The purpose and main function of Arizona Border Collie Rescue (ABCR) is to promote humane treatment through rescue, rehabilitation, education and the re-homing of neglected, abandoned and unwanted border collies.
Described below are our functions and activities as a rescue organization.
These are all projects and endeavors that we are presently engaging in and that can and will be expanded on in the future.
Rescue and relinquishments:
(1) We are contacted by private individuals who are no longer able to retain ownership of their dog(s), and provide availability to take possession of those dogs. (2) We canvas state and local shelters and remove those dogs that are at risk of euthanasia. (3) We are also contacted by other rescue organizations seeking help with placements. We do not limit ourselves solely to Arizona, but are also available for nationwide networking.
Kelly Quinn, President
Arizona Border Collie Rescue |
Health care:
We are very health oriented and we do our best to verify health status of all our dogs. These dogs are rescues and adopters should understand that a complete and verifiable health history is typically unavailable to us (as in the case of stray dogs or shelter dogs). All dogs adopted from ABCR will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and any dog suffering illness or injury will receive necessary treatment and medication. Our fosters typically provide grooming for the health and comfort of each dog, and necessary treatment is provided for internal and ectopic parasites.
Every ABCR dog wears an ID tag attached to his/her collar while in foster care and we recommend that adopting families keep the tag on the dog. In addition, we highly recommend that adopters provide permanent identification in the form of an implanted microchip.
Transportation:
Volunteers network to provide means of transport in both emergency and non-emergency situations. This includes retrieval of dogs coming into ABCR, transport to and from veterinary facilities for medical attention, transport to and from training and socialization activities, and shared travel to meet prospective new families.
Foster homes:
We advertise and interview for foster homes and guardians for incoming rescues, initiate training programs for new foster families in the appropriate care and handling of the dogs, and arrange meetings between foster care homes and adoption applicants.
Counseling and education:
We provide counseling on training and behavior to our foster homes, potential homes, new homes and those contacting us regarding placing their dog with us due to problematic behavior. If at all possible, we try to problem-solve and offer solutions to enable those dogs to stay within their original homes. We have volunteers experienced in training and behavior modification available to go into homes to make observations and recommendations.
Database:
ABCR has built and maintains an information website and data base as a tool to promote ABCR, recruit foster homes and donations, showcase our dogs for adoption and to provide breed specific education for those considering a border collie. This site also offers online adoption and foster home applications.
Activities:
We offer instinct testing and herding demonstrations as part of our breed specific educational program. Discussion sessions, meetings, training programs and recreational gatherings are scheduled for associates and volunteers. A proposed future endeavor of ABCR is to set up informational centers at state and local canine events.
Any service or items that ABCR receives that has not been volunteered or donated is either provided by the foster homes or paid for by ABCR.
Adoption Process 
