OES on Craigs List...
Somebody is trying to sell a dog? Sometimes, maybe BUT, I was thinking of our sweet Anna tonight.. She was on Craigs List for a hundred dollars(I think) I emailed the owner and explained rescue to her and she met me a few days later at work to bring me the punkin..she never asked for the 100 dollars She brought her to me and she hugged her, cried as she said goodbye...  The girl that brought her to rescue was a baby herself... This is a picture of our Annabelle....(who is in a wonderful new home) http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15599618 I guess I am saying this to point out that not all owners know how to re home their dogs if they need to... Any ideas on how to make rescue an easier route? I hope none of us ever have to be in the position but, it does happen... What can we(the oes community) do to make it easier? + |
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| I think it depends on the owner's objective. Some people truly care about their OES but just can't keep him/her. Others are only interested in recouping money spent or making money. Others still just want the dog out now so the first person to show up gets him/her. I've seen people with good intentions shame an advertiser about selling their dog. I've seen a group of people swoop in and pressure an advertiser saying if they loved their puppy, they should give it to rescue. All communication stopped after that puppy fiasco... any hope of helping the man rehome his puppy properly ended. Many people will choose to seek the assistance of OES rescues, others never will. We need to respect people's freedom to choose so I think the answer is simply sharing information with the advertiser AND sharing ads with rescues so they can make the offer of rescue assistance personally and quietly behind the scenes. Helping people who want to rehome their own dog do it a little better the first time around so today's purchase doesn't end up tomorrow's neglected dog needing rescue assistance. We're trying to do this by providing a list of questions owners can ask potential buyers/adopters AND also sharing the OES.org list of rescue contacts so they know that rescue may be a option. http://www.untilyoufindme.com/Rehoming- ... eepdog.htm I just did this a couple of hours ago with a free OES in Texas. The family wrote back saying they had found the boy a home in town... at least they knew their options. The other thing that I hope we can work on is to somehow share rescue contact information and the OES.org website with the NEW family that bought or adopted the OES in case they need help. After a dog is sold or rehomed privately, a new family might be stuck with a dog they simply weren't prepared for. This might include simply asking the advertiser to share information included in the email. |
| Thanks Jaci! Ron has oes.org cards that he shares to give out to people too!  |
| Wondering how we could get a card in someone's hands... It's surprising sometimes how few people know that OES rescue might be an option. |
| I agree that some folks don't know what to do and think a shelter will make sure a dog gets a good home (yeah right) I am speaking for all breeds. OES rescue is not as packed as other breeds and sometimes there is just not room. and yes people get a dog have no clue what they are getting into and want to make the money back. I have never had to rehome a dog but have places for all my dogs to go in case something would happen to me and hubby, he would take care of my guys. |
| Sometimes a shelter is the first place that people think of when needing their dog rehomed and not all are willing to work with rescues. Trying to develop a good rapport with shelters and humane societies has been key in getting many of our dogs into rescue. We don't try convincing them we can do a better job of placing the dog but instead ask them if we can help them place an OES in their facility. If they are unwilling or unable to do that we often send our own approved applicants directly to the shelter in hopes that they can adopt the dog for themselves. Becoming partners with area all-breed rescues or other breed-specific rescues can be very beneficial as well. We've had people say "My friend works for a rescue and said to Google OES Rescue. We didn't know such a thing even existed!". Becoming known to veterinarians is very helpful as well. One dog in particular was taken to the vet to be euthanized when the owner was given our name and number and quickly contacted us. Education here is key. Not everyone cares about getting money for their beloved pets although some do. You're not going to change their minds anyway.  |
 Very good ideas Nita, thanks! |
| Getting the message out there is so important. 6 1/2 years ago, I didn't know OES rescues existed! Maggie McGee IV wrote: We don't try convincing them we can do a better job of placing the dog but instead ask them if we can help them place an OES in their facility. If they are unwilling or unable to do that we often send our own approved applicants directly to the shelter in hopes that they can adopt the dog for themselves. "It doesn't matter WHO saves the dog, it's that the dog was saved." It's truly about the dog. You find different workarounds for the dog's sake. I like your "outside the box" ideas because they have helped properly place dogs... dogs not even in your care and control.  |
| I also fostered an OES from a vet's office - I've never seen a dog in worse shape. But am glad I was here to help; after 3 months of tlc she went home with a wonderful family. Like Nita, I gave all the shelters my card so if they would like help placing a sheepdog, they can call me. I even gave the other rescues my card - boxer, english spaniel, min pin, and several others in the event they find an oes needing a home. |
