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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Sara while I somewhat understand your point, I
can't agree with everything you are saying.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>I have been rescuing critters since I can
remember. I reunited 100's of dogs with their
owners, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>some lived out their lives with me and
others found new homes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>I always make flyers with a picture of the face,
the area I found them and the date found. There</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>are special things that I do leave off that are
unique markings, a crooked tooth, etc that only the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>owner will know. Every animal has
a unique characteristic that makes them unique. I put these</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>flyers everywhere. I notify animal
control, the SPCA, Human Societies and lost and found ad in </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>the paper, use the internet lost pet sites, vets
offices and have the pet scanned for a microchip. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>I believe the more exposure you have the better
your chances of reuniting a lost pet with their family.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>If one of the gang was lost I would hope that
someone would take the time to do the same for me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique> </FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique>I will never use the name of the dog they
tell me during the call. They have to </FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT size=2
face=Antique>meet me at a public place </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique>where I watch the
interaction between them. I always thoroughly interview
</FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique>them to see if they really
want </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique>their pet back.
Sometimes I find that they really don't want them and though it may take awhile,
like in</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Ralphie's case of 8 months, I find that
perfect family that will love them Furever.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>As to letting them go to the pound. That
would absolutely be a very last resort for me! Look how</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>the how the laws for some states are changing in
regards to the holds on lost dogs before they euthanize.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Then you also have the disease that run rampant
in pound situations. BHS here in my county had </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>distemper run through just a few years
back. Many of those animals died. Kennel cough and parvo
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>are now considered to be </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Antique>normal in these situation. What is the chance that these
dogs are going to </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>contract these diseases and </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Antique>the rescue pulling them are then going to be out thousands in
medical bills. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>I have asked our local SPCA </FONT><FONT
size=2 face=Antique>to call me if they had someone bringing in a basset before
they take it in the </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>back to a kennel. I offered
</FONT><FONT size=2 face=Antique>to foster at my own expense and was told
NO. They informed me that bassets </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>were <U>usually</U> adopted </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Antique>quickly. (Operative word here is USUALLY.) The
longer a animal is in a kennel, the higher</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>the exposure risk to disease. In
my mind would it not be better for the basset to be in a loving home, not
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>exposed to diseases, </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Antique>then possibly die of kennel cough,parvo or worse? I
even offered to bring in great photos and </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>bring the basset </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Antique>in if there was interest and still NO. The only time I
could pick up a basset if it were unadoptable,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>if </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Antique>GGBR was
accepting it or I was adopting the basset myself.
GRRRRR. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Yes I realize that we all take a risk when we
bring in an a homeless animal to our home but that is what rescue</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>is all about. We do what we can to protect
our babies at home and deal with it. How many of us have gone to
shelters,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>puppy mills, people homes, etc. and have no idea
what state of health these rescues are in or diseases they have,
not</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>to mention the psychological damage we will be
faced with? Is it really any different than the lost or homeless
pet</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>wandering the street? They all need love
and care. That is what we that rescue do. We take those risks
willingly</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>to give those we rescue a chance at Life and
Love.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Stepping off my soapbox....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>Karen and The Dog House Gang</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique>(whewwwweee dat Momma onna rant huh? we
bedder take we a liddle nappy fur a bitty bit.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Antique> </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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