Rescue4theLuvofDogs

One of the more popular breeds is the Lab. Unfortunately, they are also most likely to end up in a rescue group. People just don't realize how much energy they have. Being very energetic, they need lots of exercise.

Labs come in three colors: black, yellow and chocolate. They have good dispositions, are very social, fun-loving, and great family pets. Labradors are smart, eager to please and are easily trained. They are also easily bored. Once given a job, a troubled Lab will settle in with it's new family and become quite devoted.

Most Labradors are given up due to their need to have a job. If not given mental stimulation, they can become destructive. Coming home to a redecorated home can be costly and unappreciated by the owner.

Before considering a Lab, be sure you are prepared to meet their high energy needs. Do some research first. Contact different Labrador breed groups such as: The Labrador Retriever Rescue

Get some breed specific books. Learn about this wonderful breed before you buy or adopt. Here are some more popular books you might consider:
Guide to Owning a Labrador Retriever
The Ultimate Labrador Retriever
Breed Basics, The Labrador Retriever

You just made a step towards saving a dogs life. Way to go! Let's talk about what you should think about before adopting.

First and foremost, Get a dog for life. Are you prepared to care for your new dog and deal with potential problems? Are you ready for a 15+ year commitment? It's a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly. If you feel you're not ready-wait. There will always be a dog waiting for you.

Second, This bears repeating. Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a dog brings fantastic rewards. But, you need to be prepared to make the commitment of time, money, responsibility, and love-for the life of the dog. Please take your time and be sure before you adopt.

Third, Don't just go for the cute little bundle. There are some excellent older dogs who are very willing to give you all the love you need. In fact, they can be very grateful to receive the attention they never knew.

If you work all day a puppy isn't the best option. If you are quiet and laid-back, an active border collie is not the best choice. Consider what type person you are and what you are looking for in a dog.

Research the different breeds, remember not every Golden Retriever you see is the perfect family pet like you've always heard. Get to know the dog not just the breed.

Shelters want to help you find the right match as much as you do. So talk to them. Be open minded about what you want in a dog and the workers there will be able to guide you to the right decision. It's not so much about breed or age. Each dog has it's own personality. The workers at the shelter have gotten to know them. Ask questions and be honest.
Fourth, Expect an adjustment period. Give your new dog time to settle in.. Most likely he needs to learn to trust you first. Be careful not to force your love on him. I know it's hard not to give lots of hugs and kisses. But remember, you want them to feel comfortable with their new situation. You have lots of time ahead to reign down all kinds of attention.

Last, Research, research, research. There are many excellent books that have come out lately that can help you understand the way your dog thinks, especially a rescued/adopted dog. There are so many good ones to choose from. I highly recommend having something on hand to help you and your new friend adjust.

Congratulations, you saved a life.

There are several misconceptions about shelter dogs.

First, that there are no purebred dogs from shelters.
According to the ASPCA, 25% of dogs coming to the local shelters are purebred. One of the best ways to find a purebred dog is to go through a breed specific rescue. They specialize in certain dog breeds. There is a specific rescue for almost every breed of dog!

Second, dogs in shelters are "bad" dogs. They're there for a reason.
Most dogs in shelters are there because people got tired of taking care of them. Some of the most wonderful dogs are rescues.

Third, You can't train adult dogs.
Training an adult dog is just as easy as training a puppy. A lot of shelter dogs already know some commands and some are even house trained. Not to mention that they're adults. You don't have to deal with the puppy stages!

Fourth, The only way to get a puppy is from a breeder.
There are many puppies in shelters needing good homes. The fact is, many shelters and rescues (especially in rural areas) run out of kennel space pretty quick, and in order to continue rescuing dogs they are forced to euthanize many litters of puppies. Too many homeless dogs and not enough adopters this is the problem every rescue and shelter faces.

Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care!
I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair.
My body is aching, it's so racked with pain,
and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain.
That someone will love me and give me a home,
a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.

My last owner tied me all day in the yard
Sometimes with no water, and god that was hard.
So I chewed my leash, and God I ran away.
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now God, I'm tired and hungry and cold,
and I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.

They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones,while I run the streets just looking for bones! I'm not really bad, God, please help if you can,or I have become just a "Victim of Man!"
I'm wormy dear God and I'm ridden with fleas,
and all that I want is an Owner to please!

If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good, and I won't chew their shoes, and I'll do as I should.

I'll love them, protect them and try to obey....when they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay! I don't think I'll make it too long on my own, cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone.


Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
cause I'm so afraid God, that I'm gonna die.
And I've got so much love and devotion to give,
that I should be given a new chance to Live!
So dear God, please answer my prayer,
and send me someone who will REALLY care..

That is, Dear God, if YOU'RE REALLY there!

Unknown

The number of pets in need of rescuing and adopting is unimaginable. Out of 8-12 million animals, not just dogs, that enter shelters each year approximately 5-9 million are euthanized. Why? Because, 80% of people get their pets from anywhere BUT a shelter. With so many unwanted animals shelter pet's have less than a 50/50 chance of making it out alive.

