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Would You Like to Help Pit Bulls with PRGP?
Volunteer, Foster, or Be a
Bully Advocate!
Become a Volunteer
 PRGP
is always looking for more Pit Bull lovers to help with
the day to day running of the rescue. We need
people to help with everything from Adoption Days to the
Bully Matchmaker Program. PRGP is 100%
volunteer drive and we need help with:
transporting dogs, marketing dogs at adoption events,
promoting responsible pet ownership, coordination and
help at events, committee participants for events,
education, fundraising, foster care and website &
Facebook updates. Click
here to complete a
volunteer
application (MS Word)
(or
here for PDF version),
fill it out, and email it to PRGP's
information center.
Feel free to
email us if you have
any questions about becoming a PRGP volunteer!
Foster a Needy Pit Bull - FAQ
Why Foster?
Foster parents are the most important people involved in
PRGP. Imagine getting over 20 emails a day from people
begging you to take their dog by having a willing and
able home to take in these dogs our rescue will operate
more efficiently. Since PRGP does not have a facility
all of the dogs must be cared in foster homes while we
find them their permanent homes. Without the support
and presence of fosters, we would not exist.
What is the responsibility of a Foster
Home?
All the things that a dog owner does, but for a shorter
amount of time! However giving you a specific amount of
time is nearly impossible. It can be anything from a
couple of weeks to several months. Sometimes we get a
rush of people wanting to adopt dogs from us, and they
literally fly out the door, and other times it is fairly
slow. Some of our dogs have been in foster care for a
year before the right home is found. This is a huge
commitment so please think it through before you
volunteer. Foster homes provide daily care, feeding,
grooming, reinforcing obedience, and generally giving
the dog love and affection. The reason why foster homes
are so important is that is our opportunity to learn
even more about the dog. We only take in
temperamentally sound dogs, and people are more likely
to adopt from us because their foster parents can tell
them what they are like in a home environment.
What do I need to be a Foster Parent?
The main criteria are love and patience. We do ask that
you have experience with the breed and own your own home
with a secure and properly fenced yard. It's okay if
you have another dog, and even if you have a cat. Most
of the dogs that we take in are dog-friendly, and some
even love cats. Before you become a foster, you and
your existing pets will be interviewed by a PRGP
volunteer and then we will survey your situation to make
sure that you foster a dog that is acceptable to your
furry family.
Do I have to pay for everything myself?
Not at all. There will be small expenses such as dog
bowls if you don't already have them, but if you need
help with food expenses, we are happy to provide a bag
of food for you. In the event that the dog requires
medical treatment or medication, we will take care of
those expenses if you go to our designated veterinarians
and seek pre-approval for the appointment. We would love
to be able to pay for toys and other things for them,
but we are a non-profit organization, and cannot afford
to reimburse you for these items. All the money is
designated to pay for crates, food, boarding for
vacations and medical costs of the dogs in our rescue.
How do you handle potential adopters for
my Foster?
PRGP volunteer potential adoptions, we set up a time for
them to come and meet the dog and then go from there.
However, many of our foster homes have told us that they
would like to be more involved in the adoption process
and we have listened. We figure that the foster parent
knows their foster dog much better than we ever will,
and will know when the right home comes long for them.
Now, we have the foster parent interview the potential
adopter with a PRGP volunteer, and you will also have
the option of doing the home-check too. If you would
prefer us to handle the whole process, we can do that,
but you definitely have the right to your opinion.
What if I become attached to my Foster
Dog & wish to adopt?
It would be strange if you didn't! When you meet the
family that will give the dog his permanent home,
though, you will be more than happy to see him go.
That's why you fostered in the first place! It is very
difficult but very rewarding when your foster dog finds
a loving home! If you adopt them all then you won’t be
able to continue to foster and save other dogs. We do
understand if you become attached and we offer you the
first right to adopt your foster dog.
What do I need to be a Foster Parent?
If you have read all of the information above and still
want to help the main criteria for our foster homes is
love and patience. We do ask that you have experience
with the breed and own your own home with a secure and
properly fenced yard. It's okay if you have another
dog, and even if you have a cat. Most of the dogs that
we take in are dog-friendly, and some have even been
around cats. Before you become a foster, you and your
existing pets will be interviewed by a PRGP volunteer
and then we will survey your situation to make sure that
you foster a dog that is acceptable to your furry
family.
There are so many
dogs out there that need people just like you to help
them find permanent and loving homes before their time
in the shelter runs out. Please consider fostering. It
is one of the best things you can do for a dog in need.
Complete a
foster application
(MS Word) (or
here for PDf version), fill it out, and email it to PRGP's
information center.
Be a Bully Advocate
If you do not have
time to give you can support PRGP efforts through the way in which you live your
life.
1)
Don’t buy a
dog from a breeder or even consider breeding your dog.
Just visit an animal shelter and you will see a huge
percentage of homeless Pit Bulls with no hope of finding
a home. One in 600 Pit Bulls are saved and 75% of
shelters don’t even try to adopt out Pit Bulls. Pit
Rescue groups across the country have wonderful dogs
seeking new and loving homes – give one a second chance.
2)
Spay or Neuter
your dog. Breeding is not a lucrative venture and you
do not know where the puppies will end up… in the hands
of a dog fighter, in a situation of neglect or as an
unwanted dog at an animal shelter.
3)
Take the high
road. If you get negative comments from people about
Pit Bulls or your dog specifically, don’t lower yourself
to their level you only reinforce their misconceptions
of the kind of people who own Pit Bulls.
4)
Present your
canine as a good citizen. Properly confine and restrain
your dog, make sure your fence is secure. If your dog
gets out and injuries or kills another animal, it is
your fault. We do not want any more bad press for the
breed. Abide by all leash laws and avoid the Dog Park
if your dog isn’t perfect in public.
5)
Support Pit
Bull Rescue groups by making a
financial contribution to
sponsor a dog or promote education efforts. Every dime
counts.
Pit Rescue of the Great Plains in Southeastern South
Dakota
Web site design & content by
webmaster@pitrescueofthegreatplains.org
Copyright © 2003 Pit Rescue of the Great Plains.
All rights reserved.
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