I recently found the website for a rescue in california called Gentle Giants Rescue. When I was looking at the site, something seemed to be a little off and further searching revealed an entire site dedicated to the bad experiences people have had with the "rescue." Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had any other rescues they might want to warn people about.

You can find many lists on the web about what to look for in a rescue, but here are a few important ones:

1. Are the facilities clean and well kept?
2. Are there areas you are not allowed into? (this is moderately suspicious as there could be legitimate reasons for this.) Along with this, are you allowed to see where the dogs are normally kept?
3. Does the dog appear healthy (not too skinny or fat)? Does it seem especially fearful or even aggressive?
4. Can the rescue provide adequate medical documentation such as rabbies vaccination records?
5. Do you know anyone who has had dealings with them before? or Can you find information on them from reliable outside sources? (Other reputable rescues for example.)
6. Finally, if anything feels wrong, it probably is. Don't let them pressure you into taking a dog just because you drove all the way out there/filled out the paper work, etc.

Please feel free to add to this list if you have another important tip.

Hello,

I have seen a lot of bad rescues in Romania. These are actually private shelters where people try to help and save some dogs off the streets or from the pounds. If you adopt a dog from there, you will probably have to deal with some health issues, but even though this is the best thing you can do for that dog: take him out of ther and take care of him....:???:

icon, most rescues are foster home based & don't have any facility. they usually don't allow people to come to their homes to see the pet for obvious reasons & most usually only have one or two of the dogs that are listed on the web site. they do arrange a meeting for you - which is often done when they come to do the home check.

you are correct tho - everybody & their maiden aunt has a rescue sign hung out & there are a lot of bad ones out there.

a dog from a reputable rescue will come; UTD on all vaccines, neutered, heart worm tested & on HW & flea preventative, leash, crate & house trained & microchipped

That is a good point about foster homes, but I was speaking more to the larger rescues that do maintain a main facility as well as/instead of foster homes. Gentle Giants is home based but has a special area for their dogs. However, the adopters are usually kept in a small area and the dogs are brought to them. Obviously I don't expect them to let everyone in the house, but in my opinion, adopters should be able to see where the dogs spend their time. I would not trust a breeder who didn't do that, so I would not trust a rescue like that either.

Another scam some disreputable rescues run is the claim that microchip info cannot be altered, as in the chip will always come back to the rescue. Again, shady beyond all reason.

My point here was mainly to remind people that just because someone says they are a rescue does not automatically mean they have the animals' best interests in mind. Their are people out there to get your money any way they can, including selling you an unhealthy dog for large sums of money.

I understand what you are trying to do. my point is - you are insinuating that because a foster based rescue doesn't have a "facility" they are not reputable. I can guarantee you there are far more reputable, responsible rescues that are foster home based than have a facility.

I have no clue how if Gentle Giants is home based they have a facility. it can't be both, so I'm really confused on all that.

as for the chip, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a rescue wanting to know if their dog winds up in a kill shelter. if the owners don't claim it, what then? has this happened several times - meaning do the owners need a little "pep talk"?

I can tell you of one I was recently involved in. the dog was in Orange County AC - an extremely high kill shelter. they called both the owner & the no kill shelter it came from. the owner never claimed it, the shelter was in PA - I got the dog out on the day he was to be killed & they were able to send someone down several days later to get him.

now I'm not saying they should lie to the people about being able to put their names on ( most can ) I never agree with lying but there are valid reasons for the rescues name to be there too. it's a safeguard for the dog. in fact I would consider a rescue was NOT being responsible if they didn't have their name listed to call. I'm sure there are a lot of dogs that don't agree that it is "shady beyond all reason"!

I agree with your last paragraph.

I am sorry Suebgone, but we appear to be having a slight miscommunication, mostly on my part for not being more clear. I hope I can rectify this.

It was never my intention to say that foster based rescues are substandard, in fact I think they are wonderful! They provide loving interim homes for dogs, allowing them to avoid the high stress environment that crowded shelter condiitons can present. I do apologize for giving any impression to the contrary.

As for Gentle Giants being home based and having a facility what I meant was that they have a VERY large number of dogs in a kennel that also happens to be on the same property as the home of the proprieters. (Hence the comment about not letting everyone into their home.)

Finally as to the microchip comment: I am not saying that rescues should not be contacted if a dog ends up in another facility, quite the contrary. I meant to say that some of the questionable characters out there have actually told adopters that they cannot put ANY new info on a chip.

I hope this helps! and thanks for pointing out unclarities in my posts.

GG is NOT what I consider a reputable rescue. Very few rescues consistently have puppies...they are constantly advertising Chinese Crested and Xolo puppies. There are even photos on the net of dogs taken at their facilities who remain intact. No one will ever be able to convince me that they're not breeding...and their adoption fees alone are enough to make one shudder. Many of their "breeds" can be purchased for a reputable, ethical breeder for the same amount they want for their "rescues." And don't even get me started on their provision that the dogs must remain on "their" food...the food is CRAP and is more suited to feeding squirrels than it is carnivores.

As for microchipping, the three rescues I volunteer for does not allow our names to be removed from the microchip registration...we do allow adopters to add themselves as additional contacts, but our names MUST remain as a contact. Because of this, we have received dogs back that ended up in shelters...one was adopted out of Texas and ended up in St. Louis, MO shelter.

Sadly, just like bad breeders, there are bad or disreputable rescue organizations (and just because the list on petfinder in NO WAY makes them legit). Some people are simply out to make a buck. I tell people when looking at rescue groups to do their homework, just as they would a breeder..make sure they are a 501c3 not-for-profit group (though I know there are some for profit who are decent rescue groups), but as a general rule, one can be reasonably assured that a 501c3 is in it for the love of the dogs...not the love of money!

[lil mutt]

nice list you have there... it can help our other fellow members what to look for a rescue...

I guess there is a balance, but if you are looking to rescue a dog is extreme need, you need to accept that there are going to be difficult times. you have to be ready for that.

[lil mutt]

Nice topic... we should warn other pet lovers to stay away from those kinds of rescues.