The Shelter Calls

So, can you explain what happens when a dog is found in a shelter, and you get that phone call.......step by step? The call comes in, someone goes to the shelter to see the dog, dog released by shelter,(after exchange of funds?),dog taken to a vets, taken to foster home,....is that the steps? Can you enlighten me down to the smallest detail?

THE ANIMAL SHELTER CALLS : THEY HAVE A BOUVIER

Info to ask them while it's on *their* dime:

{Pam's note : *write* all the answers down on a pad to take with you as you go to the shelter and to become part of the dog's Rescue record ! ! ! }

• full name of shelter person you're speaking with!!!!
• information about the dog :
• male, female, spay/neuter ?? {Pam's note : on rare occassions this info will turn out to be wrong !}
• aproximate age {Pam : their guess can be very wrong.}
• estimated height and/or weight
• ears cropped or natural
• tail cropped or natural
• coat color
• physical condition (limping, hacking, eye infected, underweight, matted etc)
• Where Did Dog Come From? (owner surrendered or stray)
• when did he arrive?
• when will dog be released for adoption?
• {Pam : when do they intend to kill the dog if not bailed out ?}
• what background can they share?
• what is dog's personality like?
• is dog currently kenneled with other dogs? how do they interact?
• how do you know it's a Bouvier? does any of the staff think he's a Giant Schnauzer? {Pam : be sure to ask this very pleasantly : I generally say something like "with ungroomed dogs , it's not always easy to know what breed the dog is. why do you think it may be a Bouvier?"}
• what have they done to locate dog's owner?
• has anyone called on the dog?
• has anyone filled out form, interested in adopting him?
• will they do a phone "hold" until we can get there to pick him up?
• shelter hours, directions
• dog's impound number, kennel number
• what is their procedure to adopt the dog? remind them that you are Bouvier Rescue, you thoroughly prescreen adoptive families, and *always* spay/neuter before placing, and provide support for the life of the dog. {Pam : and they may ask you to fax them a copy of your club's 501c paper or tell them your 501c idnetification number.}
• Who else has met/handled this dog that you can speak to now (get more feedback)
• try to arrange everything over the phone with this one call (see phone scenario)
• is there a *direct* number to reach the shelter? (usually when you call the general number, you get minutes of automated information, then you're on terminal hold til a real person picks up!)
• explain your schedule {proceedure} : you will make some calls, call them back and let them know exactly who will be there to do whatever (paperwork, pick up dog etc)
.
• what is total adoption fee? - how does that break out? (some shelters release dog without neutering and charge you a refundable neuter deposit. others will neuter before even releasing to rescue and it is very inexpensive, much less than the vets we use! Always good to get breakout so you know how to figure costs which adoptive family {or your Rescue organization} will need to reimburse you for.)

GET ON THE PHONE {to arrange pick up, etc}:

• - call the person who needs to handle going to shelter, or whatever.
• - call the {boarding} kennel that works with you, explain rescue emergency : you might need a kennel space today (whenever), please stand by, where can I reach you at this time, etc.
• {Pam's note : boarding kennel is used if you don't have any foster homes available; obviously you would call your possible foster homes first to see if one of them can take the dog.}
• - call the groomer that works with you, same thing. {Pam's note : this may well be a club member, or the foster home may be doing the initial grooming.}

CLOSE YOUR EYES, TAKE A BREATH, AND THINK A MINUTE:

Run some scenarios thru your mind. will help you determine what is best.

IF THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THIS DOG *MIGHT* BE A GIANT SCHNAUZER :

• - call your contact for Giant Schnauzer Breed Rescue. - see if they can arrange for someone to see this dog and verify it is not a GS.
• - or send one of your own people who is able to tell the difference.

ONCE THINGS ARE BEING HANDLED, THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES ON LIST {of potential adopters}

Based on how much info you now have on the dog, you might immediately think of a particular family, or two, on your list {ie who would be especially suitable for this dog or good adopters generally}. I like to call the families at this point and give them the story, let them feel like they're participating and living it, get them emotional, get them into the ownership of the dog, but leave them with a very clear reminder that it is still too early to tell, you will update them once you know more, if they don't hear back from you by such and such time, by all means if they're too excited, they can call and pester for details. I don't do this to be cruel, several times I've called them back to say sorry, this is not the right one for you. Reason I do this is a) I want them to know I am working for them and thinking about them, b) I am verifying in my own way that I do not place any dog with any family {Pam's note : meaning that there is careful matchmaking for good compatibility between dog and family rather than placing a dog with any family that will take it}, c) by explaining why I am placing a dog with another family instead of them helps them understand more about dog-human interaction, how things match up. I always do what's best for the dog, not for the family. One family sent us a $25 donation with their rescue application, he thought surely that would move him to the "top of the list". Well, there is no top or bottom, it's all based on who matches up and I had to remind him of this, we appreciate the donation, but donations to not buy anyone extra rights or control over a matter, I don't care who they are or what their timeline is. So far, as often as I do call families maybe a little prematurely for the reasons stated above, I have never had anyone get upset or be bitter later on. The usual line is "oh rescue person, we are so glad we waited for Phydo, he really is the perfect dog for us and we hope Fluffy's family, the one we hoped to get earlier, is just as loved and happy as Phydo is!"

