Please check out our other website at www.njsrn.org. There, you can complete our adoption application online, or download a text or Word version and send it to us by email or US Mail. Our Pet Information Form for those who have to surrender their Schnauzers is also available online. Please follow the instructions for submission.
Who we are ...
New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network Inc. is a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit nokill rehoming service for Miniature Schnauzers and Schnauzer mixes.
We are an incorporated charitable organization made up entirely of volunteers. Our members are located throughout the
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Delaware area, and we cover a few surrounding states as well.
We are not a shelter and we do not have a central location! Our rescues are not kept in one central location, but are cared for in individual private foster homes throughout our service area until they are adopted. We are nonprofit, and all general and adoption donations go toward the care of our dogs spay/neuter, vaccinations and other veterinary expenses, fostering, grooming, transport, and screening homes.
NJSRN is a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Financial and other information on NJSRN may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling 973-504-6215, or found online at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charity/chardir.htm (enter "Schnauzer" (without the quotation marks) in the search box). Registration with the Attorney General does not imply endorsement.
We do not usually get large numbers of
Miniature Schnauzers in our rescue program, especially young dogs, and we
maintain a waiting list for adoptions. While we will place our dogs throughout
the tri-state and nearby surrounding areas,
we do not ship our rescues. We usually have plenty of good local homes available and we prefer to save our dogs the trauma of a long journey, especially after the difficult experiences many of them have suffered. To find a Schnauzer rescuer in your local area, please see the list of Schnauzer rescue contacts at The Schnauzer Board Rescue Contacts, the American Miniature Schnauzer Club's listing of local area Schnauzer clubs at AMSC Local Clubs and rescue contacts at AMSC Rescue Resources, or email NJSRN president Nadine at seals@exit109.com for referrals.
Most of our rescue Schnauzers are middle-aged (59 years old). Most are housetrained. Many are turned over to rescue due to financial difficulties, divorce, business or military transfer overseas, because the owner is moving into assisted living or a nursing home, or even due to the death of the owner. Some of our rescues have been picked up as strays, and we save many of them from being euthanized in shelters. We evaluate our rescues in our homes; they live with us and our own dogs while waiting for their new families. We have them vet checked, spayed or neutered, updated on shots, screened for heartworms, bladder stones, and intestinal parasites,
and we take care of basic medical needs such as dental cleanings and cyst removal if necessary. They are bathed and groomed before going to their new homes.
Please note: Although we thoroughly evaluate our rescue dogs, we cannot guarantee health or temperament.
For a better understanding of what Breed Rescue is, and what it is
not, please see: Common Misconceptions About Breed Rescue.
If you are unable to keep your Schnauzer and would like to have NJSRN find a wonderful new home for your dog, please contact us! There is no charge. We have a long list of preapproved adoptive families waiting, and we can provide updates on how your dog is doing in its new home. You can call the NJSRN Rescue Hotline at 7329208242, or send an email to surrender@njsrn.org for more information. Also, please contact us if you know of a Schnauzer in a shelter in the NJ/PA/NY/CT/DE area (except those listed on Petfinder.com, which we monitor daily). We take in Schnauzers and
"Schnauzery" mixes of any age and in any condition, and we provide vet care and training prior to placing the dog in its new home.
We are sorry, but we cannot take in dogs that are aggressive or that have a history of biting. You might want to check out a great book for working with dominant or aggressive dogs called
Ruff Love,
A Relationship Building Program for You and Your Dog written by Susan Garrett and published by Clean Run Productions (available on amazon.com). Three wonderful websites loaded with behavioral and dog training advice are:
Dr. P's Dog Training Library
Kathy Diamond Davis' Canine Behavior Series
Canines.com Canine Behavior Solutions
In addition, please email Deb at schnauzerescue@yahoo.com if you'd like a list of recommended trainers in your area that use positive reinforcement training techniques, or look for a training or obedience club in your area on the AKC website at AKC Club Search. With time and a little effort on your part, your difficult pup can often be turned into a well-behaved canine companion!
