It seems to me there are a couple of issues here. I don't think a shelter wants just any JoeBloe walking in one day to say "hey I'd like to help by walking your dogs". The shelter needs to know something about its volunteers though a criminal check might be a bit much. If someone has been volunteering at a shelter for some time so the staff knows them and now new policies are being put into effect, then the shelter should have some sort of informational meeting/handout for all its volunteers so they know what and why. And even when volunteers have been accepted, some mini-training should be included for handling dogs. Many shelter dogs have been abused so I wouldn't want a volunteer who grew up under the "old" system of training with spanking and collar yerking now handling a special needs dog. Actual certification for dog walkers - no - the government intrudes enough.
I'm torturing myself
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so i made the mistake of looking at pets at the animal shelter near me. I found this little cutie http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13018753
ALL the dogs at this shelter are euthanized after 10 days!
Its only $50 to adopt it… I'm seriously considering going to rescue her and see if i can find a home for her, or at the VERY least I wonder if i could take her from here to the Humane society so that she at least has a CHANCE of being adopted. I imagine a little cutie like her would be scooped up quickly! I wonder if they would let me keep her at my place but list it on their site for adoption....Anyone have experience with this? I would be concerned with the fact that there is NO history on her and I wouldn't want to expose my B's to anything. Are there vets that will give free exams to rescues like this?
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There should be vets in your area that will do a free or very low cost exam.
We fostered pups for about a year and a half and none of our dogs got anything from any of them. No even a flea or kennel cough. Worst case scenario would be parvo but our dogs are all vaccinated.
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I called around to some vets yesterday and NONE of them do low cost or free exams! I'm surprised! I also called the shelter and there have already been a few calls expressing interest in the little girl so hopefully she will be adopted. I will check again next week and if not, i'll probably pick her up myself….
sigh...
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Actually - I posted it on the Podengo group - lots of members in the area and looks like might be something from one of the hunt packs (or a golden GSD mix) Maybe one of them will bite.
