** Fostering dogs - Check what Ruby has to say about fostering! **

What is Blue Dog Rescue?

Blue Dog Rescue is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to end the needless killing of homeless dogs. In 2006, Austin killed over 12,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at one area animal shelter alone. Many of them were healthy, well-behaved animals who could have made someone a wonderful pet. They were killed because there wasn't enough room to keep them until homes could be found for them.

Blue Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, funded by donations, fundraisers, and adoption fees, that works to find permanent, loving homes for homeless dogs in the Central Texas area.  All donations are Federal Tax deductible. 

Most Blue Dogs have come from Central Texas animal shelters.  Blue Dog Rescue takes only those animals who are in danger of being euthanized.  In order to give these dogs a chance, we must limit the number of dogs we take from private homes because their owners no longer have time for them, are moving, etc.  Blue Dog Rescue will accept animals from the public only as a last resort IF space is available in an appropriate foster home.  If you are looking for another home for your dog, please see our referral page here.

Why was Blue Dog Rescue formed?

Blue Dog Rescue is a volunteer organization whose sole purpose is to end the needless killing of man's best friend. In 2006, Austin killed over 12,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at one area animal shelter alone. Many of them were healthy, well-behaved animals who could have made someone a wonderful pet. They were killed because there wasn't enough room to keep them until homes could be found for them.  We think Austin can do better than that.

What does Blue Dog Rescue do?

There is a gross overpopulation of dogs within our community due to irresponsible pet breeding. Because their lives are often undervalued, many dogs end up in area shelters and are ultimately killed. Blue Dog Rescue takes in adoptable dogs from the area shelters and fosters them in volunteer foster homes. By fostering dogs in our homes we are able to save lives and provide the public with healthy spayed or neutered dogs. The foster home provides a transition period between life in the animal shelter and its new, permanent home. The dogs are given the opportunity to learn any needed social skills and to receive the much needed love, shelter, and medical care they deserve.

When a dog is rescued from the animal shelter it receives a health exam by a veterinarian, the vaccinations appropriate for its age, and a heartworm test and preventative. All dogs of 6 months of age or older are spayed or neutered. Dogs under 6 months of age are adopted under the agreement that they will be spayed or neutered at the appropriate time.

How does Blue Dog Rescue find the best homes for the dogs?

Blue Dog finds homes for dogs through adoption events, newspaper advertisements, and postings on this website. We keep each dog for a minimum of seven days in order to assess their personality, temperament, and training needs. By doing this we are able to ensure that we place each dog in the most suitable home. Individuals interested in adopting a BDR dog must fill out an adoption application and be interviewed in order to ensure that the needs of both the individual and the dog are met.  The nature of our adoption process, home visits, and trial periods dictate that our dogs are only available to adopters in the immediate Central Texas area.

Adoption Process Information:

As of 3/1/2008, our adoption fee is $165.00, which includes spay/neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, vet exam, microchip implantation and microchip registration fee with Home Again. Typically, our average costs per dog are much higher (around $300). We make up the difference with fundraisers, generous donors, and sponsorships.

Homes with fenced yards are strongly preferred, but exceptions are made based on the size, age and activity level of the dog.  An application is required and a home visit will be conducted before an adoption is final.  Blue Dog Rescue does not adopt to homes where a pet has been abandoned in the past or where there are currently un-sterilized, adult dogs or cats in the home.

Click here to read "A 'Typical' Blue Dog Rescue Story:  How the Process Works"

Blue Dog Rescue is always in need of volunteers; for more information, please see our “How To Help” page.