Schnauzers who are given up by their existing owners or who
have had a difficult start in life usually bond very closely with their new
family. Some do go through a temporary grieving process and may be depressed for
a short time, but with love and understanding they soon attach themselves like velcro to their new owners. They try very hard to please, to make sure they will never again be abandoned. Some of our rescues are learning about the good life for the first time and blossom once in a loving and secure environment. There will normally be a period of adjustment, with minor indiscretions such as an occasional accident in the house, but with forgiveness, kind discipline, and lots of TLC on the part of the new family, your rescued Schnauzer will soon become an integral member of your household. For help with integrating your new rescue into your household, please see the Miniature Schnauzer Connection of Southern California's article, Me and My Rescue, by Peggie Blakely. See also Bringing Your New Dog Home for additional information and tips. Most rescue Schnauzers make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and are extremely devoted and loving companions.
To find out more about Schnauzers, and to help you decide if this is the breed for you, please explore the following web sites:
American Miniature Schnauzer Club
Miniature Schnauzer Club of Canada
American Kennel Club, Miniature Schnauzer
Is the Miniature Schnauzer The Right Dog For You?
Which Breed is Right for Me?
Care of Your Schnauzer
Britmor Schnauzers
Minuteman Miniature Schnauzers
Abiqua Miniature Schnauzers
WyO's Miniature Schnauzers
Branford Miniature Schnauzers
Twin Cities Miniature Schnauzer Club
Simply Schnauzers Health and Nutrition
MinSchnauzer List website
Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Dog Food Comparison Charts
Yahoo International Miniature Schnauzer List (a free and fun email listserve with
more than 800 Schnauzerloving members located all over the world)
Schnauzers available for adoption in other parts of the country are listed daily on The Schnauzer Rescue Message Board
Suggested books:
The New Miniature Schnauzer, the Breed Since Ch. Dorem Display, by Dan Kiedrowski (Howell Book House)
The Book of the Miniature Schnauzer, by Anna Katherine Nicholas (T.F.H. Publications)
The Essential Miniature Schnauzer, by Ian Dunbar, PhD, Consulting Editor (Howell Book House)
Miniature Schnauzers, by Beverly Pisano & Gloria Lewis (T.F.H. Publications)
The Owners Guide to the Miniature Schnauzer, by Jeanette Stark (Howell Book House)
A New Owner's Guide to Miniature Schnauzers, by Charlotte Schwartz (TFH Publications)
Schnauzer, by Fredric L. Frye (Barron's Educational Series)
SimplySchnauzer Net: The Mini Magazine, an emagazine by Tania Kidd
We require a completed adoption application (with references), and we conduct home visits whenever possible. A specified taxdeductible adoption donation is required at the time you pick up your dog (see details on adoption fees below). You will sign a legally binding adoption contract agreeing to keep the dog as a house pet; to provide appropriate care, training, and veterinary attention; and to return the dog to NJSRN in the event that you are ever unable to keep it.
So you've decided you would like to adopt a rescued Schnauzer! What's next? Please submit an adoption application via our www.njsrn.org website.
If you have any trouble accessing our application online, you may contact one of our volunteers listed below via email, or call our NJSRN Rescue Hotline at 7329208242 and we will send
the application to you. The information you provide on the application will enable us to identify an appropriate and compatible canine companion for you. Once you have been approved, your name will go on our adoption waiting list. Please understand that we are an allvolunteer organization, and most of us have fulltime jobs and family obligations in addition to the rescue work we do.
We apologize if things seem to move slowly, but we are doing the best we can!
The number of rescue dogs we have available at any given time varies, with the greatest number of dogs coming into rescue during the summer months and around holidays.
