English Springer Spaniel Rescue Centers

English Springer Spaniel rescue centers focus on Springer Spaniels. However, you can find Springer Spaniels in so-called All-Breed rescue centers, but it involves a bit more telephone work and waiting. Plenty of preparation will save you time.

How Many?

There are several hundred dog rescue centers in the US and in excess of a hundred in the UK. Some centers are virtual - that is online and often international. So for example if you lived in the UK and went to live in Spain then you could try to locate a rescue center in Spain this way.

Breed Clubs

Obviously, Springer Spaniel rescue centers will be fewer and further between, but there are still plenty about. Many of them have a loose attachment to Springer Spaniel Breed Clubs.

Why Use a Rescue Center?

I have owned a rescue dog, an English Springer spaniel from a police dog pound, who would have been put down the following week. There are pros and cons to owning a rescue dog, and you have to be careful about choice; unless of course your motivation is to have a pet and save a dog's life along the way.

So, let us suppose that you have found a rescue center which has a Springer spaniel for adoption. How do you go about the adoption?

Prepare Yourself

The trip to the center might involve a long drive, so talk to the center before you go. Find out whether you will be able to take the dog home on this visit if things check out on both sides. If the answer is yes, then it is a good idea just to take a few pictures of your home environment - where the dog would sleep, the yard or garden and so on. You can easily do this on a mobile phone camera or regular camera if you have one.

You can then talk to the center staff about your home environment and show them the pictures. If you live in town then space could be an issue, so a picture of your yard and local park might go a long way to helping.

Prepare your Home

Get ready at home for the dog's return - food, lead, basket, feeding bowls and so on.

Prepare for the Trip

Take an old blanket or basket and cleaning materials as the dog may be nervous; a bowl and plenty of water, and a collar and lead, so that you can exercise him on the way back if it is a long drive.

At the Center

The first thing is that you have to have the dog checked over - you can do this yourself. The rescue center may even have a veterinarian's report available for the dog. It is possible that the Springer might have a personality problem if he has come from an abusive background, and may therefore need some patient training and confidence building.

Pedigree Papers?

There are unlikely to be any pedigree papers with the dog; he is probably nameless and under a temporary name at the rescue center (a breed center is more likely to have papers).

The other side of the coin is that the center will want to check you out and be satisfied that the dog is going into a good and appropriate environment.

Assessing the Dog

If things are proceeding Ok so far, then the rescue center should let you take him for a walk at their site. Notice how the dog behaves as you approach - does he cower, is he nervous or welcoming. Does he jump at you (a sign of lack of adequate training)?

The brief walk should enable you to form a reasonable opinion of the dog, and together with the feedback from the centre staff you should be able to decide easily, one way or the other.

Finally, you will have to sign some release papers and there will probably be fees to pay, and a veterinarian's report should be obtained. A decent donation to the center would not go amiss either.

These are the basics, there is a whole lot more to check, so inform yourself well beforehand.

The author has kept both English and Welsh Springer spaniels over the years, including an English Springer Spaniel rescue dog. Find out much more about English springer spaniels at www.springerspanieladvice.com - how to choose, buy, train, feed and exercise them, and a lot more! Plus, at no cost, a springer spaniel mini-course.

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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