Basset Hound Club of America
Founded 1933, Incorporated 1935, AKC Member Since 1937
  • About BHCA
    • Mission Statement
    • Club History
    • Administration
      • Board Members
      • Committee Chairs
      • President's Messages
      • Board Motions
      • Speaker's Corner
    • Bylaws
    • Code of Conduct
  • About the Breed
    • Origin of the Basset
    • Official Basset Hound Standard
    • The Versatile Basset
  • Membership
    • Becoming a Member
    • Member Clubs
    • Breeder Directory
    • Member Judges
    • Life Members
    • Pay Dues Online
  • Education
    • Basset Hound University
    • Judges Education
    • Mentorship Program
  • Publications
    • Tally Ho
      • Tally Ho
      • Ad Instructions
      • Deadlines
      • Cover Criteria
      • Cover Deposit
      • Order Form
    • Publications
    • 2007 Yearbook Order Form
  • Bassets in Competition
    • Specialty Schedule
    • Field Trial Schedule
    • Hunt Test Data
    • Futurity
    • Maturity
    • Awards
    • Registry of Merit
    • Versatility
    • Point Schedule
  • Nationals
    • 2008 Texas Nationals
    • 2007 Nationals Results
    • 2006 Nationals Results
    • 2005 Nationals Results
    • 2004 Nationals Results
    • 2003 Nationals Results
    • 2002 Nationals Results
  • Rescue
    • Basset Rescue Groups
    • Evaluating Rescue Organizations
    • Rescue Links
    • Finding a Basset
    • Holiday Puppies
  • Health
    • Health Policy
    • Health Links
    • New Immunity Study
    • Thrombopathia

How to Evaluate a Basset Rescue Organization

The BHCA Rescue Committee is comprised of BHCA members and serves as the liaison between the BHCA and a variety of independent basset rescue groups, organizations and individuals dedicated to basset hound rescue. The committee has developed the following standards of ethical conduct in an effort to help you evaluate a basset rescue group.

 

  1. They always keep the best interests of the dogs in mind and serve as their advocate.

  2. They operate as a charitable endeavor and offer timely response to requests for assistance. They exercise fiscal integrity by maintaining open books and by using their funds in a responsible, ethical manner, the object being always to (1) provide client dogs with the best feasible care and (2) to honor their fiduciary responsibility to their donors. Organizations will provide a clearly labeled contact point on their website for interested parties to obtain a complete financial report for the rescue organization.

  3. They will ensure, to the best of their ability, that no otherwise adoptable Basset will be denied rescue because of age or treatable physical condition. If a Basset is ultimately deemed un-adoptable for reasons of health or temperament, they will ensure that a veterinarian humanely euthanizes the Basset.

  4. They will be honest and forthcoming with the public and never knowingly misrepresent a rescue dog’s age, medical condition, and/or temperament to anyone.

  5. They will screen and evaluate, to the best of their ability at that time, the temperament of each Basset placed into rescue and they will never knowingly place a dangerous Basset.

  6. They will ensure that every basset placed will have been screened and evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and if necessary, given appropriate veterinary care.

  7. They will counsel potential adopters about the Basset Hound breed including temperament, health, training and care issues promoting responsible pet ownership.

  8. They will refer anyone desiring breeder referral contact information to the BHCA and/or the Regional Basset Hound Clubs or their members.

  9. They will obtain a completed release of ownership form on rescue dogs that pass through their custody and ensure they will be spayed or neutered unless contraindicated by veterinary evaluation. If the contraindication is temporary, they will include a spay/neuter clause in the adoption agreement and enforce it to the best of their ability.

  10. They will provide every fostered Basset appropriate food, water and shelter under sanitary conditions and provide veterinary care as appropriate.

  11. They will never place a rescued Basset as anything other than a family pet.

  12. They will thoroughly interview potential adopters, receive a veterinary reference on current pets or previous pets prior to placement to the extent possible, and request that prospective adopters who rent or lease their residence provide landlord approval allowing the tenants to have pets.

  13. They will have written adoption contracts on each rescue dog placed.

  14. They will provide follow up advice and assistance to adopters and take back any rescue Basset placed by their rescue group at the request of the adopter.

  15. They will maintain a waiting list of interested adopters and require that adopters be at least 18 years of age.

  16. They will conduct themselves in a courteous manner in rescue work such that their behavior brings credit to the image of Basset Rescue and animal rescue in general.

  17. They will not knowingly use the services of anyone having been convicted of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment.