When you can't keep your Weimaraner
Adapted from CHOW CHOW RESCUE, with thanks to the authors: Karen deBoer, Barbara Malone, Lisa Hrico, and the Chow Chow Club, Inc. Welfare Committee
Not long ago, you were
thrilled to have a Weimaraner puppy of your very own. You never dreamed that
you might have to give him up some day. Your Weimaraner still depends on you to
do what's best for him, just like he depended on you when he was a puppy. Now,
more than ever, he needs you to take time to think things through and make the
right choices for his future. WEIMARANER RESCUE helps to find new homes for
Weimaraners. Rescuers are unpaid volunteers with full time jobs and families to
care for, just like you. They usually do not have kennel facilities nor do they
receive financial help from the government. The cost to care for rescued
Weimaraners comes out of their own pockets and through the participation of their
individual breed clubs. The Rescue works with Weimaraners that are given up for
adoption by their owners, with dogs that are given up to shelters, or are
picked up as strays. Shelter dogs are in need of immediate attention,
therefore, private releases (those dogs who are given up by their owners) are
given secondary importance in the adoption chain. Why? Because
they already have a home and an owner...you.
Your Weimaraner is your responsibility. Most of the work in finding him a new, loving, permanent home is up to you. If your dog came from a private breeder or individual, your first recourse should be in contacting that breeder or individual immediately. Although he or she may not choose to help you, he has a moral obligation to do so. Members of the Weimaraner Club of America agree to this service when they adhere to the Code of Ethics as set forward by our parent Club. An ethical, responsible breeder/fancier will want to help you and has a right to know what is about to happen to the dog that he or she brought into this world.
Finding a new home will
not be quick or easy. It takes patience and hard work. This web page is
designed to help you decide what is best for your dog, how to prepare him for
adoption and how to choose the correct new owner for him. Finding a new home
involves several steps, but before you start here are a few things you should
know:
About Animal Shelters
Shelters and Humane
Societies were created to take care of the needs of stray and abused animals.
They were not intended to be the dumping grounds for people whose pets are no
longer convenient, but that is what they have become. Shelters today are so
overcrowded that many dogs are destroyed on the same day that they arrive. By
law, strays must be kept several days for their owners to reclaim them. Dogs
turned in by their owners aren't protected by these laws. Only 1 in 10 animals
that enter a shelter will come out alive. Shelters don't want to kill all these
animals but they have no choice. For every child born on this day - there will
be 15 puppies and 45 kittens born as well. There are just not enough homes for
all of these animals. Being a purebred will not help a dog's chances of
adoption-40% of the dogs in shelters are purebreds. Sending your Weimaraner to
a shelter in the hopes that he will find a good home is wishful thinking...you
could in reality be signing his death warrant.
Step One - Soul Searching
There's a big difference
between being forced to give up your dog and wanting to "get rid of
him". Search your heart for the real reason why your dog can no longer
live with you. Your answer will probably fall into one of two categories:
People Problems or Dog
Problems
PEOPLE PROBLEMS include moving, death of an
owner, divorce, a new baby, allergies, etc. With some planning and forethought,
People Problems don't always mean having to give up your dog. It is possible to
find rental dwellings, which accept pets; kids and dogs can be raised together;
and allergies can be controlled with medication, etc. If you are not sure if
you have considered all of the options, call us. We may be able to give you
some ideas or send information that will help you keep your dog. Sometimes you
can make temporary living arrangements for your pet that will buy you both a
little time to find alternatives.
DOG PROBLEMS include aggression, house
soiling, destructiveness, barking, fighting, bad manners or other undesirable
behavior. If you got your dog as a puppy, you must accept the fact that you are
at least partly responsible for the way your dog acts now. Any owner whose dog
has a behavior problem always has four options:
Most behavior problems can be worked out if YOU are
willing to make the effort. Don't make the mistake of trading this dog for
another one that you think will be easier to work with. If you didn't train
this one properly, you won't train the next one either. If you'd keep your dog
if only he were better behaved - call us - we can help. We have a strong
network of Club Members, and all of us, at one time or another, have faced the
same problems as you are having now. We can provide training advice, reading
material and refer you to qualified trainers of animal behaviorists to help you
with your dog's problems.
