Rescue Policy

Rescue Welfare Trust Fund of the Bull Terrier Club of America Rescue Policies

Management of Rescue Dogs through the RWTFBTCA

Dogs Entering the Rescue System

  1. OwnerSurrender: Person surrendering a dog tothe RWTFBTCA must complete and sign an owner “Surrender Form”, or fill out the online surrender form, which is preferred. A copy of the surrender form should remain in the dogs permanent rescue file.
  2. Dogsfrom Shelters: Dogs being released by a shelter must be signed for by a RWTFBTCA Rescue Volunteer with their name and“for RWTFBTCA (or regional club) Rescue” following their signature. If the shelter requires a special form to be signed specifically for rescue organizations, then the Rescue Volunteer must still sign their name with “for RWTFBTCA(or regional club) Rescue” following it. A copy of these forms (if used) must remain in the dog’s permanent file.
  3. PrivateRescue Organizations: If a private rescue organization is releasing a dog to our care and they do not have a release form,then the online surrender form must be filled out or owner Surrender Form signed. A copy will remain with them for their records and a copy of must remain in the dogs permanent records.

 

Identifying Dogs within the Rescue System

1. Rescue Coordinator or Club Rescue Chair should assign a number to each dog and mark all correspondence regarding that dog with this number. Numbering dogs should start immediately with all un-adopted dogs in your care.

  1. These numbers should be created out of a combination of digits to include initialsidentifying the regional club or rescue coordinator; the month and year; and a 2 digit number. Dogs should be numbered consecutively starting with a new number at the start of a new month.

Examples: BTCP 06-06-01 – Represents the “Bull Terrier Clubof Philadelphia” June

2006 – dogno. “01”

WVH 10-06-21 – Represents “WrightVeterinary Hospital” Oct 2006 – dog

no.“21”

PAS 10-06-15 – Represents “Paula A. Shaw”Rescue Coordinator October

2006 – dog no.“15”

  1. All correspondence and forms should be marked with this assigned number.
  2. Any name given to a dog taken into the rescue system must remain the same. Foster families should not rename dogs that they are temporarily fostering. Within the rescue system – dog should always be referred to by its original name even after it has been adopted and given a new name.
  3. All correspondence regarding a rescue dog should be marked with the dog’s original name and always with its assigned number.
  4. If you do not like this type of dog identification, you may use one of your choosing, it just needs to be consistent with each dog.

Record Keeping for each Rescue Dog

  1. The Rescue Coordinator or Club Rescue Chair will keep a master file for each rescue dog that comes into their care. Each dog will have a permanent folder marked withdog’s original name and assigned number.
    1. Eachrescue dog’s folder should include the following:
      1. Signed Owner Surrender Form or release forms from shelter.
      2. Owner’s surrender submission form from BTCA web site (if any).
      3. Medical records or AKC papers surrendered with dog (if any).
      4. Copies ofany medical care incurred while in our rescue system.
      5. Receipt copies of any medical expenses and reimbursements.
      6. Notes regarding any evaluation of the dog either by rescue coordinator or “other”(trainer, behaviorist, etc).
      7. Signed Foster Care Agreement if dog should be moved to a Foster Home
      8. Adoption application of new owners.
      9. Signed adoption Contract.
      10. Copy of adoption fee check.

 

SuggestedMinimal Care Prior to Availability for Adoption

  1. Required MinimumMedical Care
    1. All Vaccinations brought up to date to include Rabies and DHLPPCVK
    2. HeartwormTest (If a dog is heartworm positive, there is a particular protocol tofollow which enables the Immiticide do a more thorough job of killing the adult heartworms. Please contact the rescue chair for that protocol to be discussed with the veterinarian performing the HW treatment. It is highly suggested tohave CBC and Chem Panel done prior to HW treatment. It is very important toknow kidney function prior to the treatment).
    3. Heartworm Preventative to stay with dog through adoption
    4. CBC
    5. Chem Panelor UPC (Urine Protein Creatinine Ratio Test) see “g” below
    6. Fecal
    7. Spay/Neuter

i.     All above tests completed and confirmed “normal” before the scheduling  of a spay or neuter surgery

ii.     If dog is already spayed or neutered then you can run a UPC in place ofthe Chem panel.

