Please note that while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, it is provided as a guide only.
Where do your dogs come from?
Most of the dogs we rescue and rehome come from the Albury City Council or Wodonga City Council Pounds. Some dogs and litters of puppies are surrendered to us for various reasons. A large fine is incurred when a dog ends up in the pound and is not microchipped. Please get your dog microchipped. We also suggest that your dog wears a collar with identification.
Where is Albury Dog Rescue?
Albury Dog Rescue don’t have a base office or kennel area. All our dogs, puppies cats and kittens are fostered in private homes. Our dream is to have an adoption centre, where we can house our rescued dogs until they have spent a short time in quarantine and we have either found them a home or foster home.
What does the adoption fee cover?
The adoption fee covers vaccinations against Parvovirus, Distemper and Infectious Hepatitis. This is called the C3 vaccination. All dogs are microchipped, desexed and wormed before rehoming. In some cases we have had to pay for grooming and other veterinary treatment before we can rehome the dog. We hope to cover these extra costs through donations.
Are the dogs house trained?
That depends on each individual dog. Some that have been surrendered to us for honest reasons may be housetrained. Other dogs that have not been well cared for and have ended up unclaimed in the pound probably haven't had owners who bothered to spend time training them. A chat with the foster carer may answer your question but remember that some of our carers have quite a few dogs and are unable to have them all inside and assess their status in that regard. Most young dogs can be housetrained; it may just take a little longer and some extra patience.
Will the dog be good with my children?
Children should be supervised around dogs at all times, whether it is your dog or someone else’s. All of our dogs are temperament tested carefully with young children. We will not rehome any dog that has not passed our temperament test. We generally state in the dog's profile page what they are like with kids. Some may just be too boisterous for small children.
Will the new dog get on with my dog?
Most foster carers have more than one dog so talk to them about how your chosen dog gets on with their other dogs. If your own dog is well socialised there shouldn't be a problem. Dogs need to sort out who’s who in the pecking order so it's best to let them get acquainted while you just supervise as they will quickly work it out between them. A good idea if you are unsure is to introduce them on leads away from your home territory, say in a park, then walk them home together.
Will the dog be good with my cat or my chooks?
We can only assess a dog's behavior around other animals like cats, chooks and rabbits if our foster carers have those animals. The dog’s foster carer should be able to give you an idea of their suitability with other pets.
Why do you do a fence check on my property?
Dogs that have ended up unclaimed in the pound have quite often escaped their yard because of boredom and/or inadequate fencing. Therefore it is important that you have fencing that will contain a dog of the size and energy level that you are looking at adopting. We definitely do not want our adopted dogs ending up in the pound again!
Can I try out the dog before I commit to adopting him or her?
Yes, you will be encouraged to visit the dog either in the foster carer's home or somewhere that suits you both. You can play with and walk the dog. Many prospective adopters also bring along their own dog to meet the new one. If you are still unsure you may take the dog for a short period on trial, but he/she will have to be desexed if they are not already.
How do I pay you the adoption fee?
Normally when you have decided to adopt a dog, the foster carer will take him/her to Dr Jana's to be vaccinated and desexed on a day that suits you, often a Friday. On the same day late in the afternoon you can pick him up from the vet and make the payment direct to them. If there are other circumstances we can make other arrangements to suit you.
How do I change the microchip details over to me?
Trish or Alison will organise the transfer of the microchip and registration papers to you.
Why do you desex all dogs before rehoming?
The major reason that so many groups like us exist is because people fail to desex their dogs. There are many reasons people give for not desexing their pet dog and NOT ONE of them is valid. By desexing each dog before we rehome it we hope to break the cycle of unwanted litters of puppies. Plus all dogs, both male and female make much better companions if they are desexed before they are six months old.
Can you guarantee the dog will be well behaved when I get him or her home?
Each dog we offer for adoption is carefully temperament tested. Some are real angels and most are quite well behaved. In saying that, please remember that some of these dogs, although of sound temperament, have had little or no training, and a few have even been badly treated.
You must take this into account and give him or her two full weeks to settle into their new home. Younger dogs are likely to be quite enthusiastic and just need some consistent firm guidance and leadership. A few weeks of obedience training is usually well worth it, to iron out any kinks and turn him into a well behaved citizen, remember... he just wants to please you!
What if I live a long way from Albury Wodonga and want to adopt one of your dogs?
We have rehomed many dogs outside this area. Talk to Trish or Alison about how to transport your new dog.
What if I can't find the type of dog I'm looking for on your website?
We quite often have dogs that have not been posted on the website yet. Give us a call. We are also affiliated with other rescue groups. Use our links page to explore other rescue groups. Remember to call or visit all pounds in the area as they always have nice dogs looking for homes.
If I want to rehome a dog how do I go about it?
Firstly the dog MUST be of good temperament. We will not rehome dogs that are not of sound temperament. You can also advertise it in the newspaper to a good home only. If you are unsure of the dog's temperament and rehoming potential give us a call and we will test it, but please remember we are all volunteers so you may have to wait a few days or weeks.
If we are to rehome the dog for you, it can remain in your care but must be surrendered to us in the sense that it has to be desexed, microchipped and vaccinated in line with our policies of responsible dog ownership.
My dog got out, got pregnant and had puppies, what do I do with them, can you find homes for them?
As your bitch has been mis-mated you may not know the puppies' parentage. Puppies of unknown parentage can be difficult to rehome as their adult size and energy level is a mystery.
If the puppies are healthy and attractive we have a good chance of rehoming them, but first we have to find foster carers for them, this limits the number of puppies we can accept to rehome. This is another sad result of irresponsible dog owners.
I've lost my dog and he's not in the local pound, what can I do?
Dogs can be picked up by rangers or caring citizen and end up at a pound that may not be your local pound. Call all the pounds in your area just in case he's been transported out of your shire. There is also a chance that your dog has been taken to a vet. Please make sure your dog is microchipped, this will save much heartache for everyone.