So you’ve heard a bit about Poodle Rescue: an organization that works hard to connect abused and rescued poodles with the new owners who will care for and cherish them.

What is Poodle Rescue?

Poodle Rescue is a loose network of organizations that seek out new homes for abandoned and abused poodles. The poodles may have been rescued from puppy mills, or left behind when their
owners moved, or dropped in the night box at a animal shelter.

Poodle Rescue organizations consist largely, if not wholly, of dedicated volunteers. Not every community has a Poodle Rescue organization. A good list of U.S. Poodle Rescues can be found here.

How do I adopt a rescued poodle?

Locate the Poodle Rescue nearest you. Occasionally, a Poodle Rescue will ship a poodle at your expense, but they vastly prefer you come to meet the dog yourself.

A Poodle Rescue will have you fill out a form describing your history of animal ownership, and usually ask for references. They’ll ask for some information on your beliefs about dog discipline, your house and yard, and where you plan to keep the dog. They’ll want to talk to you in person, too, to get a feel for your compatibility with a particular poodle.

If there are no Poodle Rescues near you, try searching for a rescued poodle at Petfinder.

What will I pay for a rescued poodle?

On average, you’ll pay between $200 and $300. If you thought "rescue" adoption was cheap, this might seem like a lot of money, but the fact is it simply covers basic procedures to bring the animal back to health. Most abused poodles arrive at the Rescue with skin problems, tartar-coated teeth, out-of-date vaccinations, possible parasites and other issues.

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How will a rescued poodle be different from a poodle I get from the breeder or (God forbid) the pet store?

In a number of ways. Your rescued poodle is likely to be:

Older. Very few poodles are rescued as puppies. A few are ‘adolescent.’ The vast majority are middle-aged. With poodles, this is less of an issue than larger dogs, since poodles are so long-lived.

Cautious. Your rescued poodle may have a lot of fear and yes, grief, to process. If he felt like a part of his former family, he may be grieving his sudden "ejection." He may need time and patience to take an interest in food, play, or his general surroundings. If he was starved or kept isolated, he’ll need time and patience to learn to socialize.

"Readable." Buying a puppy means taking a wild guess at the eventual adult. When you rescue a grown poodle, you get a much better idea of the dog’s personality. It’s easier to make a perfect match.

Am I the right type of owner for a rescued poodle?

This is an important question to ask yourself. You, the owner, are the last and most important link in a chain whose only purpose is provide a "happily-ever-after" for a poodle who desperately deserves one. Can you be that happily-ever-after, even for a poodle who may have some rough edges?

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I really care what color the coat is, what sex it is or how many pounds it weighs?

If so, you really want a puppy from a breeder, not a rescue. Rescued poodles rarely conform to an exact type anyway.

Am I looking to save money?

You may not save money buying a rescued poodle, even though the initial cost could be $700 or $800 less than from a breeder. Rescued poodles often need more medical care because of the abuse and neglect suffered earlier.

Is my life relatively stable and my household relatively quiet?

All abused creatures, whether dog or human, crave and need an unusually organized household. Many people can be good parents to a rescued poodle. But perhaps the best potential parent of all is an older person or couple whose children are grown, and who has time and patience to devote to the poodle’s healing.

Can I provide regular medical care and regular grooming?

The deepest wish in the heart of the Poodle Rescue folks is that every rescued poodle never have to go through another minute of hunger, discomfort or pain again.

When poodles are starved, they often have incontinence problems that heal only slowly. They may need more regular teeth cleaning than a continually cared-for poodle. Many need more house training: some former owners didn’t bother. Most were not clipped or groomed, which in a non-shedding breed like the poodle leads to truly distressing health problems. Do you have the time and resources to keep your poodle totally comfortable?

Can I consider the need and adopt a boy poodle, or an older poodle?

For reasons not entirely clear, many potential adopters automatically go for girl poodles. There’s no logic to this: all rescue poodles are spayed or neutered, and boy poodles are as intelligent, witty, loyal, well-behaved and loving as their female counterparts. Perhaps it’s just that the rescue impulse leads us to think of "damsels in distress"!

At any rate, that adorable boy that needs a home really deserves your attention. Someone less educated might pass him by for reasons even they don’t understand.

The upshot is, a rescue poodle can make the best pet you’ve ever had. They understand exactly what you’re giving them, since they didn’t have it before. Your newest family member will offer you a overflow of loyalty for the rest of his days.

How can I help with Poodle Rescue?

Poodle Rescues are always looking for help. Of course, they need financial contributions. They also need ‘foster moms’ who perform the difficult task of patiently rendering the dog adoptable, then giving it up!

What you might not know, though, is that Poodle Rescues are especially looking for volunteer groomers. Grooming is an important part of the rescue, not only because neglected poodles are often "trapped" in a sad mat of their own fur, but bathing and poodle-style grooming makes adoption happen more quickly.

So if you have skills in this area and want to help, contact your local Poodle Rescue.