What is "Friends of BAR" and how does a dog get there?

Some of our volunteers have asked-what is "Friends of BAR" and how is does a dog get there? We would like to this time to explain how it works.....

As you all know, BAR is a BOXER rescue group. We find permanent "forever" homes for the breed we all love, the boxer. Many of us happen to be lovers of other breeds as well. Say you become aware of a dog in need and want to get involved and help, what can BAR/you do? Perhaps BAR can help you help this dog....

If you become aware of a dog that needs help, BAR can help you get some exposure for the dog in the hopes of getting it placed into a new and loving home. You can take the dog into your home and become a "foster home" for that dog or if the owner is willing to keep the dog in their home and send regular updates, BAR will be the go between for that dog and finding him/her a home. You/owner would do updates on the dog, evaluate/temperament test the dog (we could help you with the evaluations by emailing you many of the evaluations/temperament testing the BAR foster homes do) and email the results to Jean Covey to be included on our site, similar to what you see when you look at the boxers on our site. Pictures are also very helpful in getting the dog placed.

From a financial view, you/owner would be responsible to bring the dog up to date on vaccinations, which include rabies and 5 in 1 vac, and have the dog heartworm and fecal tested. Naturally, the dogs would need to be spay/neutered. BAR will put the dog on Petfinder, as well as on our site. Any interest/inquiries in the dog would be directed to our online adoption application to be filled out. We would then sort through and forward qualified apps to you, so that you can check their references and conduct phone interviews. Again, we could help you by going over with you how to conduct interviews and reference checks. Depending where the applicant is, BAR might be able to assist with the home visit part of the adoption process, if a volunteer is close enough to the app. We cannot, though, guarantee we will get a volunteer for the home visit, but we certainly will post for the home visit. There remains the possibility that you might have to do the HV yourself, so that is something you will need to keep in mind. Tina is more than willing to help with any steps in this area.  Please feel free to email her at tinaf@hvc.rr.com with questions.
 
BAR will ask for an adoption fee for the dog if you like, and you can take that fee to reimburse yourself for your out of pocket cost you have incurred for the dog. Unfortunately, if the adoption fee is less then you’re out of pocket expenses BAR will not be able to make up for the shortage. That would remain your responsibility. If the adoption fee is greater then the outlay of your funds, the overage is yours to keep if you wish.  In similar situations, our volunteers have "donated" the overage to BAR, but it is not required.

As you can see, BAR is acting as an intermediary to "assist" in helping a dog, by giving it exposure to the public. We have limited funds, and limited foster homes, so we really cannot do more. BAR cannot and will not be responsible for the dog as far as anything that the dog does while in your home or after it is adopted. To repeat, we are just an intermediary to help with the placement. If you are already a BAR foster home, we ask that if you choose to get involved in helping a non-boxer in need, that it not interfere with your taking a boxer into your home when one becomes available. If you are not a foster home, then you are certainly encouraged to get involved and help. It is a rewarding feeling, one that you will love. Who knows, maybe you will decide to become a BAR foster home. For those who follow the site, Gary and Tina just placed Lila, a dog listed as a "Friends of BAR" dog. She was placed into a super home by BAR, and thus saved from a very uncertain future. She was kept in her original home throughout the process. If you have any further questions or would like addition clarification, you can email directly to Gary Berg at savantgary@yahoo.com. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers of this fantastic group. We have made magic cal things happen in a relatively short time because of all of your involvement and commitment.