{Pam's comment : today, in 2003, one might use e-mail to send the preliminary information to all the families on the potential adopter list rather than phoning them. Faster, easier, cheaper. If one or two families seem to be exceptionally good matches or if there are one or two who are exceptionally good homes, then phoning them right away to give them a "jump start" towards adopting would make good sense.}

IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP {to the Shelter} TO DO PAPERWORK:

• always bring spare leash, collar and some treats.
• bring camera/camcorder (optional).
• go to shelter and do it yourself, or call someone {whom you can trust and whose judgement you trust } to do it for you (give person all the info you have)
• while you're there, ask to see the dog, see if they will bring him out of the kennel so you can do a prelim evaluation. Rare, but still can happen,
• {perhaps} you'll discover this is not a Bouvier at all, {Pam's comment : if so , phone the appropriate Rescue for whatever the dog really is, eg Giant, Old English, Portugese Water Dog, or whatever.}
• or {perhaps}, {tragically} this is not a placeable dog : maybe too aggressive/old, maybe obviously in great discomfort or pain, too many variables to list. Hasn't happened yet, but someday I'm sure I will have to make a tough decision and say euthanize the dog and put him at peace. {Pam's comment : unless there is essentially no doubt in my mind that the dog is too aggressive for an expereinced foster home to handle, I will take him home and give him one second chance. I joke that my standard is that the dog doesn't seem to be auditioning for a re-make of the climax scene of Old Yeller (the rabid dog). As to the ill or injured, most can be restored to health if you have a good vet and good financial support. the worst cases have already been killed by the shelter. As for age, to me it's never a reason to leave a dog to die.}
• fill out paperwork.
• introduce yourself to as many of the staff as you can. remind them you will always come when called (joke) but your 'stay' needs some polishing. Something to lighten their load, lift their spirits, and they will remember you. Also, next time they might be more accommodating cuz you are a fun break in their depressing job. make the common joke you hope to never see them again.
• always leave them fresh business cards, or little postcard notes you've typed up.
• verify once more what their procedures are, and what is going to happen from here. (this means YOU repeat the steps to them, make sure you got it right!)
• thank them one last time for handling a job most people can't deal with.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE SHELTER TO PICK UP THE DOG:

• follow above suggestions {under the previous section}.
• bring crate. if can't, at least lay sheets down {over your car seat} so you can toss them in the washer later and disinfect them. Dog might have fleas, get car sick, or stink like the dickens.
• keep voice neutral when meeting dog. do not walk up to the dog directly, dogs see this as a challenge. Walk to dog at a slight angle, instead of standing right in front of dog, stand to the side of him. Say hi.
• Follow shelter procedures, sign out and pay fees.
• Take dog to wherever you have pre-arranged (vet checkup, GS rescue for breed evaluation, groomer, your boss for temperament evaluation, foster home, whatever you've pre-arranged).

{further remarks}

{where to keep dog during initial foster period}

Personally, I *hate* the thought of keeping a dog outside in a kennel. But at least until you know it's safe for all those reasons previously mentioned... even if you have to constantly remind yourself you are doing this for the safety and welfare of not only your own dogs, but this rescue guy as well. What if for some unknown reason, your own dogs just hate rescue guy and hurt him? Until you have a chance to evaluate him a little bit, he may do something off the wall in the house and injure himself too.

If you do keep a rescue in the house, be sure to constantly supervise, usually you have no background of any bad habits! And I strongly believe in "hiding" while crating rescue guy for a spell, to see if he freaks out when isolated in a crate. If he appears to be okay, crate him in an isolated area for very brief periods of time just to be sure before ever leaving him crated with no one there to keep an eye on him. I'm sure other foster folks are less paranoid than me (ha).

Once you have all that paranoia/wonder-wonder stuff out of the way, you will have a mental blast playing "foster mommy". Amazing how all these dogs are the same breed, yet each and everyone is so unique and special, you get to experience behaviors and characteristics that your own dogs don't exhibit, it's exciting and new, and so wonderful to see the older dogs learn "new tricks" and house rules. Dogs are very smart, they pick up on ways of life so quickly; I only wish I could learn as fast as they!

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that when dealing with life forms, there is never only one way to do things. Whatever I've suggested may not be what's best for you or your rescue group.

        Ada Brann

• Sample Phone Conversation with the Shelter (shelter calling to say they have a dog of your breed ; how to elicit maximum cooperation through appropriate praise)