Step Two - Temperament Evaluation
Your dog's adoption
potential depends mostly on his temperament or "personality".
Weimaraners are usually friendly, outgoing dogs with few, if any, temperament
problems. However, there are Weimaraners that, due to lack of early
socialization or other factors may have temperament or personality disorders.
You must be realistic about your own dog. Is he outgoing and friendly to almost
everyone? Is he unpleasant or aggressive towards strangers? Does he adjust
easily to new situations? Has he been exposed to a variety of situations during
his lifetime? Has he been raised with children, other dogs, cats? Is he
protective of you and your home or is he overly protective? The majority of
people who will be looking at your dog as a prospective pet will never have
owned a Weimaraner before and their mental picture of the breed will be from a
magazine picture or a book illustration …. a large,
friendly gray dog who approaches with his eyes shining and his tail wagging.
When you love your dog, it is easy to think that everyone else will love him,
too. But think, if you were meeting him for the first
time, what kind of an impression would he make? Would you want to adopt him?
Step Three - Preparing
your Dog for Adoption
Having decided that your
dog must really have a new home and that his temperament is suitable for a new
owner, take him to your veterinarian for a complete checkup and any necessary
vaccinations. Same behavior problems occur because of physical problems and are
easily treatable. For example: house soiling can be caused by worms, urinary
infections or diabetes. There may be other physical causes as well. Bring all
vaccinations up to date - not just rabies. Your dog should also have a
heartworm check, be heartworm negative, and be on preventative, as well as
having a stool check for worms.
IF YOUR DOG HAS NOT
BEEN NEUTERED OR SPAYED DO IT NOW!!! Placing your Weimaraner without being neutered could put
his life and well-being in serious jeopardy. No reputable breeder would be
caught dead adding your dog to their breeding program. The only kind of breeder
who'll be interested in your dog will be a puppy-mill. Wholesale dog brokers
seek out free or cheap un-neutered purebreds for resale to puppy-mills or
research laboratories. Watch out also for private owners looking for a
"mate" for their own dog. Is this what you want for your Weimaraner?
Spaying or neutering guarantees that your dog will not end up in a puppy-mill
or in the hands of a backyard breeder. It is the best way to insure that your
dog will be adopted by a family who only wants him as a best friend and member
of the family. Give your dog a chance at a brighter future... make your
spay/neuter appointment today!!!
Groom and bathe your dog.
Get rid of any fleas. If you cannot do this yourself, take him to a grooming
parlor. Get rid of that old frayed or rusted collar and buy him same "new
clothes". You want him to look his best in order to make a nice impression
on prospective adopters.
Step Four - Writing an Ad
There's a trick to
writing a good ad that will generate interest in your dog while not
misrepresenting him and which will also do same preliminary screening for you.
At the very least the ad needs to give a concise description of your dog, his
needs, requirements for a home, and of course your telephone number.
The description should
include his breed, sex, the fact that he is neutered (you did do that, didn't
you?) and an indication of his age. Hint: if your dog is under a year and a
half old, state his age in months so that he will be perceived as the young dog
that he is. If he is over three, state his age as "adult". Many
people believe that an older dog won't adjust to a new home. This is far from
true. There are definite advantages to an older dog …."what
you see is what you get", they are over the chewing stage, they are
already housebroken, etc. I always point out to prospective adoptors who bring
up the age issue, that most working dogs, ie: seeing eye, handicap helpers,
hearing aid dogs, seldom if ever begin their career until they are over three
years of age.
