DRNA volunteers

[Mandy]

We finished submitting our application to become DRNA volunteers tonight. We have wanted to do more with dachshund rescue and have been discussing this for a while.

I would love to hear from anyone who works with DRNA. Do you have any helpful hints or tidbits that would help us? Please let us know. We are very excited. In a few years we will be able to do even more to help.

[Heather]

Hi Mandy, I am a DRNA rep in NJ, and there are several on this site. I will send you a private note.

[2DogsLong]

I used to post here before I joined DRNA. Now I am busy with DRNA and am co-founding a Canadian Dachshund Rescue group for the chilly dachsies up north.

I'm so glad to see new people joining rescue. There is so much that you can do to help. You can give as much time as you have to give. There's nothing like the highs and lows experienced doing rescue work. Visiting a dog that you placed makes months of stress worthwhile.

My advice to rescuers is to stop reading any poems or sad rescue stories. They are great motivation to get started but only serve to bring you down once you are giving all you can give.

Oh, and don't expect 'normal' people to understand your passion. Eventually you'll surround yourself with crazy dog people.

I'm looking forward to working with you!

Sue

[Heather]

Hi Mandy, welcome, I am a DRNA rep in NJ, and I will send you a private email. There are several DRNA people on this site.

[Mandy]

We are now in DRNA. Thank you for the advice. Yes, I understand about not reading the sad stories and poems. I do not keep up with th sad stories, but only occassionally check in on them. Our goal is to help where we can and for me not to get stressed about those things we can't change. I look forward to working with all of the DRNA members here and welcome any advice you veterans can give!

[Jennifer]

Congratulations on joining the ranks of rescurers. I do all breed rescue out of a local shelter and find it both the most wonderful thing I have ever done and the toughest thing I have ever done. But I wouldn't (actually I couldn't) stop doing it for anything. The joy I get from knowing that my efforts have helped a dog enjoy a long and happy life and a family to enjoy the love of an animal, makes the sad days worth it.

And if you ever figure out how not to get stressed about the things you can't change, please let me know. :>) I've been doing this over a year and still haven't figured that one out.

Jennifer

[Becky's Mom]

Mandy we just finished our application for DRNA tonight. You are a few days ahead of us. We have taken in 3 dachshunds in the last year from local shelters. We love helping, but would like to help in more ways. We transport all breeds now and love that, but want to help more dachshunds which are just the loves our lives. Any advice would also be greatly appreciated. Not doing the sad stories is probably great advice. We are involved in some rescue and one that had been adopted was just PTS by the person that adopted him. It just is heart wrenching when there was nothing we could do to stop her. Florence

[Wienergal]

Hi, Mandy! I'm a DRNA rep in Chicago. I've only been at it since Labor Day. Let's see: I've placed six dogs, transported four, recruited two new members, forgot to check references twice, had one hissy fit and several bouts of uncontrollable sobbing. It's all worth it. I'm looking forward to working with you.

My best advice: Ask a lot of questions! You can e-mail me any time and ask about anything, even if you think it's "dumb." Boy, have I asked a LOT of questions! Also, become familiar with the members' utility page. Print out lots of forms and keep them handy so you're always prepared.

I wish I could remember who was the first person on this board to join a rescue group. It's amazing and wonderful, how many of us have follwed in her footsteps, whoever she is! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm25.gif" border=0>

[Tanya]

Hi Mandy and Florence. I'm a DRNA rep from GA. I've been a member since about July. I just got DRNA licensed in GA! HOORAY!!!Rescue is exciting but it is heartbreaking at times. We have to realize as hard as we try, we can't save them all. Ask questions, no matter how dumb you might think they are. Odds are somebody else needs to know too.
Tanya

[Meemoo]

Hi all-

Got a question for ya. I would love to be involved in DRNA but I think i have 2 roadblocks...Correct me if i'm wrong. First one is..can't do any transporting, due to the fact I don't have a car and second both of us work all day. How does one get involved with these roadblocks? Must be something I can do...

Loren

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by meemoo on January 17, 2001 at 07:58 AM</font>

[Tanya]

I don't do transports and I work all day too, but you can help. Even though you work, you can foster if you wish. My dogs play together all day so they do have company. If you can't foster, you can help by watching the shelters for dachshies or papers for "free dachshies". You can help with fundraisers or membership drives. Always something. Help get DRNA licensed in your state! Fill out a volunteer form and we will put you to work! Where do you live and I'll see if I can hook you up with one of our reps for that area. In DRNA, we do what we can do.
Tanya

[Roxane]

Having a dog you rescue, pts by the adoptive family must be heartbreaking.
Anyone doing rescue outside of the safety net of a recognized organization has to get their ducks in line. That includes having an adoption form that states, if for any reason the party can not keep the dog, they have a legal obligation to return the dog to you.
Just between you, me and the fence post, it doesn't carry that much weight but the potential family usually won't realize that. Especially, if you emphasize the point and let them know you will be in touch (your time frame) to see how the pup is doing.
It isn't the perfect answer but then if this were a perfect world, you wouldn't be doing rescue in the first place.
On the "up" side, cheers for all of the enthusiastic new rescuers! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/pink.gif
Roxane and crew

[Heather]

Hi Loren, Tanya is absolutely right, there is always something that you can help with. Right now, I am sure there are at least a handful of projects to work on that don't even require you to leave the house.

Feel free to visit the drna.org site, or email me privatley hans_bean@yahoo.com if you want to talk more. I am sure Tanya or anyone else who replied would be more than happy to talk to you as well.

[Tanya]

Hi Loren. Just wanted you to know that I have asked two of our NY Reps to contact you. I also sent you a PM with their emails.
Tanya

[sillysadie]

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0>
I am so proud of this group. We have had several folks volunteer for membership and transportation this week. Florence, Susan(transport) and Hopefully Loren soon( Helaine in NY is checking references) have all decided to take the plunge! Mandy told me she was going to start slow and she is already fostering a little senior. Many of our DRNA members came from this board and each one who signed on told me that they "would just start slow and maybe help out now and then" <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm35.gif" border=0> Dachshund Rescue is addicting! As Weinergal says.... A big Woo Hoo for the group!

[Tanya]

Yes, everyone has been very busy. Loren, I need to know your last name! I do believe we have your application but I want to make sure NY looks out for you.

We have a lot of good rescue people here from several great groups! All for the love of a dachshie!
Tanya

[Wienergal]

I love how committed this board is to rescue! On other board, which shall remain nameless, the Adoption/Rescue thread can grow cobwebs for weeks on end, but not here!

This really is a great group!

[Becky's Mom]

I am so excited. I am doing my first official DRNA transport this weekend. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif I talked to three new people tonight and they were so pleasant. We all have the same problem---Crazy about dachshunds. I felt as if I was right amongst friends I had known forever. Florence

[Tanya]

Hooray Florence!! I've noticed that you have not wasted anytime getting busy! No starting slow for you!!
Tanya