Ohio Fuzzy Pawz Shih Tzu Rescue
Our Featured Pet: Moe
Indiana Fuzzy Pawz Shih Tzu Rescue
Furever Shih Tzu & Mini Schnauzer Rescue of Kansas
Bluegrass Shih Tzu Rescue - Kentucky
Furever Shih Tzu Rescue - Michigan
Furever Shih Tzu & Japanese Chin Rescue - Missouri
PA Shih Tzu Rescue - Pennsylvania
Ohio Fuzzy Pawz Shih Tzu Rescue was created to complement our nationwide Shih Tzu Rescue group. Although we are located in Ohio our group has members throughout many states. We do not limit our placement to the Ohio area and have dogs available for adoption in other areas of the country.
Please read through this page. It should answer a lot of questions you may have about adopting from us.
As we work through the adoption process, please understand that our first and ONLY concern is the happiness and welfare of the dog.
Before you adopt a Shih Tzu, please make sure you know this breed. Shih Tzu have many wonderful traits.... but they also have some not-so-wonderful traits.
First of all, the Shih Tzu is a high maintenance breed and requires frequent and regular grooming. This means a trip to the groomer about every 6 weeks at an average cost of $40 per session. If this is not in your budget, this may not be the right breed for you.
Second, the Shih Tzu does not generally do well left alone for long periods of time. They were bred to be pets and need human companionship. If the Shih Tzu is going to be alone without another dog for more than 6 hours at a time, we suggest that you get a pair so the Shih Tzu does not develop behavior problems from being left alone too much.
Third, the Shih Tzu is very susceptible to temperature extremes and must be protected from both extreme heat and cold. They can easily have heatstroke if left in a car or left out too long in the hot weather.
Fourth, the Shih Tzu is susceptible to ear infections and eye damage. The ears must be properly cared for to prevent infections that could result in deafness and you must watch for dangers to the eyes as the short muzzle and nose on the Shih Tzu do not provide it with a natural protection.
A Shih Tzu is a very loving and loyal dog that needs attention and affection. They will want to be with the family, wherever that may be. A Shih Tzu is not suitable as an "outdoor" dog.
Rescue dogs may have some "issues" to work through. (We will advise you of any "issues" a dog has prior to adoption). These dogs are often very scared, and unsure of where they belong. There may be some training needed or some bad habits to correct. However, rescue dogs usually have plenty of love, affection and gratitude to give back. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you saved a dog.
Here are some general guidelines we follow in choosing the homes for our dogs:
All pets in your house must be spayed/neutered before we will place a Shih Tzu with you. The only exceptions are if you are showing the dog in conformation shows, or if there are medical reasons.
We will not adopt to families with children under the age of eight unless you have other dogs in your family. Our policy does not allow us to place Shih Tzu in families with young children. The main reason for this is that many of the Shih Tzu are turned into rescue because of problems with children. Another reason is the unknown history of some of these Shih Tzu. However we will be glad to help you when the children are over the age of 8; in the meantime I would suggest that you get your children acquainted with pets so they can become caring and loving companions for pets.
If you are elderly; we will not place a very young dog with you.
If you are gone more than 6 hours at a time; we will not place a Shih Tzu with you -- unless you have another dog for a companion. This breed thrives on companionship; both human and canine .
We want you to be committed to the dog for the rest of its life. Ask yourself if your lifestyle is changing due to a move, getting married/divorced, changing jobs, etc. Will those lifestyles affect your decision to keep the dog? Adoption is for the rest of the dog?s life.
Adopting a dog is a lifetime decision and should not be made quickly. Our adoption process takes time and does not happen immediately.
Here are some things we insist on when you adopt a Shih Tzu from us:
The dog may never be allowed off a leash/lead unless it is in a securely fenced yard.
The dog must be kept on heartworm and flea prevention.
The dog must be an indoor dog and treated as a member of the family.
The dog is never to be left outside when you are not home.
The dog must wear ID tags at all times.
You must be 21 years old to submit an adoption application. Our adoptions require a person to be of legal age to be able to sign the adoption contract.