The more flexible you are in terms of gender and age, the sooner we will be able to find your new companion. Please keep in mind that "everybody" would like a young, healthy purebred
Schnauzer, but we get very few of these into rescue. Most of our dogs are in the prime of their lives (usually between
five and nine years old). Some are mixes, and some have minor special needs. For reasons unknown, we get more males than females into rescue. A neutered male Miniature Schnauzer makes a sweet and wonderful pet, maybe even more so than a female. (Some females have a tendency to be a little "bossy!") For more information on this subject, please see Why Not a Boy Dog?
Almost all of our rescues are housetrained, settled, and past the puppy chewing stage, and very anxious to find a new family to love.
These are the dogs that really need you, and would love to be by your side for the rest of their lives!
With good care and TLC, Schnauzers often live to age 14 or 15 or longer, so a 6 or 8yearold will have many good years to spend as part of your family. If you insist on adopting a dog under two or three years of age, please be prepared to wait for several months. Alternatively, NJSRN president Nadine Tare is a member of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club and would be happy to refer you to reputable Schnauzer breeders in your local area, if you have your heart set on a puppy. Please be sure to purchase your puppy from a
responsible breeder (How to Identify a Responsible Schnauzer Breeder), and
never from a pet store (Why NOT to Buy a Puppy from a Pet Store) or an unknowledgeable backyard breeder.
Adoption fees are donations to NJSRN, not payment for value received, and are based primarily on the age, health, and temperament of a particular dog and our expenses.
Please understand, NJSRN is not a shelter, and we
are not subsidized most shelters receive municipal funding, while NJSRN operates solely on adoption
and other donations. All of our members are volunteers, and none of us receives a salary or payment of any kind. Our funds go 100% toward the care of our dogs primarily for veterinary expenses, plus a small amount for grooming, board, and occasional shelter fees. Volunteers usually pay the costs for transport, fostering, dog food, phone calls, postage, printing, and adoption screening out of their own pockets. For more information on this subject, please see Rescue's Adoption Fees Are Too High ....
Generally the required donations for our senior and special needs dogs are lower, while the adoption
donations for our younger and healthier rescues are higher. Adoption donations typically range from $50$600:
Age 10+ years: $50 - $150
Age 8 - 9 years: $150 - $250
Age 5 - 7 years: $250 - $350
Age 3 - 4 years: $350 - $450
Age 1 - 2 years: $400 - $550
The adoption fee for all puppies is $450 - $600; in some cases the puppy may be too young to fix, and there will be an additional $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit, which will be returned upon veterinary documentation of altering.
We have a special "Senior for Seniors" program, in which the adoption fee is waived for senior citizens adopting a senior Schnauzer.
Occasional dogs may have slightly higher than average adoption fees, depending on circumstances and our expenses.
The above listed adoption donations represent the range; the exact fee will vary depending on the dog and our costs. Please feel free to ask about the specific donation required for a dog of interest. All dogs adopted from NJSRN receive the following:
If a dog has any other medical needs, they also will be addressed. We will also have the dog microchipped, if possible, and the dog will be groomed, or shaved down if the coat is very matted. The dog will also be evaluated for temperament and determination of the type of home that is best suited for its needs.
Please note: Completion of our adoption application does not guarantee approval. All dogs are subject to prior adoption.
We do not maintain a shelter all dogs are fostered in our homes and may be seen by appointment after your application has been approved. Sorry, we do not ship our rescue dogs, but our members are usually able to assist with local area transport.
Thank you for helping us help Miniature Schnauzers in need! New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network Inc. is an all volunteer organization and is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), which means contributions are eligible as charitable deductions from your taxes (depending on your individual situation). In addition, if you work for a company that provides matching funds for charitable donations, NJSRN meets all of the nonprofit requirements for matching gifts. All of our funds come from donations, adoption donations (fees), and our own pockets. Donations are greatly appreciated and go directly toward vet bills, spay/neuter, vaccinations, heartworm testing and treatment, dental cleaning, and additional care of our rescue dogs. If you would like to contribute to our rescue program, you can easily make a taxdeductible donation simply click on the button below. It will allow you to make a donation through PayPal (instructions will be provided):
Alternatively, you can mail a check made payable to "NJSRN" to:
New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network Inc.
