If you found a dog, see a dog in a shelter, or need help with your own heeler, please check out this useful information before you contact us.
Did you find a heeler or heeler mix? Here are several things you should do.
You may work for or volunteer at a local Texas shelter and have discovered a heeler in need. Provided the dog appears to be a purebred heeler (adult dog's ears must be erect), send the following information to intake@texascattledogrescue.com:
In addition, you may post on our Facebook page to give the dog additional exposure. The dog must be in Texas or immediately surrounding states and be more heeler than not. Photo and shelter contact info must be included. Also post on Save A Heeler and other heeler-related pages on Facebook.
If you are having a behavioral problem with your dog, don’t assume someone else will be willing to take it on. And don’t assume having the dog go live on a farm will solve behavioral issues. It won't. We hear that a lot. Instead, try these things:
Consult with your veterinarian to ensure a medical issue isn’t behind the dog’s behavior. Spaying and neutered also reduces the risk of the pet roaming, marking and demonstrating other undesirable behaviors. Find a low-cost spay/neuter clinic near you.
Take a look at common dog behavioral problems and how to treat them.
If you have a fence jumper, here's an easy DIY fence fix, and another with detailed instructions.
If your dog is aggressive, or has nipped or bitten someone, get a professional behavioral evaluation before giving away your pet. Check with state and local laws about liability in rehoming a pet with prior knowledge of aggression. Do not try to find a new home for an aggressive animal without professional help.
Here’s a thoughtful article with advice about people-aggressive dogs.
Here are some resources in case you are having difficulties paying for your dog’s general care or in an emergency:
Can't Pay for Your Pet's Care? These 12 Programs Can Help.
Best Friends Financial Aid for Pets
Are you having trouble affording your pet?
Helping people find money to pay for veterinary care
Take your beloved dog with you! Move smart and plan ahead. Before you select a new place to live, make sure it is pet friendly. There are lots of pet-friendly housing options. Check weight and breed restrictions. Select a place that accommodates your lifestyle and your dog's lifestyle. Talk to potential landlords about paying pet deposits in installments.
If you are in the military being deployed or have other service commitments, contact Dogs on Deployment, PACT for Animals and Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets.
With so many heelers in Texas shelters risking euthanasia, TCDR doesn’t have foster space available for owner-surrendered dogs. We will however take back any dog adopted from TCDR. If you adopted a dog from TCDR, contact us.
If you have made up your mind to rehome your heeler, here are few tips:
Again, in general TCDR cannot take owner-surrendered dogs. We can however, offer to courtesy list your dog on our website if these criteria are met:
What TCDR offers is a website advertisement. The dog does not become a part of our program. Potential adopters will contact you directly and you will be responsible for screening adopters. We’ve been able to help a number of people place dogs this way.
If all the above criteria are met, email intake@texascattledogrescue.com this information:
Taking your dog to a shelter should be a last resort. Owner-surrendered dogs are often the first dogs to be put down when space is at a premium. Select a shelter carefully. Make sure the shelter has an adoption program (not all of them do). Find out their success rate. Don’t assume a no-kill shelter is the best option.
Never dump a dog anywhere to leave the dog to fend for itself. This is not a solution.
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