What Is Dog Rescue?
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Sam Basso
PHOENIX , AZ AREA: (602) 708-4531
OR, if you are out of this area, inquire about a telephone or e-Lesson
Email: [email protected]
Dog rescue is both the art and science of saving dogs from dangerous, inhumane, or homeless situations. Dog rescue applies both common sense, and skilled application of animal welfare practices, in order to restore them, and place them in safe, humane human homes.
Dog rescue should be considered a professional discipline, however, it is mostly done by volunteers, ranging from those who are very skilled to those who have no idea what they are doing. Some rescue is performed by government agencies, called animal control. Animal control is more about enforcing animal laws than it is about animal care, so the police function of the state causes the unnecessary deaths of millions of dogs every year. Government is not well equipped to perform the function of animal welfare. Some is performed by non profit organizations. Some organizations raise a lot of money, but almost none go to actual animal rescue and care; the money pays for lots of nice real estate, salaries, dinners, and vacations. Some organizations are radical animal rights groups, with the ultimate goal of eliminating dogs altogether. Some are well run and do an excellent job. Some is performed by individuals not affiliated with any entity. Individuals range from the very good, to hoarders who “rescue” dogs into another dangerous, inhumane situation.
Currently, dog rescue as a whole lacks consistently applied scientific practices, a unifying philosophy, or efficient processes. Thus, euthanasia is used to kill many adoptable dogs, especially by government run animal control facilities, and those dog rescue groups who benefit by being affiliated with them, because dog rescue isn’t well understood or implemented and there isn’t much incentive to change.
One bright hope is the “no kill” movement, which is the philosophy of finding good homes for every adoptable dog instead of killing them. However, there is resistance to the concept of “no kill” because of beliefs that the traditional system is acceptable and that “nothing can be done” about excess dogs in shelters.
Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale metropolitan area. He’s known for being fun, kind, intelligent, and humane. Sam Basso has a unique personal touch. He has appeared on his own TV show, been a guest radio expert, gives seminars, publishes a dog related blog, does rescue volunteering, and is active in promoting animal welfare and fair dog laws.
