Rescue for & by Parent Clubs Lew Olson American Rottweiler Club

Rescue for & by Parent Clubs

Lew OlsonAmerican Rottweiler Club

Who is Lew Olson?

American Rottweiler Club & Rescue

(Background)

Presentation Handouts

• How to start a Rescue

• Lists of Breeds in Shelters

• Rescue survey (copy of instrument)

• Sample Adoption Contract

• Sample Application for a Breed Specific Targeted Dog

• Komodor Club Rescue Pamphlet

Katrina & the Aftermath

ARC Disaster Committee

Rottweiler Rescue Foundation

Dogs by breed, listed on PetFinder July 28th, 2010

http://www.petfinder.com/breeds/Dog

(see handout)

Results of Parent Clubs Rescue Survey

171 breeds contacted142 responses

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q1

1)    Does your parent club participate in rescue of abandoned dogs in your breed?

80 -Yes 25 – No 3 – No answer

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q2

2)    Is the Rescue Organization part of the Parent Club or is it a separate (free standing)

organization? 50-Yes, it is part of the Parent Club 37-Yes, it is separate from the Parent Club 21-No, it is separate from the Parent Club

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q3

3)    Is the Rescue Organization registered as a not for profit for tax purposes?

62-Yes42- No

10 – No Answer2-N/A

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q4

4)    Does your Parent Club support more than one rescue?

29-Yes83-No

5-No Answer1-N/A

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q5

5)    Do you consider your Parent Club to be successful at rescue?

91-Yes9-No3-Yes and No8-No Answer7-N/A

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q6

6)    What Standards do you use to measure success? Top Five Answers:

-The ability to successfully place rescued dogs in quality forever homes

-The ability of Breed Clubs to be able to provide funds to their supported rescue

groups and the ability of the rescue groups to raise funds and meet the health needs

of the dogs

-The ability to rescue all or most of the purebreds that wind up in rescue

-The Volunteer base that is necessary to make rescue happen

-The cooperation and communication between the breed clubs and their affiliated rescue groups

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q7

7)    How many dogs of your breed did your Parent Club rescue in 2009?

This was a difficult question for many to answer. Some put together numbers for 2008 and 2009. It appears over all rescue numbers many have dropped in 2009, but it is hard to determine

why. It may mean less dogs bred, or more being rescued. Or hopefully, more education on appropriate breed types for the homes.

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q8

8)    What are the major issues your Parent Club faces in rescue? Top five answers

-Not enough fosters, not enough volunteers-Financial issues, not enough funds for medical

care-Poor working relationships between clubs,

rescue groups and shelters. Poor communication between club members and rescue volunteers

-Transport and logistics. Being able to rescue is limited due to, support, geography and lack of help in particular areas

-Breed club’s lack of interest participation and education. Breed club politics and breeders responsibility.

Other issues mentioned: BSL targeted breeds, breed identification, Puppy mills, temperament issues, increased dogs coming into rescue and liability.

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q9

9)    Does your Parent Club Rescue network with the rescue organizations of other breeds?

72-Yes 6-No Answer 2-Yes and No 37-No

Top Five Answers:

1-Network with similar breeds

2-Participate in large email network (ie yahoo groups_

3-Help with transports

4-Help with breed identification

5-Help with shelter visits/pulls

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q10

10)    Do you have a cooperative relationship with local shelters? What do they require to rescue a dog?

Top Answers:• 501C3 documention or other Breed Club

documents• What shelters require varies for each shelter

• Adoption contract, spay/neuter requirement, veterinarian and personal references and adoption fee

• Some stated some shelters won’t work with breed clubs, they see them as part of the problem.

AKC Parent Clubs Survey – Q1111) Is liability a major concern for your Breed

Club?Rescue is seen as a liability to nearly all Parent

Breed Clubs, which is why the Parent Clubs themselves do not rescue.

Because it is a major concern, Parent Club rescues are formed under a separate 501c3 organization

Those that said No, reported that they used a separate entity covered by its own 501c3, or they simply supported outside rescue groups in their breed

Discussion of Legal Issues & Liability

Resource: Litigating Legal Disputes by Joan Schaffner & Julie Fershtman

Options to Improve Breed Rescue

Komodor Club Rescue Material(see hand out)

Proven Techniques

• Communication with breed rescue groups

• Foster homes recruitment

• Fund Raising

• Education of Club members

• Importance of keeping pure bred breds out of shelter

AKC & CAR Disaster ReliefOur best friends in times of crisis

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