How to Start a Toy Poodle Rescue in Pennsylvania

If you have a lot of experience running an organization and caring for toy poodles, then you already have two requirements to start a toy poodle rescue. By focusing on one breed--or on just poodles in particular--you won't burn out so fast. Toy and miniature poodles are very popular in Pennsylvania but are sometimes abandoned when the puppies grow out of their cute stage. Starting a toy poodle rescue is a lot like running your own business, only more stressful.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Volunteer at your local animal shelter to see what it's like and whether you can handle it. Start talking to the administrators and fellow volunteers about running a dog rescue. Make friends with your local dog warden. You'll be working with him a lot.

2. Get networking among your toy poodle and dog-loving friends, neighbors and family who you can count on to help. You need a secretary and volunteers for foster homes at least.

3. Come up with a name for your toy poodle rescue. You need a name before you can apply for a charity license in Pennsylvania. You must register with the Department of State (see Resources).

4. Apply for a bank loan to get your charity started. Consider becoming incorporated.

5. Apply for a charity dog kennel license from the Department of Agriculture. Send a check or money order with your application. This needs to be renewed every year.

6. Type up three legal documents your charity needs. One paper should be for when people surrender their toy poodles to you. The second is the application for someone to adopt a toy poodle from your group. The third is the contract between your charity and the toy poodle adopter. Get these papers looked over by a lawyer.

7. Keep records of expenses for the toy poodle rescue separate from your personal finances.

Tips & Warnings

• It is much easier to form a network of foster homes instead of getting a large central building for your toy poodle rescue. You can use your home address for the charity's legal purposes or for contact information. If you do want to keep a lot of dogs at your place, you must get a kennel license.
• When your charity gets going, you can apply for a grant from the ASPCA or from the Pennsylvania state government to help with expenses.
• Don't just take in every toy poodle you see. There are towns in Pennsylvania where you can only legally own a certain number of dogs. You also won't be eligible for charity tax breaks.
• Don't try to become a one-person dog rescue. You won't do yourself or the dogs any good when you quickly burn out.

Resources

• NetPets: Toy poodle rescue groups
• PA Department of Agriculture dog kennel licensing
• Philanthropy Journal: Guide to starting a nonprofit
• PA Department of Agriculture: Dog control grants
• PA Charities Electronic Register