| It's heartbreaking to us when someone is forced to surrender their beloved pet. In a recent case she was a pampered member of the family until divorce left the primary caretaker to work 12-14 hrs. per day x 6 days a week. Before people are quick to judge such a person please know that they had the dog's best interest at heart. We make a point of forwarding photos and stories to surrendering owners when they want them. It's very comforting to them and the adoptive family is usually so thrilled to have the dog come into their lives that they are happy to provide us with updates. It's even more heartbreaking when the surrendering family just hands you the dog on a leash and walk away unfazed. They are giving someone else the opportunity to give their dog a life they could not and should be commended for that. Something that's really hard to convey to adoption applicants is that a particular dog may not be well-suited to their family. If someone applies for an adult male OES for instance, they sometimes are very miffed when a dog fitting that description lands on Petfinder with our rescue and they aren't chosen as the adoptive family. Never mind that the family doesn't have a fenced yard and the dog is a "runner" or they have other pets and the dog must be placed as an only pet. Or the dog is big and rambunctious and they have toddlers in the home. Or an older dog can't climb many stairs or be left inside throughout an entire workday and they have a multi-level home and work long hours. So many things that people don't take into consideration that rescues must. We've disappointed many people for this reason but in our hearts know that we've placed the dog in the best possible home. It's hard for people to understand that "wanting" something doesn't necessarily make it "happen". Unfortunately, no matter what is said some people will hold a grudge because they were turned down for a particular dog. OES rescues in the US are lucky in that most have great working relationships with other OES rescues. It's better to refer qualified prospective adopters to other rescues than to have them become frustrated and buy a puppy off the internet. One way or another they are going to get a dog and most aren't willing to wait for the right one to come along. Not many breed-specific or all-breed rescues seem to have such good working relationships as most of our OES rescues so we're very lucky in that respect.  |
Maggie McGee IV wrote: Something that's really hard to convey to adoption applicants is that a particular dog may not be well-suited to their family. If someone applies for an adult male OES for instance, they sometimes are very miffed when a dog fitting that description lands on Petfinder with our rescue and they aren't chosen as the adoptive family. Until a family sees a new dog's limits or challenges, they just don't understand why a particular dog may not be right for them. They may be under the belief that a dog is a dog is a dog... just like the last one they shared their lives with. If they never had a dog that resource guarded, it's an eye opener when they try to take something away from the dog. Or toss a new dog in that hates other dogs and they'll begin to understand that they've got to use doors, gates and other barriers in order to have safety, peace in the home and to avoid dog fights with blood and stitches. Been there!! Live it and you won't want to "be there" again. Or keep a pristine home and the new dog has housetraining problems or has separation anxiety and chews. Experience a dog peeing on beautiful hardwood floors for a year and people might begin to see the dog without the rose colored glasses. Again, been there. It's got to be a match for everyone in the home and the new dog. We base our opinions largely on what we've experienced... if we haven't experienced it, how do we really know? Nita, we should find a way to share with potential adopters what life will be like with the wrong dog in the home.  |
Quote: We've disappointed many people for this reason but in our hearts know that we've placed the dog in the best possible home. It's hard for people to understand that "wanting" something doesn't necessarily make it "happen". To me I've always seen rescue groups to be the voice/advocate for these fuzzy babies that they do not have for themselves. We've rescued 5 OES and only two have been through what I would consider "semi-traditional" rescue and that was Mini Moose and our most recent rescue was a foster fail with Noel. Back in 2000 we attempted to help a rescue group by fostering Chynna Bear (failed). We did not have the support of what I see now as organized rescue, had no idea that this website or the OES List existed. Today you can Google OES rescue and you get lots of links to follow that can help people reach a local rescue group. I have let the local shelter know that if they have an OES come in to give me a call. They are willing to work with rescue. I also have a friend who is the Animal Control officer in the next county over. She knows to call us if any OES show up. (She's the reason we have Ralph!) I agree with what's been posted about communication. Along with the Shelters and Vet's offices, contact the police departments. We take a lot of animal complaints each month. Educate the officers about rescue groups for all breeds. This will give them options to offer people who may need to surrender their pets. My hats off to you who do rescue every day. Maybe one day we'll be able to do more. Right now the inn is full between the children, cats and current OES recues! |
| I think that a very important element of this that all sheepie (or any dog) lovers can help with is with spreading information. Sheepies are so attention attracting, that every walk, trip to petco, etc is a chance to talk about your dog. So if you have gotten a dog from rescue, or taken fosters, or whatever, this is a great way to tell folks what that means. I really think many folks just don't know (as others have said) what rescues do, or why. Unfortunately (in my area at least) some confusion has been caused by people who call what they do "rescue", when in fact they are just collecting and rehoming dogs (with no vetting, spaying or home screening for instance) and many people are confused by what the term really means. When people ask me about my dogs I try to talk a bit about how and why Abby came to me through rescue and why if they go that rout they may have to wait a while to find the right match. |
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