You may not adopt a dog as a gift for another person or as a surprise for someone. This is not fair to the dog or the person involved.
Please remember.......our first and ONLY consideration is the safety and happiness of our dogs.
We do not have a shelter. Our entire organization is made up of volunteer foster homes. Each foster dog is socialized in a home-like setting. We then evaluate them extensively. You must submit an application first, and once you are approved to adopt, we will work with you to select dogs and make arrangements for you to meet them. We will not place dogs in homes that we do not believe will work out, as the dog's welfare comes first to us.
If you are out of the area, we will in some circumstances do a "long distance" adoption, but we will not ship a dog. We do prefer that you come and meet your dog. As all our dogs are in foster homes in different places, when you inquire about a specific dog we will let you know its location prior to discussing adoption plans regarding that dog.
Puppy through 1 yr. old.........Lots of chewing, not reliably housetrained, needs much attention and training, not a good choice if you are gone all day.
1-3 Yr. old........ Still acts like a puppy, may or may not be housetrained, will still chew, needs lots of playtime to burn energy, will become bored easily if left alone too long.
3-5 Yr. Old.......Able to be trusted alone in the house for short periods, needs several hours of playtime daily, will become bored easily, will chew from boredom.
5+ .... A perfect dog. Past the chewing stage, reliably housetrained, content to sleep while you are gone, will want to play for a few hours, but will be ready to sleep again when you do.
The first step to adoption is filling out a written application. Once we review your application and call your references, someone from a local rescue will come to your home to meet you and your family. This is NOT a "white glove" inspection. We assess the home environment you have to provide you with a good match. All family members must be present. Once you have been approved, you may begin meeting our dogs.
Our adoption costs range from $100 to $300, and help with the expenses of vetting and fostering. All dogs are up to date on vaccines, are heartworm negative, spayed or neutered, and treated for any immediate medical problems before they are ready for adoption. If you question the adoption cost, then you need to ask yourself if you can properly care for the dog. The Shih Tzu is a high maintenance dog and they need extra care in grooming and medical care.
Also... if your idea is to adopt a rescue Shih Tzu because you don't want to pay a breeder's price, you haven't the correct knowledge because that is not what rescue is all about. Rescue is about giving a dog a chance who otherwise would not get one.
Rescue dogs range in age from puppies (rarely) to very elderly. Since most people prefer young dogs, it may take a long time to find one...so please consider opening your heart to an older dog. They also need compassion and love and most often are the best behaved. They need homes just as much, if not more, than the younger dogs. If you have made it this far, and are still interested,
......Fill out an adoption application
Placing a rescued Shih Tzu in a safe and loving home is our number one priority. Besides assessing the Shih Tzu for its needs, we also assess potential homes to assure that the environment and caregivers will be able to provide the right balance of love and attention that each and every Shih Tzu deserves. We are always searching for that special person or family that is willing to open up their home and is ready to be smothered with love by these most wonderful pets.
Our procedure for adopting is as follows: First of all you will need to fill out the Shih Tzu Placement Application: Shih Tzu Placement Application
Note: If you have problems linking to the website listed above, try our alternate website: Shih Tzu Placement Application (alternate)
This application can be done directly at this web site and it has some drop down boxes with several choices. Choose the most fitting answers and submit. If you have any problems with submitting this application be sure to let me know. My email address is cynthadam@aol.com We require a completed adoption application complete with at least 3 references and a home screening. Prospective homes must meet adoption criteria. After you fill out an application and the references are called, we will meet with you and your family in your home. We want to ensure the Shih Tzu you adopt will have a forever loving permanent home. By having a personal meeting and instructional home visit, we will then determine which Shih Tzu in rescue would fit well in your household. We will also offer you suggestions at that time to ensure the comfort and safety of the pet. This will also make the transition of the Shih Tzu to your home go smoothly. Then we will always be available by phone or email whenever you have any questions concerning the pet. In all cases, the final placement decision is based on the suitability of each dog for a particular home and will not be made until the application has been approved, references called and the homevisit has been completed.