ADOPTING A SETTER
(Effective for applications submitted after July 31, 2008)
Q: Do you charge an adoption fee?
A: Yes. The adoption fee is needed to cover a portion of the vet bills incurred.
Q: How much are the adoption fees?
A: Adoption fees are based on the listed age of the dog, as follows:
Babies (under one year)
$ 400
$ 400 Young (one year to three years)350
350 Adults 1 (four years to six years)300
300 Adults 2 (seven years to nine years)200
200 Seniors (over nine years) 150
150 Seniors for Senior Citizens (65 or older) 75
75Q: What is meant by "energy level"?
A: Energy levels, as provided on the website for each dog, is a subjective measure
of the amount of energy expended by that dog in a typical day. It is intended to
provide a general idea of the amount and type of exercise required by that dog.
The foster home will discuss the dog's routine with the potential adopter.
A lower energy level rating indicates fewer hours and less strenuous exercise,
such as leash walking. A higher rating indicates significant amounts of highly
strenuous exercise is required, often through playing with other dogs for hours
on end. In human terms, a couch potato would be a Level 1 ("I might set one
paw off the couch if there is a really good reason"), and a triathalon participant
would be a Level 10 ("Gee, Mom. I'm sorry about the muddy pawprints on the
ceiling!"). Puppies are given an energy level rating of "puppy" due to the
increases expected as the puppy matures, and the fact that most puppies can't
quite reach the ceiling... yet!
Q: May I reserve my dog by paying in advance or providing a deposit? I don't want
to adopt for several months due to previous obligations/vacation/schedule
conflicts.
A: Not usually. We cannot hold dogs for "several" months, and we will continue to
actively seek to place the dog in a suitable home. Once deemed adopted,
transport should occur within two weeks. For delays of more than two weeks
caused by the adopters' schedule conflicts, SOS will assess a $25 per week
"care fee" to offset the expense of providing for your dog while other
arrangements are being made, not to exceed four weeks. Delays in excess of
four weeks due to the adopters' schedule conflicts will result in the forfeiture of
the adoption, and we will issue a refund of the adoption fee less the "care fee".
Adopters will not be assessed a "care fee" for delays caused by professional
transport scheduling, road conditions, and other factors beyond the control of
the adopter.
Q: Is there a minimum age for adopting?
A: Yes. We require an adoption contract. Therefore, adopters must be of legal age
to enter into a contract, usually eighteen years of age.
Q: May I meet the dog(s) before completing an application?
A: No. Only approved applicants may meet a dog.
Q: May I speak to the foster home before completing an application?
A: No. Only approved applicants may speak with a foster home. Like you, they
have families, careers, extra-curricular activities, and dogs to tend to. If they
were to speak with everyone who wanted to chat about their foster dog(s),
they'd have no time for their own furkids!
Q: How do I get to your shelter to meet the dogs?
A: The dogs are not in a shelter, but are in foster homes in many locations across
the country. Meeting all the dogs in one location is not possible.
Q: Will you help me choose the right dog for my family?
A: Absolutely! We will work with you to make sure that the dog selected is the best
possible match for your family and lifestyle.
Q: Are all of the adoptable dogs spayed or neutered?
A: Yes.
Q: Are all of the adoptable dogs microchipped?
A: Yes.
Q: I don't have a fence. May I still adopt?
A: Yes, but the selection will be limited. The majority of the dogs do require a
fence.
Q: My dogs are outside only dogs. Will you adopt to me?
A: No. Setters are human-oriented, and do not do well as outside only dogs.
Q: I live in Canada. Do you adopt outside of the United States?
A: Yes. However, we will not adopt to those states or countries that require a
lengthy quarantine.
Q: What happens if the dog doesn't work out?
A: Per the adoption contract, the dog comes back to SOS.
Q: I've submitted an application through ISCA rescue, and am interested in one of
your dogs. What is the next step?
A: We require our own application. ISCA rescue is not part of SOS, and does not
usually share applications with SOS.
Q: I've been approved by ISCA, but they don't have anything that would be suitable
for my family and lifestyle. Would you transfer the dog I am interested in
adopting to their local volunteer so I can meet and adopt him/her locally?
A: No. We do not move dogs for the sake of "meeting" them. They are sensitive to
change, and uprooting them from a familiar environment is done as little as
possible. Additionally, we take our obligations to these dogs very seriously, and
once we commit to a dog, we honor that commitment for the life of the dog.
Q: I've been approved by SOS and have received notification of this, but haven't
spoken to anyone yet. Why not?
A: We will be in touch as soon as a suitable dog for your family and lifestyle comes
into our program.
Q: I've been approved by SOS, and a suitable match has been determined. How
soon will I get my dog?
