Ok I am not ready to do this now but in the future I am very interested in having a Lab rescue. I don't have a big enough yard but in the next year or two we might be looking at a big enough yard to have many dogs and even a horse. How would I go about starting my own rescue when I am ready? For instance who do I contact? I have been thinking a lot about this and I am certain that this is what I should be doing. I just wish I could start right away. But I can't. I have to make sure that I have everything ready before I start. Well, in the meantime is there a site that I can find out if one exists in my area. Maybe I could help out a little til I am ready for mine. Thanks.
Melissa

Melissa,
Have you ever volunteered or fostered w/ one of your local rescue groups (an all breed group or something)? I would start by volunteering, fostering 1 dog if you can and learning the ropes from others in your area. I volunteered and fostered for several years before starting STLRR and learned a great deal about a dog's needs when it is pulled from a shelter and such. When you feel you are ready to start your own-here in Tx I had to first file for incorporation and have a couple of others join in with me before any shelter in the area would release to me. About 4 years ago we had a 1 person Lab Rescue that ran amuck and ended up w/ over 80 labs 1/2 starved to death so shelters were very cautious on a new lab rescue starting up and wanted to know that the group was more than a 1 person deal.
You need to recruit veterinarians that will perform discounted services to the dogs you bring in-that is a HUGE issue. Paying high cost vet bills is extremely hard on groups. We are still waiting to file our 501C3 paperwork for non-profit status and will do so as soon as we finish paying off a $4k vet bill left by one of the dogs in our program, lol.

Thank you SO much for the info. I will look into volunteering. I'll let you know what happens.
Melissa

I just wanted to let you know that I looked into volunteering and it was a success. There is a Lab rescue right in my area. Actually it is in the town where I take my animals to the Vet! I contacted them through email and had to write "why I would like to volunteer" Well I got a response back asking me to fill out a volunteer questionaire and mail it in and someone will contact me as to where I would be best suited in volunteering. I put it in the mail today so hopefully by next week I will hear something. I decided that I could be best used right now by making phone calls and house visits to potentional adoptive homes. When Montana gets a little older I would like to foster a dog. I am so excited to be helping! Thanks again for the ideas!
Melissa

:angel: Way to go Melissa!! :clap: Good luck with volunteering! Its always heart warming when someone takes the time to help others in need! I am a strong advocate for volunteering (I am a court appointed special advocate for abused and neglected kids)... You would not believe the need for volunteers, for animals, kids, etc etc... ! :) It just makes me so darn happy when people take just a little of their time to do something good!

Ps: Gunnergirl im sure it consumes a lot more of your time, but I hope you know that you have lots of admirers out here :D

Again thanks so much. I am just so excited. Also I am hoping that this will teach my kids about all the dogs that are basically "thrown away". My oldest daughter LOVES animals and wants to help too.
Melissa