Looking for a New Best Friend? Check Out Oregon Dog Rescue!

My name is Latka and I'm a male German Shepherd. The shelter picked me up because I was a stray. I can be aloof with strangers at first but once I know you I am the best companion in the world! I weigh 72 lbs and I'm approx. 2 1⁄2 years old. No cats please. My adoption fee is $150. We will be at a special event Saturday, August 9th, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Tualatin Crawfish festival located at Tualatin Community Park near the intersection of Boones Ferry Rd. and Tualatin Rd.

Visit Oregon Dog Rescue for more information on Latka.

Cats Aren't the Only Ones with Nine Lives

There's another side of the animal adoption process that most of us never see—rescue and rehabilitation. Thanks to organizations such as Oregon Dog Rescue, we see the end result: a healthy dog in need of a good home. We don't see the lives these dogs led prior to their rescue. Some come from puppy mills, others are strays, and many others are from owners who can no longer care for them due to death, illness, deployment, foreclosure, or other changes in circumstance. It takes a lot of time, money, and care to enable these dogs to put their best paw forward and be adopted.

Oregon Dog Rescue has been involved in rehabilitating dogs from large confiscations in Oregon, refugees from hurricane Katrina, and individual arrivals from private homes and local shelters. This non-profit organization is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to the well being of dogs put into their care-maximizing the potential of successful adoption for every dog!

How Dogs Become Part of Oregon Dog Rescue

Local shelters and humane societies contact Oregon Dog Rescue when they have too many dogs or if they have a dog that is not doing well in a shelter environment. Dogs are also accepted on a case-by-case basis from individual owners. Local veterinarians make a referral to Oregon Dog Rescue when an owner can no longer care for a dog. In addition, Individual owners make contact with the organization through its posting on petfinder.com.

Oregon Dog Rescue evaluates every dog to determine whether the dog can be helped by its organization. The dogs are given any immediate attention necessary before being placed in a foster home. The foster home receives supplies including a crate, bedding, toys, medication, and food. The foster parent must care for the dog, take the dog to vet appointments, if necessary, and report their observations. Photos and information are displayed on the Internet through Petfinder.com and the Oregon Dog Rescue website. The foster parents may even receive phone calls from potential adopters with questions about the dog.

Preparing for Adoption

Most of the dogs put into the care of Oregon Dog Rescue need some type of medical attention. This can range from routine vaccinations to major surgery. Most animals that are placed in a shelter, and subsequently with Oregon Dog Rescue, are not spayed or neutered-most require vaccinations as well. Most dogs require vitamins and supplements to offset skin or health conditions. Many need intensive grooming and some need professional medical help.

Training is another key part of the Oregon Dog Rescue program. Many dogs in rescue are there because they have some type of training issue. The Vice President of Oregon Dog Rescue is a dog trainer; she puts together a program for each dog based on its needs. Each foster parent is expected to maintain the training program and report on the dog's progress. Each dog is evaluated after a 1 to 2 week interval to determine if the dog can be placed in a permanent home. The organization compiles a profile of each dog and tries to pinpoint the type of home that will work best for that dog: some dogs do not like children; some prefer homes without other dogs or cats. This information is used in Internet postings and adoption events to screen adopters for each dog.

It's a Dog's Life

Dogs living in foster care are brought to outreach adoption days on Saturdays from 11-5 at the Petsmart in Tualatin. They also visit other locations such as Lexi Dog, the Bark Market, and (soon at) Pet Utopia in Beaverton. The dogs also attend special events such as the upcoming Oregon Dog Rescue event at the Tualatin Crawfish Festival, August 8, 9, and 10.

Kudos to Oregon Dog Rescue, and other local rescue organizations, for giving these dogs a second chance at happiness. We heart you!!!