owner's bed...just like
any other well-loved pet whippet. WRAP has a Board of Directors and Regional Advisors,
as well as rescue volunteers in most of the 50 states. Many states
have several volunteers. We find out about dogs needing help in
any number of ways. One way is for a call to come to the Regional
Advisor. He/she finds out where the Whippet is located and contacts
the WRAP volunteer closest to the dog. The volunteer picks up
the whippet and provides home foster care until the whippet is
adopted out. Another method is someone contacts one of the
volunteers about a dog needing help. That rescuer picks up the
dog and notifies the Regional Advisor that he/she has it. A very popular method is for someone within the rescue network letting others know via e-mail. This has proven to be a very quick method for determining who can get the dog and where homes are available. What happens to rescue dogs when WRAP gets them? New rescue
whippets are evaluated for health, temperament, training, and
other things that might affect their ability to be successful
pets. They're given necessary vet care and shots and bathed and
groomed. They stay with the rescuer for anywhere from a few weeks
to several months. Though most are ready for adoption a few weeks
after coming into the rescue program, others remain several months.
If the dog has been abused or neglected, he may be nervous and
frightened. He must learn to trust people before he has any hope
of finding a successful home. If the whippet was given up because
of a behavior problem, this must be evaluated and addressed through
training or behavior modification before someone else adopts him. Money for
rescue comes from adoption fees, donations, and rescuers' own
pockets. WRAP reimburses rescuers for veterinary and out-of-the-ordinary
costs, but the individual rescuers pay the day-to-day expenses.
The American Whippet Club provided the initial start-up money
for WRAP, but rescue has been self-supporting for many years.
Expenses can be overwhelming and dictate the limit on how many
and what kinds of dogs can be accepted. Dogs with medical conditions
that are expensive to treat may be turned down due to lack of
funds. Fortunately,
WRAP is usually able to cover expenses for any whippet it accepts.
Donations are always welcome! Why do rescues require spaying/neutering? Rescued dogs in particular should not be bred. No responsible breeder uses a dog of unknown ancestry. Rescuers see every day the misery that comes from irresponsible breeding...from placement in bad homes to genetic problems to temperament difficulties. The number of unwanted dogs euthanized every year is staggering. Rescued dogs should never be used to contribute to the very problem that often brings them to rescue. Besides, neutered dogs make better pets. Several types of behavior problems are less common in spayed and neutered whippets, and the dogs are healthier for longer. Ask your veterinarian about his oldest healthy patients and you'll find a majority are spayed/neutered. There are no significant disadvantages to neutering or spaying when weighed against the health benefits. WRAP never
releases an intact --unspayed or un-neutered-- whippet. Who decides whether an applicant is approved? The rescue volunteer makes
that decision, sometimes in consultation with the Regional Advisor.
One reason WRAP works as well as it does is that the individual
rescuers are given as much responsibility and autonomy as possible.
Adoptions are handled locally, not handled by a national committee
who has never met the applicant or the dog. WRAP provides
guidelines, but the volunteers are experienced rescuers who have
their own criteria for adoptions. Why should I adopt a rescue whippet instead of finding one in a shelter? Fortunately, very few whippets turn up in shelters, and when they do, it's usually best for them to go through rescue before going into a home. Because they rarely stay long and aren't watched closely, a shelter dog can have health problems that will have to be diagnosed and treated after you adopt. Behavior problems rarely show up in a week-long stay in a shelter. A rescue dog has usually lived in the home of a knowledgeable dog person for a few weeks or months before it's adopted. Rescuers with several years of experience in the breed know the common problems -- they may even know more about specific breed medical and behavioral problems than most vets, who cannot specialize in one breed. No one can predict your dog's future or spot every problem, but rescue is miles ahead of most places you could get a dog. A rescue has been evaluated by people who know whippets and who believe that your adoptee is a suitable pet. If she needs training, you'll be told what she needs and the training most likely has been started. If there are ways this animal is different or if she has special needs, you'll be told up front. Many people become interested in a breed for its appearance or because it is a current trend. They are often unpleasantly surprised when they discover that living with the breed is not at all what they expected! Rescuers can advise you on whether you really want a whippet. Every breed is right for someone, but no breed is right for everyone. Most important, rescue makes a real effort to match an adoptee to your household. That means you'll be asked lots of picky questions and possibly even be turned down for a particular dog -- but it also means that when you do adopt, you start with a much better chance of success. Not every dog is suitable for every home. WRAP would not place a very shy whippet in a noisy home with children or an energetic, boisterous dog with a frail person. The rescue whippet has already had at least one unsuccessful experience; his next home should be his permanent one. Your rescue dog will be up to date on all recommended shots, not just the legal minimum. You'll get a shot record and as complete a health record as possible, plus recommendations for future care. With a shelter
