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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.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 31 July 2008 19:33 |
