How to Rescue a Maltese Puppy in Florida

There are a lot of dog lovers out there who are constantly on the lookout for this type of breed. The best way to get one is to rescue a Maltese puppy that is in need of a home, and there are several places in Florida that may have a Maltese that needs rescuing.

Instructions

1. Focus first on establishing a safe, stable environment for the puppy while you are trying to find the right rescue facility. If you cannot keep her yourself, perhaps a friend or relative can do so. You will need some time to do some research on shelters and local rescues, and you want to be sure she is comfortable.

2. Phone the Humane Society in Florida that is closest to you. This is where you need to ask a lot of questions. First and foremost, Is it a no-kill shelter? Are there people who have signed up on a waiting list for a Maltese? Small dog breeds are usually easy to adopt out. But you must be confident that this Humane Society is screening potential adopters carefully. If you have a good conversation on the phone with one of the employees, then pay them a visit to see the facility. Is it clean, and is the staff competent? Ask them how they screen people who want to adopt animals. If they cannot answer to your satisfaction, then move on.

3. Call local vets in the area. A well-established clinic can give you good advice on the local shelters. They also may have clients that are looking for Maltese puppies.

4. Look into rescue organizations that specialize in the Maltese breed. There are several of them in the state of Florida. Again, follow the same procedure of questioning and research that you are doing with the Humane Society. Check the facility, and ask a lot of questions. Call [phone], save-a-pet.com's national hotline, and ask them about their Florida locations. Also call the Tampa location of a Maltese rescue organization at [phone].

5. Understand that the best way to rescue a Maltese puppy may be to keep her yourself until you find a permanent home for her. Many shelters and rescues have programs where you can post a photo in the shelter and online on their website. Then when someone comes in looking for this particular breed, they can view the puppy and decide if they want to meet her. Again, many times there is a waiting list for this kind of dog. In the meantime, she has a safe place to stay.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay away from the "pounds" and other facilities that are questionable. A puppy can be easily traumatized, and that can lead to problems that make her difficult to adopt out.

• Avoid putting ads in the newspaper. Let the professionals at the reputable shelters take care of the process and the screening so the puppy is ensured a stable home.

Resources

• Maltese Rescue Website
• Save-a-pet.com