| On average, our guys are more complicated to live with, raise, & care for properly than the average dog, and they require so much learning on our part...so...If you are a wolfdog parent, you're already at an advantage over the general public. If you have the space to take in a rescue, or foster &/or rehabilitate a wolfer until it finds its Forever Home...GREAT! If not, there are lots of other important things you can do to help. Education is paramount: if more folks knew how to handle these special-needs kids, there would be far less dumped into rescue! I've seen so many wolfers given up, for just "being normal wolfdogs" and doing normal wolfie things that are easy to train them out of. (Heck, I've seen too many given up, just for being "puppies", or "dogs"...doing stuff any dog would do!) If you know enough to have raised your own wolfer, you can be of great help to others by being a mentor--answering their questions, inviting them to join a wolfdog email list or breed club, assisting with containment, helping them troubleshoot "problem" behaviours or learn to respond correctly to the things their wolfer does. Many people, with a little help or encouragement (or, just the knowledge that their animal is a perfectly normal wolfdog!) will ride out the waves and end up the proud, happy parent of a well-adjusted woof. :) Other folks offer to transport a wolfdog from the people who can no longer keep him, to his new family (or, part-way). You'd be surprised how many potential adopters will say "Oh, I want him so bad, but...how do I get him from California to Tennessee?" (Keep in mind that someone will need to check out the new home first, to be sure it is wolfdog-compatible...you need to re-home these poor guys as infrequently as possible..."never" is best, of course!) If you are good with computers or have a web site, you could dedicate some web space to posting rescues awaiting homes...be sure to include photos, as they are a BIG help in placing these guys! (Everybody knows what a Pyrenees looks like, but....wolfdogs are like snowflakes, they're all unique individuals! ;) Also, if you know about a wolfer needing a home, and a qualified person looking to adopt...put them in touch with each other, or direct them to their nearest wolfdog rescue! Sometimes it is just a simple matter of getting the word out. Don't know where to find info on wolfdogs needing adoption? Try here. Know of a place where potential adopters may be online? Try posting the previous link there, so they can see the available critters! Perhaps you could donate food, fencing, medical care, etc. to an established wolfdog rescue? Those folks usually operate in the red...wayyyy in the red. ;) If you have supplies to offer, please consider speaking with Wolfdog Rescue Resources, a centralized effort for rescue assitance. If you are able to volunteer your time at a rescue or sanctuary, most would LOVE to have you! That's also a great way to learn more about wolfdogs, if you are considering adopting one of your own. Look here for rescue contacts by state--if your local contact doesn't have rescues themselves, they can probably direct you to a rescue group that needs your help. Do you visit the animal shelter? In many shelters, a wolfdog is put down promptly upon arrival...shelters just don't want the liability of adopting them out. If you are in a wd-legal area and your local shelter workers are friendly...you might want to let them know that you are available to pull and place a wolfdog, should one end up there...or be a point of contact, to get the word out about wolfdogs in your local shelter. Sometimes, saving a wolfdog's life is as simple as spending a few moments of your time to talk to someone in need. Many of us feel that we have a responsibilty to "our" breed...and every little bit we do helps the animals we love! :) |
| Some thoughts on how "regular folks" can help with rescue... |