Puppy mills are a big contributor of many unwanted dogs. Puppy mills are simply in it breeding for the money. Dogs are kept in unbelievably horrible conditions, forced to have puppies at every heat cycle, not given proper medical treatment the list goes on and on. Many people don't realize that ALL dogs found for sale at pet stores are from puppy mills. All of them! The store won't tell you where they come from, the employees probably don't know the truth; they may even come with "papers". Know this, a responsible breeder would NEVER send their pups to a pet store.

Spaying and Neutering (going back to overpopulation) is most important. It's not only healthier for your dog, spayed and neutered dogs are healthier and also, have a reduced or eliminated risk for certain types of cancer and other problems. Even though you always watch your dog, accidents happen. 'Fido' may sneak out one day and before you can find her she's already met 'Toby' next door. You may think, "its only one litter" but even if you find all of Fifi's puppies new homes, that's more dogs that could have been adopted from a shelter. More dogs that probably were put to sleep at a shelter.

There is a documentary out called Off the Chain. It's about American Pit Bulls, their history and the underground world of dog fighting. Fourteen years of undercover work has gone into this documentary. This 60 minute film is on the Must See List of the Humane Society.

The author, Bobby J. Brown infiltrated the dog fighting world risking his own life in order to tell this story. It's unfortunate that the documentary was not well received until recently. Michael Vick's case of brutality concerning his dog fighting enterprise has stirred up the public bringing animal activists and protectors out screaming for Vick to get the fullest penalty possible.

Now there is a move toward animal rights that should have been seen earlier. It took a high profile football player involved in dog fighting to get the deserved attention of the press and authorities. Make sure you check this documentary out. Buy a copy and pass it around or set up a showing in your home town. Do your part in stopping this terrible abuse of dogs.

Read the article in the Washington Post:
A Documentary With New Bite

Buy the Documentary:
Off The Chain

Did you know that the Pit Bull is not a breed but a mixture of breeds? Go to the Pit Bull Rescue Central and learn more about this breed that so many fear and hate. They are made up of three breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. More than 50% of the dogs found in shelters are Pit Bulls. In fact, I recently found out that the animal shelter nearest to me won't even try to adopt out a Pit Bull. They put them to sleep, period. That means puppies and adults. They say they can't trust the people who would adopt them.
But the fact is that Pit bulls make wonderful family pets in the right hands. Because they've been bred to fight, Pit Bulls need intelligent, responsible and dedicated ownership. Unfortunately, many people get these dogs because of their aggression. Despite the tendency to fight, these dogs have an extraordinary capacity to love people. Trained properly, Pit Bulls excel in a variety of activities. Believe it or not, more than 83% pass the American Temperament Test.
Despite the possibility of wanting to fight other dogs, they can be lovable family pets. Help protect this breed. Go to Pit Bull Rescue Central. See how you can help.
Fact:In the list of dogs most likely to bite, the Pit Bull is 4th from the bottom. The 2 breeds most likely to bite are: Labradors and Cocker Spaniels.

Are you guilty of loving your dog so much that you talk yourself into breeding them. It's easy to think you'll end up with one just like the one you've loved for so long. I can tell you from experience as a past breeder that it's not that easy. Besides, there is a big responsibility that comes with having pups.
Once you've decided to breed your beloved friend, you must first pick out an appropriate mate. That will cost money or usually pick of the litter. Then, you have the waiting period and the delivery.
The delivery is not always a simple thing. It can be dangerous. What if she has to have a C-Section? Not only is it more money but, it's possible you could lose your best friend. Believe me it's no picnic.
Then there's the puppies, raising them. You really should worm them starting at 3 weeks and at 2 week intervals after that. They need shots starting at 6 weeks. You'll need to wean them and make sure they get the proper nutrition until they are sold or given away.
What if you still have some after 8- 10 weeks? They aren't easy to sell after they start getting bigger and lose that cute puppy look. Are you going to take them to your local shelter because you couldn't get rid of them?
Finally, as a responsible owner/breeder, are you going to make sure your puppies go to qualified homes? How do you qualify them? Are your pups going to a lifetime home or a home that might get tired of a troublesome pup. Maybe your pups will go to a home that can toss aside a wonderful dog that they don't know how to train properly. Or it's possible one of your pups will be chained and ignored once it's no longer a cute puppy and the newness has worn off.
Do you think you can be 100% sure all your pups will go to loving homes where they will live until they die?
I may sound a bit cynical, but it's something you should be aware of before trying to replace your dog by breeding him/her.
A stud owner is even more responsible because male dogs can produce more puppies. Also, as owner of the stud, you won't have any say about where the pups go.
Having said all that, I'd like to encourage you to think long and hard before breeding. There are so many dogs that haven't found a loving home due to no fault of theirs. They are just one of millions. There are just not enough homes. So what is better: to produce more pups who may be bred later to produce more pups that might later be bred....or find a sweet dog who needs you as much or more than you need them. It's in your hands.