English Setter Club of Canada
Rescue Mission

 

ESCC Rescue is a voluntary organization which is dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluation, veterinary care, and adoptive homes for English Setters who are abandoned, mistreated, neglected, or left in animal shelters.

Rescue services are also provided to English Setters in acute need of placement due to compelling circumstances such as, but not exclusive to divorce, family illness, allergies, relocation to a “no pets allowed” situation, or economic hardship.

The ESCC is further dedicated to the education of the general public and to new and prospective dog owners regarding the responsibility of owning an English Setter.

“IF YOU BREED, BE PREPARED TO RESCUE”

 

For further information on Rescue, please contact:

Beth Genuino
Ontario, Canada
Phone: (289) 888-1268
email: setters@rocketmail.com

 

ESCC RESCUE POLICY, GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

Committee Structure

The ESCC Rescue Committee will be comprised of a National Coordinator and up to seven Regional Coordinators. Where Regional Coordinators are not available, Regional Board of Directors members of ESCC will assist. The Rescue Committee will use the services of the ESCC Treasurer for all financial transactions. The committee, through the National Coordinator, will report to the Club President and Board of Directors.

Standard Rescue Procedure

Shelter English Setters:

Because ESCC does not have any claim to these dogs prior to their release, mention of the location or existence of one should be limited to persons on the Rescue waiting list. A rescue coordinator may make discreet inquiries in an attempt to identify the owner and/or breeder.

As soon as a Rescue Coordinator is notified, arrangements will be made for a Rescue Committee member or other knowledgeable person to visit the shelter and confirm whether or not the dog is actually an English Setter. A Rescue Coordinator will obtain as much information as necessary to claim the dog including when it will be available for adoption, fostering program, and the shelter’s policy in the event that more than one party wishes to adopt the dog. Provisions will be made for grooming, veterinary care, and foster care.

If ESCC adopts/fosters the dog, the dog will be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The dog’s general health and age will be assessed, and the dog will receive treatment required. The Rescue Committee is permitted to spend up to the total amount of money contained in the Rescue Fund without consultation. Beyond that amount Board of Directors approval is required.

Every effort will be made to identify and locate the owner and/or the breeder. If the breeder is an ESCC member it is assumed that he/she will accept possession of the dog until a suitable home is found or accept responsibility for the associated costs if he/she is unable to take the dog for a temporary period of time.

Stray English Setters:

If ESCC Rescue is contacted about a suspected English Setter that is running loose, at least one person familiar with English Setters will be sent to the area to attempt to locate the animal and confirm that it is an English Setter. If someone has already confined the dog, arrangements will be made to pick up the dog at a time most convenient for the person who has the dog. Every attempt will be made to locate the dog’s owner. At this time the proper animal control authorities in the area should be notified. The dog may or may not have to be turned over depending on the laws of the locality. “Found Advertisements” should be placed in the local newspaper(s) and veterinary offices. The dog should be checked for tattoos and/or microchip.
It the owner does not claim the dog after a reasonable period of time, then placement can proceed.

English Setter Abandoned at Veterinary Office, Boarding Kennel, or Grooming Facility:

A Rescue Coordinator, once contacted, will attempt to contact the owners of the dog to determine the reason for abandonment, to request that they contribute to the costs incurred during the dog’s stay, and to request that they turn over the registration papers and health records to ESCC Rescue along with a signed transfer form. The dog’s breeder, if known, will be contacted. It is recommended that the owner’s signature be obtained on a release form. Ohterwise, the dog should be held where it was abandoned until it is their’s legally to release. At this point ESCC Rescue can obtain the dog and the procedure for Shelter English Setters can be followed.

English Setter Whose Owner is Deceased or Disabled:

A Rescue Coordinator will obtain registration papers and health records, if available, and a transfer agreement for the owner or next of kin and contact the breeder. All other procedures are similar to those for Shelter English Setters.

Rescue by Individuals:

Non-Committee Member Rescue:

It the individual rescuing a dog is an ESCC member, then ESCC Rescue can offer assistance provided that the dog is going to be placed and not kept by the member. This assistance will take the form of (I) financial reimbursement for the rescue if all ESCC Rescue procedures concerning screening and placement are followed, (ii) a list of prospective homes - both screened and unscreened (with the understanding that the person placing the dog will do the screening), (iii) a placement questionnaire for screening, and (iv) an adoption contract. The English Setter Rescue will request the rescuer complete a Rescue Report form. The rescuer may act as a member of ESCC Rescue and still retain some control over the dog’s placement by doing the fostering and making the ultimate decision about placement.

Owner-Held Dogs:

If an owner contacts ESCC Rescue for assistance in placing a dog, a Rescue Coordinator will determine the name of the breeder and/or stud dog owner and make certain they are aware of the situation. It is the owner’s responsibility to care for and place the dog. However, if the owner insists that he/she”wants to get rid of the dog” and threatens to turn the dog over to the animal shelter and have it destroyed, arrangement will be made to obtain the dog along with its registration papers, health records, and a transfer agreement. The dog must be donated to ESCC Rescue, and under no circumstances should the dog be purchased. The breeder or stud dog owner will be notified as soon as possible and the dog will be treated as a rescue dog.

