Do you know of a heeler in need?

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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 an Australian Cattle Dog/red or blue heeler? 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:

1. Photos or a link to the dog’s information
2. Information on the dog’s temperament—nice with people and other dogs—and general health
3. Any history you may have on the dog—owner surrender, stray, etc.
4. Shelter name and shelter contact

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, Heelers...Inn from the Shelter, and other heeler-related pages on Facebook for added exposure.

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. If you cannot afford to have your heeler or heeler mix spayed/neutered, we may be able to help through our Heeler Fix program.

Take a look at common dog behavioral problems and how to treat them.

Is your dog not ready for you to go back to work after Covid? Check out our post-quarantine resources.

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

If you need to get your heeler or heeler mix spayed or neutered and you cannot afford it, TCDR may be able to help through our Heeler Fix program.​

If you need a safe escape from domestic violence, visit DomesticShelters.org and enter your location. Once you see results, click the filter button and click choices below Pet Shelters. Also visit Safe Havens for Pets, a directory for safe havens for your pets if you're involved in a domestic violence situation. 

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:

1. Make sure your dog is spayed/neutered and up to date with vaccinations. Google low cost pet vaccinations and spay/neuter options near me for resources. If you cannot afford it, we're here to help! Learn about Heeler Fix.
2. Where did you get the dog? Contact the dog’s original breeder, owner, shelter or rescue group to see if they will take the dog back or if they have any restrictions about rehoming.
3. Alert friends, family, coworkers and your veterinarian to see if they would be interested in adopting your dog.
4. Post the dog on pet websites, in the classifieds, as well as community and pet supply store bulletin boards. Be honest about your pet’s behavior—good and bad. Here are some sites to post your dog:  Adopt-A-Pet  |  Save A Heeler  |  Heelers for Rehoming - The Original  |  Heelers for Re-homing  |  Australian Cattle Dogs for Re-homing 
5. Charge an adoption fee. Unfortunately there are people who seek out dogs to use for bait dogs, fighting dogs or to resell or “flip.” Charge a reasonable adoption fee to deter these people. 
6. Screen adopters carefully. Ask potential adopters for personal and vet references, examine living arrangements, have them sign adoption contract. Here are a lot of great tips to help you with the process. Follow up with the adopter to ensure all is going well.

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. ​