Can
I apply to several rescue groups at once?
Due to the limited time
and personnel available to Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue
as an all-volunteer organization, we ask that applicants
choose only one rescue group to work with at a time. While
you may have an interest in several dogs on the websites
of different rescue groups, it makes the process much
easier if you can approach a single rescue organization
with your favorite dog(s) and work with them.
What to expect
when you adopt a rescued Boston Terrier?
Adopting a
rescued animal is one of the most rewarding experiences
you will have as a pet owner. You are giving an animal
a second chance at a loving and caring home – and
sometimes life itself. There are many misconceptions about
adopting a rescue so we have provided this information
to answer the many questions we receive regarding adoption.
Please read through it carefully considering your home
environment, the time you will have to invest in a new
pet, and the special commitment that may be required in
adoption.
What is the
temperament of a Boston Terrier?
While each dog is an individual
you can expect a young Boston Terrier (puppy to 4 years
old) to be high energy, very friendly and very playful.
Older Bostons (5 years and up) tend to be less high energy
but do not lose their friendly and playful spirit. A young
Boston Terrier may be “too much” for a family
with very young children or for and elderly person. We
will work with you to match you with the best Boston Terrier
for you, your home and family.
Will an adopted Boston terrier be housetrained?
All Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue
rescues spend some time in foster care living in a home
environment for healthcare and behavior evaluation. If
house training is required, the rescue receives this training
at his/her foster home. However, we find that almost all
rescues require a period of adjustment when going to their
new home. A rescue could have spent time as a stray or
in a shelter where house training is lost. In addition,
each home is different and the dog will need to adjust
his/her new routine. Expect to watch your new adoptee
closely for at least a week and work with them consistently
on their new potty routine.
Why does my adopted dog try to dart
out
the door or jump the fence?
Darting and running is a common
behavior of rescues – it is important to not take
it personally! It is a dog’s instinct to “go
home” even if that home had been uncaring or abusive.
No matter how wonderfully you treat your new rescue, he/she
may instinctly try to “go home”. A rescued will
have been to many different places before he/she ends
up in a forever home. They may spend time in a shelter,
a vet, a transport home, and a foster home before they
come to live with you – they are naturally confused.
This darting behavior should subside after the dog settles
in which may take a few weeks. In the meantime, keep an
eye on them when a door is opened. Many rescues never
exhibit this behavior and it is more common in males than
females.
Will an adopted
dog “mark” in the house?
One of the most common reasons that
dogs end up in shelters or rescues is that the original
owner did not have them spayed or neutered. Leaving a
dog intact will increase their desire to “mark”
territory by urinating at certain spots. All Birmingham
Boston Terrier Rescue dogs are spayed or neutered prior
to being adopted but it takes several months after the
surgery for the hormones to completely leave the dogs
system. Some dogs – particularly males – may
try to mark their new home. This is far more common if
a recently neutered male is coming to a home with other
male dogs. If they do mark – it usually will happen
in the first day or two. Keeping a good eye on your new
dog is the best way to prevent this. If this continues
after a few days contact us and we can recommend several
different products that are very successful is stopping
this behavior.
Do Boston
Terriers require special diets?
No. It is the rare Boston Terrier
that has a sensitive stomach – so they generally
can eat any dog food. Most Boston Terriers, however, have
sensitivity to corn and corn byproducts. The side effect
of digesting corn is gas! Unfortunately, many popular
dog foods contain corn and corn byproducts. Those that
don’t contain corn are Nutro, Nature’s Recipe,
Wellness, and Royal Canine to name a few. Boston are not
allergic to corn and feeding them dog food with corn will
not hurt them – it may just make them unpleasant
to be around!
Should I crate
my newly adopted dog?
We recommend that you use a crate
in the first few weeks. Crating gives a dog a sense of
security and safety, in addition to prevent accidents
and speeding up the adjustment period. We recommend that
you crate your dog anytime that you are out of the home,
as well as at night. Many dogs become very attached to
their crates and you may want to use it for the life of
the dog. In many cases, though, a dog can gradually be
left alone in the home or at night once he feels safe
and secure.
Do I need to take my newly adopted dog
to
the vet for a checkup?
All Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue
dogs are fully vetted in our care. They receive all of
their annual vaccinations as well as their rabies vaccination.
All dogs are screened for heart
worms and are heart worm negative when adopted.
You will be given documentation of vaccinations, rabies,
and heart worm testing that you should give to your vet
for their records. It is absolutely
imperative that your Boston be given a heart worm preventive
the first week of each and every month. Outside of a “get acquainted visit” your new
dog should not need to be taken to a vet.
Birmingham
Boston Terrier Rescue strongly suggests that you purchase
a handbook on Boston Terriers to further your understanding
of this breed. Suggested handbooks may be found at the
following link.
To assist in offsetting
the cost of processing an adoption application, Birmingham
Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc., asks for a $7.50 donation
to cover the costs of postage and phone calls required
in verifying the application's content. This donation
neither enhances an application's rating nor guarantees
a positive adoption outcome. This donation is non refundable.
