A rescue dog is a purebred who has been “rescued” from a former home or from a pound or shelter and is currently homeless. Most AKC breed clubs sponsor purebred rescue groups.

When a dog is dropped off at the shelter or taken into the dog pound, if that dog is believed to be purebred, that local shelter calls the contact person for the local rescue group. If the rescue coordinator believes the dog is a purebred of the breed in which he or she is involved, that dog is taken from the pound and housed in a foster home until the rescue organization can find the dog a home.

Many of the dogs in rescue groups tend to be mature, older dogs, but you may be surprised to learn many dogs are actually under eighteen months of age! Rescue is run generally by breeders who are very concerned about dogs in general. They make no money from this, and usually work on a volunteer basis. Much of the cost of fostering is picked up by the family who is sheltering the dog in their house. Each breed has a specific network of these people who have extremely big hearts, and only want to see the dogs find a good home.

Do these dogs have something wrong with them? Generally speaking, no. Sometimes they end up in rescue because their owners have not been able to adjust to having a puppy in their lives. Or, they have been housed by people who no longer were able to properly care for their animals, because of difficult circumstances or a death in the family.

Rescue coordinators bail out abandoned or unwanted dogs and evaluate them before seeking new homes for them. Many rescue dogs need some stability to help regain their self-confidence, and foster owners spend a lot of time working with such animals to ensure that they'll adjust to a new home.

They then list the dog with a national or regional network, where the dog will eventually be placed. All kinds of dogs pass through this scenario. Generally speaking, they tend to be a little older than puppies, usually from eighteen months to ten years old. They come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. The only thing they have in common is that they are all purebreds.

Because they are rescue dogs, they also tend to be less expensive up front — though cost is no guarantee of the quality of a pup or dog. The rescue associations usually ask you to make some kind of donation to defray the costs of operating the rescue group and caring for the individual dog. These groups are run by loving individuals who are looking earnestly for the right home for the right dog. You should seriously consider this venue as a means to getting a dog.