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Meet my Dachshund Rescue Boys, Rudy and Elliot Dachshund Rescue is near and dear to my heart. All-breed and mixed-breed Rescue is where I got my start in dogs when I was only 18 years old. After Rudy came into my life, I eventually concentrated on Dachshunds only, just because it was very difficult for me to go into a shelter and worry about every single dog in there. I thought that by concentrating on Dachshunds, it would reduce my workload. Unfortunately, that was not true at all. A couple of years ago, after being active in Rescue for over 14 years, I sadly hung up my Rescue hat. I needed a break from the day to day stress of juggling dogs in foster homes, dealing with people who wanted to get rid of their dogs and trying to find homes for the older dogs. However, I still help where I can and I will always be a strong supporter of reputable Rescue. There is a huge need for support for Dachshund Rescue. This doesn't mean you have to actually go out and adopt a Rescue Dachshund, though that would be great! Here are some simple ways you can help Dachshund Rescue: #1: Support ethical, reputable, knowledgable breeders ONLY. For more on how to recognize the difference, click here. Do not buy dogs from people who do not regularly show and finish titles on the majority of their dogs. DO NOT buy from pet stores. DO NOT buy from backyard breeders - people who just have litters to support their income or because they think "Suzie" is so great, that they want more puppies "just like her" (how many kids do you know who are "just like" their parents?!?). These sources of Dachshunds do not generally have any knowledge of genetic health issues or conformation (fancier-speak for structure). They breed without any thought to temperament. They generally don't care what happens to the dogs after they are sold. They do not require you to return the puppy (at ANY age) to them if you are no longer able to keep the puppy. These Dachshunds account for 95% of the Dachshunds in Rescue and if people like this didn't breed Dachshunds, Rescue would not be so burdened and overwhelmed. #2: Consider adopting a Rescue while you wait for the coat/size/color/gender you want from a reputable breeder. Most good breeders don't have puppies all the time, so this is a good way to help temper your weiner-lust (haha!) while you are patient for that dog of your dreams from a reputable breeder. Most Dachshunds do better in pairs, anyway. They are usually very social and enjoy the company of other dogs just as much as that of their people. #3: Talk to others about what you have read here and encourage people who want to "just breed one litter" to reconsider. Feel free to send them to me and I would be happy to talk to them. If people are really serious about learning how to breed responsibly, I will bend over backwards to help them get started in showing and get good dogs. #4: Donate time or money to Rescue. There are lots of things that Rescue needs help with: transporting dogs, fostering, education, home visits. Money is always needed, as the vetting for most dogs costs far more than the Rescue can ever recoup in an adoption fee. If you feel uncomfortable giving cash, give gift cards to pet supply stores or find out what veterinarian your local Rescue uses and purchase a spay/neuter or dental cleaning from that vet. Also, be patient with the people doing Rescue as you offer to help. It is ironic, but very often these people who need volunteer help so badly are so overwhelmed with the day to day care of the dogs, that they have very little time to get volunteers trained. #5: Buy a great little Dachshund Rescue pin here:  What age is best? Consider an older Dachshund if you would like to Rescue. Rudy didn't come into my life until he was 8 years old and he was the dog of a lifetime. What a treasure he was! The idea that an older dog cannot acclimate into a new household, etc. is such a falacy. The advantages of an older dog are numerous, but the biggest is that you already know what personality you have when you take the dog home. Puppies are not "clean slates"; they come with their own baggage, you just don't usually know what it is until *later*. And most people aren't half as good at puppy raising as they think they are. The first year of a puppy's life is hard work! The adults I have taken in my home have been far easier to integrate than the puppies. Rudy moved in like he had lived with me his entire life. Reputable Rescue? Just like breeders, not all rescuers are created equally! There are good Rescues that put the dogs first and there are not so good Rescues that put themselves and their own feelings and/or financial gain ahead of the dogs' welfare. Here are links to my two favorite National Dachshund Rescue groups. One is a group of financially independent regional Rescues and the other is a network of people who only do Rescue in the name of the National group. Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue  Almost Home has a GREAT story on pet stores....please read it here. Also, there is another source for dogs that need homes that can include listings from national & regional groups and private citizens: The Dachshund Rescue Web Page One Last Thought... When looking at all of these Dachshunds listed all over the country, please do try to adopt from a *local* group. Admittedly, there are areas of the country that thankfully are not innundated with Dachshunds needing homes and those folks will of course have to travel. However, most people are not in that situation. There is no reason to adopt a smooth red Dachshund from Massachusetts if you live in Southern California! There are plenty of smooth red Dachshunds in California to choose from. Or if there aren't, there soon will be! Unless you are personally picking up the dog, it is usually very difficult to get a dog from one area of the country to another via volunteer resources. Let's save those volunteer resources for the dogs that are special needs and difficult to place. Not to mention that if the dog you adopt from all the way across the country doesn't work out, how do you get the dog back to the Rescue from whence he came? That doesn't even consider the stress to the animal from being handed off from person to person. As you can imagine, this can quickly become a logistical nightmare and it really is best to adopt locally whenever possible. Adopt a Rescue Dachshund - The Life You Improve May Be Your Own!! |
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©2003-2006,
Dawn-Renée Mack and Ruger Dachshunds.
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