Sled Dog Rescue
Who are we?
Sled Dog Rescue is a non-profit organization registered in The Netherlands, aimed to help rescue and re-home Nordic breeds from Cyprus to different countries in Northern Europe and Switzerland. We also work to inform people about requirements of the breed and educate about responsible dog ownership.
About us
Find out who we are and what we do
Our goals
Our goals are simple and achievable. We want to help stray sled dogs in Cyprus (and other countries eventually) find homes, provide them with comfort and treatment while looking for their perfect match. We also want to raise awareness, educate people of importance of making an informed and responsible choice regarding the addition of a pet to their family.
If you wish to join our team and help save dogs and educate people, please read our articles:
The SDR Sanctuary
Read all about our SDR Sanctuary in the mountains of Cyprus: A cage-free Sanctuary
What we do?
- With the help of our volunteers located in Cyprus, we rescue dogs from immediate dangerous situations/environments or take them from the people who are unable or unwilling to properly care for them.
- Take rescued dogs to the veterinary clinics for blood tests and health check. Ill dogs are provided with treatment immediately. All dogs are immediately microchiped.
- After veterinary evaluation, if health condition allows, dogs are placed either in foster care or private kennels (vaccinated, microchipped, blood tested).
- After approximately 2-3 weeks of evaluation of dog’s character, volunteers make pictures and videos and dogs are put up for adoption on web-site, if not reserved by partner-organization.
- Once the dog has a home, dog gets his/her final vet check up and pre-flight grooming. All dogs are vaccinated, neutered (if health and age allows) and provided with an international travel passport.
- Provide detailed information to people regarding responsible dog ownership and the correct approach when choosing certain breeds or in general any dog. Most of the educational material we deliver via social networks, e-mails and web-site in various languages.
In the kennels or foster care, dogs get basic training, learning to sit down and wait for the food, learning not to jump on people and get as much socialization as it is safe to do it in the kennels/foster home. Unfortunately at least half of a year the weather in Cyprus is not suitable for snow dogs to enjoy themselves, which makes our task even harder.
We work with our dogs as much as we can, as we want to make adoption experience as smooth as possible for both: dog and human. In case dog has a chronic life long health condition (which may require supplements, restricted walks, or supported by a pill per day, like in cases with Leishmaniosis or Under active Thyroid for example) the adopters are informed ahead. However, some health condition may develop later and can not be detected by the vets ahead.
Luckily most of the dogs that come ill, come with minor health issues that are usually treated in Cyprus. When it is possible, we also detect and provide surgical treatment for dogs with joint problems such as patella luxation, or hip displasia.
The way we choose to take care of the dogs is good and responsible, but unfortunately it also puts a lot of expenses upfront prior to adoption. Our dogs rely only on public donations. Sled Dog Rescue is not sponsored or supported by any government.
Why we do it?
Up until the 80s breeds like Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamutes were barely known as pets. Just like back in 90s, Dalmations became popular because of “101 Dalmation”, Siberian Huskies and “wolf-like” dogs became exposed to wide public due to famous TV shows and movies, such as “Game of Thrones”, “Twilight”, “8Below”, “Balto” etc. As much as we appreciate the technology that allow us more easily raise awareness, the same technology made it too easy to purchase any puppy of any breed online. In Cyprus, Siberian Husky/Malamute puppies are sold for as little as 80 Euros and you may imagine the so-called breeder does not evaluate the buyers or educate them about specifics of handling sled type dogs. This behavior leads to choosing dog for the looks and “fashion” reasons, but not because a person leads life style in which active and independent breed would fit perfectly, considering the climate as well.
As a result, many of those people who purchase Nordic puppies, end up not being able to handle the dogs physical and mental needs long term. Lack of understanding the sled dog mentality, often leads to people labeling them as difficult to train, disobedient, even dangerous.
Sled Dog Rescue often receives requests to adopt a Husky or Samoyed in Cyprus by teenagers or parents who want to adopt/buy a dog for their child, but are not investigation the breed requirements.
The necessity of organizations like ours lays not only in the fact that abandoned dogs need help, but also in educating people to reduce instance of abandoned dogs. Education is the only way to improve the very sad situation for these dogs in long term.
We always welcome initiative and cooperation with individuals or other charities aimed to educate people, raise awareness and explain the importance of making the right when considering to add a pet to the family. If you have a great idea, project plan or marketing advise you would like to share, please contact us on : info@sled-dog-rescue.com
Want to get involved?
Contact us
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If you want to support our work, please donate to:
STICHTING SLED DOG RESCUE
IBAN: NL83 ABNA 0547 9873 74
BIC: ABNANL2A