"Finding good homes for great dogs... one tail at a time!"

Our Adoptable Pet List

“Every year in the United States an estimated 5 million animals lose their lives in shelters because they are homeless. That is one pet life lost every 6.5 seconds. The pet overpopulation epidemic is so staggering that for every animal born in the United States to have a home... each and every human being would have to own 6 dogs and 9 cats. So, in actuality a family of four…2 parents and 2 small children would have to own 24 dogs and 36 cats. It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated 2 billion each year to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals.” -- Source: Ryan Newman Foundation website

HELP US HELP THE BLACK DOGS...

You may have noticed something on our website lately. If not, take another look. During the past months and in the future, we've dedicated our rescue to saving at least one black dog with every group of dogs and puppies we rescue. For unknown reasons, there are a lot of black dogs in the southern shelters we work with. Breeds range from labs, goldens, retrievers, spaniels, toy breeds, and the limitless variations that compose a mutt. All dogs need a home, but the black dogs have it a bit harder. For one thing, they're more difficult to photograph, and let's face it - a photo means a lot when it comes to adopters choosing a dog on-line. Black dogs are common just about everywhere. Most folks would say they're nothing special... unless, of course, one has owned you in the past.

We've been looking into those deep eyes on the black shelter dogs lately, and our hearts have made a promise. There's more to a black dog than just the color of its coat. These dogs are desperately in need of good families to give them a chance. Their eyes beg for kindness and love, and their bodies wiggle enthusiastically for some attention - just one pat! Tails bang against the shelter walls and wails of whining and barks protest when we walk out of the shelters.

Black dogs make great family pets. We think they're more devoted and eager to please than most dogs we've rescued. They're quick learners. Maybe somehow they know how rare it is that they're given a chance. Please help continue our mission to rescue. Look at the black dogs. Meet them and open up your hearts and homes to some unending love.

What's included with your adoption?

Adoption fee for adult dogs is $400 and puppies is $425. Adoption fees are payable by cash, money order, or bank check. No personal checks accepted. Each adoption includes your dog's spay/neuter surgery, microchip and registration, worming, shots up to date, heartworm pill, two health exams and health certificates, collar, bag of food, a toy, and information on training and keeping your new dog happy and healthy. We are in compliance with MA Dept of Agriculture regulations regarding isolation of animals coming into MA.

WHAT RESCUE MEANS...

Rescue work involves helping misfortunate, needy animals who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves homeless. People have let them down through negligence, ignorance, or just plain indifference. These are society's furry cast-aways. We've rescued dogs from puppymills, backyard breeders who were shut down; dogs whose toenails were so long they curled into the pads of their feet, starved dogs abandoned when owners moved away, abused, beaten, and scarred dogs, puppies found under ramshackle buildings fleabitten and covered with ticks, tiny pups born inside a busy traffic circle living within feet of speeding cars with mom nowhere in sight, and dogs with one-foot high ID numbers tatooed or burned into their sides - lost or abandoned by hunters who left them in the woods.

Did you know? GA shelters alone euthanize over 1000 dogs weekly. The fact remains there are not enough homes for America's animals. Overcrowded shelters must euthanize puppies who just came into this world, dogs who trusted they'd be loved by their families only to be brought to the shelter when life got too busy, or they had to move, or just couldn't do the responsible thing and let their elderly dog die in its loving home. The stories are endless and unfortunately, so are the number of dogs needing good homes. It's a disgrace that such a progressive nation cannot take care of their pets. One way to stop the overpopulation is to spay and neuter all pets.

Rescue means giving... giving each dog the love, kindness, safety, and vetting necessary to make them healthy and ready to go to a new home. Some of our rescued dogs have had broken legs, heartworm, cherry eye, hernias, anemia, and congenital problems. All these health issues have been investigated and treated, but it's costly. If one of our dogs needs help, they get help despite cost of treatment - blood work, IVs, extra vitamins, antibiotics, and strong worming medicines for those pesky worms.

We continue to help the shelters our animals come from by donating funds and supplies to improve conditions. We feel it's our moral obligation to not only help the animals we rescue, but to give back to those who stay behind, to give them immunizations and better living conditions. If you'd like to help or want more info about helping, please email.

Foster homes and volunteers needed...

Love dogs? Want to help? Volunteers should be over age 18. Local families who live within one hour of Haverhill can foster a dog or puppy. Free puppy breath, but must love dogs! Foster families take care of a dog or pup in their home until a forever family is found, usually only 1-2 weeks. Since we have new arrivals coming almost weekly, foster families can help every week or just when their schedule permits. Foster homes are provided everything needed to care for the dog including crate, food, treats. Heartworm meds and healthcare are paid for by One Tail at a Time Rescue. If you can't commit to adopting a dog but would like to help sometimes - provide love and companionship short-term while adoptive families are found!

