The CWVC voted to become involved in breed rescue in 1993 in conjunction with the Vizsla Club of America.  This was not a decision that was taken lightly as breed rescue is a time-consuming, costly venture and the CWVC is still in its infancy having been incorporated in 1994 and having under 100 members.  Prior to the CWVC becoming involved as a club, individual members had been active in breed rescue.  We are proud to offer those members and the national club our support.  Currently there are several foster homes for Vizslas in Wisconsin.

The CWVC takes unwanted Vizslas (purebreds only) into these foster homes, evaluates the dogs, and tries to find them appropriate, permanent homes.  While the dogs are in foster care, they are placed in a variety of situations to determine their temperament, activity level, hunting skills, trainability, etc.  They are examined by a vet and given any necessary care.  All rescues must be neutered or spayed.  Most rescues remain in foster care a minimum of two weeks before being placed.  Some dogs may not ever be placed if the CWVC determines they are not placeable-if a dog is very old it may remain in foster care for the rest of its life.  In cases where extensive rehabilitation is necessary due to temperament problems or abuse, the dogs are sent to people in the Vizsla Club of America that have a great deal of experience in this area.

Potential homes are screened carefully to make sure they can provide an appropriate environment.  Each potential adopter is given an application to fill out.  When a dog becomes available that we think would be a good fit judging from the application, the adopter is contacted.  A home visit is completed by either the foster parent or someone else from the CWVC that lives in that area.  Sometimes a second home visit is done with the rescue dog along.  Once it has been determined that this is a good match, a contract is signed with stipulations such as obedience school requirements, the dog will be kept as a house dog (not in a kennel), a fenced yard will be provided or some means of confining the dog when it is outside and not under the supervision of the family, etc.  All adopters have a two-week trial period in which the dog can be returned, no questions asked.  CWVC members will do follow-up calls with the new "parents" and may drop in without notice at anytime if they feel there is a problem.

So far, we are proud to say that the matches we have made with our rescues have all been successful.  This is a credit to the adopters as well as the CWVC because many rescues come into foster care with problems that need to be resolved.

The CWVC keeps a file of all potential adopters.  However, you should be aware that some people have been on the list for a long time.  If you are very specific about what you want (e.g. a female under two years old), you may have to wait for an extended time before a dog fitting those requirements comes into rescue.  The CWVC does work with the national club, and if there is a dog

 anywhere in the country that they are having trouble placing, we are contacted to see if we may have someone on our list who would be interested.  The CWVC has also worked with the Twin Cities Vizsla Club (TCVC) to help them place dogs and vice versa.

Vizslas are a wonderful breed.  In general, they are beautiful, intelligent, and loving.  However, every breed has its drawbacks, and there are individual exceptions to these generalizations.  Please make sure you investigate fully the breed you are interested in before making a commitment.  When you find the breed that you feel is perfect for you, please don't forget about the possibility of breed rescue, as almost all breeds have associated rescue groups whose names can be found through your local animal shelter.

Vizslas are brought into foster care from humane societies, and in the case of emergencies, direct from families.  When possible, dogs are maintained in their current homes and placed directly to their new homes without going into foster care.  This is less traumatic for the dog. In those cases, the CWVC will give the information out to potential adopters based on what we are told.  It is up to the family adopting and the family with the dog to work out the details of the placement and decide if the dog is appropriate.  The CWVC has no responsibility/liability in those cases. 

When a dog comes into foster care, it is given a complete physical by the foster family's vet.  If they are not neutered or spayed, that is also taken care before the dog is placed.  Dogs are generally in foster care about one month before they are placed.  That allows foster families to get a fair evaluation of the dog's temperament.  If need be, dogs are housebroken, crate trained, and given some obedience training before going to new homes.  In cases where rehabilitation is necessary, dogs may be kept for a longer period.  To date, the longest a dog has been kept in foster care has been about 9 months. 

When it is time to place a dog, the adoption applications are reviewed by the foster caregiver to try to match the dog's physical characteristics and temperament to the appropriate family.  The potential home is then contacted.  The foster caregiver may arrange to visit the family in the home, or the potential adopters may be asked to visit the caregiver. They will be given an opportunity in either case to meet the dog, ask questions, etc.  If both parties decide this is a good match, the adoption will be set up.

All dogs that go through foster care are adopted with a written contract and may be returned in the first two weeks with no questions asked.  An adoption fee is set by the foster family with input from the Breed Rescue chairperson or committee members.  The adoption fee never exceeds $250.  The adoption fee consists of expense reimbursement to the foster family plus a donation to the CWVC rescue fund.  The rescue fund is used for those dogs who have vet bills in excess of $250 or are not adoptable. (Occasionally we get dogs in that are 12 or 13 years old.  They are very difficult to find homes for so the foster family houses them until they pass on.)  The contract also states that if there is ever a problem with the dog, it must be returned to CWVC rescue.

Above is basically how the rescue program works.  Below are a few notes you need to be aware of before completing an application:

• Filling out an adoption application does not guarantee you will get a dog through the program.
• Sometimes you may need to wait for quite a long time for a dog. How specific you are in what you want can also determine the length of the wait. For instance, if you want a female under 2 years old, you would wait longer than if you were willing to take a female up to 5 years old or a male or female under 2.
• We rarely get in dogs that are under 3 years old. In the eight years the club has been involved with breed rescue, we have had only two dogs under 1 year old, and less than 10 under 3 years old.
• Most people want females. There are valid reasons for only wanting a female. However, if you feel you want a female, examine your reasons closely. Many times people want females because they feel they are more trainable, more affectionate, etc. That is not true in Vizslas. Talk to a "Vizsla person" before you rule out getting a male dog. You may find a male is more to your liking and they are often easier to get.
• Rescue dogs generally have some baggage. If you are looking for the perfect dog, you should not look to breed rescue. Many times they require more time and attention than raising a puppy.
• Rescue is not the place to look if you are interested in a hunting dog. We have placed a few dogs that are now hunted, but it is not the norm. 
• Many Vizslas are turned into rescue because the family "doesn't have time" for them. Vizslas require exercise daily, and playing with the kids or out in the yard by themselves is not adequate. Make sure you are prepared to provide them with the exercise they need.