|
How We Work
We are
a small rescue group, run completely by people who volunteer their personal
time. Since the circumstances
surrounding each Leonberger that comes to us is varied, we make every
effort to ensure the dogs are housed and cared for in a controlled
environment when they first come to us in order that they can be assessed
safely.
Owner Surrenders:
In the
case where an owner surrenders a dog to Leo
Rescue Ontario, we ask that a detailed questionnaire
outlining the animal’s medical and health history, reason for being
surrendered, etc., be completed.
This enables us to get a ‘head start’ on finding a new home for the
dog, since this valuable information provides important details about the
dog’s history.
In some
cases, where the dog is being surrendered as a result of lack of training
or minor behavioural issues, Leo Rescue
Ontario will do its best to help the owner keep the dog by
offering training and suggestions. If
the owner is unwilling to do this, the dog is taken into rescue and is
initially evaluated by a licensed trainer.
If a basic lack of training is the problem, the dog is placed in a
training program so that it can learn how to become a well behaved member
of a new family. In the case of
behavioural challenges, the severity of the dog’s issues are assessed by a
qualified animal behaviourist. The
dog is then worked with until such time as it is deemed appropriate to be
placed in a new home. All costs
associated with the training and behavioural assessments, etc., are borne
by Leo Rescue Ontario.
Shelter Surrenders:
From
time to time, we learn of a possible Leo that has been turned in to an
animal shelter or an animal clinic.
In this situation, one of our volunteers, many who are experienced
breeders, are sent to identify the dog as a Leonberger. If the dog is a Leo and the
shelter/clinic agrees to turn it over to, or adopt it out to, Leo Rescue Ontario, the dog is taken and
housed in a safe, controlled facility, until a thorough health and
behavioural evaluation can be conducted.
By
adopting a Leo from a shelter, we are freeing the shelter’s staff and
resources to assist other dogs. Moreover,
since history has shown that shelters often have problems re-homing giant
breed dogs, they often end up being euthanized to make room for other dogs
taken in on any given day. By
adopting Leos from shelters we are not only able to prevent such a tragedy,
but are also able to provide these dogs with the love and attention they
need until a suitable new home can be found.
All costs
(e.g., shelter fees, vet bills, etc.) associated with getting the dog
surrendered to us are covered by Leo Rescue
Ontario.
Found or Abandoned Dogs:
If a
person suspects they have found a Leonberger and don’t know where the dog
came from, one of our volunteers will be sent to identify the dog as a
Leo. If the dog is a Leonberger, we
will immediately assume responsibility for the dog and take it into our
care. Once in our care we will
attempt to locate the dog’s owners with the help of local animal control
officers, shelters and/or humane societies.
If these efforts fail, we will attempt to contact the breeder to see
if we can reunite the dog with its owner that way. In cases where we are unable to find the
owner and/or breeder, the dog will be considered homeless and will become
the responsibility of Leo Rescue
Ontario, whereupon we will find it a new forever home.
If you
aren’t sure the dog you have found is a Leo, click "Is It a Leonberger ?" for
information about identifying Leonbergers.
General Information:
We make
every effort possible to contact the breeder when a dog is first turned
over to Leo Rescue Ontario. It has been our experience that most
ethical Leonberger breeders assume responsibility for the lifetime of any
dogs they have bred, and usually wish to have dogs returned to them for
re-homing. If this is not possible,
in the event the dog does not have a tattoo or microchip, or the owner
surrendering the dog is adamant the breeder not be contacted, we will
assume full responsibility for the dog at the time it is surrendered.
Unless
we are fortunate to receive a full health history and medical records at
the time of surrender, all dogs in our care receive a complete behavioural
and health check up and are brought up to date with their shots and treated
for existing conditions if necessary.
All dogs are spayed/neutered before leaving Leo
Rescue Ontario, unless the dog is too young. In this case, the adoptive owner will be
required to pay a deposit which will be refunded once we receive proof of
spay/neuter.
Leo Rescue Ontario reserves the right to repossess
the dog if the owner fails to comply within a given time frame set out by Leo Rescue Ontario.
Given
the need to protect both the dogs in our care, and the adoptive families of
the dogs, we will not place Leos in homes where children under the age of 8
years old are present, unless we know the dog has a history of being
comfortable around small children.
In all
cases of adoption, there is a trial period to ensure the dog and new family
are a good ‘fit’ for each other. In
the event a dog is returned to us after being placed, depending upon the
circumstances for the dog being returned to us, the adoptive family’s
information will be placed back into our files for upcoming consideration
in the event a more suitable dog becomes available.
Important Note:
Leo Rescue Ontario will not
accept or place dogs with a known bite history.
|
