Additional Adoption Notes
All Houston Sheltie Rescue, Inc. Rescue Program Shelties have received necessary medical treatment, have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for heartworms/hookworms/whipworms, fleas and other parasites, and have been tagged with our own ID Tag, recorded by name and rescue number in our files. Because of the often deplorable conditions they have come from; their intelligent, sensitive dispositions; double coats; and the Texas heat and humidity, we require that our rescued Shelties be indoor dogs and never confined outside. Upon the dog's adoption, we require keeping our tag on the collar, and to further protect your beloved new Sheltie, we urge you to have your own ID tag plus Vet./Clinic tattoo and/or micro-chip. Please remember that if your Sheltie had heartworm treatment in our program, or even if your Sheltie initially tested HW- in our program, have a re-test done in 4-6 months to be safe, and then every year thereafter. Always keep your Sheltie indoors or behind a locked gate in a fenced yard when exercising, and on leash with a light choke/mountain collar when walking. And for increased pleasure in your Sheltie's company, we strongly recommend obedience training soon after adoption, especially in classes where you both receive the guidance of professionals and the opportunity for the dog's continuing socialization. Most Shelties are outstanding obedience dogs and are also excellent in agility and flyball: working in these sports with your Sheltie can provide years of fun together and help your Sheltie to be in top form as well as become the enjoyable, well-behaved dog he or she is meant to be. Under no circumstances do we support the use of shock collars to train a dog with any issues: kindness, obedience training--including reward-based training--are the correct procedures for our dogs.
Please read carefully: dog owners need to know that most heartworm preventative manufacturers will not cover the treatment if the pills are purchased on line and fail, as they have no way of knowing for sure those were actually their products. It is always best to purchase the pills from your clinic.
If at any time in the life of the dog the match does not work for any reason, or if for any reason the family must relinquish the dog, then the adoptive home returns the Sheltie to Houston Sheltie Rescue, Inc. Rescue Program. Under no circumstances is our dog to be transferred to another party. If the adoptive home violates ANY section of this Description, the Adoption Application, or the Final Adoption Agreement, Houston Sheltie Rescue, Inc. Rescue Program will take legal steps to reclaim the dog. We will ask for annual updates on each dog's well being, preferably on the dog's adoption anniversary date. We appreciate these very much and especially would like to have photos.
Euthanization: If one of our adopted Shelties is being considered for euthanization by the family and their vet for any reason, Houston Sheltie Rescue, Inc. Rescue Program must be contacted about the dog's condition. This is not because we wish to interfere in the decision between doctor and family, but because we love our dogs: they and our families are part of our program, and we would want to know if one of our dogs is so ill it is time for that decision. Sadly, though none of us likes to think about it, like humans, dogs have their appointed times, and eventually they, too, must cross over. The decision to humanely euthanize one of our dogs who needs to cross over would not prevent the family's adopting another of our dogs. We do counsel to wait a few days or weeks to go through the grieving process and also so that the new Sheltie is coming into the family when they are ready for another joyous adventure with a dog who also needs them.
Note about the popular small, young females: In the last few years, we've been taking in ~100 dogs/year. Of these, about 40 will be female - we tend to get more males. Of those 40, perhaps 12-15 will be 4 years old or younger - we tend to get older dogs. Of those 12-15, perhaps 6-7 will be on the small side of standard, or smaller - Shelties are notorious for going oversized. Of those, perhaps half will be temperamentally suited for a home not actively engaged in agility or a similar performance sport. 3-4 dogs out of 100, and "small young female" is our most often requested category of dog. Please understand that the more narrow your requirements, the fewer dogs that you may have to choose from. And there are so many males and older dogs of both sexes and all sizes who need loving homes.