Monday, February 1, 2010

Prfl Rescue: RESCUES: Who Are They? What Are They? What Do They Do? Are They Legite?

What is rescue about? What is a rescue considered? What do rescues do? Who really is a rescue? Find out about the rescue/s you are donating to, reposting for, volunteering for.

It has come to everyone's attention lately that some people are turning out not to be what they say they are ( rescues gone bad, scam artists, convicts posing as rescues). Some people start a rescue because they really want to help the animals, some start them because they see money comes in when they ask for donations, some people start rescues because they love animals, but they have no idea what is involved with rescue.

First things first: There are different kinds of rescues. One rescue is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization, One is a Non-Profit Incorporation, One is a Not For Profit Organization, and One is just a name.

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization: is registered with the federal government. They have gotten permission from their state to ask for Charitable donations. Meaning: donations to this kind of rescue are Tax Deductable. They are not in this to make a profit at all and they spent alot of time doing the paperwork to get this status. LOL

Non-Profit Incorporation: They are registered with their state as a rescue and they are not making any money off of doing what they do, but donations are NOT Tax deductable. They can have their incorporation papers linked to their websites, they can include it in the ending of their rescues name, but that still does not give them the status of a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. They must also state on all their solicitations for donations that donations are not Tax Deductable, this is a federal offense if they do not

Not For Profit Organization: This is the same as a Non-Profit Organization, just by a different name. Donations are not tax deductable and they must make it known when asking for donations.

Just a name: This is a group that either wants to help the animals, has no money to get their status's yet or just wants to get money from people, but in the IRS's book, they are not even considered a rescue or an organizatioin. Donations to them are not tax deductable, and they must make it known when asking for donations.

Does it really make a difference whether a group is a Tax deduction or not? It does if they're not and they don't let you know it. It does when you try to file at the end of the year and end up with an audit and find out you got lied to. It does to a rescue when people file their donations to you and you weren't legally allowed to get them. It does to some people, because they need that at the end of the year. To others it doesn't because they just want to help the critters no matter what.

What Should A Rescue Do????

When a rescue takes a dog in, MOST, not all, will spay/neuter, vaccinate, microchip, deworm, fecals done, dentals done if needed, heartworm/lyme testing (if positive they will treat before adoption), start the animal on heartworm/flea/tick preventative and temperment test. Some people think it's ok to just deworm a dog and not do a fecal. Not true. Deworming a dog only gets rid of worms. It does not check for parasites or infections, which means a rescue that does not do fecals, could be adopting out a sick dog. Some rescues do not check for heartworm or lyme. This is very important to do because a dog will die from this. If a dog does have heartworm, its SHOULD be treated by the resuce before a dog goes up for adoption. Everone pretty much knows that all dogs/cats should be speutered before adoption. Microchipping: that helps a rescues dog/cat come back to them if the adopter ever gives the dog/cat to a shelter, looses the dog, tries to give the dog to someone else. This is expensive, but it saves a life. And when a rescue takes an animal into rescue, it means thats for the rest of the animals life, even if they've been adopted.

Home Visits:
This is expected to be done by a rescue. Well at least most rescues are doing these, some it turns out are not. When you meet someone on FB or MS, do you really know them or jsut the name on the computer screen??? Do you really know if they have that magnificent dog room for the dog they always talk about or are they really leaving their dog out on a chain in the backyard? Just because someone is involved in crossposting and rescue groups, does not always mean they are good people. How many people out there will lie their asses off just to get an animal to sell for research, or to fighters, or for bait? A lot, yes, A LOT. Rescues, do your home visits, no matter how much of an emergency it is to get the dog out of the shelter. Don't rely on someone saying "oh, I know them from group, they're good people" or "i've know them on the internet for years now, they'd be great at fostering".

Adopting Out Of State:
Most rescues will adopt out of state, but only within a few states. A rescue wants to make sure that if anything happens to their dog/cat, they can get to the home within a few hours time frame or within a day. If someone said to you, "You gotta get this dog out of here by tonight, or I'm taking him to the shelter", can you get there if you've adopted the dog over 15 hours away or across country or will you have to rely on your FB or MS friends to handle it for you? Plus, most rescues want to be able to check in on their dogs here and there

Adopting Out Bully Breeds:
This is a touchy situation for some rescues, since some of us have had a few of these dogs in rescue for over a year. It's VERY hard placing this breed. A rescue MUST check to make sure that the home owners insurance does allow the breed, or they must have them change it. There are laws that people are trying to change on this, but until they do, you have to make sure your dogs are going to the right place. You'd hate to get the dog back 3 or 5 yrs from now because the insurance gave them the choice to get rid of the dog or loose their insurance. I have 3 emails now of people having to get rid of their dogs because there insurance company will cancel them. They've tried other companies, but it cost more. One of these dogs is 6 yrs old. So don't put it past somebody to get rid of the dog instead of changing companies.

