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Click
on a question to find the answer:
Where do the Labs in
Kentucky Lab Rescue come from?
What forms of payment do you accept?
How many dogs do
you normally have available for adoption?
How do I adopt
a dog from Kentucky Lab Rescue?
How much does
it cost for us to adopt a dog from Kentucky Lab Rescue?
What if the adoption
doesn't work out?
Why do the dogs
have to be spayed or neutered?
Should I enroll my
Labrador Retriever in obedience classes?
What is crate training
and do I have to use a crate?
Is one color
Lab smarter or better than another?
Which gender
makes a better pet with children?
Why should I adopt
when I can purchase a dog from a breeder?
Where do the Labs in
Kentucky Lab Rescue come from?
Most of the Labs in rescue
come from families who are no longer able to care for the
dog. Reasons why a family would surrender a dog include: moving,
financial problems, divorce, job transfers, allergies, not
enough time, new carpet or new home, wanted a puppy and can
only have one dog. They come from shelters, animal sanctuaries,
Veterinarians, and good Samaritans who have found them wandering
the streets as a stray.
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What forms of payment do you accept?
We accecpt cash and credit cards, Kentucky Lab Rescue accepts all credit cards except American Express, note; a $25.00 processing and handling fee with be included with all credit card adoption fee transactions.
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How many dogs do you
normally have available for adoption?
Our program has anywhere
from one to 20 dogs available for adoption at any given time.
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How do I adopt a dog
from Kentucky Lab Rescue?
Start by filling out an
online application. The
information you provide will be evaluated and we will call
you to conduct a telephone interview after references have
been checked. We may also require a home visit for certain
dogs. It is important for us to know that the dog is going
to a permanent, loving home where it will be treated as a
member of the family. Please ensure that you have done your
homework on dog ownership and that you understand the expense
and time involved.
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How much does it cost
for us to adopt a dog from Kentucky Lab Rescue?
An adoption fee is required for all dogs regardless of age, sex, color, or special medical fees incurred. This helps to cover the cost of veterinary care, boarding, transportation, training, supplies, heartworm and flea prevention, and other related expenses.
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What if the adoption
doesn't work out?
We try to be very careful
in the placement of our dogs. Every effort is made to paint
a clear and accurate picture of the dog that you are adopting,
and every attempt is made to help you work through any initial
problems. However, sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise
and things just don't work out in favor of adoption. Should
this occur, we require that you contact Kentucky Lab
Rescue and return the dog to us. Each person who adopts a
dog from our rescue program is required to fill out an adoption
contract to that effect wherein Kentucky Lab Rescue
agrees to take the dog back at any point during the dog's
life.
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Why do the dogs have
to be spayed or neutered?
Spayed and neutered dogs
live longer, healthier lives. In the female, it prevents ovarian
cancer. In the male, neutering prevents testicular and prostate
cancer, and helps the dog focus his attention on his human
family rather than search for a mate or try to mark his territory.
Last year alone, over
5 million domesticated animals were euthanized, and 25% of
those animals were purebred dogs*.
Labs and other purebred dogs are not exempt from the overpopulation
of unwanted animals. They end up in shelters as often as mixed
breed dogs. There are too many unwanted Labs in this world
to justify breeding a litter of puppies irresponsibly. Several
families allow their dogs to have puppies "for the kids
to witness the miracle of birth." For every dog that
is brought into the world, it's one more dog that could end
up as a tenant in a local shelter or as an unwanted stray.
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Should I enroll my
Labrador Retriever in obedience classes?
We believe a trained dog
is a happy dog, who in turn has happy owners. While the Labs
are with Kentucky Lab Rescue, they are acclimated
to living indoors if they were not already accustomed to being
inside. They are crate trained, started on basic obedience
commands, and housebroken. However, it is strongly recommended
that you enroll in obedience classes as soon as you get your
new companion. This will help you and your dog bond and learn
how to communicate with one another. It also builds self confidence
for you and your dog, as well as providing a wonderful source
for socialization for your dog.
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What is crate training and do I
have to use a crate?
A crate is either a wire cage or a
plastic airline enclosure that the dog can sleep in at night
and stay in when you are not at home. We do not require that
you use a crate, but it is highly recommended. It provides
a safe haven for your dog during times of stress, and it enhances
the house training process (dogs do not like to relieve themselves
where they sleep). Your dog's crate should be large enough
for her to stand up without having to lower her head, and
large enough for her to stretch out in and lay comfortably.
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Is one color Lab smarter or better
than another?
No. We feel that all colors of Labs,
whether yellow, chocolate, or black, are equally wonderful.
Each dog has his own personality and it is not dependent upon
color.
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Which gender makes a better pet
with children?
It has been our experience that male
Labs are a little more attentive and loving. The male might
want to lay close to you, while the female would be content
to be in the same room with you but not necessarily under
your feet. Males also tend to be more tolerant of a young
puppy in the house than a female would be.
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Why should I adopt when I can purchase
a dog from a breeder?
There are two significant reasons why
you should adopt a Labrador Retriever instead of buy one from
a breeder.
One reason why you should adopt a Labrador Retriever from a rescue program instead of buying one from a breeder is quite practical: in the long run, it is more cost effective. The average cost of purchasing a Labrador puppy can vary from $200 - $600, depending on where it is purchased, with family owned purebreds selling pups for around $200, and show quality pups around $500 - $600, depending on their pedigree. This is only the purchase price of the dog alone. When you adopt a dog through rescue, the adoption fee covers the cost of spaying/neutering, shots, and all other medical expenses normally incurred after the initial purchase of a puppy from a breeder.
The second reason to adopt a rescue dog
is clearly the most important reason. These dogs need your help.
They are beautiful, loving animals who have been left homeless.
Read our success stories
and you will find that we receive several letters each month
from happy adoptive families wondering how such a fantastic
dog could have been abandoned.
The Labrador Retriever is currently the
most popular breed in the United States. Because of this, many
people breed them irresponsibly in hopes of making a profit.
The "left over puppies" from a litter are often abandoned
at the local shelter or left to fend for themselves as strays.
A rescued dog can bring as much, if not more, love and joy into
your life as a dog purchased from a breeder.
We think that these dogs are amazingly
perceptive creatures who understand much more than we humans
give them credit for. We are often asked, "Do you think
that the dogs know that they were rescued?" We believe
they do.
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