Breed rescue: The realities and the rewards.

Dear Daily Corgi Community,

I recently had a conversation with somebody who works in Corgi rescue and has for many years. 

Because I believe the words of this seasoned rescuer reflect the reality for many who work in rescue, I’ve chosen to publish them unedited and anonymously. 

There’s some real food for thought here.

Like everybody else, I am on a learning curve all the time.  As a result, my work here on The Daily Corgi continues to grow and evolve.   Input like this — direct, honest, heartfelt — will shape and inform the editorial choices I make, on both the blog and the facebook page.

The Daily Corgi has a role to play in educating, and I take that seriously. 

Thanks for reading, and for being a part of this community.
 

Laurie

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“You do a great job with your site. I know you bring happiness to many Corgi owners. I have to say I too am inundated with e-mail regarding dogs in shelters. We work hard to have a relationship with as many shelters as possible. Some are not rescue friendly. Others are only willing to release dogs they deem unadoptable. Many contact us about a dog for us to learn they are so very involved that we may or may not be able to save them. It is true that many of the shelters depend greatly on their pure bred dogs to lure people to visit their local shelter. The stories are endless, the change in staff frequent, rules for pulling dogs different at most every shelter. Navigating shelters has been probably the most difficult over all for most rescues to work with.

I would encourage those with big hearts to volunteer for their local rescue organizations. So many seem to care so greatly but do little to help. Many rescues need people to do home visits, identify dogs in shelters, transport dogs and all are greatly in need of foster homes. I can assure you that most organized rescues know about dogs before they are ever posted on lists. We work diligently to find out as much as we can about each dog and how we can help. We generally know which shelters are high kill and those that wish to place their own dogs. We depend on our great volunteers to help us pull dogs as quickly as we are able. We do need to secure foster homes prior to pulling dogs as they need a place to go.

Those that think rescue makes money would do well to give of herself to a rescue organization. All of our foster homes feed the dogs out of their own pockets. Many go far beyond providing a new collar, lead, bed and plenty of new toys. Rescue provides for all veterinary expenses, medications and any necessities a dog needs. We recently took in a dog with a spinal injury. You can well imagine that the surgery ate up many adoption fees. I recall taking in dogs that have been hit by cars, ones that needed bladder stone surgery, tumor removals, deaf dogs and blind dogs. Do we turn them away … no but offer them to continue a quality life. 

Our volunteers are priceless. They receive dogs with little to no history as to their temperament, quirks or behaviors. This takes a dedicated person to bring such a dog into their home. They work to socialize, train and assist the dog to good health prior to adoption. They are the ones that evaluate the dogs before they can get adopted. It is truly a team effort with everyone holding a very important piece to the never ending puzzle of rescue dogs.

Some dogs never get adopted. I have a 15 year old girl here. She just spent her second Christmas with me. I have another with many tumors, severe arthritis but he still loves life. When it is time I will hold them with love and help them across the bridge. Even if they live only a short time we know they were loved before they left this earth. Still others enter rescue only to be “humanely” euthanized as the owner just cant/wont help them to the bridge.

Yes we do appreciate all of those that care about saving the dogs. Please urge your posters either to volunteer with their closest rescue or make donations to them or Corgi Aid. Not all are equipped to deal with the hardships we see daily. Not all are willing to give up a good part of their life to help the dogs in need. Not all can cuddle and love a dear dog as they cross over the bridge. Not all can walk away from a known biter. Not all are willing to be called day and night to pick up a dog because he is no longer exciting to his family, they are moving or the dog chews on things. It takes lots of practice not to tell people exactly how you feel but focus on the poor dog that is being discarded. Rescue is so much more than a picture on a web site or a post on a list.”