PO Box 36
Fanwood NJ 07023
All donations are taxdeductible (depending on your individual situation, please check with your tax advisor). Thank you!
Please help support our supporters by visiting the following websites:
Lori Bush Art Talented artist Lori Bush designed our NJSRN logo. Visit her website to see some of her lovely drawings. Lori passed away in 2005 following a brief illness she will be sorely missed.
Paintpets Donna Bobrowski is our resident animal portrait artist and has designed some of our NJSRN artwork! Donna can paint an extraordinary likeness of your pet from a photograph onto a tshirt, sweatshirt, mailbox, and more. Samples of her beautiful work are on her website.
We offer behavioral and training advice. Our goal is to have every Schnauzer loved and happy in its home. If we can help keep your dog with you by assisting you with training advice, we'd be more than happy to help. Our members are very knowledgeable; we have many years' worth of Schnauzer and rescue experience. We provide lifetime support to anyone adopting a rescue dog from us. Three excellent websites with behavioral and dog training advice are:
Dr. P's Dog Training Library
Kathy Diamond Davis' Canine Behavior Series
Canines.com Canine Behavior Solutions
Volunteers are welcome and desperately needed - especially those willing to foster dogs, to assist with transport, and to help with adoption screening and public education. Computer assistance is also needed, as are volunteers to help with summarizing applications and checking references. If you'd like to help in any way at all, please contact Dorian at saveamini@aol.com.
As part of the celebration of its 100th anniversary in the U.S., pharmaceutical company Hoffmann La Roche, Inc. is recognizing employees from across its U.S. sites who dedicate themselves to advancing the wellbeing of others and who give back to their communities above and beyond their everyday responsibilities. We are very pleased to announce that New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network cofounder and president Nadine Tare has been selected as one of the recipients of the
Roche First 100 Volunteers Community Service Award. Nadine is being recognized for her leadership and volunteer work for NJSRN. In addition to hosting a special ceremony honoring the recipients of the award, Roche will be making a $100 donation to New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network, Inc.
The Miniature Schnauzer or "Mini" is one of the most popular canines and certainly the best known among the three Schnauzer breeds. Its small stature, generally between 12 and 14 inches in height, makes the breed a good size for many households. But don't be misled by the size; the Miniature Schnauzer packs a lively punch in any environment and you will never miss its Terrier bark and loving personality.
First bred as early as the late 19th century, the Mini evolved down from the original Standard Schnauzer, with the purpose of creating a small companion dog and working farm ratter. Through years of breeding, several consistent characteristics came to distinguish the breed. After size, which is the most notable feature, Miniatures typically have dark brown eyes, elongated eyebrows, a hard dense or wiry coat along the back and thighs, soft leg hair or furnishings, and of course, a beard or whiskers that extends from under the eyes past the nose. Most Miniatures will have docked tails, typically removed shortly after birth, and either cropped or natural ears. Ear cropping is not allowed by law in some countries (for that matter some countries do not dock tails either) and is increasingly questioned in the United States. Natural ears have a soft fold that frames the head creating a gentle appearance; cropped ears stand up on either side of the head and make for an alert, "stand at attention" appearance. There is some personal preference on this subject, but any prospective owner of a Mini should ask the breeder about ears and what is recommended or to be expected upon receipt of the new pet. The greatest variety in the breed is color. The most common and popular Miniature color is pepper and salt, a gray and white mixture, but solid black and black and silver also exist. In other cases, Minis may be light gray or white, but the latter is not recognized as a true Miniature Schnauzer color in some countries. A light fawn or brownish color appears in most coats, which harks back to the influence of other breeds in the bloodlines. Color choice, however, should not be the sole factor in your selection of Mini, for the personality and temperament are more enduring and actually of far greater importance.
