A dog rescue group is a group of people looking to save homeless dogs from being euthanized and to save at risk dogs from bad living conditions.  Most rescue groups are breed specific, however, there are many groups that rescue all breeds.  In addition to finding dogs new homes, rescue groups also help educate the public about responsible pet ownership.  In November 2004 a google search of "Dog Rescue" returned 244,000 results.  A search for "cat rescue" returned 126,000 results and a search for animal rescue returned 627,000 results.  There are a lot of groups out there doing this work.

Why is rescue needed?

Dogs are in need of rescue for many reasons.  It may be the owner can no longer keep the dog or maybe someone has passed away and their dog needs a home.  Perhaps the person who bought the dog didn't fully understand the breed they were buying and now they have a dog they can't handle.  Or perhaps the dog was purchased on the spur of the moment because it just looked so cute in the window, the buyer not really stopping to consider that they are about to make a 15 year commitment to caring for that dog.  People also need to know that many puppies come from puppy mills.  You should always know that your puppy was bred by a responsible breeder.  If you want to learn about the deployable conditions of puppy mills a good place to start is www.nopuppymills.com.

What can you do?
Before you get your next pet do some research.  There are lots of websites with good information and tips to know before buying a dog.  Here is some info from the American Kennel Club or join pet boards like InfoPet.  Ask lots of questions.  But before you buy a puppy consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group.  There are many dogs that need homes already just waiting to be your Best Friend. 

Together we can make a difference!