Chihuahua Rescue

In order to be listed on the Chihuahua Club of America website any Chihuahua Club must agree to follow these Rescue Guidelines if the Club operates a rescue. If a club wishes to designate an independent rescue group for listing, the rescue group must also abide by the following:

1. Before placement, dogs will receive veterinary and behavioral evaluation and will be given standard immunizations, if needed, including rabies shots. In some parts of the country, heartworm is a problem and each rescue should develop a policy regarding heartworm infected dogs.
2. Dogs found to pose a danger to human beings will not be placed; NOT ALL DOGS CAN BE SAVED. It is suggested that dogs with an unprovoked bite history not be accepted for rehoming.
3. Dogs will be spayed or neutered before placement unless veterinary considerations require that the surgery be postponed. In that case appropriate steps will be taken to assure that the animal is spayed or neutered as soon as safely possible.
4. the medical and behavioral history, insofar as it is known, of each dog will be fully disclosed and explained to potential owners. Any signs of aggression or health issues will be noted in writing.
5. Adoption applicants will be carefully screened so that dogs are placed in suitable environments where they will be as healthy, safe, and happy as possible; dogs will be formally adopted only after appropriate interviews, home checks, and vet checks.
6. All placements will be done with contracts, and all contracts will stipulate that the rescue organization will take the dog back at any time. Any Chihuahua that can not be kept by the adopter MUST be returned to the rescue organization or, if to be placed elsewhere, it must be with the written approval of the rescue organization.
7. All rescues will keep adoptions fees or donations within reasonable bounds.
8. All rescues and their foster homes and agents must abide by applicable laws regarding, licensing, housing, fundraising, etc.
9. While obtaining a 501c3 designation is not required, it is recomended.
10. If a member or member club chooses to only operate a referral system for rescue, it should endeavor to insure that agencies and individuals operate as stipulated in the above document.

 

Will Your Dogs Need to Be Rescued?

By Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten

 

I love the Chihuahua breed.  That is why I got into Rescue.  It began by helping an old breeder who was in the beginning stages of dementia.  She asked for help placing her dogs because she was unable to keep track of which ones she had fed and exercised.   This effort led to the formation of a Chihuahua Rescue group, coordinated via the beginnings of the internet.  We organized, incorporated, received a 501c3, and did all the things a rescue does.

Rescue is about saving, in this case, dogs that are in danger of harm or death.  Most stories are about hoarders and other extreme situations.  We help with that, but usually our cases start with “my mother died and we can’t keep her Chihuahuas” or something similar.  Other cases involve a Chihuahua found on the street without a chip or other identification.  The finder is looking for help in order to avoid taking the animal to the pound or a shelter.  As space in foster homes allows, we are able to help.  In the case of the family or friend who has died or moved into another living situation, solutions could be developed by the dog’s owners.  Planning for the future of our pets without us is not fun, but is part of our responsibility as a pet owner.

Most of us have thought about providing for our dogs if they should survive us.  How many of us have added our dogs to our wills?  But, have we considered that the will may not be dealt with right after our death? The dogs could starve to death waiting for probate.  Here are things we can do to make sure that our dogs are cared for when we die, or if we are suddenly unable to care for ourselves and them.

GENERAL PLANNING

Here is the beginning of a list that you can use as a starting point in planning for the future and the welfare of  your pets:

1. Set up a written plan with a friend or family member, and designate who is to execute it.
   1. Create a file for each animal with photos, vet records, microchip numbers, and all other pertinent information.
   2. Make a list of the animals for your designee. Be sure your designee knows where the files are to be kept.
   3. Specify where each animal is to go, include means to identify each dog, and include contact information for everyone concerned. Include your vet’s information.

 

2. Make sure your designee has a copy of the plan, and that your executor and attorney have one too.
3. Be sure someone has a key to your home, and that others know how to reach that person.
4. Post this information in a prominent place in your home, and also carry it with you. For example: “In case of emergency, call ___________________at (000) 000-0000”.
5. Contact your attorney to be sure your will is in order, and that it is appropriate for your state.

 

TRAVEL EMERGENCIES

Do you travel with your dogs?  All of us in the dog show world have heard about exhibitors being involved in an accident on the way to or from the show.  In the cases where the people are taken to the hospital, what happens to the dogs?  Actually, in most cases, if there is no owner able to take care of them at the time, they will be taken to a shelter or impound facility.  How this is managed depends on where the incident happens, and what facilities are available.  This is why you need an individual identification on each animal, which should include a microchip, and some sort of easily readable tag or collar or crate tag.  Make sure your microchip registration information is up to date.

