Rescue or Broker??

[Isabella Carter]

Your opinions please regarding a person who does claim to be a rescue:

Not 501 c non profit
Only adopts dogs out to the Northeast States
Adoptions fees anywhere from $300.00 to $350.00
Only accepts small dogs.

Would this person be called a "broker" or a "rescue".

Thanks,
Isabella

[Patch O' Pits]

Your opinions please regarding a person who does claim to be a rescue:

Not 501 c non profit
Only adopts dogs out to the Northeast States
Adoptions fees anywhere from $300.00 to $350.00
Only accepts small dogs.

Would this person be called a "broker" or a "rescue".

Thanks,
Isabella

That does seem a little excessive. Usually if there is a fee it is to cover the spay/neuter shots and maybe something that can be put back into the shelter/rescue. Most of the time vets donate or give breaks to rescues so they do not pay as much for services. What exactly does it say the money goes to be used for

[vonissk]

I saw a beautiful bi colored GSD in my state and supposedly it was a rescue. They were asking an $800 adoption fee. I wrote and tried to get the details and boy they were hateful when they wrote back.

[Patch O' Pits]

I saw a beautiful bi colored GSD in my state and supposedly it was a rescue. They were asking an $800 adoption fee. I wrote and tried to get the details and boy they were hateful when they wrote back. Holy cow that doesn't sound like a rescue to me. Sounds like they are just trying to make money off those pups! :mad:

[dogteacher]

I don't think any of the things mentioned (the lack of 501c3, the somewhat high adoption fee or the 'small dogs only' rule) necessarily disqualify the person/group as a rescue. Does the person/group do home visits prior to adoption, do they have a legal contract specifying that the dog cannot be sold or transfered except back to the 'rescue' and finally are all dogs neutered/spayed before being placed or (if too young) are monetary damages in excess of the cost of spay/neuter specified if the dog is bred? If not, then they are a broker not a rescue. Real rescues care about the dogs; brokers only care about the money.

As far as the dog whose circumstances changed, both rescues I work with (and all the reputable rescue groups I have heard of) have contracts saying that the dog can be taken back if it is found to be kept in unsatisfactory conditions, even if the adopter doesn't want to return it. Yes, you may end up paying some legal fees, but at least the dog will be safe.

Even if you are an individual animal lover who occasionally rescues needy animals, get yourself a LEGAL, air-tight contract that:
1) requires spay/neuter and specifies monetary damages if the dog is bred
2) allows you to monitor the dog and take it back if it is found to be poorly kept
3) absolves you of liability if the dog hurts someone while in the adopters' custody
then you need to run (not walk) to the nearest helpful lawyer and get one.
Engel