Consider some reasons why individuals have given up their furry family members and why this is the best thing for them in some circumstances.

• Perhaps they are forced to move to a smaller home or to where they are not permitted to have a dog.
• The owners themselves die.
• They found their dog to be incompatible with their lifestyle.
• The new dog is incompatible with certain pets that they already own.
• Perhaps they are forced to take on full-time employment and feel that they can’t give their beloved dogs all the attention that they deserve.
• Immigration to another country is often an issue, where the owners care enough not to leave their beloved ones in quarantine for 6 months.
• Natural disasters. Even in South Africa, disasters like floods, drought, bush fires may require temporary shelter for a dog.
• Another unforeseen tragedy is Domestic violence. For many, the reasonable thing to do is often to temporarily keep a pet in a safe place, like a rescue or shelter when issues get too bad.

A rescue dog is a dog that has been placed in a new home after being abused, neglected, or abandoned by its previous owner. The term can also apply to dogs that are found as strays, surrendered by owners for a variety of reasons, including relationship breakdowns, moving home where the owner is unable or unwilling to take their pets, or elderly people who are not permitted to take their dog(s) into a nursing home.

Many animal rescue organizations exist to rescue, protect, care and re-home dogs from unnecessary euthanasia. Many rescue dogs are re-homed quickly, but some wait longer for a home. This may be relevant when the dog is older. Some agencies provide ongoing health care and support for older dogs after they have been placed in a home. There are several charities dedicated to rescuing and re-homing older dogs.

As a rescue organization, we focus on what we can do to help. It is understandable each individual has his or her own circumstances. No one should feel that they are being judged for the feel that they are being judged for putting their dog’s best interests first. 

The truth is that ‘specific breed dog rescues’ only exist because these dogs are not unwanted, but are in demand and they are given to appreciative homes where people really love animals and want to give them the best life possible. This is a rewarding job to find the right home for the right dog and should not need outside funding if the animals are truly appreciated.

There are many benefits of rescuing an animal of which many people may not be aware of.

Rescuing from a shelter versus adopting from a pet store can save money. The physical animal will be often be cheaper at a shelter than if purchased at a pet store.

Rescuing & adopting small dogs will help eliminate puppy farms. Despite the fact that puppy farms are illegal, many people throughout the world still benefit from the profits made. A lot of the problem comes from the fact that people are not even aware of the fact that they are adopting a puppy that was bred from a puppy farm. That is why it is vital to research on exactly where one is adopting from before purchasing a puppy.  

• Owning an animal can benefit one’s own health and well being. Multiple studies have shown that not only can having a dog improve one’s happiness and health, but it can also elongate one’s life. Specifically, service dogs help with depression, stress, and anxiety. Playing with a dog daily is proven to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, two chemicals naturally produced in the human body that make one feel happy and play important roles in brain and body function.
• Parents that have pets provide life lessons and extended benefits to their children. Not only does having a pet naturally teach children responsibilities, but it can also help them with separation anxiety and feeling a sense of security when they are at home.