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The Puppy Guide >> Getting A Puppy >> Puppy Rescue
Puppy Rescue
Rescuing a puppy can be very rewarding. Many puppies and dogs are abandoned or unwanted every year, with charities and dog lovers taking them in until they can find them a suitable home for them.
Puppies and dogs are rescued or abandoned for a variety of reasons; it does not necessarily mean that the dog will have been mistreated. More commonly there are social and economic reasons for dogs being abandoned e.g. separation of a family, death or illness of the owner, a change to the owner's job commitments, an unwanted gift etc. Occasionally a dog may have been rescued due to ill treatment or the dog may have been found to have social or mental problems.
You can rescue a dog from rescue homes, such as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, or from smaller rescue centres or individual dog rescuers. It is fairly rare to find puppies that need rescuing; most rescue dogs are adults. The larger dog homes tend to deal with a variety of breeds, whereas smaller rescue centres or individuals are more likely to deal with one specific breed.
In order to re-home a dog you will usually have to undergo a home assessment. This will involve a member of the rescue home or other suitably qualified person coming to your house to check you understand what is involved in looking after a dog and that your home and lifestyle are suitable. This process is important to match you with an appropriate dog and to avoid the dog needing to be re-homed time after time.
The home visit will involve finding out information such as:
- How much room you have for a dog and whether you have a suitable, enclosed garden.
- How much time you will be able to commit to having a dog and whether it would be left alone for long periods.
- Whether you have children, and if so, what age they are.
- Your understanding of the level of commitment involved in rescuing a dog.
You will usually be required to make a donation to the rescue home for taking on a dog, however this normally works out considerable cheaper than if you were to buy a pure bred puppy from a breeder.
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