Adopting A Bully To Another State:
Please make sure you are checking states and counties BSL laws. Almost every state has some kind of BSL against Pitbulls, whether it's in the state, the county or the city. That means you can not send any bully breeds there or anything that looks like a Bully (if it looks like a duck, it must be a duck). Thats just what it is now until the laws are changed.

Knowing Your Limits:
Everyone in rescue has gone thru this, me included. We look at that one face and say "OMG, where will I put him/her, we gotta make room". And then we're stuck. It can take days/weeks/mths/yrs to get that dog adopted, while we still have dogs from months ago waiting for homes. Almost every rescue out there is packed, and we know there's not many approved homes out there. Some of us rescues have been waiting forever it seems like to find the right homes/fosters, where as some rescues are finding them right away. Are they doing rescue right or are they doing it the wrong way. Are they jumping to quick at the home because they want to save more? Is that the way rescue is done? Rescue is supposed to be quality, not quantity. There are emergency cases (fighting rings, puppy mill bust, hoarder situations)

Rescue is not an easy job. It is not cut out for everyone thats in it. People get burnt out, we loose hope sometimes, we get mad when we see others making a bad name for rescue. We wish that everyone that gets into rescue is in it for the right reasons, but thats not always true. When wanting to help a rescue, do your checking. Check the IRS website to see if they really are legite, talk to shelters to see if they know them, ask other rescues for references on them. Check around, don't just sit back and believe everything you see. It may haunt you in the long run.

www.pitsandrottsforlife.petfinder.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

5 Ways to Help a Chained Dog

I just can't take people that chain there dogs outside!!!
Especially when it's cold or really hot!

Here are some ground rules and tips to help chained dogs:

1. Bring your dog inside! Dogs get bored and lonely sitting on the same patch of dirt day after day, year after year. Dogs want to be inside the house with their "pack": you! Read tips on housetraining and behavior modification to help your dog be a good “inside” dog. Did you know that inside dogs make the best guard dogs?

2. Get to know the dog’s guardian if you are concerned about someone else’s chained dog. See tips on talking to a stranger about helping their chained dog.

3. Call your local animal control office, humane society, or sheriff’s department if you see a dog who is:


* Consistently without food, water or shelter
* Sick or infested with parasites
* Too skinny

A city/county official or humane society investigator is required to investigate the situation if the dog guardian is breaking your community’s animal cruelty law. In most communities, it is considered cruel to leave a dog without food, water or shelter; to not provide medical care to a sick dog; and to keep a dog undernourished. Even if your city's ordinance doesn’t have an animal cruelty section, your state law will have a section that addresses animal cruelty. Your state laws are online: do a keyword search for "Your State Code" or "Your State Statutes."

Once you report the situation--don’t be afraid to follow up! Keep calling the authorities until the situation is resolved. If animal control doesn't respond, write a letter describing the situation to your mayor. The dog is counting on you to be his voice.


4. Offer to buy the chained dog from the owner. Just say something like, "I saw your dog and have always wanted a red chow. Would you sell him to me for $50?" You can then place the dog into a good home. Although some chained dogs are aggressive and difficult to approach, many are very friendly and adoptable. Don't offer to buy the dog if you think that the owner will just go right back out and get another dog.

5. Put up a fence. Fences give dogs freedom and make it easier for owners to approach their dogs, since they won't be jumping at the end of a chain. Fences don’t have to cost much if you do some work yourself. You can attach mesh fencing to wooden or metal posts for the cheapest fence. Chain link is easy to install, too. Visit our Building Fences page for more information.

