Sheltie Rescue of Georgia, Inc. (SRG) requires owners that want to place their Sheltie with us, to sign an owner surrender agreement.  With this agreement, the former owners release full ownership of their dog to SRG, understanding that the dog becomes the property of SRG.  The former owners must also agree that no legal liability will befall SRG, either by them or any previously unknown owners.   By signing, they agree that they may not attempt to reclaim the dog, but are welcome to contact SRG to see how the dog is doing. They are also required to grant SRG the right to give the dog any medical treatment deemed necessary and to place the dog in an approved foster or adoptive home.

Summary

• Surrendering a Sheltie mix
• Surrendering an agressive Sheltie
• A Sheltie you have found
• A Sheltie you got from a breeder or another rescue organization
• Surrendering Your Sheltie
• Add your Sheltie to the Foster Home Waiting List
• Sometimes There Is Just No Room At The Inn
• To list your Sheltie as an owner referral on our website
  

Surrendering a Sheltie mix
Sheltie Rescue of Georgia only takes in owner surrenders that are purebred Shetland Sheepdogs.  If your dog is a Sheltie mix or an unknown mix please contact PetOrphans.  They have some great resources and information that can help you find a home for your dog especially How to Find a New Home for Your Dog.  You can also post your pet for adoption on their very high profile website.

Surrendering an agressive Sheltie
Sheltie Rescue of Georgia does not take in any aggressive dogs or any dog that has bitten a person or is aggressive toward other dogs.  If your dog has these problems, dealing with it is your responsibility.  Please do not pass your problem on to an unsuspecting person.  We are more than happy to consult with you about behavioral problems you are having with your Sheltie.  Please feel free to email or call the hotline number (770-926-2001) with your concerns.  There are many cases where we have been able to help people resolve their problems.  We can also make recommendations for trainers.  Please remember that if you pass on an aggresive dog to another person without disclosing the problems you have encountered and someone is harmed, you can be held both civilly and criminally responsible for the injuries the dog causes.

A Sheltie you have found
If you have found a Sheltie please go immediately to our lost and found board and see if a lost notice has been posted.  If not, please list sketchy information regarding the dog leaving something out so that the dog can be identified.  Remember that every attempt must be made to locate the dog’s original owner.  Please document your efforts.  At a minimum, an ad should be placed in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution (404-577-5772) and you should contact veterinary offices and the animal control facility in the area the dog was found.   If the owner is not located, we will be happy to take the dog however you must satisfy the legal requirements for trying to find the previous owner in your area.  In most cases, this will mean the dog will have to spend the minimum hold time at the animal shelter.  Please check with your county to find out what they require and give us a call so that we can let that animal control facility know that we will take the dog when his hold time is up.

Other things you can do...

• Many breeders, pet owners, shelters and rescue groups (including ours) are now implanting microchips in dogs.  Sheltie Rescue microchips all dogs that we place.  With a quick trip up to your local veterinarian, you can have the Sheltie you found scanned to see if they have a microchip.  Call first to make sure the vet has a scanner.  Vets normally do not charge for this service.  If you can't find a vet to scan the Sheltie for you, contact us and we will do it for you.
  
• If you aren't sure if the dog you found is a Sheltie, contact us anyway, we'll be happy to give you our opinion.
• Place found ads in your local newspaper and in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution 404-577-5772
• Keep the Sheltie in a secure location.  Preferably indoors in a crate or in a fenced area while you look for its owners.  Remember to feed and water the Sheltie daily.  Call us if the Sheltie is hurt or sick.
• Place flyers in your neighborhood, at intersections, places of worship and vets offices.  Feel free to contact us for help in creating a flyer.
• Check the Sheltie for a tag.
• Check the Sheltie for a tatoo.  These are usually found on the inner thigh.  Many people who have their dogs tatooed also teach them a command to "show me your belly."  Sometimes with dogs with lots of hair, the tatoo appears as a dark smudge on the thigh.  You will need to part the hair to read it and in some instances cut the hair away.
  