Can't foster but you're good on the phone? Unlimited long distance? Free cell minutes? Got an hour or two a week? Help on adoption days - hold puppies and play with them! Help show dogs and answer questions from adoptive families. Screen potential adoptive homes by checking references. Do home visits to see if a dog would be happy living in a potential adoptive home. Help out with dogs just arriving from transport. Volunteer to help keep our dogs clean and happy during isolation, and bathe and groom dogs when they're released. If you're interested in helping us, please email.

We purchase many of our supplies and highly recommend State Line Pet Supply on Route 125 in Plaistow NH. Visit their new, super-stocked store for the best prices in the area. State Line Pet

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Who we are...

One Tail at a Time Rescue is a small home based rescue located in MA who helps place at-risk dogs from shelters into good homes. We also take in dogs whose owners in MA or NH can no longer care for them (contact us about this). Currently we're a small rescue, but we network with other local rescues and shelters to do the best for dogs needing help. Incorporated and pending 501c3 non-profit, with a hard-working board of directors, we're growing!

How to Adopt - the adoption process explained...

AN APPLICATION is the first step in the adoption process. Please email onetail@comcast.net and we'll send you an application. Applications are reviewed, references are checked - usually within 48 hours of receipt. Only approved applicants see available dogs, by appointment only. Most of the time our dogs and puppies are in foster homes. We don't have a shelter. We don't keep our dogs in pens or cages at our foster homes; they're living with families just like yours!

Please read the info contained in the dog's profile regarding the TYPE of home each dog would do best in. This is the type of home we're looking for. If your situation doesn't meet these requirements, please do not fill out an application for that particular dog. We'll be honest about the dogs we're trying to find homes for. Please be honest with the home you can provide. Dogs have feelings and needs, and specific breeds have traits that require we place them into the right home. There are many dogs and puppies coming to One Tail at a Time Rescue, and the perfect one for you will be arriving shortly! Please be patient, and understand that making a good match will help ensure that you'll be happy with your adopted dog for the next 14+ years, and that he'll be happy living with you!!

One Tail at a Time Rescue adopts dogs and puppies from high-kill shelters because that's where help is needed most, but PLEASE CHECK YOUR LOCAL SHELTERS TO SEE AVAILABLE DOGS. WE WILL NOT BRING DOG BREEDS WHO CAN BE FOUND IN OUR LOCAL SHELTERS INTO THIS STATE.

Because One Tail at a Time Rescue is a registered, approved rescue with the state of MA, we follow strict guidelines to ensure our animals are healthy. Every dog or pup arrives with a health certificate from the state they originate. Upon arrival to MA they are examined by a veterinarian, isolated for 48-hours, and issued a MA health certificate. Immunizations are updated per veterinary protocol, dogs are microchipped and spayed or neutered prior to adoption. (No dog or puppy will be placed prior to being altered, so please don't ask!) Dogs are deflead and dewormed, and any medical condition identified prior to or upon arrival is checked and treated by a licensed veterinarian. Dogs older than age 6 months are heartworm tested (and negative). Adopted pets should have a vet checkup with your own vet within 10 days of adoption.

One Tail at a Time Rescue strongly recommends formal obedience classes for all our adopted puppies and may require it with some adult dog adoptions. Adoptive families will sign a binding contract forbidding sale, transfer, or relinquishment of their adopted pet to another person, shelter, or testing facility. We care enough to follow up our adoptions and like to know that the adoption was successful.

We strive to adopt dogs who are healthy, happy, and friendly - and ready to go to their new homes without added expense to adoptive families. An adoption fee of $400-425 is required to pay for costs incurred and to continue rescue efforts. Adoption fees include:
Health certificates and exams from state of origin and MA licensed veterinarian
Spay/neuter surgery
Fecal exam & worming
Distemper combo vaccination(s) following vet guidelines
Rabies vaccination (4 months & older)
Heartworm test (6 months & older)
First heartworm pill
Frontline Plus flea & tick treatment (in season)
Microchip and registration
Collar
Original vetting paperwork
Transport to MA from originating state

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One Tail at a Time Rescue, Inc. -a home-based rescue located in Haverhill MA
"Finding good homes for great dogs... one tail at a time!"
Please don't inquire about a dog unless you are ready to finalize the adoption and take home your new pet within 48 hours of application approval.
All dogs listed on our website are ready for their new homes now unless otherwise specified.

Email: onetail@comcast.net

We like to keep our adoptions local. Preference will be made to local homes.



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