Adopting a Sheltie from Southland Sheltie Rescue

Why adopt a rescued Sheltie?

Each year SSRI places from 150 to 250 shelties. There is a tremendous need for foster homes and adoptive families for beautiful purebred shelties that have become displaced by no fault of their own.
Shelties lose their homes due to owner relocation, illness, and a variety of other reasons. There are always Shelties available to a good home. You can find a list of available Shelties on the Shelties for adoption page.
The shelties that are available for adoption have been spayed/neutered, have current shots and all medical attention has been taken care of.
The dogs are all kept in our homes and evaluated for temperment so that they can be matched with the ideal new family.
It is very rewarding to know that there are great homes waiting for shelties which might otherwise be put down or run loose in the streets to be crippled or killed in traffic.

What are the requirements for adopting?

The main requirements for adopting a Sheltie are simple. We ask that you have a fenced yard, that you allow the dog to be an indoor pet, and that you will treat the dog lovingly, as a full fledged member of the family. These are basic needs that all dogs deserve. The Shelties that we rescue may not have been lucky enough to have had a secure home in the past. When a rescue dog is treated with kindness and respect, it often becomes more loyal and devoted than a dog raised in the same home since puppy hood.

How do I apply to adopt a rescued Sheltie?

We have provided an online application for adoption which
you can fill out and send via email. Click here

What does it cost?

The adoption fee (in most cases) is $200.00. This amount is tax-deductible, as Southland Sheltie Rescue, Inc. is a non-profit organization. In some circumstances we may ask more or less
than the set fee.

What kind of dog will I get?

All Shelties are evaluated prior to adoption. The foster home will have a very good idea of the type of home in which each dog would be most suitably placed. Shelties can come in many colors, sizes and personalities, so you will be asked a number of questions designed to give us an idea of your lifestyle, and what you are looking for in a pet. Most of our rescued Shelties are purebred adults, but occasionally we will have purebred puppies or Sheltie mix adults and puppies.

How do I start?

When your application has been completed and sent to a SSRI representative, you will be called when a possible match is available. You can then visit the foster home to meet the dog and decide if it is the dog for you! You should keep in mind that Shelties are often reserved with strangers, and until you and your new dog have created a bond, it may be somewhat distant. A good way to decide if you like the dog's personality is to watch how it interacts with the foster owner. This is a good indication of how the Sheltie will act with you, once it has "adopted" you as its master!

What do I do when I find the dog I want?

When you find the dog that is right for you, you will be asked to sign a contract. This contract states basically that you will make the dog a member of your family for the rest of its life. It also asks that if you are unable to keep the dog, that you will contact SSRI for their assistance in placing the dog in a new home. When your dog is ready to go home with you, it will be wearing a collar and an ID tag recognizing it as a SSRI Sheltie. We require that this tag stay on the dog at all times, because if the dog is lost, the tag will ensure that the dog is returned to SSRI so that we can locate and return the dog to you.

What do I do If it doesn't work out?

The adoption contract offers a two week grace period during which you may return the adopted dog for a full refund, if you are unable to keep the dog for any reason. Sheltie Rescue will accept the dog for relocation at any time afterwards if needed.

Fostering a Sheltie for SSRI

What is a foster home?

When a Sheltie loses their home or is rescued from a shelter, an interim home is required while the dog is evaluated for health, temperament, and behavior. The foster home keeps the dog until it is adopted. Foster homes are the backbone of any rescue group. Without people who are willing to open their hearts and their homes to these homeless shelties we would be unable to keep saving lives. We are in desperate need of foster homes.

What are the requirements for fostering a dog?

To foster a dog until it is adopted you need to keep the dog in your home, as your own, until it is ready to be placed. You will probably need to take it to the vet to be spayed/neutered and for shots. You may need to have the dog groomed if it has been neglected. SSRI will reimburse you for all expenses. Often the sheltie is frightened and confused. This behavior will fade as he/she becomes more comfortable in its new surroundings. It is a wonderful feeling when your rescue dog shows you how grateful they are that you saved them! When you feel the dog is ready to be placed we will send screened applicants to visit the dog. Your evaluation of the dog is very important to fit the dog with the right family. The foster home experience is very rewarding. Please consider helping and call us !

Other ways to help homeless Shelties

Can I make a donation to "SSRI"?

Yes! SSRI welcomes donations of all kinds. Monetary donations are tax-deductible. We also need dog food, medical care, and supplies of all kinds.

I can't keep a dog for long periods of time, but I 'd still like to help...What can I do?

Short-term rescue volunteers are needed badly. These volunteers travel to pick up dogs from homes and shelters, and keep them for a few days until a foster home is open. You do not need to commit to the dog for the entire foster period, but you may be saving the life of a homeless Sheltie just the same! Call a rescue coordinator if you feel you may be able to assist in short term foster care.