Volunteer Programs Can Pair You With a Special Pet at a Bargain Price

Every year, authorities across Southern California are forced to destroy thousands of unwanted purebred dogs, many of them worth hundreds of dollars.

In the L.A. area, there are a number of societies that are trying to remedy this by rescuing the dogs and putting them up for adoption.

Some rescue groups are outgrowths of breed-fancier organizations; others are projects of individual pet lovers.

These organizations offer significant advantages to the prospective dog owner. For example, by taking home a dog that is past the puppy stage, you might to able to bypass problems such as chewing of furniture, digging and housebreaking. And because most rescue-group volunteers love the breed they deal with and want to find good homes for the animals, they strive to match a pet to your needs.

Rescue groups are dedicated to eliminating overpopulation, so the dogs will normally be spayed or neutered. When receiving a puppy, you usually must promise to have the dog sterilized when it reaches maturity. When that is done, some rescue groups will give you the animal’s registration papers, if they are available.

The dogs come from public pounds, are strays found wandering or are brought in by their owners. Some rescue groups will help find a new home for a dog while it remains with the original owner.

All groups require a contract in which you promise to provide the dog with veterinary care, a fenced yard, appropriate grooming and licensing. You may be requested to tattoo the dog for identification.

Several groups ask that you bed the dog indoors, some ask you to promise not to transport the pet in an open pickup truck, and nearly all ask you to return the dog if you are unable to keep it.

Although you may be asked to pay between $50 and $125 to help pay for expenses incurred for veterinary care, shots and a license, the cost of obtaining a purebred dog from a rescue society is normally less than what you would pay a breeder or pet store.

If the breed you seek is not listed here, the three following groups are among those that may be able to help you find your dream dog: Amanda Foundation, (213) 472-1742; Animal Pro-Life, (213) 596-5727, and Pet Adoption, (213) 478-4455. You may find other helpful organizations in Sunday classified sections or by contacting local humane societies or animal shelters.

Here is a sampler of rescue groups that specialize in purebred dogs.

Abandoned Terrier Rescue Assn., (818) 762-2067. Jo-Jeanne Rapier began rescuing terriers after she found Lizzie, a Scottish terrier, wandering on Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. She now rescues small terriers including Cairn terriers, Jack Russell terriers, Scottish terriers and wire- and smooth-hair fox terriers. Dogs are boarded at Hollywood Dog Training School in North Hollywood.

Adopt-A-Collie, (213) 395-6496 or (805) 524-4542. Cookie Routman, the group’s organizer, works with Suzanne Kane in the rescue effort. The collie is a herding breed that loves to be part of a human family. “The dogs should participate in family life. They are sweet-natured animals, protective but not aggressive,” Routman says. Although collies are fairly large, weighing 50 to 65 pounds as adults, they adapt well to apartment and condominium living. There are two types of collie: the rough-coat collie, such as the Lassies of movies and television, and the smooth collie, which has a short, neat coat.

Akita Rescue Society of America, (805) 492-2127 or (714) 779-6228.

Used in Japan as a guard dog, the Akita is an alert, courageous breed. Females weigh between 80 and 90 pounds, and the males can weigh up to 130 pounds. The rescue society has been in operation for 11 years and has placed close to 600 animals. Stephanie Gimbel, a representative of the club, says the organization looks for prospective owners who have had experience with large working dogs. A fenced yard is mandatory, and because some of the dogs are aggressive, adults or families with older children are preferred. The members will also discuss potential ownership problems with people who are interested in buying Akitas elsewhere.

Bloodhound Rescue, (714) 494-1076. The ancient breed of bloodhound gets its name from the dog’s aristocratic lineage, for the bloodhound is probably the ancestor of all hounds. Bloodhound Rescue, an outgrowth of the American Bloodhound Club and Bloodhounds West, the local branch of the fanciers’ organization, rescues 35 to 40 bloodhounds each year and serves as a referral service for owners who are unable to keep their dogs. Bloodhounds are a fairly quiet breed, but because they have been bred to follow a scent, they tend to roam if not fenced in. The

average age of rescued bloodhounds is 18 months. Adult males weigh between 110 and 130 pounds; females weigh 80 to 100 pounds.

Doberman Rescue, (818) 767-1166. Although many people think of the Doberman as a guard dog, Dobies are also trained to work sheep and cattle, as guide dogs for the blind and as companions. Nina Culver says she has been rescuing Dobermans for the last 20 years and has found new homes for up to 2,000 a year. “Most of the rescued dogs are friendly and even-tempered,” she says. Older Dobermans are suited to condos and town houses. Female Dobermans weigh between 55 and 65 pounds; males can weigh 65 to 80 pounds. Culver often has 75 rescued Dobermans in her kennel.

Golden Retriever Rescue, (818) 794-6908. Members of the Greater Los Angeles Golden Retriever Club check shelters for abandoned retrievers and provide kennel space until the dogs are adopted; they also take in dogs being given up by their owners. Goldens are very sociable dogs and make gentle family companions. Easily trained, golden retrievers are sometimes used as seeing-eye dogs. They have a long coat and require weekly brushing. The club retains co-ownership of the dog.

Poodle Rescue, (818) 785-7594. For the past 16 years, Dorothy Clewell has been rescuing standard-sized poodles between Orange County and Santa Barbara. According to the American Kennel Club, any poodle 15 inches or higher at the withers is standard size; generally, Clewell’s rescued poodles stand 20 to 27 inches high. The dogs come in many colors--white, cream, charcoal, black or apricot. Poodles do not shed, but they must be clipped and groomed regularly. Because some standard poodles are escape artists, Clewell checks to see that the yards of prospective owners are securely fenced.

Sheltie Sheepdog Rescue, (818) 881-7885 or (805) 529-2069. Members of the Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club work together to rescue members of this popular breed. Shelties, a herding dog that originated in Scotland, look like miniature collies. Adults weigh an average of 20 pounds and range from 13 to 16 inches at the shoulder. Berkeley Constable, president of the rescue group, says most rescued shelties are placed within a few weeks.

Weimaraner Rescue, (818) 701-0674. The Weimaraner is a hunting breed originally used as a tracking dog by the nobles of Weimar, Germany. The Weimaraner makes a good watchdog. Diane Monahan of Weimaraner Rescue says the rescue group usually has about 120 dogs available for adoption, most already trained, housebroken and past the chewing stage. Weimaraners weigh 45 to 65 pounds when fully grown. They range in color from steel-gray to cinnamon and have distinctive amber-colored eyes. Monahan cautions that because of their hunting ancestry, Weimaraners generally do not mix well with cats.

Welsh Corgi Rescue, (818) 842-1431. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is a fancier of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a low-set, strong and sturdy stock originally bred by Welsh farmers as a companion and for herding cattle. Adult dogs weigh from 25 to 27 pounds, according to Margaret Stewart, chairman of rescue for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of Southern California.