14
District LOCAL LIVING
DC
family
6more online
a71 Join staff writer Melissa Bell for a LIVE Q&A
with Sarah Ruckelshaus, executive director of
Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue, Thursday at 1
p.m. at
www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline.
a71 HAVE YOU ADOPTED A RESCUE DOG?
Send your story to
localliving@washpost.com.
a71 View a PHOTO GALLERY of dogs in need of
adoption at
www.washingtonpost.com/pets.
Noses are wet, the economy’s blue
Specialty-breed rescuers have dogs whose day is due
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
shifts to the reality of taking care of it, dog for its owners to give it up. “Most
THEY’RE DOGGED
by Melissa Bell new owners drop their dogs off at people are worried that if they get a dog
shelters in droves. Worse, the current from a rescue league the dog will have all
ABOUT VETTING
osemary and John Yun were economic downturn has forced many these issues,” said Eisen. “But in actuality
R
looking to adopt. families to turn their dogs over to rescue they have a pretty rigorous screening
The rescue organizations for
For months, the Ellicott City groups. And even the record snowfall led process for the people and the dog, so
specialty breeds are usually run by
couple waited. They filled out some pet owners to decide they could not you know what you’re getting into.”
volunteers fiercely dedicated to the
applications asking about their provide for their dogs during the difficult Though puppies do pass through the
dogs they care for. Most rescue
neighborhood, their jobs and their daily weather, instead surrendering them to rescue organizations, it is much more
groups put prospective pet owners
routines; prepped their home before an shelters, rescue volunteers said. likely to find a dog that’s 1 year old or
through a rigorous application
agency checked in on them; asked “The influx of dogs is just tremendous older. Kimberly Pollard, a lobbyist in
process. It can take anywhere from
friends to provide references; and visited so far this year,” said Joanne Hale, the Richmond, wanted a pug after falling in
a few days to a couple of months
with foster families where they were told director of MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue. love with her neighbor’s dog, but she
and cost between $100 to $500.
they were not the only couple in By the end of February, the group had worked full time and could not rush
Puppies tend to fall on the pricier
contention. They hoped they wouldn’t be taken in 27 dogs, and Hale expects that home every few hours to potty-train a
side. The dogs will be vaccinated,
disappointed yet again. number to hit 150 by the end of the year. puppy. She found Levi, a 3-year-old pug,
neutered and house-trained.
Finally, one day last fall, the phone call Last year, the rescue group took in 60 through Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue. “A
Here’s what you can expect if you
came: Benji, a mix terrier, could join the dogs. puppy is great,” Pollard said, “but if you
want to adopt a pup:
Yun family. The rescue groups are usually a loose get a dog a year or two older, they’re
The Yuns, who are now adopting a network of volunteer pet owners who already trained. And older dogs need
child from Korea, would joke that have fallen in love with a certain type of homes. That’s two benefits right there.”
1
Fill out a lengthy application.
You will need to provide
looking for Benji “was just as hard as dog. They foster dogs found in the The past 10 years have seen a sharp
employer information, explain why
finding a human baby,” said Rosemary, shelter system, rescued from puppy mills increase in demand for purebred dogs
you want the dog, and describe your
38. But the dog was worth the trouble. or dropped off by owners who can no due to popular culture: Pug sales spiked
yard, your other pets and your
“He’s so smart; he’s super cute; he’s just a longer care for them. And they look for after one played a role in the movie “Men
former pets, if any.
great dog,” said the biotech company the perfect permanent home for the in Black” and its sequel; Chihuahua fever
manager. animals. can be credited to the film “Legally
The Yuns needed to find a small dog “We’re eHarmony for dogs,” said Sarah Blonde” and Taco Bell commercials. But
2
Provide a veterinarian
reference. If you’ve never
that had short hair and was Ruckelshaus, director of Mid-Atlantic purebred dogs often require specific care
gone to one before, you will need to
10 nonallergenic and house-trained, but Border Collie Rescue, whose group has a and can have particular health issues,
find one near your home.
20 Rosemary worried she would not be able 98 percent success rate at finding a said Joan Schramm, public relations
11,
to find one at a local shelter. She didn’t happy “forever” home. “We’re really coordinator for Mid-Atlantic Great Dane
3
List two references. The
group will contact them to ask
want to buy a dog, fearful that the looking to match up the dog’s Rescue League in the District and
about your ability to care for a pet.
animals are bred in awful conditions personality, temperament and energy Maryland. Great Danes, for example, can
before being sold online or to pet stores. needs with the family.” suffer from joint problems and heart
Tails of Hope, a dog rescue group in The adoption process is strict to ailments. Rescue organizers cite a lack of
4
Allow a home visit. Rescue
volunteers will be looking to
,
MARCH
Y
Mount Airy, Md., provided a solution. ensure the match will stick. Jenny Eisen knowledge as the single biggest
ensure the neighborhood is safe for
A
Though the search was time-consuming, grew up with the Danes her mother contributor to the rise in specialty breeds
the dog and to see if the house can
the Yuns adopted a dog that matched adopted through the Mid-Atlantic Great up for adoption.
accommodate the dog’s size.
their criteria. Dane Rescue League, and she “They look so cute on the screen,” she
While animal rescue programs have volunteered for the group. But even she said, but when owners cannot provide
THURSD
5
Visit the dog. Most animals
live with a foster family until
•
been around since the 1950s, it has only had to submit to a two- to three-month the necessary care, the dogs are sent
they are adopted. The foster family
been in the past decade that adoption process when she decided she packing. Schramm is not looking
often has the final say if the right
organizations have cropped up for nearly was ready for her own dog. Eisen, a nurse forward to the release of “Marmaduke,” a
match has been found for the dog.
every breed and those breeds’ mixes. The who lives in Arlington, said a volunteer movie about a Great Dane that is
groups foster dogs to ease crowding at brought over a Dane to see how it would scheduled to open this summer. “Six
local shelters and offer would-be pet interact with her two roommates and in months later,” she said, “we’ll be
6
Expect a follow-up visit. After
the adoption is complete, many
owners more options to adopt. her townhouse. inundated with dogs.”
groups will drop by to see how the
This month may be the best time to Eisen said some people are reticent to The high demand has driven many
dog is adjusting to its new home.
find the right pet. Each spring, after the adopt a rescue dog because of the stigma
— M.B.
ASHINGTON POST
joy of getting a dog as a Christmas gift that something must be wrong with the dogs continued on 16
THE W
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