1. The microchip needs to have a second phone number in its registration – someone who doesn’t travel with you. That way, someone can be contacted to take care of retrieving the animals until you are again able to care for them.
2. If the pickup will take time, have someone authorized to pay for short term boarding in a local veterinary clinic.
3. Make sure your vet can be contacted to verify vaccinations, so that the dogs can be sent to a local veterinarian or shelter for temporary safekeeping. One way to provide this information to first responders could be by having an information/emergency information card on each crate, with
4. If you can manage it, set up a specific, dedicated account with emergency funds for your dogs. Have your trusted designee as a signer on the debit card, so the vet or other caregiver can be paid for the animals’ expenses until such time as they can be retrieved.

Do you travel without your dogs?  Whether you leave them with a family member, a pet sitter, or at a boarding kennel, you do need to make sure that those people know something has happened and are prepared to deal with it on your behalf.  This includes you local errand trips.   Be sure you have an ICE number in your phone.  That is whoever should be notified if something happens to you.  It means In Case of Emergency.  Be sure the ICE contact person is aware of the information in the section above.

If you are away from home during the day, you might want to have a card in your wallet that says something like:

My pets are home alone.

 In case of emergency, please contact

 _____________________ at

 (000) 000-0000. 

This person has access to my house.

 

You love your dogs. You want what is best for them.  Plan for it.

OTHER EMERGENCIES

Speaking of planning for your dogs, what plans do you have for environmental emergencies such as weather, fires, earthquakes, floods, and an accident near you involving a tanker or container with poisonous liquids or gases?

I got to thinking about that sort of thing, and realized that we didn’t have a way to evacuate our dogs in one trip if something happened.  I bought a vehicle that could carry all of them, if I also got smaller crates.  I set up a plan for how to pack them in, along with a “go bag” for them and for the humans.  I have fewer dogs now, but the plan has just been modified a little in order to pack them in a little differently.

The “go bag” is actually a “go box” with a sealable lid.  It contains copies of the dogs’ records, food for them for a few days, bottles of water, something to use for bedding, and any medicines needed.  I update it every so often.  Actually, every time I order dog food is a time to refresh the food in it.  Oh, and I also include all the “in case of emergency information”, for contacting people who can help if needed.

Rescue groups are always stretched to the limit.  If more people could develop viable plans for the care of their pets in emergency situations, the animals would be less stressed and rescue would not have to become involved.

 

Allynid (Lynnie) Bunten is a retired educator who has been involved in rescue for over 20 years.  She has started two rescue groups for Chihuahuas, and serves as Rescue Chair for the Chihuahua Club of America as well as the Texas Chihuahua Club.  She enjoys helping other rescue groups who share common goals; and she continues to seek ways to stretch the resources for rescue.  She supports those local rescue groups which are more connected to the community and quicker to respond to needs in that community.

Copyright 2019, by Allynid M. Bunten, Permission to reprint is granted as long as credit is given to the author.

 

Found a Chihuahua?

By Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten

 

 

Before you call a rescue group or the local animal control, try these things.

1. Check for tags and call the phone numbers on them.
2. Check the dog for a microchip at a vet, an animal shelter or PetSmart or Petco or other pet stores. Call the chip company and report it.
3. Check your neighbors. Use local media networks like Next Door. Look to see if the owner has posted the dog and if not, post a picture on the app.
4. Post the dog on any lost and found pet services.
5. Report the dog to local Animal Control. You may not have to turn it over if you are willing to foster it. They may have a lost and found service and will need photos of the dog.

 

Don’t assume that the dog was dumped unless you have evidence.  Dogs get out.  At holiday times or on weekends, families go away for holiday and someone else might be watching the pets.  If company is in the house, the routine has changed and a guest might accidentally let the pets out.  Utility workers and contractors may not shut the gate properly.  The pet got out.  Independence Day has fireworks and dogs get out.

 

If the above steps don’t work, then look for a place for it.

Your options are generally, your local animal control, humane societies and rescue groups.  There are some breed specific rescue groups, but not everywhere.  If you have found a Chihuahua, cannot find the owner and want to try to place it with a rescue group, do a computer search for your area, or check the rescue section of the Chihuahua Club of America website or the American Kennel Club website for the breed you have found.