A: That depends on the mode of transport. Please see Transportation FAQ below.
FOSTERING A SETTER
(Effective for applications submitted after July 31, 2008)
Q: How do I become a foster home?
A: Please complete an application. After approval, you will be notified when a dog
in your area is in need (assuming the dog is a good match based on what we
know about the dog. Obviously, we will not place a foster dog who is known to
be cat aggressive in a foster home with cats.)
Q: I saw a dog on your site that I would like to foster-to-adopt. How do I get the dog
to me?
A: Any dog already in foster care is not eligible for foster-to-adopt, as we will not
move dogs around for the potential adopter to try it out. Foster-to-adopt is only
available for dogs that will be coming into our program in the future.
Q: I'm interested in fostering, but can't afford large vet bills. Do you help with the
cost?
A: We ask the foster home to provide food, water, shelter, love, and more love. All
vet bills are paid by SOS unless the foster chooses to do otherwise.
Q: What do I have to do once I become a foster home?
A: The goal is to get the dog ready for adoption. You would be responsible for
taking the dog to the vet, evaluating the dog's personality and behavior,
grooming the dog, and working on basic obedience with the dog. Additionally,
pictures and profiles are necessary to let potential adopters know about the dog.
Copies of all vet records and periodic updates are also required to be emailed or
faxed to SOS.
In order to make sure your foster dog is placed in an appropriate home, you will
be involved in the selection and adoption process for your foster. No one knows
your foster better than you, and we rely heavily on your input to help ensure a
happy, permanent placement!
Q: What happens if I fall in love with the dog I am fostering? May I adopt?
A: Of course! The foster home has the first option on any dog they foster.
TRANSPORTATION
(Effective for applications submitted after July 31, 2008)
Q: What transport options are available?
A: Transport options are governed by the location of the dog and the location of the
adopter. For dogs in the south heading to adopters in New England, we
recommend a professional transport service (see www.petsllc.net for more
information). Adopters on the west coast are encouraged to have the dog flown
to a nearby airport. Dogs on the west coast heading east are also typically
flown. We also utilize truckers whenever possible.
If we happen to have a ground transport set up for a dog coming into our
program, we will move as many dogs as possible by that means. For those
inclined to do so, you may pick up the dog at or near the foster home.
Q: Is there a fee for transporting?
A: Yes. We charge a $25 fee to off-set the cost of getting the dog to the airport or
professional transport service. The transport service or airline also charges a
fee, which is the responsibility of the adopter. We strongly encourage a
monetary gift to truckers who transport dogs.
Ground transports are difficult to set up and fill. In some cases, folks are willing
to drive, but cannot afford the cost of fuel. The adopter would be asked to cover
any fuel costs (if requested) for volunteers who drive on longer ground
transports. The $25 transport fee assessed by SOS will be used in cases of
shorter ground transports, with no additional contributions from the adopter.
SURRENDERING A SETTER
Q: How do I contact you to surrender my Setter?
A: Please complete an Intake Reservation Form.
Q: Do you accept mixes?
A: Usually not, as there is no shortage of purebreds needing our assistance.
Q: Do you accept older dogs?
A: Yes, in most cases.
Q: Do you accept Setters that have bitten?
A: In many cases, yes. Biting is an unusual behavior for a Setter, and can be the
result of a treatable medical condition such as Hypothyroidism or Lymes
Disease.
Q: How much will you pay me for my dog?
A: We do not buy dogs. Our funds are better spent in treating the medical issues
of the dogs that come into our program.
Q: May I call to check up on my dog? What about after he/she is adopted?
A: We encourage you to follow your dog on the website rather than call or email so
that we will have more time to do those things we need to do, like vetting, finding
the best possible match, scheduling transports. and learning about your dog.
Feel free to contact us if no updates have been posted, or if you forgot to tell us
something important about your dog.
After your dog has been adopted, if requested and agreed upon by both the
owner and adopter, you will be introduced via email so that you may
communicate with the adopting family. One former owner still sends a birthday
card to her former Setter every year!
Q: Why does the person who contacted me live so far away from my area?
A: Different volunteers serve different functions based on the needs of the
organization and the volunteers' skills, talents, desires, and resources.
Segregating duties based on function has worked well to prevent duplication of
effort and wasted resources.
Q: Why can't my dog be adopted to someone in my area?
A: The ultimate goal is to place each dog in the home that will best meet the needs
of the dog. Local adoptions can and do occur. However, when placing each
dog in the best possible home is the goal, one must look further than his own
backyard.
Q: Why do dogs have to go to foster care? Why can't they go straight to their
forever home?
