Why is Rescue needed?

I will ask you the same question a friend of mine, who does Collie rescue, asks her people: Why do people throw week old babies in dumpsters? There is no reasonable answer. We live in a "throw away" society.  Paper cups, aluminum cans, plastic utensils, you name it, more often than not it can be discarded. And pets are no exception.  Never mind that they don't understand, or are frightened because their owner of 10 years just dumped them in a concrete run at the local shelter because it would be to much hassle to find an apartment upstate that would take a dog.  Most people either don't know, or don't care to take the time and effort to place their dog, or take it with them.  (For tips on placing your Scottie responsibly, please look here )

Sometimes families have a change in lifestyle, or a change in jobs that forces them to get rid of their pets. Other times, a breeder fails to inform the new owners of proper discipline, health care , grooming or to help them decide if a Scottie is right for them (Scots, however beautiful and intelligent are NOT FOR EVERYONE!) Sometimes these dogs are abused and neglected because of behavior problems, and eventually turned out to run loose or turned into a local shelter.  Other times they are victims of greed, coming from Puppy Mills where they live their lives in wire cages and spend their whole existence churning out puppies.  That is when rescue comes in.  We take these dogs in, give them all the medical attention they need, do some training, grooming and get them ready for new homes and new lives.

Getting a dog should NEVER be a spur of the moment decision. Remember that they are living, breathing, feeling creatures that on average live 12-15 years. When buying a dog, you should consider where your life is headed, if you will be able to financially care for a dog, as well as having plenty of time to spend with it. Puppies are always so cute and cuddly, but they eventually grow up. Dogs, just like children, need discipline in order to be cherished members of the family. They need to be taught proper manners, housebroken, and taught how to behave around adults and children. All of this takes lots of time, and because Scotties are so headstrong, sometimes it takes longer than normal. Please take these things into consideration before buying any dog...not just a Scottie.

Also, people sometimes indiscriminately breed their dogs, or don't get their dogs spayed or neutered.  For every puppy that is taken home by a family, another somewhere else in the world is forced to die.  Why? Because there were 70,000 dogs and cats born today and only 10,000 humans.  Do you have room in your life for seven dogs and cats? NO?  Most people don't.  There just aren't enough homes for them all.  Not by a long shot.  The ones that are rescued are fortunate, but alas we just can't rescue them all.