No rescues out west?

[cassadee7]

I was looking through the transport threads and noticed all areas of the USA except the west. I also have not seen many (any?) dogs posted in Urgent or Non-Urgent who are in the western states.

Is there no rescuing going on (here on the board) for WA, OR, ID, CA? Just wondering...

[Fodder]

there are rescues here. but i think there are fewer rescues covering the middle and eastern states which is why the dogs are in higher need and why there is more transporting going on. speaking for southern california - we have 5 german shepherd rescues here, so not such a high need for transports. the middle states are also swamped with more breeders and puppy mills.

i know that you're in the market for a dog... wasnt sure if you'd thought much about rescues and what not... but fyi - westside shepherd rescue here in los angeles are one of the few that does out of state adoptions. for that reason - they are even more determined to find the perfect fit for your family because of the hassle if the dog were to need to get returned.

there is also a rescue in washington that i've only recently heard great things about!

[cassadee7]

Thanks, yes, I am looking at rescues, thinking, considering...

Part of me really wants the experience of a puppy.
Part of me really wants to skip that... LOL.
But I love babies and in fact my last baby (human baby) is heading to kindergarten in the fall, and since there is no way I am having anotehr (human) baby, a puppy might be a great distraction

We'll see, when the time comes. I see all those poor dogs in shelters and I want to help them but I am not sure I am experienced enough plus having small kids around it might not be the best choice... I am still pondering.

I noticed my local (WA) kill shelter has 5 GSDs in it right now. So I wondered if anyone is going to save them. Is the WA rescue active in that kind of thing? Anyone know?

[Debbieg]

I have two friends who rescued their German shepherd pups about a year ago from German Shepherd rescue of Norther CA and they are great dogs. Here is a link. When Benny is older I will look into rescueing from there

http://www.gsrnc.org/index.asp

[bluetick]

I am in southern CA. My neighbor is fostering a young female for a GSD rescue. The dog was found apparently dumped or otherwise abandoned down the road from us. She is a big sweet girl, and if I didn't have 3 already...

[Fodder]

cassadee - there is always time to do both! often times it appears to be a breeder vs. rescue situation and i've even seen people feel the need to justify why they've chosen breeders, but in my opinion you don't have to be completely for one or the other. what i do encourage - is for individuals who are on the fence and/or indifferent - to fully look into rescues, be patient and give them a fair chance.

just as it will take an excellent breeder to match you with the perfect pup... it will take an excellent rescue to match you with the perfect pup or dog as well.

...keeping in mind that "rescue" doesn't automatically eliminate the puppy option either, and ALL the dogs in rescue are not strays with no history. i've been very lucky to find out a bit of background on my dogs. nothing thats made a difference, but its definitely "nice to know".

personally, until i have a reason to go to a breeder - i probably won't. i thought that with the very specific list that i had before Tilden that i was never going to be able to find that in rescue and i was saving up my $2k... within a day i found him. i like to see what i'm getting (appearance) and i like to know what i'm working with (personality) as well as being able to get up and go without worrying about puppy this and shots that. for me 8-10 months is an extremely workable and eager to learn age.

i've seen more dogs with 'issues' that were raised from 8 weeks, then i've seen with either of my adopted dogs. and i've said in some of your other threads, both are wonderful with babies & kids!

[3K9Mom]

We have numerous rescues here -- both GSD and all breed rescues. I don't have experience with all of them, but those I do have experience with are top-notch.

This should get you started.

http://www.nwk9.com/rescue.htm

Depending where you live, local humane societies and all breed rescues (Ginger's Pet Rescue, Rescue Every Dog, PAWS, NOAH, and Homeward Pet in King & Snohomish County are just a few names to get you started...) do pull dogs. In King County, they're closing AC shelters and transferring handling to Seattle/King County Humane Society.

The Humane Society of Pierce County/Tacoma strives to be as close to a no-kill shelter as possible -- acknowledging that because they accept every dog that comes in the door, there are some cases, due to veterinary or behavioral issues, for which euthanasia is the most appropriate solution -- which I think most "no-kill" shelters do. They're just more open about it.

The force and organization of our rescue safety net was really displayed last year when there were a couple large puppy mill discoveries. Suddenly, everyone had puppies. Vets, kennels, trainers,...it seemed that everyone was fostering a puppy or two -- or more. So there's a lot being done here at the local level.

In fact, Western WA rescues are often pulling dogs from shelters (and transporting from rescues) in Eastern WA, given that there are simply more resources here and more people to adopt the dogs to.

If you want a puppy, as CameraFodder points out, rescues do have puppies. But specifically, Rescue Pup in Mill Creek http://www.rescuepup.org/ is definitely worth checking out.

[GSDElsa]

I think a lot also depends on the sheer quantity of of specific breed in an area (rescue to dog ratio, if you will).

Another rescue foster mom that I know read some article recently about the numbers of chiuahnas that have to be shipped to the east coast to go into rescues because there are just sooooooo many out there. But in a lot of places here in the NE they are a diamond in the rough for someone that wants the breed.

[Kayos and Havoc]

I have driven a few transports from Eastern WA/OR to Western WA.

Most of the eastern PNW rescues do a lot of private individual work and do not have web sites. Sit,Stay is a rescuer in ID too.

[HeidiW]

This shelter has gorgeous dogs that I would love to have, they have a 5month old coated female she is gorgeous:

http://www.sheprescue.org/index.html