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Home Visits
to potential adoptive families.
Home visits are vital for matching Mastiffs and families to assure the best
outcome. They are also part of follow up after placement to assure the dog is
thriving.
Transportation
might
include moving a Mastiff from a shelter to a foster home; from a foster
home to its new family or to a veterinarian for medical treatment.
Identification when SSMR is notified there is a Mastiff in a shelter the volunteer would go to the
shelter to identify it as a Mastiff. Often it turns out the animal is not a
Mastiff and cannot be taken into the SSMR system.
Evaluation one of the most critical steps is to evaluate a Mastiffs temperament for owner
surrendered dogs, shelter dogs, strays and others to assure the Mastiff can be
placed safely with a new family.
Communications are very important jobs and
would include contacting shelters, humane societies, fire and police personnel
to assure they know who to contact if a mastiff is turned into their system or
found by fire or police.
Advising
families who want to surrender
their dog. A volunteer might offer suggestions for training techniques or other
methods that better integrate the Mastiff into the family situation. If
successful this might avoid the Mastiff ever reaching the rescue system.
Mentoring
new adoptive families by explaining
the responsibilities and rewards of owning a mastiff. This might include
referring new owners to special types of training classes, helping understand
and suggesting good diet plans, answering basic questions and offering general
support.
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And
finally,
foster homes are badly needed in all areas |
If
you have the means to separate a rescue from your other dogs and animals,
(REQUIRED) and if
you have room in your heart to help a homeless Mastiff find love, fostering just
might be right for you. Foster homes are temporary (see Volunteer
Questionnaire) and are given first priority to adopt the dog they have fostered.
As such, a lot of prospective adopters opt to be a foster home until they find
the right forever Mastiff for their family. Click on the link below to learn
more about fostering a Mastiff for SSMR.
If you can share even just an hour
or two of your time per month to help rescue in any of these roles, please fill out
the
Volunteer
Application in the forms section of this website!
The application
will be sent directly to the state coordinator in your area. Please feel free
to contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you very
much for your consideration and for enabling us to help this wonderful breed!
There I sat alone and
afraid, you got the call and came to my aid.
You bundled me up with
blankets and love
and, when I needed it most
you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world
was not all scary and cold,
that sometimes there is
someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love
is, you helped me to mend,
you loved me and helped me
and became my good friend.
And just when I thought
you'd done all you could do,
there came along not one
new lesson, but two.
First you said,
"sweetheart, you're ready to go,
I've done all I can and
you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up
with a blanket and kiss,
and along came a new
family -- oh! what bliss!
They took me to their
home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you had
sent me away.
Then that second lesson
became perfectly clear:
No matter how far, you
will always be near.
And so, now you know that
I have moved on.
I have a new home, with
toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what
I learned that first day ---
You never really give any
of us away.
You gave me these
thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again,
and now I know why --
You'll remember I lived
with you for a time;
I may not be yours, but
you'll always be mine.
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