Rescue a Shih Tzu in Pennsylvania
It is difficult to believe that people neglect and mistreat small dogs like Shih Tzus, but it does happen. Many of these small dogs are taken from puppy mills where they had one litter of puppies after another in poor living conditions. When you find your Shih Tzu to rescue, it may have matted fur and be very frightened. However, with your help your rescue dog will adjust to its new home and look beautiful again in no time.
Instructions
1. Create a poster telling people that you want to rescue a Shih Tzu, and then ask area veterinarians, Shih Tzu breeders, pet stores and other stores with bulletin boards if you may post it. Breeders occasionally have adult dogs for available or pups whelped that do not meet the standards of the breed. The Additional Resources section below contains a link to a Pennsylvania breeders' directory.
2. Place your Shih Tzu rescue wanted ad in your local "Pennysaver" or "Shopper" weekly telling readers that you want a Shih Tzu. You can place ads for free on Petfinder Classifieds, your area Craigslist and Free Pet Classifieds (see Resources below).
3. Visit Pennsylvania animal shelters once a week or more often to rescue a Shih Tzu. Some shelters euthanize or sell pets to research when they are not adopted quickly enough. You may want to focus on those shelters, although any dog living at a shelter desires a loving home. Most shelters have websites that you can check, but small dogs are usually adopted quickly, so it is better to check in person. Some sites list a volunteer email address. You can contact this person for personal updates if the volunteer is willing to help you. A link to a comprehensive list of Pennsylvania shelters is included below.
4. Volunteer with a Pennsylvania Shih Tzu rescue. Most have applications for potential adopters to fill out. You could also ask about fostering a dog for them. Remember to ask about their adoption days at local shopping centers and pet stores. Rescues bring several of their available dogs together for families to meet in order to encourage adoptions (see Resources below).
5. Tell people on your email contact lists, friends and co-workers, that you want a Shih Tzu. You never know who might be looking for a new home for a pet. Remember to keep a list of those you have notified so you can check back periodically. People are busy, and your name can be misplaced in the pile. Ask for email addresses when possible--it is easier to check back with people that way.
Tags: Shih rescue, small dogs, that want, your Shih rescue, adopted quickly, check back