Mission Statement
Border Collie Save and Rescue, Inc. is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable dog rescue dedicated to helping border collies throughout Central and North Texas. Our actions revolve around rescuing, rehabbing, and re-homing border collies. This includes taking in border collies and border collie mixes who are in toxic and/or desperate situations. We place them into foster homes, where we tend to all of their medical needs, spay/neuter them, begin any needed physical and mental rehabilitation, start some basic training, and provide them with a loving & save place to live. Finally, we place them with appropriate and vetted adopters who fully meet the needs of the individual dog.
Position Statements
The Five Freedoms
- FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST All animals need ready access to fresh water and a diet that allows them to maintain full health and vigor. This must be specific to the animal. For example, a puppy, an adult dog, a pregnant cat and a senior cat would all need different types of food provided on different schedules.
- FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORTAll animals need an appropriate living environment, including protection from the elements, and a clean, safe and comfortable resting area. Animals must be provided with bedding and not sleep on a cold hard floor. Overcrowding will increase an animal’s physical discomfort and should be avoided. Do not forget about temperature and environmental factors, such as noise levels and access to natural light. And if an animal is outside, it must have shelter from the elements as well as appropriate food and water bowls that will not freeze or tip over.
- FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASEAll animals must be afforded care that prevents illness and injury, and that assures rapid diagnosis and treatment if illness/injury should occur. This entails vaccinating animals, monitoring animals’ physical health, rapidly treating any injuries and providing appropriate medications for treatment and pain.
- FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIORAll animals need sufficient space and proper facilities to allow them to move freely and fully, and to engage in the same types of activities as other animals of their species. They also need to be able to interact with—or avoid—others of their own kind as desired. They must able to stretch every part of their body (from nose to tail), run, jump and play at will. Are you overcrowded? Are you housing too many animals in one room? If so, the animals are probably unable to experience the fourth freedom.
- FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESSAll animals need both a general environment and handling that allows them to avoid mental suffering and stress. The mental health of an animal is just as important as its physical health. Are you providing sufficient enrichment? Allowing the animal to hide in a safe space when needed? Ensuring that there is not too much noise? Are there too many animals in one room? Remember, psychological stress can quickly transition into physical illness.
Copied From: https://www.animalsheltering.org/page/rescue-group-best-practices-five-freedoms
Positive Reinforcement based Operant Conditioning
Our policy on spaying & neutering , a piece on dog overpopulation, and the detrimental effects of breeding for conformity.
As a general rule, this is a good set of values…
https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements
BCSAVE is committed to saving the lives of the animals that are in its care or are part of the adoption program. Euthanasia is reserved for those animals or cases that are deemed untreatable or non-rehabitable.
Medical Euthanasia
BCSAVE will provide medical care and treatment to the animals in its program. Euthanasia will be reserved for those cases in which the animal is not responding to treatment, there is no cure, or if there is no option for relief and as a result their prognosis is less than poor or grave and/ or if there is a quality of life concern for that animal, and will always be done after consultation with one or more veterinarians.
Behavior Euthanasia
BCSAVE will provide training and behavior rehabilitation for those dogs that are exhibiting aggressive behaviors using recognized behaviorists and trainers. Euthanasia will be an option if the dog is not responding to training or rehabilitation, is inconsistent in their behaviors and could be considered unpredictable, or could be considered a danger to the community or adoptive family.
Aggressive behaviors would include (but not limited to) dog or select dog aggression, people or select people aggression, resource guarding, severe food aggression, extremely high prey drive, unprovoked bites, or extreme under-socialization (considered feral).
Euthanasia will be performed by a Veterinarian or a Certified Veterinary Technician, and will be conducted in the most humane way possible.
