Australian Shepherd Dog Rescue
Frequently Asked Questions
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These FAQs apply only to *this* website and only to the dogs listed for adoption here. About USWhat is Aussie Rescue Northwest?
About the DOGSAre all the dogs spayed and neutered? Why? Where do these dogs come from? Why do they need new homes? Have they been abused? Do these dogs have “Papers”? Can they be registered? How do you decide which dogs are accepted into these programs? How many Australian Shepherds need rescue each year? Are Australian Shepherds good with kids? Why do I need to go to training classes with my Australian Shepherd?
About RESCUEWhat post-adoption services do you provide? I need to find a new home for my purebred Australian Shepherd. What do I do?
About the ADOPTION PROCESSI filled out an application already. Why do I have to complete another one? Do I need a large yard or a fenced yard? What are the requirements for adoption? Why is the adoption process so complicated? How long does it take? Why does it take so long? Why can’t I just get the dog I want?/Will I get the dog I want? How can I make this process go smoothly/faster?
About US
What is Aussie Rescue Northwest?Aussie Rescue Northwest is an informal coalition of volunteers each affiliated with one or more of the following three not-for-profit, purebred rescue groups: STAAR- Second Time Around Aussie Rescue ARPH- Aussie Rescue Placement Helpline INWR- Inland Northwest Rescue.
We maintain this website listing, share resources and information and promote Australian Shepherd rescue in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.
Other individuals and shelters may also list Australian Shepherd dogs on the Aussie Rescue Northwest website.
Why do you do this?There are people who want a purebred Australian Shepherd, and there are wonderful purebred Aussies in shelters and in private homes who, through no fault of their own, are looking for a new place to live. While there are plenty of breeders who are willing to sell puppies to anyone who wants to buy one, we realize that this intelligent, athletic, active and occasionally demanding breed may not be appropriate for the casual pet owner. We want to help people understand the breed and the needs of the individual dogs so that these dogs never have to find a new home again.
About the DOGS
Are all the dogs spayed and neutered? Why?Yes. Rescue believes that the pet overpopulation problem in the United States and the health advantages of a neutered animal outweigh the breeding potential of a single dog. In the Puget Sound area alone over 200 purebred Australian Shepherd dogs need new homes every year. And that’s just the ones we hear about! If you want an Australian Shepherd of breeding quality, we suggest that you contact a reputable breeder.
Where are these dogs?In foster homes, shelters and private homes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.
Where do these dogs come from? Why do they need new homes? Have they been abused?These dogs are available for adoption primarily because:
The majority of dogs in rescue have not been abused in the conventional sense, however, many have suffered from a lack of responsible pet guardianship.
Do these dogs have “Papers”? Can they be registered?The majority of the dogs we get in rescue do not have papers available showing that they are from registered AKC or ASCA litters. However, you can register them with both AKC and ASCA for competition in agility, obedience and other events. More information is available at http://www.aussierescue.org/performance.htm
How do you decide which dogs are accepted into these programs?Where possible, Rescue Volunteers evaluate the temperament of dogs made available for placement. Dogs that are available through rescue are current on their vaccinations, have not aggressively bitten anyone and are spayed or neutered.
How many Australian Shepherds need rescue each year?In the Puget Sound area there are over 200 that we hear about each year.
Do you handle mixes?Some rescuers will handle mixes privately. These are clearly identified on the website. These dogs are NOT associated in any way with Second Time Around Aussie Rescue or Aussie Rescue Placement Helpline.
Do you get puppies?Generally not. The average age of dogs in rescue range from 6 months to 5 years. Puppies are occasionally available and are usually placed with adopters who have an approved application on file and who have been waiting.
Are Australian Shepherds good with kids?They can be if they are raised with them. Read more about this in the description of the Aussie Personality and Character.
Why do I need to go to training classes with my Australian Shepherd?· They are thinking dogs and will quickly figure out ways to manipulate their environment to accomplish their own wishes. · Obedience training shows the dog that you are in control of the resources in his world. He will respect you for this. · Each dog is different and a good instructor can help you identify your dog’s training strengths and weaknesses- as well as yours! · A classroom environment with its distractions is more like the real world than your living room. About RESCUE
What does “Rescue” do?
What post-adoption services do you provide?
I need to find a new home for my purebred Australian Shepherd. What do I do?
About the ADOPTION PROCESS
I filled out an application (ARPH, STAAR, INWR) already. Why do I have to complete another one?These organizations are not related and for liability reasons we need to have the paperwork match the dog you are interested in. If you don’t have a particular dog in mind, you can start with one application and work with one program, or fill out all three applications to cover all your bases. Sometimes we share information, but we can’t really refer you to meet a dog until we have the matching paperwork on file.
How much does it cost?The dogs drive the adoption process. Each program has different requirements, and generally you can expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a neutered and vaccinated animal.
Do I need a large yard or a fenced yard?Maybe. The Australian Shepherd is an active dog and is generally not happy if he’s confined to a small space with inadequate exercise. Then again, a large yard is not really enough if you do not intend to interact with and train your aussie on a daily basis. In some cases, a dedicated and active owner with a small yard may be a perfect fit for some Aussies. Finally, we will not place a dog into a home where they will be allowed to run loose while unsupervised.
What are the requirements for adoption?· Must be at least 18 years of age. · A written application, interview, home visit, reference checks (personal and veterinary). · Landlord approval if renting. · If you decide to adopt a dog through ARPH, INWR or STAAR there will be an adoption contract and a donation to the program that has sponsored the dog. · There may be additional requirements depending upon the dog and/or the program you adopt through.
Why is the adoption process so complicated?Our goal is to place all rescue Aussies in homes that are breed-appropriate and specifically appropriate to each individual dog. We will be candid with you about each dog’s temperament and special needs, and expect you to be as candid about your expectations and lifestyle. We check references and perform home visits on each qualified applicant. We simply want to know that these dogs are going to aus-some homes!
How long does it take? / Why does it take so long?The process can take anywhere from a week to several weeks. We are a very small group of volunteers who do this in our free time. We have careers, families, our own four-legged fur kids, and often foster dogs that like to spend time with us too. We do our best to keep up with the process, but every inquiry generates many emails, phone calls and road trips. And we are very thorough.
Why can’t I just get the dog I want? / Will I get the dog I want?We recognize that bringing a dog into your life is an emotional decision, sometimes based solely on seeing a picture or reading a description on a website. This rarely tells the whole story, and many of the dogs we see in rescue need new homes because the original family made just such an impulsive decision. They did not consider the needs of the Australian Shepherd breed or did not know about responsible pet ownership.
We love these dogs and our goal is to ensure that they never need another home again. We need to know who you are what you expect of a dog. We will help you understand you are making a decision with not only your heart but your head too.
If you want to adopt a dog without anyone else getting involved or without knowing much about the individual dog you are getting, you can go to most local shelters, fill out the paperwork and take a dog home.
How can I make this process go smoothly/faster?Be prepared to bring an Australian Shepherd into your life. Make sure you have a safe way to contain your dog when you are not home. Ensure your yard is secure and your home is dog friendly. Have a crate and know how to crate train your dog. Know where you will take the dog for training, and when classes begin. Educate your children about safe interactions with dogs. Tell your references that a Rescue Representative will call and ask them to return the calls quickly. Make yourself available for the home visit. Let your Representative know if your situation changes. Be open to suggestions and to meeting various types of dogs. Communicate with your representative after you have met a dog about what you liked and didn’t like.
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