If you have never adopted
through a rescue organization before, you might be
unfamiliar with how rescue groups operate. There are some
things you should know right off the bat.
-
First,
everyone in AHDRS is a volunteer; we have no paid staff and
no central office. We all have regular jobs and do our
rescue work in our "spare time." We work very hard with our
adopters, but please don't assume that if you apply to adopt
a dog today, you will have the perfect dog by the weekend!
-
Second,
the dogs we have available at any given moment are the dogs
that needed to be rescued. If you have a very specific
dachshund in mind -- red, female, smooth, under 12 pounds,
under two years of age, gets along with cats, for example --
you may have to wait a while before such a dog comes along.
We always do our best to find the dog you are looking for,
but the more flexible you can be in your preferences, the
better the chances we can find a dog for you.
-
Finally, some people find
the adoption procedures of rescue groups to be "too much
trouble." AHDRS
rescuers want to place each rescue dog in a happy home, and
we also want to help you find the right dachshund for you.
Our goal is to place our dogs in their forever homes, and
that takes some work! To ensure that a good match is made,
we do ask for references and a home visit, and we ask that
you complete our adoption application. Yes, it is easier to
buy a dog from a newspaper ad than to adopt through rescue,
but a person who will sell a dog to anyone who comes along,
with no references or applications, probably hasn't given
much thought to the breeding of that dog. When you adopt a
rescue dog, you know what you are getting!
Here is what you can
expect if you decide to adopt a dachshund through Almost
Home.
First Step:
Usually, the first step in adoption is filling out an adoption
application -- either our on-line application or the rescuer's
own app. These applications are designed to help the
representative determine the type of dog that would fit you
best. Just like people, individual dogs have distinct
personalities. Some like nothing more than curling up on the
sofa; others get bored if they can't spend a lot of time
playing with you or with other dogs each day. Some dogs prefer
a quiet home, while others love the happy chaos of a big
family.
You will have a chance to state your preferences on the
application too. Could you work with a dog who is not
completely housebroken? Do you need a dog who doesn't mind
cats? Are you experienced enough to train a lively dog who
wants to be top dog in your home? If you have seen a dog on
our website and are interested in that particular dog, you can
specify your interest in the on-line application.
You will also be asked to supply references, including a
veterinarian reference if you have, or have had, any other
pets. In general, rescuers will not place a dog in a home with
dogs that have not been neutered, unless there are legitimate
reasons the surgery has not been performed.
Step Two:
Once the rescue representative has evaluated your application,
she or he will check your references and talk with you by
phone or e-mail. The next step is the home visit. A rescuer
will come to your home at your convenience and meet with you
and all your family members, to talk about adoption. This
visit gives you a chance to ask any questions you might have
and talk with the rep about what you can expect when you
rescue a dachshund.
Step Three:
If you are dealing with a representative who is fostering the
dog you are interested in, you will be able to meet the dog
before you adopt. But in many cases, the dog isn't available
because it is being fostered in another town or even state.
It's a leap of faith, adopting a dog long-distance, but
long-distance adoptions are very common and the great majority
are successful. You can always talk to the person fostering
the dog you are interested in adopting, and the foster parent
usually has photos s/he can send you. The foster parent has
been living with the dog and can let you know what to expect
in terms of behavior. Feel free to ask any questions.
Step
Four:
Once the adoption has been set up, the next step is
getting the dog to you. If the dog is being fostered locally,
this is easy! If the dog is far away, though, setting up a
transport can take time. Since everyone in rescue is a
volunteer, we have to work around everyone's schedules, so
please be patient. We routinely move dogs across half a dozen
states or more, via volunteers who drive specific legs of the
trip. We might ask you to drive the last leg of a transport --
not more than 50 miles or so. Dogs can often be transported on
commercial airplane flights; sometimes a volunteer is
available to fly the dog, but many times it turns out that
friends or co-workers just happen to be flying to or from the
city close to where the dog is, and they are usually willing
to carry the dog with them in the cabin. The usual fee for
flying a dog in the cabin is about $75, which is the
responsibility of the adopter. We do not recommend flying dogs
as cargo.
When
you receive your new dog and have paid the adoption fee, the
representative will require that you sign an adoption
contract, which states that you will provide appropriate care
for the dog and will never give the dog to anyone but the
rescue representative, should it become necessary for you to
place the dog elsewhere at any time. The contract also
specifies that we have ascertained that the dog is healthy and
up to date on inoculations. Any medical problems are described
in the contract. We also turn over all veterinarian records we
have for the dog to you, so that your vet knows the dogs
health background. The records should show that the following
procedures have been done:
The dog will also be spayed or neutered, except in exceptional
circumstances (medical issues that would prevent surgery, for
example).
If you have any questions that have not been answered here,
please feel free to send us an
e-mail.
AHDRS Adoption Application Form
