Hi all,
I have been involved with general animal rescue for many years so am pretty experienced. I have noticed that there seem to be quite a few independant breed rescue groups around, what does everyone think of this?
I'm seriously considering starting up a home rescue for Chihuahuas. I am of course aware of the emotional, practical and financial implications.
It goes without saying, all healthy Chi's would be neutered before going to new homes.
I wouldn't expect the "official" breed rescues to be supportive, but I guess there is nothing to stop me going ahead?
Thoughts appreciated :)

Rescue, whether large or small, can be a very difficult and upsetting thing as you will no doubt already know. If you feel there is a need for anoth rescue for chi's then go ahead. You would have to make sure you get advise on correct procedures and wordings for release forms etc.
good Luck if that's what you choose to do

Grace

I started up my own rescue 8 years ago its been hard work but ive never regretted it I would be happy to advise you if you like my details are in my profile.

mattie
sorry this has nothing to do with the above question. i logged onto your site a few weeks back in ref to cocoa mulch whilst reading this i recieved a phone call from my partner to say he had two bags of the stuff. needless to say he took it back. a big thank you for the warning
emma

Im glad you did Emma

I would advise you to work with Chi rescue, as I am sure they would like more foster homes. Setting up on your own just fragments things, whereas having one main contact for the breed, who then pass onto local Regional rescue workers ensures that people know where to go.

Thank you mattie for your kind offer of help and advice, I will certainly keep that in mind.
Brainless - I would not want to foster for Chihuahua rescue as they do not routinely neuter the dogs that they rehome. Though I'm sure they believe that this in the dogs best interests....I could never go along with such a thing and would not be happy working with them.
It would though seem the sensible thing to do, if it wasn't for this important matter.
Cheers

I would imagine that Chi rescue like my own breed feel that what little funds they have are best spent on the dogs rather than on the very expensive neutering. I would imagine they have nothing against neutering as such, but it would be a huge drain on resources.

The cost of one spay would feed the rescues for an awful long time. :(

Neutering costs is money spent on the dogs :)
Money well spent, in the opinion of most people involved with dog welfare!
Yes it is an expensive procedure but the benefits to the dog involved make it worthwhile - in my opinion anyway :)
Chihuahuas as you can imagine cost very little feed, neutering and general vet fees would indeed be the drain on resources. But that's the way it is...

But it is a cost best borne by the new owner, as after all they are getting a companion for very little compared to purchasing a puppy. Puppy owners also have to foot the cost of neutering themselves, so I don't see why the new owners shouldn't be left to do it, thereby leaving the scarce rescue rresources to stretch furrther.

I suppose one way round it would be for the New owner to pay for the neutering before the rescue released the dog to them. Often breed rescues do not have kenneling so rely 0n various breed enthusiasts, and often the dogs go straight from old to new home, minimising the costs to rescue to transport costs.

"I suppose one way round it would be for the New owner to pay for the neutering before the rescue released the dog to them." - Brainless

My sentiments exactly Brainless! Adopting a rescue pure bred dog, should not be seen as a way of obtaining a cheap pedigree. If people are unwilling to pay neutering fees before adoption, then I can guarantee they wont pay them afterwards! The same could of course be said about vaccinations and microchipping.
I suggest that those rehoming entire, unvaccinated dogs, as some breed rescues do, are doing the animals no favours :(

The only way to ensure a dog won't be to used to breed is to have it neutered. No two ways about it. Witholding papers is a complete waste of time, so many pups are DLRC papered :(
People refusing to pay a realistic adoption fee (covering at least neutering plus a donation to the rescue) either cannot afford to care for a dog, or are unwilling to do so...
We all know people are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for "pedigree" puppies, so why should the older "rescues" be practically given away? I appreciate that oldies or those with chronic health probs are are very difficult to place. However with many of the smaller breeds especially, rescue dogs are much easier to place. Many have considerable waiting lists.

Hi Honey, for the past 4/5wks I have been looking after 2 males, 3 bitch puppies approx age now 7/8mths. I male is mongrel about 2yrs the other is a GSD around 5/7yrs. All been abandoned/born in the wild. I have kept the gsd & have no intention of having him neutered. He was unfortunately boostered by the rescue group a few mths ago but I will also not be giving him any further boosters. He is a lovely dog & life hasn`t been kind to him & I would not like to further that unkindess by assaulting his body & health with surgery & vaccines without evidence that would indicate it necessarry. All the evidence points towards not neuturing or boostering while an animal is not in good health, which obviously (most but not all) stray/abandonded animals do not have!
I also think I`m doing him a big *favour*(your words not mine) by not neuturing him or giving him any toxic chemicals unnecessarily.

