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"Get To Know Us"
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Who we are…
Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue, Inc. got its start during the Knight Search and Recovery during the fall of 2000. After Knight’s recovery, I continued doing rescue as I could afford. Since then, we’ve grown to almost 70 dogs being placed to date (4/05) and a small army of volunteers.
Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization that has attained the 501(c)(3) charity status per the IRS code. This means that we are totally public funded for all we do. We depend on donations, fundraisers and adoption fees to finance all our activities. All funds are used solely for the care and rehabilitation of the dogs. All worker are volunteers, there are no salaries paid.
Why do shelties need rescued?
As long as we live in an imperfect world, there will be a need for shelties to be rescued. We get shelties in that are no longer wanted (owner turn ins), found as strays, on death row at the shelters or from special circumstances (ie..puppy mill closures or government seizures).
What does our Rescue do?
The most visible job that Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue, Inc. does is to take in shelties, rehabilitate them both medically and behaviorally if we can before finding them a new “forever” home. We do our best to evaluate and get to know each and every dog in hopes of learning enough about that dogs habits, temperament and needs to hopefully make the best decisions when it comes to placing that dog. It is our goal to match the right dog to the right home.
A lot of people think that all we get are the sick, abused and mistreated dogs. Although we do get some of those dogs, we also get the well behaved, healthy dogs as well. Most of the time, it’s simply removing a dog from a bad situation.
COSR can also be considered a “sanctuary” because we do not euthanize a dog simply because it is sick or has behavior issues. We will only make that decision when it is the last resort. We allow the dogs to live their natural lives out with us either in our homes or permanent foster situations. Most of the ‘ill’ dogs can end up living a normal productive life once their illnesses are stabilized.
COSR homes their rescue dogs in ‘foster home’ situations. We do not use kennel situations because we feel that treating them like one of our own gives us the best opportunity to get to know that dog. You can’t make the right placement if you don’t know the dog.
Even though we strive to make the best decisions for the dogs when we place them, we are human, so sometimes we do make mistakes. Therefore, we’ve made provisions in our contract making all our dogs fully returnable to us at any time. No questions asked. It doesn’t matter if it’s only been six weeks, six months or six years…we take them back. No one “gets stuck” with our dogs!
We take our responsibility for these dogs seriously. Anyone wishing to adopt a dog from us must fill out an application where we will ask for and check out your personal references and veterinary references. If you pass that screening, then we bring the dog over for a home visit. We watch to see how the dog responds in the home and to the entire family. We check to see where the dog will be living and if it’s a safe, healthy and clean environment for the dog. The whole time we are watching to see the interaction of the family members as well. If you pass that test, we will leave the dog on a trial basis. Once everyone is settled in, the adoption can be completed if it’s the right match. We’ve been known to do a home visit and when things weren’t right, we stopped all proceedings, took the dog and denied the adoption. Our loyalties HAVE to be to the dog. The human’s ego will heal, the dog’s life may depend on the decision we make.
Our responsibility continues even after the adoption form is signed. We follow up on the dogs and their owners. No question is silly or insignificant. If we can’t answer those questions, we find someone that can. We like to think of it as a “growing” family. We are there to support that family.
I strongly believe that God brings each and every one of these dogs into our rescue for a reason. Sometimes it’s to teach us something. Maybe it’s a medical issue or even a “life’s” lesson. It could be to just touch the lives of those people that we come into contact with because of that one dog. But, there is a reason.
One of the lessons that God taught me recently was that sometimes all we can do is give them the ultimate gift of love and let them go. Recently, my dog, Gunnar, was diagnosed with kidney failure. He is in the earliest stage possible and we caught it. It was because of the three kidney failure dogs that came through the rescue over the last four years that enabled me to see that things weren’t right. I hope that the knowledge I gained with them will enable me to keep Gunnar with me for many more years to come.