dog, you usually get a brief guarantee period. A rescue volunteer
will usually be there to help with any problems when they start
... before things get so bad you have to give the dog up. You
can call whenever you have a question or problem. And if it turns
out that you can't keep the dog, rescue will take him back at
any time...whether it's a week or five years from now. Why do you ask so many questions on the application? You may wonder when you talk to a WRAP representative if it wouldn't be easier to marry his/her daughter than to adopt a dog though him/her! Do you have a fenced yard? Have you had dogs before? What happened to them? Do you have children? What ages? Do you rent? Does your lease allow pets? And on, and on ... Next to having a child, getting a dog is one of the most demanding things most people do and there can be problems when people don't realize how big a commitment it is. Because the commitment is lifelong, a dog should never be adopted on a whim ... you may move on to other interests next year, but you still have a living, feeling animal who needs your love and attention as much as he did the day you brought him home. Many people who believe they know what a dog needs are remembering a childhood pet who was cared for by mom and dad, and during a time when things were simpler. All breeds have specific needs. For example, a whippet must have a fenced area to run in at least three or four times a week and must never be off leash except in such an area. Whippets are not "yard dogs" and they need lots of human contact. Because of the high prey drive, they may kill other pets that run from them. The questions asked help both the rescuer and the adopter recognize possible problems in these and other areas before they develop. And sadly, there are a few people who want dogs for all the wrong reasons--for example, dog fighting or for "baiting" fighting dogs--and those people can be weeded out through a comprehensive interview process. Some rescuers require a home visit. You may feel a bit defensive, as if a social worker is checking on your children. Don't be offended. These visits are just the last step in assuring that you and the rescuer have covered all the bases. Did you know there was a hole under the fence in the backyard? Have you thought about how your new dog might react to the aggressive fence-fighter next door? Are you sure you won't mind a white dog on that new black sofa? Rescue dogs are already 'second chance' dogs; the questions are part of an attempt to get these deserving animals into the best possible and permanent homes. Don't hesitate to ask the reason for a question or to add information. For instance, you may live in an apartment, but near a park where you could take the dog to exercise. Most rescue organizations say they require a fenced yard, but if your last dog died at age 16 and you gave all his walks on a leash every day of his life, speak up! In asking
these questions, rescuers are not trying to be difficult; they
very much want your home to be one of the success stories. Most
are flexible, at least to some extent, and every case is different.
Please be patient with the questions and understand that they
are only asked to ensure the best for both you and the dog...to
spare both of you the heartbreak of an adoption that doesn't work.
If this is a dog that was unwanted, why do I have to pay for it? You might think giving a home to a dog no one else wants is enough. Many people expect rescue dogs to be free. Here are some typical rescuer costs: For the first
month, every rescue whippet needs:
In addition
to the above, many rescued dogs also require:
And then there are the nickel and dime ongoing supplies -- shampoos, toys, treats, vitamins, plus the one-time costs of crates, mats, beds, grooming equipment, fencing, food and water bowls, etc. All of this comes out of the rescuer or rescue organization's budget up front. Most of it will never be recovered, but if the adoption fees take care of the 'big stuff,' the rescue can take in one more dog! You can imagine
how things go. One whippet arrives in good health, housetrained,
and with no behavior problems, up to date on vet work (from a
good owner who is, perhaps, moving overseas) and goes out to someone
on a waiting list within three weeks. Maybe he was even dropped
off and picked up at the rescuer's house. Very little expense.
But next comes an older dog, needing a spay, heartworm treatment,
and other medical work. She must be picked up in a distant city
and because she needs confidence building and since older dogs
aren't in great demand, she stays a year before being placed.
Total donation for both dogs, $300 each; total costs well over $1000.
WRAP appreciates extra donations if you can afford them!
For the same
reason you want to adopt: They love the dogs. Many whippet rescuers
are also breeders and are committed to maintaining the breed they've
chosen. It is a way of giving something back to the dogs that
have provided so much joy over the years. Still others enjoy working
with lots of different dogs, many of whom have special training
needs. And there is a unique sense of fulfillment in seeing a
frightened, unhappy, and sometimes sick animal come into the program,
gradually improve, and finally leave to become a healthy, happy,
and beloved member of a very special family. All rescuers get
a lot of satisfaction from helping good dogs and good people find
happiness together. |
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