Christine, Spain.

Many general rescues have a policy of not releasing a dog until it has been neutered (NCDL, for example). The 'donation' required covers the cost of neutering. The trouble with leaving it up to the new owner is that they often then don't neuter. It's not a problem if the owner is responsible - but if all dog owners were responsible, there wouldn't be so many dogs in rescue. There is also a real danger, in the case of young pedigrees, that they end up in the hands of puppy farmer, either directly or indirectly - quite a few rescues don't home check.

I have pedigree rescues (and I foster rescues), one of which is not neutered - aged 5. I won't neuter him, because he is so good with other dogs (whatever I bring home!) that I do not want to risk changing his behaviour. He also came from a backyard breeder and I suspect (despite what she told me) that he was rehomed because he 'did not do the business'. We have met bitches on heat on walks and he shows not the slightest interest. Any other dog, I would neuter and bitches, no question.

Well Honey, i tend to agree with you.
I think that ALL breed rescue dogs should be neutered.
My breed rescue don't neuter.
Personally i think that this should be charged to the new owner, but done before the dog is picked up.
In our area it is not that expensive to get done. I've just paid 40 pounds each to have my males done.
There are so many irresponsible dog owners out there, who wouldn't give a second thought to mating their dog. People want a puppy off their beloved companion, or not knowing about the breed, think that their dog is the best specimen they've ever seen. People let their dogs roam, it only takes one go and then there's another batch of puppies needing homes.
There are far too many unwanted dogs in this world, lets leave the breeding to the knowledgable people who know what they're doing.
And the breeders don't take dogs from the breed rescues, they're normally the ones who run them.
I class myself as a responsible pet owner, but my dogs have got out accidentally before (fortunately without any mishaps), but i've been lucky. It does happen.
If you want to start rescuing, go for it. You know what you're taking on. I'm sure you'll make an excellent job of it.
Good luck.

Hi Snoopy, so even tho you may not know the health history of the animal, or regardless of it, all rescue dogs should be subject to surgery for neutering? Surely it would be best to wait & evaluate the animals health status for a few mths before undertaking major surgery, in bitches at least.

Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine,
No one would advocate neutering an ancient or obviously ill animal. When any animal arrives in a rescue situation, it should be assessed before surgery or indeed rehoming. Realistically, we are talking weeks, not months, unless a bitch comes into season while in care.
If she arrived in season then I would, with veterinary approval, spay early in the pregnancy. Yes slightly more risky, but, no more of a risk then letting the pregnancy continue. Especially small breeds, when sire unknown.


A pre-operative blood screen, if worried, will give a good indication of an animals health status.
I simply can't see the point in waiting months before neutering what appears, on veterinary examination, to be a healthy bitch. Would you advocate waiting months before you rehomed the dog?
All the better general dog rescues in the UK routinely neuter, with good result. I've not heard friends involved with dog rescue having problems. I never experienced any when I regularly fostered and neutered.
Yes, there will always be the occaisional problem, but this occurs with pet dogs who are neutered. Bitches may experience problems or die during whelping too :(

As with humans, the risks are greatest with being pregnant. Most research shows that spaying is better for bitches. Compare spaying with pregnancy - spaying is far, far safer.

I never said that i agreed with neutering an unwell or old dog.
Does that mean rescues give dogs straight to people who want them without even assessing whether they're suitable for the dog?
Of course they do. But they would never pass on an unwell dog, or would they?
I believe that if you don't breed from your dog then it should be neutered, that is my personal opinion.
There are thousands of unwanted dogs in this country alone, some will never get homes, alot will be put to sleep.
For other dog owners out there who are like me, it's a very sad sight. Unfortunately we are in a minority. People don't see dogs like we do. They just get rid when they can't be bothered any more.
At least if we neuter as many as possible, it will go some way to helping the problem.

Yes, neutering is the only way to ensure that any dog will not be bred from. As it is seen time and time again, not all would be owners are what they seem. Pedigree dogs are especially vulnerable to falling prey to "back yard breeders" and "puppy farmers."
It is imperative that they should be protected from this and neutering them before rehoming is the ONLY way to GUARANTEE it.