The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America Rescue (SBTCA Rescue) is dedicated to ensuring that no Staffordshire Bull Terrier is left homeless, abandoned in a shelter, or surrendered by its owner. With a nationwide network of volunteers, SBTCA Rescue actively works to pull dogs from shelters, provide them with foster care, and re-home them to responsible, approved families. Each dog placed through the program is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and brought up-to-date on vaccinations. Beyond a thorough application, interview, and home visit process, new adopters also sign an adoption promise. The organization proudly acknowledges its accomplishments, recognizing that its success is driven by dedicated volunteers and financial supporters who are crucial to its mission. SBTCA Rescue believes in supporting all aspects of the breed, including responsible breeding, education, and community involvement.
How You Can Help
SBTCA Rescue relies heavily on the generosity of individuals to continue its vital work. Monetary donations are always gratefully accepted. Due to limitations with PayPal, donors are encouraged to email rescue@sbtca.com with any specific intentions for their donation, such as in memory of a person or dog, or on behalf of an organization, to ensure proper acknowledgment. The current adoption fee for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier is $400.00.
For those in need of assistance with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, immediate contact with Rescue@sbtca.com is advised. Potential adopters and those seeking assistance are requested to provide essential information in their initial email, including the dog’s height and weight, whether the breeder has been contacted, and recent photos.
Breeders and other rescue groups are invited to collaborate with SBTCA Rescue to expand their network and communication. This collaboration can involve linking to the SBTCA Rescue website, sharing social media posts, providing financial or volunteer assistance, forwarding potential adopter leads, implementing no-fault return policies in contracts, maintaining contact with owners, and ensuring all puppies are microchipped before leaving.
Services Provided by SBTCA Rescue
SBTCA Rescue offers a comprehensive range of services to support the breed and its community. These include courtesy listings for dogs needing homes, providing information and support to community shelters and rescue groups, assisting with training and behavior issues, and offering long-term support for both owners and their dogs. They also partner with breeders for assistance when needed, offer monetary support for extraordinary veterinary costs, aid in breed identification, and actively promote responsible dog ownership and breed awareness through various events.
Becoming a Volunteer
Volunteers are the backbone of SBTCA Rescue. For those unsure how they can contribute, a list of helpful roles is available. Every contribution, no matter the size, is invaluable.
Ways to make a difference include:
- Fostering a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in need: SBTCA Rescue is constantly seeking quality foster homes.
- Educating local shelters: Becoming a “friend of the personnel” at local shelters and informing them about SBTCA Rescue’s mission can lead to dogs being saved.
- Making positive identifications: Helping to positively identify Staffordshire Bull Terriers in shelters by assessing them in person and taking photos is crucial for the rescue process.
- Assisting with home visits and referral qualifications.
- Providing transportation: Transporting dogs to foster or adoptive homes across the country is a significant challenge that volunteers can help overcome.
- Donating supplies: Food, bowls, crates, chew toys, beds, leashes, and collars are always needed.
- Making monetary donations: Adoption fees often do not cover all associated expenses. Donations can be designated for specific dogs or purposes, or made directly to veterinarians for specific needs.
- Offering professional services: Experts in fields outside of pet care can offer valuable assistance.
- Donating items for auctions and raffles at specialty shows.
- Assisting with fundraisers or representing SBTCA Rescue at community events.
Re-homing Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Facing the decision to re-home a beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier is undoubtedly difficult. SBTCA Rescue offers support and options to ensure the dog finds a suitable forever home. The first step is always to contact the breeder, who may be able to take the dog back or assist in re-homing. Reviewing any existing contracts with the breeder is essential.
If the breeder cannot be reached or is unable to help, contact SBTCA Rescue. While the organization works to qualify potential homes and may need temporary foster support, they will do their utmost to find a suitable placement. Prior to surrender, an owner surrender form, along with all health documents, registration papers, and contracts, will be required. Ideally, the dog should be spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, and heartworm negative before placement.
What NOT to Do
It is strongly advised NOT to take a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to an animal shelter. Similarly, avoid giving the dog to friends or neighbors unless they are intimately familiar with the breed’s specific needs and your dog’s requirements. If a suitable home has been found independently, ensure the new owners are aware of the sbtca.com website and rescue@sbtca.com email for future support.
Advertising a dog in newspapers or online without rigorous home qualification is also discouraged, as it can attract individuals with less-than-ideal intentions. SBTCA Rescue can provide guidance and assist in the approval process to ensure the best outcome for the dog.
Assistance in Domestic Violence Situations
For individuals, friends, or relatives experiencing domestic violence who must leave suddenly, there is immediate help available for their Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Recognizing that there may not be time for direct contact, owners can drop off their dog at any veterinarian’s office and provide the office with the SBTCA RESCUE email: rescue@sbtca.com. Informing the veterinarian to contact SBTCA RESCUE and assuring them of the rescue’s responsibility for the dog is key. Providing all available information about the dog, including its name, age, and breeder, is also important. SBTCA Rescue will then take over. Taking the dog to a veterinarian ensures the rescue can quickly secure the animal’s safety. If the dog must be taken to a shelter, contact SBTCA Rescue as soon as possible to arrange for the dog to be pulled.
There is no shame in prioritizing safety for oneself, children, and pets. No questions will be asked in such urgent situations. Proactive contact with SBTCA Rescue can help establish arrangements in advance. The most crucial advice is: do not leave your dog behind.
Help is available for both owners and their Staffordshire Bull Terriers; the first step is reaching out. Contact SBTCA RESCUE at Rescue@sbtca.com, where prompt email responses are a priority. You are not alone, and SBTCA Rescue is here to help.
