Comments on: Who should get your pet lover’s dollars? A guide to donating to animal charities http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:59:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476494 Gina Spadafori Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:08:32 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476494 Ms. Houlahan, I have absolutely NO IDEA why our spam filter likes to hug your every post. 'Tis a mystery. Ms. Houlahan, I have absolutely NO IDEA why our spam filter likes to hug your every post. ‘Tis a mystery.

]]> By: H. Houlahan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476493 H. Houlahan Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:39:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476493 Don't forget the small, underfunded <i>breed rescues</i>. These can be spread out over a region or the whole country, and are focused on one breed or type of animal. (It's mostly a dog phenomenon, but I think there are some for breeds of cats and horses as well.) Some of the busiest of them serve breeds that are most likely to end up in inappropriate homes due to media overexposure of breeds with not-for-everyone temperaments. Russell Rescue is excellent around here -- other challenging breeds are Dalmatians, border collies, Australian shepherds. But just about every breed of dog has one or a hundred rescue organizations devoted to it. Breed rescue workers know the temperaments and health issues of their favorite breed, and become good judges of the kinds of owners that will do well with them. They typically use networks of foster volunteers who are best able to rehab and evaluate the dogs that they love best. Breed rescues, since they are rarely local except for the most numerous breeds, often operate with little acknowledgment from the wide communities they serve. Most get by on a shoestring and are extremely cost-efficient. They are often composed at least partly of ethical breeders who always take back their own pups, and then spend their time and money cleaning up after others who won't. If you have a favorite breed, a donation to the appropriate breed rescue organization is a fine way to help. Of course, <i>caveat donor</i> still applies -- get to know the rescue group's policies and practices and check their track record. A few are insufferably snobby ("We only take 'typey' dogs who came from show breeders.") Others are irresponsible in their placements -- and I have the scars to show what the result is when a dog that should have never been adopted out is foisted on some unsuspecting owner by a rescue that sees only sunshine and fairy farts where others got to see black eyes and white teeth. And there are plenty out there whose priorities I disagree with, but you may not. Full disclosure -- I am the behavior coordinator for a small national rare-breed rescue group that totally ROCKS. Don’t forget the small, underfunded breed rescues.

These can be spread out over a region or the whole country, and are focused on one breed or type of animal. (It’s mostly a dog phenomenon, but I think there are some for breeds of cats and horses as well.) Some of the busiest of them serve breeds that are most likely to end up in inappropriate homes due to media overexposure of breeds with not-for-everyone temperaments. Russell Rescue is excellent around here — other challenging breeds are Dalmatians, border collies, Australian shepherds. But just about every breed of dog has one or a hundred rescue organizations devoted to it.

Breed rescue workers know the temperaments and health issues of their favorite breed, and become good judges of the kinds of owners that will do well with them. They typically use networks of foster volunteers who are best able to rehab and evaluate the dogs that they love best.

Breed rescues, since they are rarely local except for the most numerous breeds, often operate with little acknowledgment from the wide communities they serve. Most get by on a shoestring and are extremely cost-efficient. They are often composed at least partly of ethical breeders who always take back their own pups, and then spend their time and money cleaning up after others who won’t.

If you have a favorite breed, a donation to the appropriate breed rescue organization is a fine way to help.

Of course, caveat donor still applies — get to know the rescue group’s policies and practices and check their track record. A few are insufferably snobby (“We only take ‘typey’ dogs who came from show breeders.”) Others are irresponsible in their placements — and I have the scars to show what the result is when a dog that should have never been adopted out is foisted on some unsuspecting owner by a rescue that sees only sunshine and fairy farts where others got to see black eyes and white teeth. And there are plenty out there whose priorities I disagree with, but you may not.

Full disclosure — I am the behavior coordinator for a small national rare-breed rescue group that totally ROCKS.

]]> By: Maureen Sheridan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476485 Maureen Sheridan Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:19:28 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476485 If I can put in a plug for international animal charities please also consider them. We operate under the most difficult conditions and almost always without enough funds. We would also appreciate anyone reading this signing our petition to the Prime Minister of Jamaica. The link is: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Water-For-Animal-House-Jamaica Thank you:) If I can put in a plug for international animal charities please also consider them. We operate under the most difficult conditions and almost always without enough funds. We would also appreciate anyone reading this signing our petition to the Prime Minister of Jamaica. The link is:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com.....se-Jamaica

Thank you:)

]]> By: PAM B. http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476477 PAM B. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:13:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476477 I ALSO DONATE TO BEST FRIENDS. THEY DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS FOR ANIMALS LARGE OR SMALL. I ALSO DONATE TO BEST FRIENDS. THEY DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS FOR ANIMALS LARGE OR SMALL.

]]> By: Anne T http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476475 Anne T Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:30:50 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476475 I donate to a region wide branch of my breed Rescue run by the National Breed Club, a state wide Greyhound Placement Service, and a local No Kill kitteh shelter. I specify what I want my donation to be used for and that way I know exactly where my money goes: close to home where it can do the most good. I donate to a region wide branch of my breed Rescue run by the National Breed Club, a state wide Greyhound Placement Service, and a local No Kill kitteh shelter. I specify what I want my donation to be used for and that way I know exactly where my money goes: close to home where it can do the most good.

]]> By: Romeo the Cat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476459 Romeo the Cat Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:44:43 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476459 Great post! At Romeothecat.com we raise funds for smaller, local rescues that our readers support. It's wonderful to be able to see your donations at work. That said, I believe Best Friends and other larger, more national organizations do amazing work too. Christie, your advice is very good: do the research so you know what you're supporting. Thanks for posting this. xo Great post! At Romeothecat.com we raise funds for smaller, local rescues that our readers support. It’s wonderful to be able to see your donations at work. That said, I believe Best Friends and other larger, more national organizations do amazing work too. Christie, your advice is very good: do the research so you know what you’re supporting. Thanks for posting this.
xo

]]> By: Christie Keith http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476454 Christie Keith Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:18:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476454 Some national organizations do some hands-on care, and Best Friends is among those for whom that is most true. My mother donated to them after viewing the "Dogtown" episode on the Vick dogs. Some national organizations do some hands-on care, and Best Friends is among those for whom that is most true. My mother donated to them after viewing the “Dogtown” episode on the Vick dogs.

]]> By: Dennis http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/10/06/guide-to-animal-charities/comment-page-1/#comment-476446 Dennis Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:32:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9361#comment-476446 We proudly support the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Their tireless work in Hurricane Katrina caught our attention. The pets that were saved, and their efforts to return the pets to their owners, as well as to re-home some were outstanding. They continue to provide help where it is needed. And we enjoy their magazine as well. http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/ I'm not putting down any local efforts, but just saying that this is a top notch organization. We proudly support the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Their tireless work in Hurricane Katrina caught our attention. The pets that were saved, and their efforts to return the pets to their owners, as well as to re-home some were outstanding. They continue to provide help where it is needed.

And we enjoy their magazine as well.

http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/

I’m not putting down any local efforts, but just saying that this is a top notch organization.

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