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Have you Seen the Ifetch Yet? New Product

2/15/2015

This gadget is so cute and looks like so much fun for dogs! The dog can be trained (or you can do it) to put the ball in the top and it shoots out of the front and the dog can play fetch. Grandted it's not as much fun as playing yourself but it could keep a dog busy and happy while you are not home! Check it out. There is a video of this boy playing and he has the cutest little excited dance! Here's the link: http://goifetch.com/press/press-kit/

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What Do You Really Want to Know About Rescue?

2/4/2015

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Some rescues will share information with you but it is the information they wish to share and not always the information you really want to know. A rescue will generally share the number of dogs they have rescued and the number of dogs that have been adopted. Some will even share how many were strays, owner surrenders or transferred from another shelter. Some will also share how many dogs they transferred out to another shelter, how many were returned to their owners. Few want to share the number of dogs that died or the number of dogs that were euthanized.

But is that all you want to know? Do you wish there were more statistics being shared or do believe it is all just a numbers game?

Should the adoption numbers include what type of dogs were adopted out?

Puppies,
old dogs,
purebreds,
large dogs,
black dogs?

Do you ever wonder about the dogs that were transferred to another shelter or rescue? Why were they transferred and was it a kill shelter or no kill shelter that they went to?

With the number of dogs that were rescued, do you want to know

how many were sick
how many were puppies
how many were from another state
how many were about to be euthanized
how many were purchased
how many were aggressive?

The problem with playing the numbers game is it makes rescues competitive. No one wants to be the one with the lowest number of adoptions or the with highest number of
deaths. And how can that affect the dogs? When you play that numbers game, the dogs can be affected.

Dogs who are likely dying may not be accepted into the rescue as they would then be part of the "death" number.
Dogs who are aggressive may not be allowed in as there is a chance the dog may need to be euthanized.
Dogs who are sick may not be accepted as they may die.
Black dogs are not highly adoptable and may not be accepted as they take longer to get adopted. The same situation pertains to older dogs and certain breeds of dog.
Local dogs are not helped in favor of out of state dogs who are more adoptable.

As a rescuer you get many requests about saving dogs. No rescuer should ever have to stop and ask themselves, how will this affect my numbers. They are just numbers.

If there are things you are wondering about rescue and the numbers, ask. Any reputable rescue will be happy to show you their statistics and even their financial information. As a volunteer, donor, potential adopter or community member, you have the right to know. Just ask.

And the numbers game? Let's leave that to the lottery!

~Denise

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Have you Seen the Ifetch Yet? New Product

What Do You Really Want to Know About Rescue?

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