Welcome to Rescue Central for Volunteers!

All of us involved in rescue are thrilled that you want to participate in some way.  Below you will find information on two of the most important Volunteer activities and a link to sign up.. 

We do have certain requirements to which you must agree in order to be listed with our network.  The requirements are:

Foster Homes:

1. You will use the forms provided by us or incorporate all the provisions of these documents in your own forms in your adoption process.

2. You will support and adhere to the minimum 30-day (but preferably 3 month) provisional period for each adoption.¹

3. You will keep thorough records on every dog that passes through your custody.

4. You will complete an evaluation of each dog in your custody, which will be provided to the adoptive home.

5. Every dog who is surrendered to you without recent, complete vet records will be appropriately vetted, spayed or neutered as necessary.   Adoptive families will be provided with a record of all vaccinations, medications, or other treatments the dog has received in your care, along with copies of charges you incurred in the care of the animal.

6. You must be willing to provide support and information to adoptive homes not only during the provisional period but for the life of the dog.  This means that you are available for contact when an adoptive home has questions or needs ideas and suggestions to help deal with behavioral or other issues.

7. You must be willing to take back any dog you place according to the provisions of the Adoption Contract.  If you cannot take the dog back into your home at the time of need you accept responsibility for finding alternative fostering for the dog.

Transporters:**

1. When picking up or delivering a dog you will make sure that all documentation is as complete as possible.

2. You will transport the dog in a clean crate or appropriate restraint system for both their safety and yours.

3. You will feed and water each dog you transport appropriately, and you will be sure the dog has proper opportunity to eliminate waste.

4. You will not leave a dog in a closed vehicle at all, nor will you leave a dog in any vehicle where the temperature exceeds 85 degrees for longer than 5 minutes.

5. You will do everything in your power to minimize the stress experienced by the dog in your care.

** If you are willing to transport other animal rescues as well as Schipperkes, click the link below for more information:

Rescue transport - volunteers saving precious lives.

Your information will not be listed on the Rescuers page unless you specifically request that it is.  Instead, it will be posted on a special page in a private section that is available to Rescuers, Rescue groups, and other Volunteers who may contact you privately for your help.

I would like to participate and am willing to be listed on the Rescuer Resource page in the private section of this site.  I understand that Rescue Groups from around the country may contact me, but that my listing will not be visible to the public.  l also agree to indemnify and hold SchipperkeRescue.Net harmless with regard to any action or issue arising from any referral obtained directly or indirectly from or through SchipperkeRescue.Net.

Click here to join the rescue team.

What do the Service terms mean?

Bail-out: taking Schips out of shelters, pounds, from animal control or surrenders.

Initial contact: with prospective adopters; acceptance & review of applications; maintaining files, etc.

Adoption Coordination:  acting as intermediary between prospective adopters and the foster homes or shelters where available Schips might be.

Transport:  moving dogs from one part of the country to another; generally between shelter and foster home or between foster home and adoptive home.

Fostering:  taking in a rescued dog, providing basic training in manners and obedience as well as medical care; evaluating personality quirks and potential issues for adoptive homes; providing a loving environment for a rescued Schip.

Home checks:  visits to the homes of prospective adopters to ensure their perception of their home matches the information on the application and is suitable for any Schip or a specific Schip.

Referrals:  providing referrals to shelters, rescuers, or other sources of rescue Schips to facilitate the matching of home to available dogs.

Breed information:  providing information about Schipperkes in general about their range of temperament, physical characteristics, etc.; acting as a resource on health and training issues; helping to determine if Schipperkes are the right breed for a prospective adopter.

Training: providing training for rescued Schips and adoptive parents in housebreaking, manners, obedience; often deals with behavioral issues such as dominance, nipping, fear response, etc.

¹The 30-day provisional period provides that no adoption is final for a minimum of 30 days (but preferably 90) following the transfer of the dog.  Since it usually takes from 3-6 weeks for a dog to become adapted to a new environment, whether the match is a good one or not takes some time to discover.  During the provisional period, any dog may be returned to rescue and the adoption fee refunded.  Depending on the foster home's assessment of what the true problem areas are, the adoptive home may be placed back in the pool for alternative or future placement of a rescued Schip or may be directed to a different breed or source