Here are some of the questions we are most often asked, and our responses to them...
Q: Where do most of your rescues come from?
A: The vast majority are from private homes and are turned in due to changes in their owners lives or because of a lack of fit between the dog and family (i.e. elderly owner and young, active puppy). We also take in dogs from shelters, breeders, and other rescue groups.
Q: I need to find a new home for my Cavalier. Can you help?
A: We are happy to help. Just call the contact person for your area, let them know about your dog, and they will get the ball rolling from there. We ask that you provide the dog's medical records, their food so their tummy's don't get upset when their foster family transitions them to a new food, and any of their belongings that will help them to adjust more easily to a new home, like their toys or bed. We always take foster dogs to our vets, even if they are up to date medically, so if you can give a donation to help with the cost of caring for your dog while in foster care and to support the program, we'd be grateful. Either way, we will assist with your dog and find them a great new home, just give us a call.
Q: Do many of the dogs you take in have problems?
A: Most are healthy for their age and have the typical sweet and endearing Cavalier temperament. That said, we are seeing an increase in dogs with medical issues, such as knees that need surgical correction, and are also seeing more dogs who need behavior rehabilitation.
Q: What kind of medical care does Cavalier Rescue USA do before a dog is adopted to a new family?
A: All dogs are seen by our veterinarians for a physical examination, are brought up to date on vaccines, heartworm tested, and altered if needed. Additionally, if a dog needs their teeth cleaned, treatment for heartworm/lymes or other diseases, needs to see a specialist (i.e. cardiologist, neurologist), or requires surgery (i.e. knee surgery being the most common), this is done while the dog is in rescue too. We try to ensure that all dogs are fully vetted before they are adopted to a new family, and we let you know the dog’s health status, including if the dog requires medication or has a condition not resolvable in rescue (i.e. a heart murmur).
Q: How much does it cost to adopt a Cavalier from you?
A: Adoption donations vary based on the age and health of the rescued dog, as well the cost of their medical care, but generally range from $200-600. Please note that adoption donations only cover about 1/2 of the cost of our program, and unlike municipal shelters, we receive no government funding, so additional and ongoing contributions are always needed and most welcome. After you adopt from us, please consider an annual gift, perhaps for the holidays, or to recognize your dog's "gotcha" day.
Q: I completed the online application. Now what?
A: Keep an eye on the website, especially the section for your region, and call the contact person listed when a dog is posted who you might want to adopt and whose stated needs or requirements your family meets. If it looks like you’ll be the best match for the dog, then the process normally proceeds with 1-2 informal telephone interviews, a vet reference check, a visit with the foster family, and a home visit, which is the point where the adoption normally occurs. It sounds like a long process, but once a great match is identified, matters usually progress pretty quickly (i.e. within a week or two).
Q: I live too far away to get the Cavalier I want. Will you ship him to me?
A: No. We believe it is very important for families to meet the dog they are potentially adopting and to spend enough time to know that a good match is being made, both for the dog and themselves. We only rarely adopt a dog outside of the region in which he or she is being fostered, and we require that the potential new family go to the foster home so that they can meet the dog in an environment to which they’ve been acclimated.
Q: What do you look for in a family for one of your rescues?
A: This varies based on the individual dog and his or her needs. In general though, families are more likely to get a dog from our group if they have the time and love to give a dog, a good history of having taken great care of a pet with solid practices in feeding/training/exercise, ability and willingness to care for the dogs medical needs should health issues arise, and a stable lifestyle.
Q: Do you adopt to families with children?
A: Yes, but generally the children are school aged or older. Cavaliers are usually wonderful with well behaved, gentle children and enjoy their company. We don’t often adopt to families where children are under the age of 5 though, especially if there is more than one young child and if the family is not dog experienced.
Q: I’m thinking about volunteering and am especially interested in fostering dogs. What do you look for in a volunteer?
A: Much of what we look for in a volunteer is the same as what we look for in a new family for one of our rescues (see above). Beyond that though, we look for people who can balance their heart and head and, very important, who are positive team players who communicate with and play well with others, much like a Cavalier:). Volunteers foster dogs, but they also help with picking up rescues from owners and shelters, doing home visits with prospective families when the foster family is not able to do this, and assisting with fundraising.