Pet Store Puppies:

Under no circumstance will ESCC Rescue “rescue” puppies from a Pet Store


.Screening and Placement Procedures:

In order to ensure that all dogs handled by ESCC Rescue end up in loving, responsible, permanent homes, and to protect the ESCC from any liability in the event a dog with health or temperament problems is placed, a normal screening and adoption process must be followed.

Placement Questionnaire:

All parties expressing interest in adopting an English Setter through ESCC Rescue should complete a Placement questionnaire. A Rescue volunteer will check references before the individual will be considered. A Rescue volunteer may complete the form by telephone, or it can be sent to the interested individual. For persons passing the initial screening phase, a Rescue Volunteer will make arrangements for a visit to the potential adopter’s home. If satisfactory the individual will be placed on a waiting list of available homes. Placement questionnaires should be sent to the Rescue Coordinator for maintaining the waiting list.

Rescue Report:

Any person fostering a rescue English Setter will assess the dog’s temperament and personality and determine in what kind of situation the dog would do best. A detailed report should be completed which will be kept with the final records, to be held by the National Rescue Coordinator after the dog has been placed in a home. While some preference may be given to people who have been on the placement list longer than others, or to people who have expressed extreme interest in a particular dog, the dog’s best interests must always come first. The Rescue Coordinator will make the final decision on placement. In cases of individual rescue and placement, the owner, breeder or individual rescuer will make the final decision. A “cool-down” period of at least one week is recommended between the time that the potential placement is first contacted about the dog or has met the dog and the time they are allowed to take it home.

Adoption Contracts:

Adoption contracts for all rescue dogs must be completed and signed before the dog is released to new owner(s). An ESCC Rescue Committee member will review the contract with the dog’s adopters emphasizing that the dog must be returned to ESCC Rescue in the event they no longer wish to keep the dog. It should also be emphasized that no money will be returned. Any known health of behavioural problems of the dog must be listed on the contract. A donation to the ESCC of $200.00 for dogs under the age of seven years and $100.00 for dogs over the age of seven years should be highly encouraged.

Unadoptable English Setter:

While certainly a loathsome option, euthanasia may be required in certain cases due to health or temperament problems, making a dog unadoptable. Generally the only cases where euthanasia will be considered are when the dog has a history of biting, exhibits aggressive behaviour indicating that it will bite, or has health problems that make it unadoptable or will profoundly affect its quality of life. Advanced age alone is not a justifiable reason to euthanise a dog. If a dog is considered to be a candidate for euthanasia, the option will be discussed with foster family, Rescue Coordinator, and at least one ESCC Director. When possible, at least one outside person such as a veterinarian or dog trainer, who can contribute insight into the problem, should be consulted. A consensus among the foster family, Rescue Coordinator and at least one ESCC Director must be reached before the dog can be euthanised. If a consensus cannot be reached the issue will be brought up for a vote among the Directors of ESCC. The vote and decision will be made within 72 hours of the issue being presented to the Board of Directors.

ESCC Rescue Committee Responsibilities

It is understood that the Rescue Committee and Coordinators will fully cooperate with the ESCC, the president, and the Board of Directors and local English Setter Clubs in sharing lists of potential adopters and offering other assistance when requested to facilitate the rescue and placement of an English Setter any where in the country. ESCC policy and its accompanying forms should be made available to other dog clubs as guidelines for developing their own rescue policies. It is also understood that when a conflict occurs between other English Setter Clubs’ rescue policies and that of the ESCC, members of ESCC Rescue Committee will adhere to the ESCC policy.
Volunteers wishing to assist with any aspect of rescue can contact the Rescue Committee Coordinator in their region or Board of Directors member for a copy of the ESCC Rescue Policy. Areas where volunteers are needed are: fostering dogs, screening potential adopters, transporting dogs, calling on newspapers, calling new adoptive homes, and grooming.
Volunteers are encouraged to make suggestions regarding changes that see needed to the procedures and/or policy. Changes will be considered by the Coordinator and presented to the President and Directors for final approval.

Record Keeping

In addition to adhering to all portions of this policy and assuming all responsibilities stated in the policy the Rescue Coordinators will be responsible for keeping an up-to-date file on rescue cases, the current locations of placed dogs, a list of screened potential homes, and a list of undesirable and/or irresponsible owners, breeders, and other parties who have contributed to rescue problems in the past and which would not make good homes. Every month, a report detailing expenses and revenues will be made to the ESCC Board of Directors through the president and treasurer. The ESCC National Rescue Coordinator will prepare a quarterly report for the club Newsletter. This report should have information on success stories and dogs still available for adoption, service needed, volunteer information, and requests for donations. The Rescue Coordinator will be responsible for follow-up calls to adopters to ensure that the placement is working, and to trouble shoot any problems that may develop. Calls placed at one to two weeks, one to two months and at six months after adoption are recommended.

Rescue Funds

It is assumed that the ESCC Rescue will be as financially solvent as possible. Rescue will have a sub-account within the ESCC main accounts. Private donations, adoption donations, special revenues (raffles, T-shirt sales etc) placement donations, club donations, and a portion of the club membership fee will be deposited here. Upon recommendation of the National Rescue Coordinator the treasurer will approve expenditures from the account. Expenditures from this account include but are not limited to - purchase of dogs from a shelter, reimbursing of volunteers for medical and boarding expenditures while in foster care, reasonable travel expenditures, telephone calls, copying costs. Equipment such as crates, x-pens purchased with Rescue funds for foster families are and will remain the property of ESCC.