But as a rescue we do much more than take in dogs and find them homes. We do a LOT of educating. Sometimes it’s just about shelties but more than likely its educating about overall dog ownership. It’s amazing the number of people that get dogs and don’t know how to care for them. Sometimes, it’s the puppy that they didn’t realize would be so much work. Then there’s the people that didn’t do their research and suddenly realize that a sheltie will actually shed or nip their heels when they walk! Imagine that!
This rescue was built on the foundation that got started during the Knight search. I didn’t know how to look for a lost dog…but, I knew I had to learn if this dog even had half a chance. So, taking the knowledge that I gained from the actual search and from Darla Duffy (Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue) we wrote a book for those people out there that didn’t know any more than I did when I started that search. We’ve put over 2000 copies of this booklet out to sheltie owners all over the world, and it works! We get emails all the time of people singing its praise. But, you have to be willing to actually do it.
In 2002, I advised on 85 cases of lost dogs (all breeds) from all over the country. Of that 85, 74 were successfully recovered and one was found deceased. The owners of the remaining ten gave up the search. Let me tell you, it’s a lot of work and a lot of emotional heartache when you are looking for a lost dog. All your heart and soul has to be in the search or it won’t happen. It’s an experience I would never wish on anyone. It’s draining in so many ways…financially, emotionally and physically. But, once you make that decision that the dog is worth it, the cost is irrelevant. Believe me, you’d pay anything just to have them back in your arms. It’s an emotional rollercoaster especially when you realize your actions may mean the life or death of that dog. You see, you have to understand that not all of them end happily. There is nothing so heartbreaking as to realize that you were just one street or block away from rescuing that dog. If only….
Giving up is not an option with us. That dog didn’t ask to be out there on it’s own. It’s not Lassie. It doesn’t always know how to get home. Don’t get me wrong…it’s a lot of work. It’s also continuous work. Fortitude pays off though. Even if a dog has been gone for several weeks…it’s not too late. That dog can still be successfully recovered, if you are willing to do the work. We have a great network of searchers here in Columbus thanks to the Knight search. There are people out searching when you don’t even realize they are there. We now have “Lost” posters ready to go in three corners of the city. They just need the blanks filled in.
The best advice is “prevention”. Keep it from happening in the first place. Yes, accidents do happen. But, carelessness doesn’t need to be the cause of that dog being out there on it’s own. Our suggestions: Use a choke or training collars at all times (in addition to the regular collar with the tags on it) for control. Wrap the leash around your wrist to ensure that you will retain it if you fall. If you use a retractable leash, use the kind that have the nylon webbing all the way through instead of the corded ones. Those cords will break over time. Restrain the dog away from the doors when you have guests coming in or going out. Put padlocks on all access gates to the fenced yard. Regularly check the condition of your fence (make needed repairs). If you do not have a fenced yard…KEEP THE DOG ON LEAD. Do not leave the dogs outside unattended. Shelties are a beautiful breed and have been known to be stolen from fenced yards too. Microchip or tattoo your dog. If it is stolen, that fact may just bring it back to you. When traveling, make sure the dogs are in secure crates or doggy seat belts. If you MUST let them be loose in the car, keep a leash on them so you can grab it when you open the door.
Keep in mind that 75% of all the lost dogs get lost while someone is dog sitting. The owner is away and they are with inexperienced people who mean the best, but one mistake means they are lost. So, who’s watching your’s?
How can you help?
We have a handout with 100 ways to help rescue, but YOU can help…
If you are a breeder, please be responsible and use contracts with all your puppy sales. Follow up on that placement now and in the future. Please make sure the ‘returnable’ clause is in there and understood by the adopters.
As an owner, never get lazy. Don’t let that guard down. Don’t fall into that phase of “it would never happen to me”, or “he knows obedience, he won’t go anywhere”, or my favorite, “I can trust him”. You can trust him right up until that firecracker that spooks him or that squirrel that looks so enticing runs up the pole. Remember it CAN happen ANYTIME to ANY dog. Don’t let it be your’s.
If you think you'd be interested in helping us in other ways...please contact us at CenOHSheltieResc@aol.com today! I want to talk to you!
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