  1. The cost of above named Suggested Minimum Medical Care should fall within the RWTFBTCA Rescue Committee price guidelines. If you are an individual assisting with arescue, ALL medical must be pre-approved by the rescue chair.
  2. Other Medical Care such as a broken leg, severe skin issues, or any other medical or surgical procedure a regional club may need financial assistance with or as an individual volunteer is presented with, must be approved by the RWTFBTCA Rescue Chair.
  3. If you have an emergency (life threatening) medical situation with a rescue dog, you must contact your Regional Rescue Liason, RWTFBTCA Rescue Chair, BTCA Presidentor RWTFBTCA Treasurer. If you are unable to reach any of the emergency contacts, use your best judgment in obtaining care for the dog in a life threatening situation.
  4. Each dog must have a minimum evaluation of 21 Days in Foster Care.
  5. Microchips and Tattooing
    1. Each dog must be microchipped or tattooed before it is adopted out.
    2. If the dog comes into the system already microchipped or tattooed then an effort must bemade to contact the person in which the dog is registered to rule out a lost orstolen dog. The registrations must be changed over to reflect the RWTFBTCA andit’s new owners.
    3. The first contactfor the recovery system used should be the new owners name and phone number:the second contact should be the Rescue Coordinator’s name, followed by “RWTFBTCA”(or Regional Club) using the regional club’s rescue chair number or the 800-BTBT911 phone number.

Reimbursement Procedures

  1. All reimbursements for medical care must include a completed Request for Reimbursement form and original receipts. No form will be honored without receipts.
  2. Form must have rescue dogs original name and assigned number if so identified.
  3. A copy of this form and the receipts should be kept in the rescue dog’s master file.
  4. Forms should be mailed to the RWTFBTCA National Rescue Chair for reimbursement within 30 days of the dog’s adoption.

Glenna Wright

PO Box 1828

Glenwood, AR 71943

  1. Reimbursements for medical care will be paid within the RWTFBTCACommittee price guidelines. Any overages for medical care must be approved by the RWTFBTCA Rescue Chair(s) or your regional club Rescue Chair.
  2. Any medical expenses incurred that have not been approved are your responsibility.
  3. In the case of an emergency:
    1. For Regional Clubs – approval for emergency vet care should be approved by your club’s Rescue Chair.
    2. For RWTFBTCA Rescue Volunteers – emergency vet care should be approved by the RWTFBTCA Rescue Chair(s).

Reimbursement in these cases will be considered on an individual case basis by the RWTFBTCA rescue chair andBoard of Directors and is not guaranteed.

Regional Club Reimbursement Policy

If funds are available, the RWTFBTCA will pay up to $300.00to the regional club for expenses that exceed the adoption fee.

 

Medical Care Price Guidelines

  1. The following is a price guideline created to reflect the “average” costfor general medical care across the United States. Depending on what area of the country you are located, some care may be higher or lower in cost. If you find that your local vet prices are higher than the average, then you may needto “shop prices” while keeping in mind a quality standard of care. This is especially true regarding anesthesia.

BullTerriers do not do well with injectable anesthetics. It is recommended that we use gas anesthesia only, such as Isoflorane or Sevoflorane.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. An approved guideline for your area can be created by the RWTFBTCA Committee at your request. Below is the average prices obtained by our mostrecent study.
    1. OfficeVisit      AVG 41.65 Range 27.60-54.00
    2. Exam AVG 48.92 Range 27.60-98.50
    3. Rabies AVG 14.68
    4. DHLPPCVK AVG 16.83 Range 3.00-25.95
    5. HeartwormTest AVG 38.94 Range 16.00-48.00
    6. Fecal  AVG 23.11 Range 12.00-45.00
    7. Spay AVG 178.49 Range 80.00-450.00
    8. Neuter  AVG 118.66 Range 50.00-175.00
    9. Dental  AVG 198.34 Range 60.00-450.00
    10. ChemPanel (pre-op) AVG 65.00
    11. CBC(pre-op) AVG 39.00

Foster Care Guidelines and Requirements

  1. Foster Homes are required to sign a Temporary Care Agreement upon taking possession of a rescue dog.
  2. The responsibility of a Foster Home is to care for the rescue dog providing it with a safe environment, crate, food and water, and assisting with the arrangements of transportation for medical care.
  3. Foster Homes should also be able to provide Rescue Coordinators or Club Rescue Chairs with an evaluation of the rescue dog based on their observations and interactions
  4. The Rescue Coordinator or Club Rescue Chair is financially responsibility for the medical care and reimbursements. If the Foster Home is in need of assistance with

food or a crate, arrangements canbe made by contacting the national or regional

rescue coordinator.

