Sanctuary Plus Rescue FAQ

What is Sanctuary Plus Rescue?
Sanctuary Plus Rescue is an all volunteer rescue and placement organization. We rescue adoptable dogs from animal control facilities around the Twin Cities. Without our help and your help, these pets would be euthanized at these facilities, or in some cases, used for research purposes. By adopting a pet from SPR, you are giving them another opportunity to live and enjoy life in a loving home. We groom, wash, and sometimes flea dip (as a precaution) the pets. All pets receive a vet exam & are spayed or neutered. Dogs are usually tested for heartworm. Dogs receive vaccinations to help prevent distemper, paravovirus, parainfluenza, coronavirus, bordatella, and rabies and they are provided with microchip identification. All pets are tested for internal parasites and treated, if necessary. Then, a SPR volunteer takes the pet home and cares for it until it is adopted.
	<<top

*How long has SPR been in existence?*
Sanctuary Plus Rescue is a younger organization than longer-established groups such as K-9 Rescue and Homeward Bound, but our volunteers are very dedicated and very dog knowledgable. Many of our volunteers have more than four years of experience rescuing & placing pets. In addition, they are pet owners and have attended obedience and agility training & have participated in seminars & read books on various aspects of animal behavior. Together, we have successfully rescued & placed over hundreds of dogs and puppies.
	<<top

*How is SPR different from a Humane Society?*
SPR is not supported by government grants and does not have paid employees; we rely solely on adoption fees, donations, and volunteer efforts to cover vet expenses to rescue, foster, and place loving pets. We do not have a shelter facility. SPR does not euthanize adoptable animals which we have rescued or which are returned; we keep them in foster care until they are adopted. Since most of our pets live in our homes as members of our families, we can tell you what we learned about their temperament, habits, likes/dislikes, housebreaking habits, and preference for other pets.
	<<top

*How is SPR similar to a Humane Society?*
We are committed to finding good homes for adoptable animals. We are strong believers in responsible pet ownership, particularly spay/neutering each pet to curb the pet overpopulation problem.
	<<top

*What Vet work is done on the pets?*
All pets over 4 months old are spayed or neutered before they are adopted. In addition, all pets under 4 months old are adopted out with a certificate for a free spay or neuter at one of the vets we contract with. The pets all been given vaccinations to help prevent distemper, paravovirus, parainfluenza, coronavirus, bordatella, and rabies and a general exam by a veterinarian. Also all people adopting pets under 4 months old are required by contract to have these services performed by the time the pet is 6 months old. While our adoption prices are similar to that of a Humane Society, SPR has a veterinarian perform the previously mentioned vet work before the dog is available for adoption and our adoption fees cover the costs incurred. If you compare the price of a pet from another source plus the retail cost of the vet work listed above with the adoption fee from SPR, you will discover that you are saving LOTS of money when you adopt a pet from SPR!
	<<top

*How do I adopt a dog or puppy from SPR?*
You talk, we listen. Based on your life-style we try to find a match with our available pets. If the adoption seems to be a good match, then you fill out an adoption form & pay the adoption fee. When you adopt a pet from SPR, you receive the dog's health record, rabies tag & certificate. You may also receive tips on housebreaking, & a pet ID tag &/or a Home Again Microchip ID - vital tools which can help save your pet's life. If you decide that the pet is not working out, please call us to see if we have room to return the pet to our care. If we do not have room, please place the pet yourself, being sure to ask an adoption fee to ensure the adopter values your pet. If placing the pet yourself does not work, please surrender your pet to an animal control facility, animal shelter, or humane society ... it might be euthanized there, but euthanasia is better than being a stray where death is slower and more painful from starvation or injury. Be a responsible pet owner and find a good home for the pet. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) strongly discourages people from placing "free to a good home" advertisements for pets. Studies indicate that only one out of five animals given away in that fashion actually ends up in a good home, said Stephanie Bell, a Seattle caseworker for PETA. The majority end up sold for medical research or slaughter, or abused or used in dog fights and satanic rituals, she said. "This is certainly something the public should be aware of," she said.
	<<top

*How do I find out what dogs and cats are available?*
SPR volunteers hold adoption days on a weekly basis at Petco locations across the Twin Cities. Check the website for the list of dogs and cats available or contact us at 952-447-1941 to find out what pets are available for adoption. We can link you up with the foster parent of the dog or puppy you are interested in. Some foster pets can be seen by appointment.
	<<top