East Coast Italian Greyhound Rescue

What is Italian Greyhound Rescue?

The Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation is a non-profit organization made up entirely of volunteers. The group dedicates its time and energy to finding homes for homeless dogs. This effort is overseen by the Italian Greyhound Club of America.

*** TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITALIAN GREYHOUND RESCUE PLEASE CLICK HERE. ***
Where do the Rescue dogs come from?

The dogs that enter our program come to us in a number of ways. Often the dogs are given up due to no fault of the dog, but because an owner has moved, died, divorced or is unable to keep the dog for other reasons. Others come to us from shelters. Because the breed is now being sold in pet stores, many of our rescues are impulse buys from a pet store that did not work out. A quick purchase is made, giving little thought to the time and dedication is takes to raise that cute little puppy in the window. By rescuing an Italian Greyhound, you will give a much-needed home to a dog that, without your help, may have led a life of discomfort and fear, or may even have met with an untimely death. If an Italian Greyhound is the right breed of dog for you and your lifestyle, it will certainly repay you for your kindness with affection for years to come. There is no more loving breed, no more faithful companion. The relationship you will build with an IG is as strong as the bond you have with most people.

What ages/sexes are the Rescue dogs?

We get a variety of ages in the program. Most are young adults, under one or two years of age. Sometimes we get puppies. Older dogs also come into the program. With a lifespan of 14 to 16 years, all of these dogs can make wonderful pets. Males outnumber females. All dogs are spayed or neutered prior to placement. Occasionally people contact us who have very strong preferences about age, sex and color of the dog. Because we can not control what people abandon, the more open you are about sex, age and coat color, the more likely we will be to find a suitable dog for you.

*** FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND BREED INCLUDING HISTORY, SIZE, APPEARANCE, TEMPERAMENT AND HEALTH NEEDS PLEASE CLICK HERE. ***
How can I adopt an IG through Rescue?

Step 1 - Research!

First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the breed. The best place to do this is the Internet and talking to "neutral" people who own the breed (i.e. not those that are making a profit on it). Most books give you generalized and limited information. Many of the dogs in our program have been turned in because their previous owners did not do their research. This breed is not for everyone, and therefore we take great care in placing these dogs. The number one reason they are turned in is for difficulty in house training. It can be done but does take work and patience. If an occasional accident (especially in cold or rainy weather) bothers you, then this is not the breed for you. Many also consider this breed to be demanding, as their greatest joy is to be with their person and they don't do well alone for long periods. Because of their bone structure and personality, they do not make a good companion for small children. Every breed has a "price" - some are barkers, some are diggers, and so on. The "price" of this breed is the difficulty in house training and the intense need for lots of affection. On the upside, they are the most loving and affectionate dogs you will come across.

Step 2 - Complete the application

Fill out an application completely.

Step 3 - Mail or E-Mail the application

Send your application to your local representative, and retain a copy for your records in case the foster home or another rep requests the information.

Step 4 - Follow up!

Follow up on your application, as we are volunteers and get many inquiries each day. Feel free to call and/or e-mail these parties. It is like applying for a job, the person who gets the job is the one who is not only qualified, but also follows up. We get lots of applications, so if you are qualified and meet the requirements, please don't be shy about following up! The responsibility for following up is with you, the person looking for just one dog, as our busy volunteers are working to help many dogs. Thank you for your efforts and understanding this area!

How will I be matched with a Rescue dog?

A Rescue representative will review your completed application. If he or she determines that you meet the requirements, you will go through an interview process, including a home check. If all goes well, the rep will begin searching for a suitable Rescue dog for you. IG Rescue reps network with one another to find the best possible match for you and the dog. Your new Rescue dog may be residing in another state with his or her foster person; if this is the case, transportation of the dog will be worked out between you, your Rescue representative, and the person who is fostering the dog. Some reps require you to travel to the dog's current location; others are willing to meet you halfway or arrange for volunteers to help with the transport after you have been approved by your local rep.

When you adopt a Rescue dog, you will be required to sign a simple adoption agreement. This agreement indicates that you plan to keep the dog as a pet, will care for the dog properly, and agree to contact IGCA Rescue if any situation develops which would require you to find a new home for your IG.

Adoption Donation

Italian Greyhound Rescue does not sell dogs. We do, however, ask for a donation which helps to fund our program.

All IG Rescue dogs are taken to a veterinarian for a complete health work-up when they enter the program. They are spayed or neutered, brought up-to-date on vaccinations, and given a dental cleaning if necessary. Depending on the location where the dog currently resides, he or she may be put on heartworm preventative medication.

Your adoption fee, a minimum of $250, helps to cover these expenses and continue our work in saving other Italian Greyhounds.

Other Ways to Help

IGRF is an 501c(3) corporation so donations made to IGRF are tax deductible.

To make a donation to Italian Greyhound Rescue, please send a check or money order made out to "IGRF" to the Italian Greyhound Rescue Fund Treasurer:

Patty Woodbury - IGRF Treasurer
7 Damon St
North Reading, MA 01864-2210
saluki13@comcast.net

Donations of items for rescue dogs may be mailed to:

Mrs. Judy Longhouse
2194 Michigan Ave.
Lima, NY 14485
Longhousej@aol.com

We are always in need of blankets, toys, collars, and leads. Judy will see that they are distributed to individual Rescue representatives. Please check with your local Rescue representative to see if you can be of any assistance with fostering, home visits, transportation or even donations of food. IGCA rescue is run solely by volunteers, any assistance you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

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