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What is RESPONSIBLE RESCUE?
This is a tough one. Many people believe they are doing what is best, most rescuers do in fact. Responsible Rescue means that you are responsible for more than one dogs life. You are responsible for how the public views that specific breed as well. Responsible Rescues take that into consideration and understand that we are one of the Guardians of the breed we love. It is always bigger than the needs of just one dog.
There are the "save 'em all" rescue people who do not know or do not want to know that not all dogs should be placed. Sometimes the neglect or lack of care is too much. Sometimes the most loving, responsible thing we can do as Responsible Rescuers, is to humanely euthanize a dog. There are legal reasons for this viewpoint, of course, but there are also moral reasons that weigh just as heavily on our shoulders. The general public who comes to us to adopt is not a behaviorist, is not even a trainer, and is not knowledgeable enough to safely take on an aggressive dog. It is not in the best interest of the family, the dog nor the breed of dog as a whole to place dogs who have a high potential to bite. People will apply to adopt these dogs of course, as long as the sob story presented with it is sad enough and there are rescuers who can sure write up one heck of a sad story for dogs like this. That does not mean that they can actually handle the reality of owning and living with this animal. Responsible Rescue people educate themselves and their volunteers and learn to make the hard decisions. Yes, I said HARD decisions. Some think it is easier to say "We don't want that dog" or "this one is unadoptable" but it is not. Not if you are the one who also sits with this dog while the veterinarian gives him that fatal injection. Not if you are the one holding him, talking to him and telling him it will all be alright now. It is the hardest and worst part of rescue and we do it anyway, because that's what we HAVE TO DO. In reality, the "save them all" thought process is the easy way out. These people cannot deal with reality so they simply do not. Instead they try to pass off these "difficult" dogs as adoptable to "the right home". Some of these rescue people eventually see the sad truth, others never do. Some people are only in rescue so they can tell others about how many dogs they saved, how many were considered unadoptable by others. They get a feeling of superiority from taking on a dog with behavior issues that more educated rescue people will not take. Sick dogs are one thing, some groups will take them on and others will not and that is up to each group, but it is not at all the same as taking on a dog with a high likelihood to bite or who might already have a bite history and say that they "fixed" it. Real, Responsible Rescue is hard work, not fun most days and has absolutely no glory, but it is the only kind of rescue that should be done!
MID MICHIGAN BOXER RESCUE
Ethical and Responsible Rescue
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