A: There are several reasons. Some level of vetting is required in order for the dog
to be deemed ready to be adopted, and we like for our vets to determine
whether the dog meets our high standards of health. Our familiarity with the
breeds affords us the opportunity to recognize signs of illnesses that are
inherent in the breeds, such as hypothyroidism and PRA. We also take every
precaution to avoid passing disease on to other pets.
Not all owners are forthcoming with behavior issues, and we cannot, in good
conscience, place a dog that we have not assessed ourselves. In most cases,
the owner's situation is far removed from the potential adopter's situation, and
assessing how the dog would do with cats or with children may not be known by
the owner, and we don't want the owner to merely guess how the dog would do.
Furthermore, some behavior issues such as separation anxiety and
thunderstorm phobia are the result of the owner's schedule or location. In order
to work on resolving behavior issues, we need to place the dog in a different
environment.
We also work with the dogs on leash-training, crate-training, housetraining,
house manners, and basic obedience. We utilize universally accepted basic
obedience commands to train the dogs, which helps in their transition to their
new forever homes. We also test the dog in various circumstances to help
ensure that there is no "trigger" that could result in serious behavior issues.
Some dogs are aggressive towards motorcycles, and the potential adopter may
plan on leash-walking the dog several times daily as opposed to allowing the
dog to exercise exclusively in the backyard. Such information would be useful in
determining whether the dog would be a good match for the adopter.
With the goal of matching the dog to the adoptive family, it would be difficult to
determine what type of adopter would be best suited to a dog if we don't know
much about the dog!
Q: Why do you request the dog's pedigree?
A: In some cases, the dog is from a reputable breeder, and was surrendered to
rescue in violation of a purchase contract. We do notify reputable breeders that
their dog is in rescue. Dogs have been known to be stolen, and reuniting them
with their rightful owners is always a pleasure!
We do get dogs in with heriditary issues, and knowing which lines have these
inherited diseases is very helpful not only in placing the dog, but also in safely
vetting the dogs and in determining medical reasons for behavior issues. It is
also helpful to know which breeders are breeding for profit as opposed to those
breeding to improve the breed. The latter group can provide results of genetic
testing as well as help us determine potential health issues such as a
predispostion to epilepsy and/or hypothyroidism. This information is passed on
to the adopters so that they and their vet can be made aware, and will watch for
and be able to recognize symptoms early on, should they appear.
Q: I plan to list my dog with several rescues in order to get them rehomed as fast as
possible - is that ok?
A: We do not recommend it, as it often results in duplication of efforts and wasted
resources, not to mention confusion! Select the one rescue you feel will best
serve the needs of your dog, and stay the course. You, too, will be less
confused as to which rescue is calling, what you told to whom, and so forth.
Q: Are you affiliated with the Irish Setter Club of America?
A: No. We operate independently of ISCA rescue, but we do work with many of
their rescue volunteers, in the best interest of the dogs. Among our ranks (and
our friends) are several former ISCA rescue volunteers and some current ISCA
rescue volunteers. SOS volunteers hold to a single standard, while ISCA rescue
volunteers generally operate independently of one another under the guidance
of a handful of written rules at the National level, and their own standards at the
local level.
OTHER FAQ
Q: Where do your dogs come from?
A: Many come from shelters. We do get some that are picked up as strays by Good
Samaritans who tried but failed to locate the owner. Still others are surrendered
to SOS by professional and/or hobby breeders who could not sell the puppies
they produced. A few are purchased at dog auctions by Good Samaritans who
then surrender the dogs to SOS. We also accept Setters turned over to us by
other rescues.
Q: Will I get a history on the dog I am adopting?
A: You will receive a copy of everything we have. In many cases, a history is not
available.
Q: Are donations to SOS tax-deductible?
A: We are a 501(c)3 organization. We issue acknowledgement letters for donations
received, in accordance with the tax laws. Your tax advisor knows your tax
situation, and can advise you what tax benefit you will personally derive from
making charitable donations.
Q: I made a donation to sponsor an SOS dog through the ISCA website. Why has
the acknowledgement not been posted?
A: ISCA and SOS are independent of one another. We receive no monetary
support from ISCA for any of the dogs in our program. We have, however,
received support from ISCA members as well as from local Irish Setter Clubs.
SOS has also provided both monetary and other support for both ISCA and
GSCA rescue dogs as we are able, though not at the National Club level. We
like to ensure that the funding we provide is being used as intended, so we pay
shelter and vet fees directly rather than sending in a cash donation to the breed
club.
Q: I'd like to donate, but want to know that the money is actually being spent on the
dogs and not on salaries, benefits, and advertising. Where can I find a copy of
the tax return for SOS?
A: Go to www.guidestar.org and search for "setters".
Save Our Setters, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