Emphasize your dog's good
points. Is he friendly? Well mannered? Loves kids? Try to state these in a
positive way, ie: "Kids over 10" sounds better than "No children
under 10". Pre-qualify homes by stating any definite needs, ie: fenced
yard, no cats, etc. This lets people know that you are going to be selective,
want to do what's right for your dog and prepares callers for the fact that you
will be asking a lot more questions of them. NEVER include the phrase
"FREE TO GOOD HOME" in your ad even if it is true. If possible, do
not put in any references to price at all. While "free" will generate
a lot of calls, most of them will not be the type of people that you are
looking for. Save yourself the trouble of sorting out the wheat from the chaff
right from the beginning. Not specifying a price will give you a lot of
latitude. You can easily discourage an unsuitable prospect by stating that you
want $700 for the dog, and then just as easily give the dog free to that
perfect family, should you so desire. Set a reasonable adoption fee in your
mind. "Reasonable" is the key word here. Don't expect a new owner to
give you the total "investment" you have in your dog. By the same
token, someone who is not willing to pay a small amount may not be able to
afford the dog's future upkeep and care. A reasonable range may be between
$100-200.
Your ad should look
something like this:
WEIMARANER:
Young adult male, neutered,
friendly, likes children, no cats. Needs
fenced yard. Vet references required.
Barbara - Days: 1-800-555-5555, Eve: 1-609-555-5555
Call your local
newspapers and place your ad. It can take up to 6-8 weeks to find a suitable
home for your dog, so plan on advertising for several weeks. If you can't
afford that, nearly every community has "shopper" publications
offering low cost or free classified advertising. Make flyers with a good photo
of your dog and post them on community & grocery bulletin boards, at vet's
offices, pet supply stores, grooming shops, etc. Get the word out amongst your
friends, relatives and co-workers. Be patient, persistent and creative.
Step Five - Screening
Callers
Talking to prospective
adopters can be frustrating and time consuming. To help you along we have
included a copy of the adoption application that our rescue group uses. Make
copies and fill in the information as you are speaking to the caller. It's easy
to get people talking about dogs and you can use this information to help you
choose the right family. To save time, you can also mail this application to
prospective adopters for them to fill out and return to you. Be sure to provide
a self-addressed envelope.
If the caller has no pets
at the present time, find out about past pets.... What happened to them? Did
they run away, get hit by a car, get given away, given up to a shelter? Avoid
anyone who gives the above answers if possible. They are a good indication of
how your dog will end up. If they do have a pet at present, find out what kind,
sex, etc. This is sometimes an indicator that the interested party will want to
use your pet for breeding purposes …. but of course,
this won't happen because you have already altered your pet, right?
Are there children in the
family, how old, how many.... None? Young marrieds
sometimes want a pet as a child replacement... and end up dumping the dog as
soon as the first baby arrives. Qualify these people carefully. Does the
prospective adopter own their own home or are they renters? Do they have
landlord approval for a pet? Fenced yard, somewhere to exercise the dog, type
of area in which they live .... rural,
suburban, urban? Can you make a house check? Has the adopt or ever owned a
Weimaraner before (Rescue gives preference to former Weimaraner owners because
they know the breed and are willing to take on a second, third or sometimes
even fourth Weim into their lives.) Many people have no idea what a Weimaraner
is and even less idea about their personality and traits. Are they looking for
a hunting dog? Even though Weimaraners are part of the Sporting Breed Group,
not all Weims are created equal in the field. If you tell the adopter that your
dog hunts well, don't mean that he points tweetie birds in your back yard or
chases the neighbors cat up a tree .... if a hunter wants a hunting dog and gets a Weim with no
ability, you can bet your bottom dollar that your sweetie-pie will be back to
you, or worse, in a shelter right after the next hunting season opens.
Have these folks ever
owned any kind of a dog before? If not, are you willing to help them over the
rough spots and can they call you when a problem arises?
