About
Whippet Rescue and Placement (WRAP)
(Click here
for information about dog rescue in general)
Whippets are very
fortunate to have one of the best organized and run national breed
rescues in the world of purebred dogs. Whippet
Rescue and Placement (WRAP) was started by the American
Whippet Club and has had a long association with that organization.
Roughly 100 rescue volunteers throughout the country receive the
full support of the national parent breed club. This is unfortunately
not the case for many breeds.
Whippets are a protected
breed. The American
Whippet Club states in its code of ethics: "Members should
not undertake the breeding of a bitch unless they are prepared
to keep the resultant puppies, however long it takes until each
is properly placed. All breeders shall accept the responsibility
for each Whippet bred by them for its lifetime. Should a Whippet
of their breeding turn up in a rescue situation, each member should
do whatever is necessary to ensure the welfare of the dog, either
retrieving the dog personally or assisting rescue in every way
possible." And our personal favorite: "Each member shall
take all appropriate measures necessary to assist any Whippet
in distress in any circumstances."
It is this attitude among whippet
breeders that has prevented the overbreeding of whippets and partially
explains their lack of popularity among the puppy mills. Whippet
breeders are very selective about the homes they choose for their
puppies. To prevent careless or uneducated breeding, most sell
with limited registration and spay/neuter agreements for pet quality
pups.
Because of these policies,
there are seldom more than a dozen whippets in rescue at any one
time nationally, and usually fewer. If you are interested in adopting
a rescue whippet, contact your nearest
rescue volunteer. You will be sent an application, which the
volunteer will keep on file. You'll be contacted when a suitable
rescue becomes available. The rescue adoption fee is around $250.
Before being placed in new homes, rescue whippets stay in foster
care for several weeks for temperament and health evaluation.
They are spayed or neutered, treated for physical problems, checked
for heartworms and other parasites, given routine vaccinations,
and are microchipped for identification.
Note: In 2003 Virginia passed a bill promoted by the Virginia
Federation of Humane Societies and the Humane Society of the United
States which makes it nearly impossible for national rescue organizations
to operate in this state and comply with the laws. For this reason,
WRAP does not operate in Virginia, though independent rescuers
are active. Please see Whippet Rescue
in Virginia for details.
Read
more about dog rescue in general
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