Chow Chow Rescue of Oregon

	Chow Chow Rescue of Oregon was started in 1983/84 by a few members of the Mt. Hood Chow Chow Club, but most of them didn't follow through. Ellie Quillin and I did the groundwork and continued. Several others have assisted with fostering, namely Ann Griffith-Morris and Ann Crisp. Ellie provides the long term care, vet trips for spay & neuter, shots and whelps litters on those females too far into term. She also takes each dog to its new home to double check housing and fencing. I'm basically the educator. I've collected and copied breed information since 1956. I make up packets that go with each dog we place and to first time Chow owners who have dogs from club members, shelters or wherever. The packets cost from $1.50-2.50 per mailing. I mailed 53 in 1993. I also place the ads and spend a lot of time on the phone. Often, with just a little time and information, we can save a Chow from needing a rescue placement. In 1992, we found proper new homes for 44 Chows. In 1993, the need was greater, there were more Chows but we've only placed 35 because it's been harder to find those proper homes. There are too many dogs and they end up staying in rescue longer. Many were turned down, young healthy Chows put down due to lack of space to house them. In 1994, we had several people call to give up 8, 9, and 10 year old dogs, long term companions, and we had to turn them down. I can look in my records and find that I received or placed 323 calls pertaining to lost or found newspaper ads, rescue needs referred sometimes by the various animal agencies and people calling for just plain advice. Many other follow-up calls aren't recorded. I've even received calls from New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Florida & Montana. I refer them to other rescuers closer to their areas. In 1994, up to October 1, I'd placed or returned 218 calls and mailed 20 packets. The numbers look better and in reality, I guess they are, but on the down side, we haven't been able to save as many from being put down at animal control agencies. Many of these dogs had no real problems, only a typical, reserved Chow temperament but were labled "unadoptable". Many callers are novices and don't realize the dog they found isn't a purebred Chow until I tell them what to look for. When we don't have room for all the young purebred Chows in need, we just can't take in Chow-mixes. Their numbers are way up at the shelters. Ellie and I will continue as long as possible to do as much as we can because we love the breed. originally published in the 1995 issue of CHOW 911, the official publication of the Chow Chow Club, Inc.'s Welfare Committee © 1995 The Chow Chow Club, Inc.

	A 1998 update from Joyce: Our rescue calls have been up this year. I thought the need would be on the downside by now. It seems that most are old or older dogs lately and some are on their second and third owners. All I can do is advise in these cases. I spend a lot of time on the phone trying to coordinate foster homes. I don't have a computer. I'd like to see Ann Griffith-Morris get recognition for the rescue work she's done. She lives near Oregon's largest shelter and evaluates many Chows for adoptability, found homes for many Chows in the past 7-8 years and has adopted two herself. She worked at Animal School here for many years and now teaches agility. She has two obedience-titled Chows and is working with a third. One of our recent rescue dogs was quite a story. A young red female was reported lost at a state park in eastern Oregon in the spring of 1997. This is in our high desert country where it gets extremely cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. In October of 1998, she was spotted and reported by hunters and forest service workers. A humane trap was baited and three days later, she was captured. She was very sweet and extremely glad to be back with people again! Ellie met the humane society lady halfway and placed the dog with a lady who helps us foster from time to time. Caren says she is soooo sweet - and is keeping her! The forest service didn't keep record of the owner who'd reported her lost in '97 so we can't locate them.

	For information on Chows for adoption from Chow Chow Rescue of Oregon, contact: Joyce Hay 503-659-4509