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 Most abused poodles arrive at the Rescue with skin problems, tartar-coated teeth, out-of-date vaccinations, possible parasites and other issues.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.

Through no fault of their own, a lot of great dogs wind up in animal shelters hoping for a second chance at happiness. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they’re no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a dog. Often, however, caring owners struggling with life changes (such as a divorce and a sudden move to a pets-restricted apartment) or trying to cope with family tragedy feel their pet would be better off with someone else. They bring them to the shelter hoping that the animal will be well cared-for and placed in an excellent home.

You can find just about any age, size and breed of dog at an animal shelter. Often, people underestimate how difficult it is to care for or find appropriate homes for a litter of puppies, and turn them over to the shelter to raise and adopt out. In other cases, young dogs are relinquished because their previous owners didn’t have the time to provide regular exercise for the pup, often after having a baby. So even if you have your mind set on a puppy, a shelter is a good place to look. But if you’d like a more mature, calmer and more predictable dog that’s most likely housebroken, you’ll find these kinds of canines just as easily at a humane society or animal center.

When a new dog arrives, the shelter staff carefully evaluates each animal for physical and behavioral soundness. They make note of quirks, interview the owners for personality traits and health histories, and work with specialists to eliminate negative behaviors. Most shelters have adoption counselors who interview potential adopters. The counselors strive to understand your needs, lifestyle and understanding of dog behavior so they can make the perfect match, and also help educate you on contemporary ways of caring for and training your dog.

Bringing your newly adopted dog home is exciting for you, but it may be a little overwhelming for her. Keep her on a leash as you take her from room to room, giving her plenty of opportunity to sniff. You may want the first stop on your tour to be the backyard, or wherever you want her to relieve herself. The excitement of a car ride and coming to a new place can give her the need to empty her bowels or bladder, and the first night or two at home may see an untimely accident. Shelter counselors suggest you act as if your dog isn’t yet housetrained while she gets used to the new environment, and that you keep her near you, on a leash. Used wisely, a dog crate can also help your new pet get through this adjustment period more smooothly.

Dogs are creatures of habit, so the sooner you establish a firm routine, the more comfortable your new dog will become. Always feed her in the same spot and at about the same time each morning, and you’ll find she grows to anticipate “what comes next.” For example, if you always feed her after you start your coffee percolating, you’ll notice she becomes very excited when you fill the carafe with water. Dogs are close observers of human activity and catch on quickly!