  1. Foster homes do not have the responsibility of finding permanent homes for the rescue dogs nor should they have to interview applicants. Permanent(adoptive) homes must be approved by a Rescue Coordinator or Rescue Chair.
  2. We are grateful for anyone willing to foster a rescue dog and all that we ask of a Foster Home is to open up their hearts and homes to provide temporary shelter and food to a needy Rescue Bull Terrier.

 

Other Rescue Volunteers

(i.e. Transport, Medical Care, Exercise,Behavior/Temperament Evaluators, etc.)

  1. All other volunteer activities must be coordinated through a Regional Rescue Coordinator, or in their absence, the Rescue Chair.
  2. Movement of animals by volunteers into, within, or out of the RWTFBTCA System without a Rescue Coordinator’s authorization is prohibited.

Finding Homes and the RWTFBTCA Web Site

  1. Rescue Coordinators or Club Rescue Chairs can go to www.rescue.btca.com to submit a form that will advertise their rescuedogs under their region and state. You can find this form under the RescueForms and is called Add A Rescue Dog. Pictures for your ads can be emailed directly to webmaster at sblock7@verizon.net.  This ad can be changed and updated as your dog is evaluated and more information is obtained about their adoption requirements.
  2. Families interested in adopting a rescue Bull Terrier can submit anadoption application online at our web site. These applications are forwarded to the Rescue Coordinator or regional club from where those families live. Shouldyou receive an application within your area that has listed a dog of interest outside your area, as a courtesy, please contact the rescue coordinator who is managing that dog.
  3. If you are contacted by a family who is interested in your dog but is out of your area, as a courtesy, please contact the rescue coordinator in that area to be sure the they are not already working with the applicants or to confirmthat they might already have a dog in their system needing a home that could be a good match..

 

The AdoptionProcess and Guidelines

The adoption process is a simple one – the guidelines for becoming an approved home are follows:

  1. Each applicant must have an adoption application on file.
  2. A home check should be completed by a rescue volunteer.
  3. References should be called.
  4. An adoption agreement must be completed and signed by the adoptive family and rescue coordinator. A copy must be kept on file with the regional rescue chair or adoption coordinator.
  5. Individuals performing rescue for the RWTFBTCA will fwd the Adoption fee to the RWTFBTCA Treasurer, Marcia Speer 5004 279th AVE. NE, Redmond, WA 98053-8804. Regional Clubs fwd the adoption fee to their club treasurer. Be sure and note the dogs rescue ID number on the check. This will help in the reimbursement process. Regional Clubs keep the adoption fee to help offset their expenses.
  6. The following is a suggested guideline for adoption fees. Remember fees are not black and white. We understand they may vary with each dog. Age, medical condition and behavioral issues are taken into consideration.

i.     Puppiesup to 1 year                                         500.00-600.00

ii.     Youngdogs 1-3 years                                        400.00-500.00

iii.     Adultdogs 3-6 years                                           300.00-400.00

iv.     Olderdogs 6 years or greater       ??-300.00

Note: These procedures will be continuously updated. A copy of them or any other RWTFBTCAforms can be obtained through the RWTFBTCA web site or contacting Glenna Wright directly.

 

 

 

 

 

Rescue Welfare Trust Fund of the Bull Terrier Clubof America Rescue Policies Agreement

All RWTFBTCA Rescue Volunteers must have a signed copy ofthis agreement on file with the rescue chair.

Keep the first section with your policies, separate andforward the second section to the RWTFBull Terrier Club of America National Rescue Chair. Glenna Wright PO Box 1828 Glenwood, AR 71943

I have read and understand the above policies and guidelines. I agree to abide by them, and recognize that as a RWTFBTCA volunteer,I am the public face of the BTCA. As such, I agree to behave in a civil and professional manner at all times. Failure to do so will result in my voluntarily surrendering my position. I agree that disputes will be mediated and resolved by a RWTFBTCA Board Authorized Representative(s). Failure to abide by the mediated resolution of disputes will also result in my surrendering my position. I agree that I may be released from my RWTFBTCAvoluntary duties without cause.

 

 

Signature _________________________________________Date__________

 

Printed Name:_______________________________________