ASPCA's Top Ten Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty >>
What to Do When You Spot Animal Abuse >>

Friday, January 1, 2010

In need of rescue "Lover Boy" (cage 7)



Can anyone help save this beautiful guy? He has been at the Edison Shelter since Nov. 1!
He is a large (about 85 lbs) pit, but so lovable, we call him "Lover Boy" (cage 7). Lover Boy is a light brown, unneutered male, about 4-5 yrs old, and just sits in his cage waiting for someone to take him out. We have never heard him bark or show any aggressive tendencies toward other animals.
The Edison Shelter will not adopt out pits to the public, so his only way out is through a rescue. He is strong and powerful, and will need the right person and family who will care for him properly and keep him disciplined because of his size, but he is a sweet boy with soulful eyes.

If you can help, please let me know.
Thanks very much for any help you can offer to help Lover Boy.

Elda Hubbard
eldahubbard@hotmail.com

Located at:

Edison: Municipal Animal Shelter
125 Municipal Boulevard, Edison - (732) 248-7278

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Justice for Justice


There's a Dog called Justice currently at an undisclosed vet's in Queens NY. Here's a video for Justice - please watch before reading further:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMj0jY6H2OI



(this video might break your heart)

This dog was taken by a concerned animal lover that took it to her vets for treatment and then called the ASPCA for help. Officer Romano was sent to investigate (Tel #212-876-7700). The rescuer then slipped to the owner that this dog was getting treatment and was passed to the ASPCA - the owner than called and told the APSCA that this dog was stolen.

Now the ASPCA is insisting that this poor dog goes back to it's owner where it was living in a crawl space under the house and being mauled by another dog they owned - all the time not getting any treatment for his obvious ill health.

As of tonight (12/20) we are praying that this dog is still at the vets - so far the vet has not treated this dog in anyway. The vet was ready to put Justice into surgery that night. But after carefully looking him over, the vet decided Justice needed to heal on his own. He did have mange and what looked like bite marks all over his neck. The one vet said that he would have never survived another night outside. Anemia and mange and under weight, as well as big, open, sores. He is having trouble standing and looks as if he is going to pass out as you can see in the video. The vet cannot give this dog back to the rescuer and will tomorrow be given back to the owner that let it get this way as per the advise of the ASPCA officer Romano that was called on this case.

Please call the ASPCA, get the media, call the officer - network for this poor dog. We all want a happy ending to this tradegy while this dog has a fighting chance.

For more pictures please go to: http://www.facebook.com/#/album.php?aid=2034104&id=1615345637

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Rescue Ink: helping abused animals



RESCUE INK is a rescue group unlike any you’ve seen before: a bunch of tattooed, motorcycle-riding tough guys who have joined together to fight animal cruelty, educate abusers and help resolve situations other rescue groups can’t – or won’t – handle themselves.

Some of the guys grew up in the projects, some had their brushes with the law, some used their smarts to survive, even thrive on the streets. But that was then, this is now, and today they all share a common goal: Using every means within the thin boundaries of the law, they persuade and educate abusers about the right way to treat animals.

Like many of the animals they save, the members of Rescue Ink know what it’s like to be given a second chance in life. And they’re using theirs to help the animals, no matter what it takes.

What makes them so effective? Take a look. Would you mess with these guys?

http://www.rescueink.org/

This is the message they came out with today:
everyone keep a look out for dogs outside without shelters!!!!!! tomorrow is going to be nasty 12 or more inches on long island. If you see anything please go to
http://www.rescueink.org/ and let us know

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Vito needs a break!


Vito (A07815890) looks like a mini Dog De Bordeaux, he has a mushy face and is full of wiggles. He has the BEST smile ever and will absolutely make you laugh. Vito knows ‘sit’ and has no food issues. He would prefer the company of people, but can be ok with other dog with long, proper introductions. He is about 3 years old and came to ACCT when he was shot. Yup, he spent over a month in ICU with a wound in his side, he’s all better now, but needs to get out of the shelter.

Located at the ACCT in Philadelphia
267-385-3800

Forgotten Friends of Long Island

Forgotten Friends of Long Island Animal Rescue Group is dedicated to the rescue of companion animals which have been in municipal shelters for an extended periodic of time, overlooked by both the general public and by rescues. Sadly, and through no fault of their own, these animals are homeless and wait patiently to be euthanized.

Here is a list of some of the dogs for adoption: http://www.forgottenfriendsoflongisland.org/Dogs.html

They also urgently need foster homes: http://www.forgottenfriendsoflongisland.org/Why_Foster_.html

This is a wonderful organization, please consider to help!!!