Scottie Rescue!

Individual members of the Scottish Terrier Club of New England participate in the Club's Scottie Rescue program. Operating as a group of volunteers, the organization has helped disadvantaged Scotties get a second chance and a new home in the New England region.

Message from the Coordinator
On-Line Application Forms

Purpose: We are a volunteer-supported program, dedicated to assisting disadvantaged Scottish Terriers that need to be placed in a good, loving permanent home within the New England region.

Procedures: We will try to help any Scottie in need of assistance. Our volunteers provide temporary foster care and each Rescue dog is seen by a veterinarian. We insist that all Rescue dogs are spayed or neutered before placement. Any other medical issues are also addressed while the dog is in our foster care program. Each dog is eventually placed in the best home that we can find based on the applications that are kept on file.

Please Note: Recently, we have received a lot of applications that select the "Puppy Only" preference on our application. Although we have placed 6 and 8 month old Scotties, this is an exceptionally rare circumstance. Please do not consider Scottie Rescue as an alternative source for a puppy, because the majority of our placements are full grown adults.

A Message from the Rescue Coordinator

Thank you
for your interest in our Scottish Terrier Rescue Program. Please read the following carefully before completing your application. Links to both an on-line application and computer printable forms are at the bottom of the page.

WHERE DO SCOTTIE RESCUE DOGS COME FROM?

The Scotties that enter our Rescue Program come to us in a variety of ways. Many are abandoned by their owners or are turned into the pound or animal shelter. Some are picked up as strays and never claimed. Occasionally, owners must give up their dogs because of medical problems, moving into retirement homes, divorce, new baby, etc. Some become homeless because they outlive their owners. Many of the dogs that we get into our program have had little time or attention paid to them and they may not be housebroken. Some are grieving for a lost loved one. We have found that when they get into a good home where they are wanted and loved, they return that love many times over.

IS A SCOTTIE THE DOG FOR YOU?

We know that Scotties are not the breed for everyone, so we try to make sure that you know something about this breed before you make the long-term commitment to care for and love each other. They do need to be primarily inside dogs and we will not place dogs that will be left outside for extended periods. They do need to be professionally groomed on a regular basis (6-8 weeks) and brushed and combed at least once a week and, of course, kept free of fleas.

If you like an immaculate, pristine house, perhaps you should consider a ceramic dog because dogs can, and do, make a mess. Scotties track in dirt from outside and carry in leaves, and other interesting things they wish to share with you. They are diggers and can rearrange your beautiful landscaping.

The decision to add a Scottie to your life is not one to be made lightly or on impulse. You must first evaluate your needs, the needs of your family, what you want in a dog and whether this breed is the one for you. Adopting a dog -- any dog -- is a long-term commitment; with proper care, many Scotties can live 12 or more years. Before you make any decision, make sure you know exactly how a Scottie will affect your life. Dogs require a substantial time commitment from you. A Scottie will need to spend time with you; after all, you are getting a dog for companionship, aren't you? And that takes time to develop and nurture. Your Scottie will also require grooming, training play times and exercise. All of these things take time. Small things that need to be done daily take time, too. Dogs need to be walked, and their feces need to be picked up and disposed of. The dog's water needs to be changed regularly and, of course, the dog must be fed. He needs regular grooming, which should include bathing, teeth brushing, ear cleaning and toenail trimming. (The more you walk, the fewer toenail trimmings are required.) Dogs need to be part of a pack and if you are to be this Scottie's pack, he needs to be part of your life. If some of the family members are less than pleased at the prospect of adding a dog, the dog will sense it and suffer for it. One person's animosity, lack of caring, anger, neglect or abuse could severely traumatize the dog. Everyone must agree to adopt a dog and that the Scottie is the right dog.

HOW DOES OUR SCOTTISH TERRIER RESCUE PROGRAM WORK?

Our primary goal in the Rescue Program is for the dog to be placed in a good, loving permanent home. If you adopt a stray, mistreated, or abandoned Scottish Terrier through a Scottie Rescue Program, and give it your affection and attention, it will reward you with eternal love and gratitude.

When we receive a rescue Scottie, it is transferred to a club-sponsored, foster home so that we can evaluate the dog's condition. The complete evaluation typically requires about two weeks. Before any dog is placed, it will be checked by a veterinarian, receive any necessary vaccinations and be spayed or neutered if required. A trip to the groomer is often needed to improve the Scottie image. Some rescue Scotties are not housebroken because they have not been receiving appropriate attention. Others may be shy initially. But being Scotties, they do come around with patience and good care. The foster care provider also evaluates the Scottie's temperament so that we can place the dog appropriately.

We try hard to match each dog with the most appropriate new owner so that the Scottie will have a permanent home. We generally do not like to place a rescue dog in a home with very young children, unless we can confirm that the dog has previously been socialized to children. We are also very careful when placing a rescue dog with someone who is elderly unless they have a family member who is willing and able to assume responsibility for the dog if it becomes necessary. We really like to place a dog in a home where the family already has a Scottie or has previously owned either a Scottie or another terrier.

A donation of $150 is requested at the time of placement and is payable to the Scottish Terrier Club of New England (STCNE). This fee helps cover costs incurred with each rescue Scottie. The club sponsors this area rescue program as a service to the breed and it is part of the national rescue effort of the Scottish Terrier Club of America.

STCNE Rescue Coordinator

Ken & Nancy Handshaw
152 Holland Ave.
Riverside, RI 02915
Tel: 401-434-7649
FAX: 401-434-7649

On-line Application Form: The Scottish Terrier Club of America (STCA) helps coordinate the efforts of Scottie Rescue programs all across the country. The STCNE has joined together with the other rescue programs and agreed to use a common on-line application form.

To submit your on-line application, click here to load the STCA On-Line Application form.