Adopt Rescue Schnauzers

Schnauzer rescue occurs when pets are lost as strays, relinquished for various reasons like family relocation, death of an owner, landlords or nursing homes not allowing pets, too many household pets, economic costs of keeping pets, and various owner personal problems. Dogs that were not spayed can create puppies that need homes. Puppy litters can range in size from 3 to 8 little pups, all needing a home.

No matter how lovable a schnauzer might be, far too many people leave their dogs off at shelters for many different reasons, abandon them, neglect or abuse them. Many animal control shelters are overwhelmed with unwanted dogs and other animals – and have to euthanize these helpless creatures to open up a spot for the next one to pass through their doors.

Unless someone is a responsible, knowledgeable schnauzer breeder, they also may just produce litter after litter of puppies for profit without regard to the health and temperament history of the parents and their forebears. The sad results are too many homeless dogs, including all sizes of schnauzers.

Many but not all of these dogs are between the ages of 6 months to 3 years in age, thereby bring with them behaviors that sometimes require much patients and love to be retrained and trust regained. However, both very young puppies and older dogs end up in shelters and foster rescue situations as well.

Rescue Groups to the Rescue

Fortunately, there are dedicated non-profit volunteer rescue groups for schnauzers and other types of dogs to help. These remarkable unsung heroines and heroes go to the kill shelters, rescue adoptable dogs, sometimes on their last day before a scheduled euthanasia, and foster them in their own homes until they can find a forever home for a deserving pet.

We are very fortunate that technology allows anyone looking for a rescue schnauzer to find the perfect match for them and their family. Rescue group websites and larger search services help people who want to adopt a schnauzer find possible new companions and learn about them.

These online search resources include large sites that allow rescue groups to post, allowing searchers to quickly narrow a search by breed, age, sex, location, and even health and temperament. It is even a kind of advantage for the person wanting to adopt – the dog’s behaviors and health issues have already been evaluated in a home setting, often around other dogs, cats, children, and adults. Housebreaking status, activity levels, shyness, outgoingness are already better known from the stay in foster care.

As someone who adopts a schnauzer rather than buys one at a pet store, you are literally saving a life. And, yes, sadly, there are plenty of wonderful purebred schnauzers available at any given time for adoption. While mixed breed dogs are also excellent pets, if you have your heart set on a puppy or an adult, male or female of a specific breed like a miniature schnauzer, you will find them, all needing new homes.

Online Search for a Rescue Schnauzer

The quickest way to find rescue schnauzers is to do an online search for them. Smaller rescue dogs such as miniature schnauzers can be re-homed successfully. Breed-specific rescue groups are around in all regions of both the US and Canada. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Njsm.org : New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network, Inc.
  • schnauzerrescue.net : Schnauzer Rescue of the Mid-Atlantic
  • schnauzerrescueofthecarolinas.org : Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas
  • msrh.org : Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston
  • msfrescue.org – Miniature Schnauzer and Friends Rescue in Los Angeles
  • vs.giantschnauzerrescue.org : Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue; and
  • giantschnauzerrescue.net

Different cities and states also have other schnauzer breed-specific rescue groups or networks of people.

In addition, there are feeder websites that pull together information on all types of dogs, but they all have easy search capabilities onsite for you to find a schnauzer. Leading websites includes:

  • petfinder.com
  • spcai.org/adopt
  • adoptapet.com/dog-adoption
  • rescueme.org

All local and state animal shelters also provide a searchable database of animals in need of homes.

The Adoption Process

Dog rescue groups are dedicated and passionate about finding the right home for every animal. They typically require a detailed application from a prospective adopter and a home visit to ensure that the home and yard situation are good for the dog. They want to avoid a failed placement and maximize the chances that both the schnauzer and the adoptive family are happy with one another.

Rescue organizations have strict policies in place to protect animals and involve the prospective adoptive party coming to meet both the organization and the dog in foster care at local rescue events, e.g., at a local Petsmart or Petco location. They prefer that all household members and pets come to meet the dog at this type of neutral location first. This is always a better way of introducing a new dog into a family, especially if there are other dogs or cats than to arrive with the new pup on the existing pet’s home turf.

Most contracts for dog adoption also state that they want to receive the dog back into foster care rather than seeing them dropped again at a kill shelter if the placement does not work out. So, if things are rocky for you and the adopted schnauzer, make a phone call. Don’t give up – help is available.

Some rescue groups allow for of-state-adoptions while others do not, and there are many valid reasons for this policy. First, it is harder for rescue groups to do home checks before adoption. Most groups will get spaying and neutering done before releasing the dog, but some groups leave that step to the adopting family, who may or may not honor their responsibility to prevent more unwanted animals. This becomes more uncertain at a long distance. It can also be costly and traumatic for a dog to be shipped by truck delivery service or air cargo, even if the adopter pays for the transport. Other reasons include protecting dogs from out-of-state adoptions because animals might be used for dog-fighting and other malicious motives.

As always when considering miniature schnauzer rescue, there may or may not be unique behavioral and/or health issues that a rescue schnauzer puppy or adult dog might bring to their new home. Without knowing the dog’s past experiences or their breeding history, it can take a period of adjustment for the schnauzer and the family.

Usually adopting from a rescue group will enable you to know well in advance a lot of what you might be dealing with as the new adoptive family. If there are food or toy aggression issues, the foster mom will be able to tell you. If they are good with kids and other pets, that is another thing that you can find out. You can always work with a professional dog trainer to help fix behavioral issues. You would not have to try to figure it all out on your own.

In the end, it is well worth the effort. You can end up with a loving companion for a lifetime. Everyone wins.

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