A Sheltie you got from a breeder or another rescue organization
If you received your dog from a breeder or another rescue organization, we ask that you contact them first to let them know you are trying to place the dog.  Reputable breeders and organizations will be happy to take their dogs back.  In many cases, they may be quite upset with you if they are not contacted first.  We certainly would be.  If the breeder does not want to take their dog back, then just let us know.

Surrendering Your Sheltie
We are not without compassion when circumstances require people to re-home their Sheltie.  However, many people believe there is a fabled home out in the country that will be perfect for the dog they no longer have time for or want.  They also seem to think that we have unlimited funding and resources.  That is simply not the case.  We simply cannot keep up with the demand for owner surrenders without some help in the form of donations from the former owners.  Our costs include spay/neuter, vaccination for rabies, DHPPC, and Bordatella, heartworm test, heartworm treatment when needed, fecal check, fecal treatments when needed, microchip, flea treatment and heartworm preventative.  There are also often costs for bloodwork and tumor removals.  Our typical expenses are:


Therefore, when possible we ask that you make a donation when you surrender your dog.  We understand that often, especially in cases of allergy of family members, divorce, deceased or terminally ill family members, that the financial situation makes this impossible.  In these instances, do what you can.  We have had people make a donation a couple of years after they surrendered the dog.  Remember that it is also helpful to us to accept flea and heartworm prevention that belongs to the dog, food, crates, bowls, toys and leashes as a donation.


Add your Sheltie to the Foster Home Waiting List
If you would like to be put on the waiting list for an available foster home please submit a Waiting List form and email a picture.  We must receive a signed copy of the Owner Surrender Form when you surrender the dog.  We cannot guarantee that your dog will be brought into foster care.  If no foster home is available at this time SRG, Inc. will keep this information on file until one becomes available.  Please remember that we are an ALL VOLUNTEER organization.  We will make every effort to see that someone gets back to you in 3 to 5 days after your information has been received.


Sometimes There Is Just No Room At The Inn
In the event that we do not have foster space available or you are not willing to make an owner surrender donation, these are our suggestions for placing your dog.

• Place an ad in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. (404-577-5772)
• Put up a picture (pictures get noticed) and brief description of the dog at your veterinarians office and local pet stores.  Contact us and we will be happy to help you create a nice flyer.
• Contact family members and friends to let them know you are trying to find a new home for your dog. Ask them if they would put up notices at their place of business.  The more people who know you are trying to place the dog the better chance you have of finding that new home.
• You may also place a listing with us on our Available page as an Owner Referral.  We charge a $25 fee for the listing.

To list your dog as an owner referral on our website we require:

• The dog must be a purebred Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog)
• We must receive written proof from your vet that your dog has been spayed or neutered, is up to date on vaccinations (Distemper/ Parvo and Rabies), and tested heartworm negative within the past six months.
• Send us information for an ad to include a picture of your dog, a paragraph form description of him telling his/ her name, age, sex, temperament, personality, any health or behavioral problems, and list any training he or she has had.  You should mention how he/she gets along with other dogs, cats, and children.  Describe what kind of home you think would be best for your dog.  Note the contact information you wish us to post on our website.  We can post either a phone number, email address or both.  We will not list your home address on the website.
• Please print a release form, which includes an Owner Survey.  Fill it out and return it with the other information listed.  Include a descriptio
  
• Enclose a $25 donation for a three month listing on this page. Renewals are $10 for each additional three months.  Listings will be updated on the 15th of every month.  Listings are not refundable and pictures will not be returned.  We reserve the right to refuse listing any of the ads we receive; in which case we would refund the fee.
• Ad information and digital picture files can be submitted electronically to the webmaster.  However, the information will not be posted until the webmaster has received confirmation that your written information, money and signed form has been received.
  

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