[Dailydrool] Rescue's Responsibility?

[Sherry]

"Cathy Blatz wrote:  'I can understand Rescue operations expecting breeders 
to take back their own puppies but I would like to see rescue organizations 
do more education on responsible pet ownership, too....' "

I can speak only for Ozark Mountain Basset Rescue, Inc. (OMBR) here, and  I 
can tell you that we have on many times paid vet bills for owners who for 
one reason or another, find themselves having to surrender their beloved pet 
because they can no longer care for it. With our help, they do get to keep 
their dog and, essentially, we've rescued another dog who would have 
suffered otherwise. Of course it's never a minor ailment, it's always 
something major like surgery or hw treatment.

We attend every function we can, and we have informational literature in our 
booth regarding spay/neutering and indiscriminate breeding. Becky Pomeroy's 
essay on whelping pups is standard fare, because if that doesn't scare the 
average pet owner, nothing will. It is in our mission statement that we work 
to educate people about the benefitis of altering and not breeding their 
pets.

As far as sponsoring a free spay/neuter clinic, that is way above our means. 
We currently are paying an average of almost $300/ dog due to our high 
heartworm incidence here (roughly 70% of our dogs were hw+ last year) and 
without the generosity of a couple of very nice vets who give us 
unbelievable discounts, we wouldn't be able to do what we do.  Our adoption 
fee is only $175 because if it was any higher than that we wouldn't be able 
to adopt them out in this area.  That additional $125/dog has to come from 
donations and fund raisers and there is very little left for projects such 
as a spay/neuter clinic.

But if a dog has to be returned to us, you can bet your bottom dollar we 
will take it back.  It's in our adoption contract that the dog MUST come 
back to us, no exceptions. All reputable breeders demand the same, as do all 
reputable rescues.

There is just so much a rescue can do. We can preach, harp, beg and plead 
with people not to breed their dog and to please have it altered, but 
usually it falls on deaf ears. Does this mean we give up? No.  We'll keep on 
trying to educate the public as best we can.

Nothing would please me more than to be able to educate the public so well 
that we rescues get to become extinct.

Sherry Faulkner, President
Ozark Mountain Basset Rescue, Inc.
Fayetteville, AR/Vinita, OK