It's wonderful that you're thinking about adopting a dog from abroad, because you want to save a life, and that's great! But please be prepared that your new dog may not immediately show you love and gratitude. You should also ask yourself whether you might want to give one of the many dogs in a US animal shelter a chance. Rescuing a dog from abroad also involves risks and problems.
There are now many organizations that are fully committed to rescuing stray dogs all over the world. You can find many offers on the Internet with a quick search. As is often the case, however, there are also black sheep among the organizations—a reputable agency will sometimes also have a license in accordance with §11 of the Animal Welfare Act. It is probably even better to ask friends and acquaintances who have personal experience with these organizations, which ones they have noticed, or whether anyone is even working for a reputable association themselves.
Whether you find what you are looking for online or offline, make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules and procedures of the organization in question. Just as the rules vary, so do the costs: a nominal fee for the dog, transport and entry costs if the animal is still living abroad, fees for ID cards, vaccinations, and neutering are often incurred. Some organizations usually visit you in advance to see your home and living environment before placing an animal with you. These are all measures to protect the animal. Are you prepared for this?
You should also get an idea of the type of dogs that the organization you have chosen places. Some have "specialized" in large or old dogs, for example.
Giving a stray dog a loving home is a wonderful idea and gives you the chance to share your life with a very grateful dog. However, this decision also means being prepared to accept the difficulties and peculiarities of an animal that may have already experienced a great deal of cruelty. It may have experienced trauma and never seen or learned many things. It may be very peculiar because it has had to fight its way through life alone.
So don't be surprised if it's not love at first sight, or if the dog behaves very differently from how the carers described it. You should be prepared for the following possible situations and behaviors:
Fearfulness: Not only is the dog traveling to a new country, probably with a different climate and language, it is also entering a new territory and may react cautiously to everything and everyone.
Aggression: Due to the stress of the journey, the unfamiliar surroundings, and the new pack, the dog may initially show its aggressive side in order to establish boundaries. It is important to observe whether it is just trying to protect itself or whether its behavior remains defensive. In any case, give the animal some time and good guidance so that it can gain confidence.
Untidiness: A street dog does its business wherever and whenever it wants. It won't immediately know that a carpet is not grass – and that the hallway is not an alleyway in Spain. So patience is required here too.
Contact problems with children, cats, and other dogs: Everything may work well with your new dog – or nothing at all. Perhaps it knows children from the street and is friendly towards them. Be forgiving and observe closely how it approaches other creatures.
Food aggression and eating habits: On the street, the fastest gets the most. Your dog will probably have to learn that there is no longer a shortage and that he can relax while eating.
Health: It is very unlikely that you will have any detailed information about the dog's health. Be glad if he has had an initial check-up and is perhaps already neutered. It is also important to know that there are different diseases in other parts of the world and that you can bring "exotic" diseases into your home, so to speak. Veterinary costs for treatment can sometimes be considerable. It is best to find a veterinarian in your area and have the dog thoroughly examined.
Training: Your new dog will certainly have had little or no training. On top of that, there is the language barrier. "Sit" in German sounds different from the corresponding command in another language. So keep in mind that your dog will have to learn a new language, trust you, and learn to understand you.
Rescuing a dog from abroad is a real adventure, but it can also give you a wonderful connection to an animal that has probably faced death and can now live a happy life with you.
Mycoplasmosis is the most common respiratory disease in rats. Also known as murine respiratory mycoplasmosis (MRM), this disease is caused by a bacterium that is very common in pet rats and is chronic and progressive.
Skin fungal infections are also common in chinchillas. The most common are ringworm and bald patch, which cause changes to the fur and skin of chinchillas. Skin fungal infections are not life-threatening, but can lead to persistent problems due to their contagious nature. Skin fungi can also be transmitted to or from humans to animals, which is referred to as a zoonosis.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Since horses have a significantly higher seizure threshold than small animals or humans, for example, seizure disorders are relatively rare in horses. Seizures only occur in horses with severe brain damage. Foals, on the other hand, have a significantly lower seizure threshold and are more susceptible to seizure-triggering factors.
Feline panleukopenia, also known as parvovirus or panleukopenia, is an acute, serious infectious disease that is particularly dangerous and even life-threatening for young, unvaccinated cats. Thanks to an effective vaccine, this disease can now be easily prevented.
Lush green meadows, a small herd of horses galloping towards someone calling from afar, the sun shining from a cloudless sky... how beautiful are the images of summer! And what a time for our horses, when they can live as close to their natural state as possible. Nevertheless, grazing time also requires appropriate management, regardless of whether the horses are only out to pasture for a few hours or live on permanent pasture for months at a time.
A must-have in every horse stable: a box containing the most important items for providing first aid or minor treatment to your horse yourself.
With increasing mobility, open borders, and a wide range of travel options, this insidious infectious disease has also become more prevalent in our part of the world. Many dog owners want to have their four-legged friends with them on vacation and therefore travel south with their dogs. More and more rescue dogs are also being brought to Germany from southern Europe and rehomed here, with the result that diseases can also be imported.
This condition of the knee joint, in which the kneecap (patella) pops out of its natural position to the side, is one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs. This dislocation occurs mainly in growing and older dogs of small breeds. Several of these breeds have a particular genetic predisposition to patella luxation.
Immune deficiency syndrome, colloquially known as "feline AIDS," is an infectious disease caused by a virus that weakens the immune system and causes serious secondary diseases. The virus is similar to HIV but is not dangerous to humans.
An ear fistula, also known as an ear cyst or ear base fistula in horses, describes a malformation occurring on one or both sides consisting of scattered tooth buds located as a cyst at the base of the horse's ear. Animals between three and twelve months old are most commonly affected.
Similar to humans, dogs of middle to advanced age can also develop a sugar metabolism disorder. Canine diabetes is the second most common hormone-related disease in dogs. The first noticeable symptoms are increased thirst and increased urination. If diabetes is detected early, the disease can be well controlled with lifelong insulin therapy. However, certain emergencies can also occur in the context of diabetes, requiring immediate veterinary treatment.
This infectious disease, also known as contagious equine anemia, is usually fatal and is caused by a virus that affects only horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules. The disease is widespread worldwide, but occurs only sporadically in Germany. It is a notifiable animal disease.
