Life Happens...And so many rescues have reached their limit. Lack of foster homes, lack of funds, and an overwhelming sense of frustration has plagued many area rescues. We want to save them all, but try as we might, shelters are full, rescues are scrambling, and the pet overpopulation is more real today than ever!
Acccording to an article on Petfinder, the top 10 reasons for relinquishment* of dogs are as follows:
Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
To read the rest of this article, Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment* Trying to Make it WorkMoving and being unable to find housing that allows pets can be a burden. Petfinder offers 13 Steps to Finding Pet-Friendly Housing
96% of the surrendered animals, according to the study above, did not receive any obedience training. Surprisingly, you can teach an old dog new tricks with a few resources and some determination. Consistent training and proper socialization are keys to success with any dog, Check out our "New Dog Resources" for trainers in our area. A good training program is well worth the time it takes and can build a relationship with that troubled dog.
While it may not make for an ideal situation, crate and rotate may be an option when trying to make it work between dogs that have irreconcilable differences. For more information, check out suggestions from BadRap.
But what if there's just too many pets in the home? Are your pets spayed or neutered? Unaltered pets are the ones who are filling up our shelters and rescues. SNAP-NC offers low cost spay and neuter services to the public, with a discount for qualifying individuals. To download and print an application for this program, click on PALS.
Planning for a Pet after an Owner DiesIt's a hard thing to think about, but all pet owners should consider the plans for the pet after the owner becomes unable to care for animal or passes away. Many families are left to make that decision and sadly, some animals end up in the shelter. If you have a pet, have a plan. ASPCA offers a valuable resource when considering the future on a pet after the owner has gone on.
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Surrendering a Dog to The Maggie Society
If surrendering your dog to a rescue is the best option for your pet, we may be available to assist. Dogs or puppies that we meet for consideration MUST BE LEGALLY CLEARED for rehoming. (Does this dog LEGALLY belong to the surrendering party, or is the legal owner willing to surrender this dog? If the dog is a stray, or was found (even if you witnessed the dog being abandoned) there are laws that must be followed before The Maggie Society can assume custody. Please contact animal control in the area/county where the dog or puppy was found before contacting the Maggie Society.)
If the dog (or puppy) is legally available to surrender to the Maggie Society, there are many factors to be considered before commitment can be made. Dog temperament is by far the most important and having our vet evaluate the dog's temperament is the first step to placing a dog with our rescue. The dog is evaluated on behavior, body language, personality with other dogs, and reactions to strangers. A dog that is reactive towards other dogs or a volunteer would likely fail the temperament test and would not be considered for our program. With most of our foster families having children, we cannot take in a dog that displays any aggression or excessive fear as they are more prone to bite. That is a chance we cannot take. Assuming the dog is very friendly and does pass the first evaluation, the next step is having a foster home suitable for the dog. Placement of the new dog is important as we want him/her to be in an environment that will be most successful. More importantly, we want everyone in the foster home, pets included, to be safe around a new dog. In addition to children, many of our foster families have other pets such as cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Depending on the breed of the dog, the gender, and any special needs, an opening for a foster home could be quick or a very long wait. Small dogs and puppies have more opportunities for foster homes than large dogs. Female dogs have faster foster placement than male dogs. A heartworm-positive dog already in our program or nursing puppies will tie up our homes for longer period of times. Our intake is based upon available foster homes, schedules, and the number of dogs that are on a waiting list to enter our program Meet and greets are held on most Tuesday nights at 6:30 pm at the Maggie House. Text 252-292-6305 to reserve a time and location. Please text the above number with any specific questions or concerns or reach out by email through the form below. Well, that didn't work out? Are there other options?As much as we'd like to place every deserving dog into a loving home, we know that this isn't always a feasible option. Sometimes, the wait for a foster home is much longer than the time an owner has. Other times, the dog has training needs that we simply do not have the time, resources, or manpower to work through; this is often identified through the initial temperament test.
If it doesn't work out for The Maggie Society to take your dog or puppy in, use caution to find a good fit for your dog. Avoid personal or classified ads at all costs. As tempting as it may seem, rehoming a pet through Craigslist, Marketplace, or other social media outlets may place your pet in significant peril. Many animals have wound up victims of abuse and neglect, re-homed to backyard breeders, hoarders, dog-fighting rings or other criminal elements. Increase your pet’s chances of finding a loving furever home. Make sure your pet is spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines and well groomed. Friendly, vetted, well-behaved dogs stand a much better chance of adoption. Consider using a professional pet-matching community such as REHOME which is managed by Adopt-A-Pet with support from Chewy and other pet companies. |