But is a Miniature Schnauzer the right dog for YOU? There are several breed characteristics that should be considered if looking at one of these as a companion. First, as a blessing in many households, the Mini is largely a nonshedding breed. That means that there is no natural seasonal removal of hair that scatters over your rugs or clogs your drain after baths. Nonshedding, however, means other things as well: you have to groom the Mini on a regular basis. For pet owners, you should plan on setting aside several hours three or four times per year at a minimum to clipper the back, trim the beard and eyebrows, and scissor the leg and stomach furnishings. Most commercial groomers are very familiar with the Miniature Schnauzer (more so than the other Schnauzer breeds) and can keep it in good condition and appearance if regularly visited. Prices vary considerably for grooming the Mini, but US $2025 is typical. So, if you don't learn to do it yourself, plan for an occasional expense at the neighborhood grooming shop. Let me warn you, however, every owner of a Miniature should own some grooming supplies because you will quickly become unloved by groomers if you neglect the soft leg, beard, and under belly hairs. Why? Because these areas of the coat are light and fluffy with an easy tendency toward matting. The hair along the back of the Mini is quite different and naturally dense and wiry; however, unless the dog is headed for the show ring, this area is best clippered leading eventually to a soft permanently exposed undercoat.
Besides grooming considerations, the Mini is an active, robust dog that wants to be near you at all times. It is hard to overlook these dogs, or ward them away. The breed thrives on attention and affection. They are alert, responding to almost every noise and every stranger. Most are highly intelligent with quick minds that make them easily trained, especially in obedience class, and ever so much the clown or entertainer. The Miniature Schnauzer, unlike its related Schnauzer breeds, is considered to be a Terrier. That distinction means these dogs are tenacious, clinging to most tugofwar toys to the bitter end. It also means they are fast moving, quick in response and ground coverage, and for some, able to release a high pitched bark to get your attention. These are great natural skills for the working Mini as he heads for vermin in your yard, but may be difficult for some owners who want a quiet and settled pet that rarely demands to be near you.
As a whole, Miniature Schnauzers are a healthy breed. This may in part explain their popularity and relatively large numbers. Despite general good health, some problems do present themselves in the breed. In recent years, some Minis have experienced eye problems like PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), LOC (Later Onset Cataracts), Congenital Cataracts, or Juvenile Renal Disease. A certificate for clear eyes from a qualified veterinarian may help, but many effects of genetic eye deficiencies do no appear until late in life. More information on these genetic eye diseases is available at the Schnauzerware web site. Other Miniature Schnauzers suffer from recurring skin problems. One of the most common skin irritations is proliferation of small bumps under the exterior skin that are similar to blackheads in humans. Treatment may require use of medicated shampoos and in severe cases an oral medication from the veterinarian. Given the small size, Minis rarely suffer from hip or elbow dysplasia found in the larger Schnauzers. This breed is however susceptible to arthritis and other bone and joint diseases common to all canines. With regular visits to the veterinarian and a good dose of vaccinations and maintenance medication, Minis tend to live long lives. It is not uncommon to hear of these dogs living beyond 15 years of age. So, a new Mini in your life may be there a long time. Keep that in mind.
The Miniature Schnauzer is right for you if you want a small active, loving canine companion where you can tolerate a welcoming bark and find time to care for its coat. Its widespread presence and abundant popularity means few seem able to resist the charm of the small bearded one. As the owner of many small and large Schnauzers, I can honestly say that I always look forward to coming home and snuggling with a loveable Mini. Maybe you will too?
On behalf of all the members of NJSRN, we'd like to send a personal thanks to John Scoggin for his constant and generous support of our rescue endeavors. John is a true friend to homeless Schnauzers and our personal hero.
Thank you, John!
