Dachshund

Update 1/19/07: Izzy went to her forever home today. She's got a HUGE yard to explore, and two doggie siblings to play with. She also gets daily cuddle time in the "Big Bed" with Mom and Dad. Izzy's Mom is at home most of the day, so Izzy will have a full time job keeping tabs on everyone and everything. We're sure you're up to the task, Izzy!

UPDATE 1/12/07: Izzy's foster Mom gives this update: "Izzy is such a sweet little girl and quite the love sponge. She's very social and loves to be on the couch where she can snuggle up next to you. She tries her best to wriggle her way into your lap for maximum body contact! She's quiet for a dachshund and rarely barks. She's very content sleeping in her crate in the bedroom at night, although she would surely prefer to sleep in the bed! She's a very good eater her housetraining is coming along very well. She learning to "sit" for treats and seems to be a fast learner. Izzy isn't too fond of car rides, however, so don't plan on taking her along on short errands or long car rides. Even though, as a double-dapple, her eyesight is slightly deficient, we haven't noticed it to be any problem for her at all. She gets around fine, navigates stairs with no problem, and can see quite well in low light situations. Izzy is a sweetheart who will make a wonderful and loving companion for some lucky person or family."

Izzy is one of 3 dogs from the same litter, surrendered by a woman whose home will be foreclosed on in January. She realized that she was financially unable to give these dogs the care they needed, and turned to our rescue program for help. Luckily, we had room to accept her.

Izzy was somewhat timid at first, but warmed up quickly. She is red smooth double dapple. Because she is a double dapple, she has some minor eye anomalies. This does not affect her functional vision as far as everyday routines, but she has problems with depth perception and is cautious about climbing up on things because of this. Double dapples are not recognized as an approved color by the Dachshund Club of America because breeding this type of color always results in a percentage of the litter having vision and/or hearing problems. Responsible breeders do NOT breed double dapples.

Izzy has had all the needed vet work, and will need to fully recover from her surgery and have some time to learn a few basic doggie skills such as crate training, walking on the leash and some housetraining. Izzy is a sweet dog and very willing to learn. We anticipate she will be ready for a new home around the beginning of February. Because of Izzy's vision, she is not an appropriate dog for homes with children under the age of 12.

Can you give Izzy a loving, permanent home with lots of attention? If so, read the rest of the information below and then contact us for an adoption application. Please be aware that our adoption applications are sent out by postal mail only, and are not sent by e-mail nor are they available on-line.

Before you contact us for an application, you must go to our group's website at: www.dfwdachshund.com/rescue and read *all* the FAQ's there. You will find information to most questions that you may have. In particular, please pay close attention to the information about the rescue dachshunds and housetraining. Dachshunds take extra time and patience to housetrain and it is important to know this before you apply to adopt.

Be aware that we do not have a public kennel facility for our dogs; our rescue dogs are fostered with individual families throughout the DFW Metroplex area. We do not permit visits to any of the rescue dogs until an interested household has filled out an application, and had a reference, vet and home check. Only screened and approved applicants may visit dogs available for adoption through our program. We will not hold dogs for homes that have not yet been approved by our rescue committee.

We rarely, if ever, have puppies available in our rescue program. If you are interested in a puppy, please contact us for the puppy referral packet to reputable breeders in our area.

In order to be considered for adoption through DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation, you must:

Be over 21 years of age and have verifiable identification to that effect.

Be able to verify that you may have a pet where you live.

Live within the Dallas/Fort Worth area or no farther than a 50 mile drive from Dallas/Fort Worth to apply to adopt from us. We appreciate your understanding and hope that, if you live outside our service area, you will consider adopting a pet in your local area from a rescue group that services your part of the United States.

Be prepared to make a donation to our rescue efforts of $250.

Be willing to fill out an adoption application, the entire contents of which will be verified upon receipt.

Have a complete, secure, and safely fenced yard.

Be prepared to have a home visit from one of the rescue foundation members as part of the screening process to adopt this dog.

While we do not preclude adopters who live in apartments or townhouses, be aware that most dachshunds bark a lot and generally do not make good apartment or townhouse dogs. We rarely have apartment or townhouse suitable dachshunds available for adoption. If you live in an apartment or townhouse and wish to apply, be aware that you may wait a year or more for a suitable dachshund from our program. In addition, for safety reasons, your apartment or townhouse must have ground floor access.

During the home visit, our representative will do a brief temperament evaluation of all current dogs in the household. We are unable to adopt to homes where any current dogs exhibit "people-aggressive" or "dog-aggressive" behaviors during the home visit. In addition, while we do not preclude adopters who currently own large breed dogs, due to size differential and a dachshund's predisposition to spinal injuries, we are also not able to adopt to homes when the board determines there may be potential for injury to the dachshund. This is to ensure a safe match for our rescued dachshunds.

Understand that DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation has the right to deny *any* application for any reason. Reasons for the denial of any adoption application will *not* be discussed with the applicant.

Our adoption application has been designed to evaluate potential adopters to ensure that each person who adopts a dachshund is not only aware of the responsibility that comes with adopting a dog, but also to address the suitability and permanence of each dachshund placed in a new home.

When considering a new home, our goal is to make the best possible match for each of our rescued Dachshunds. These special dogs deserve the stability of a permanent home where they will be loved, secure and safe for their rest of their lives.