BREED RESCUE

BREED RESCUE :
how to start and run a successful program

by Sheila Boneham, PhD

Alpine Blue Ribbon books, $25

reviewed by Pam Green

This book does what the title promises, tells you the basics and basic issues and strategies for running a rescue program. Intended for breed specific rescue groups, but also very useful for individuals or for those doing multiple breeds or all-breed rescue.

Dr Boneham did much of her research for the book by utilizing the Dog-rescue e-mail list extensively. She posed all issues to the list and solicited opinions and strategies. So what you are getting in this book is based on a tremendous amount of experience by a wide variety of rescuers. She has been successful in addressing most of the common issues and presenting workable strategies. She has clearly indicated those issues that can be divisive or controversial to a rescue group -- ie chiefly those involving making the hard decisions about dogs with major behavior problems or major health problems. Throughout she indicates that not everyone adopts the same strategies and rules and that in many cases there are valid alternatives.

It seems to me that there is much more depth and detail on the organizational and people aspects of rescue than on the details of handling training, behavior and health. The latter are not neglected, but are not dealt with in greater depth than needed in view of the fact that most rescuers already have good knowledge of dogs and that there is a wealth of books addressing the dog issues. Most of us rescuers start out without a great deal of knowledge of the organizational and the people-handling aspects of rescue. (I sure as hell was profoundly lacking in these regards when I began and had to learn much the hard way!)

The book is very well illustrated with photos of rescued dogs who have found wonderful homes and often become dogs contributing back much to society. Some of these dogs had horrible histories but have triumphed over them.

• " Second Hand Dog" by Carol Lea Benjamin (review not yet written)