References: Get the phone number of their vet
and two personal references. When calling to check references, explain that
John and Mary Doe are interested in adopting your dog and that you love your
dog and want to make sure that John and Mary will give it a good home. Don't be
afraid to ask questions. Were former pets given annual checkups, vaccinations,
heartworm preventative? How did their former pets die? How long have they known
John and Mary? Do John and Mary have a fenced yard? If they were placing a pet,
would they feel comfortable placing it with the Does? You may get different
answers than what you expect, so plan on investigating the prospect further .... or crossing them off
your list!
Step Six - The Personal
Interview
Most of your callers
won't make it past the telephone interview. Once you've chosen a family (or
families) that you feel are good candidates, you can set up an appointment with
them to see the dog. Actually, two appointments are in order - one at your home
and then, one at THEIRS. Going to their home lets you see whether their
situation is as they told you it was and whether your dog will do well there.
It also gives you the opportunity to call off the adoption and take the dog
back home with you if things aren't as represented. If they already have
another dog, make arrangements to meet in a "neutral" territory, such
as a park or playground. Most dogs are territorial and resent a strange dog
coming into their home. If the family has children, have them bring the
children to your home, where you are in control of the situation. Some
allowances should be made for kids' natural enthusiasm, however if the children
are unruly and undisciplined and are not kept in hand by their parents, you are
asking for trouble. Watch how the people and the children interact with your
dog, keeping a watchful eye at all times and keeping your dog under control,
even by lead if necessary.
Do you like these people?
Do you have a "good" feeling about them? Are you comfortable having them
as guests in your home? If not, don't give them the dog. Trust your instincts!
Wait for another family. If you are not sure about someone, call
your rescue representative.... we'll try to help you make a decision based on
our experiences.
The Last Step - Saying
Goodbye
Congratulations! You've
found the perfect home for your Weimaraner. We know it wasn't easy. After all
of the soul searching, preparations and advertising and interviews, your dog is
ready to go to his new family. Set aside some private time for you and your
dog. We know that you may cry too. Do it now, in private, so that you are
clearheaded when it is time for him to leave. He may be confused about being
left with strangers and you don't want your emotions to upset him further.
What goes with your dog
to his new home:
There are a few things
that the new owners should be aware of. Even the best behaved and well mannered
dog is going to have a period of adjustment at his new home. He may even have
an accident or two in the house. This period usually lasts for a few weeks
until the dog becomes accustomed to his new owners and mourns the loss of his
old family. During this time it is important for the new owners to adhere to
the dog's old schedule and to try not to force the dog into anything
unpleasant, such as a bath or a change of feed, etc. Have them
wait until he settles in a bit and has time to bond with them. Advise them not
to let the dog off lead for at least. two weeks, or
you may find your Weimaraner in the Lost & Found section of the newspaper.
Make sure that the
adoptive family knows they can return your dog if things to do not work out as
expected all around. Let them know you will keep in touch and call in a few
days to follow up and see how your dog is doing. Make sure they have Weim
Rescue's number as we will always be here to provide help and advice.
What Weimaraner Rescue
Does
Weimaraner Rescue helps
to find new homes for abandoned, unwanted and stray Weimaraners. Dogs in
Shelters get our first priority. Information and Education is given to
Weimaraner owners considering giving up their dog for adoption. If this fails
and the dog is given up, Weimaraner Rescue has the present owner sign a release
form giving up ownership of the dog to Weimaraner Rescue. Rescue then does the
job of screening prospective owners and placing the dog for adoption. A
mandatory spay/neuter clause is included with our Adoption Agreement. If you
have done everything you could to find a suitable home for your pet and
everything has failed, Weimaraner Rescue will help. But, bear in mind that we
have our limitations. Good homes. are not always
available and you will be expected to hold your dog until a suitable placement
is found. If time limitations are such that you must give up your dog immediately,
foster or kennel arrangements will be made and you will be expected to cover
the cost of that care.
If we can be of help to
you, please do not hesitate to contact:
Louisville Weimaraner Rescue, Inc.
rescue@louisvilleweimrescue.com
(812)-256-3967
Indianapolis Rescue
rescue-indy@louisvilleweimrescue.com