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Statement of Operations & Policies
Statement of Operations
NERR&R's primary goals are rescuing and re-homing temperamentally sound Rottweilers
and offering education and information about the breed relating to temperament, training, and responsible
Rottweiler ownership.
Most NERR&R dogs come from regional animal control facilities within the eight state region (all of New England,
and parts of NJ and NY) in which we operate. Depending on circumstances, NERR&R may accept a limited number of
owner surrenders. Regardless, all dogs coming into our program are temperament tested and evaluated by trained NERR&R
volunteers. We place our dogs as family members into pre-approved homes; we do not place dogs for the purposes of guarding.
NERR&R does not accept aggressive dogs nor dogs with a known bite history.
Since many of our dogs come from less than desirable situations, we do our best to ensure the dogs in our program will
be treated properly for the rest of their lives. Our application process is detailed and generally takes two to four
weeks to complete. After NERR&R receives an application to adopt, a volunteer conducts an initial telephone interview
with the applicant. A volunteer telephones the applicant's veterinarian to ensure existing pets receive routine, regular
veterinary care. Three personal references are also interviewed before a home check occurs.
Dogs passing the evaluation live with foster families for a minimum of two weeks. Foster families are critical to NERR&R's
success. They help dogs that sometimes have spent prolonged stays in institutionalized environments gain ability, skills,
and training to make good pets. Foster families provide the love and stability of a home, medical attention, some basic
obedience, and TLC. Periodically, foster families fill out assessments of their foster dogs. Assessments track each dog's
progress as it recovers from the stress of being in a shelter and helps match the dog with potential adopters.
Prior to being adopted, all NERR&R dogs are spayed or neutered, currently vaccinated, heartworm negative, and are
tattooed or microchipped before being registered with Companion Animal Recovery (AKC), National Dog Registry, or similar
agency. Whatever medical information we have on our dogs is given to the adoptive family. NERR&R's donation for adoption,
$150 to $350, helps cover the cost of spaying or neutering, vaccinations, heartworm testing/treatment/preventative, and
other treatment(s) the dog may need such as treatment for parasites or wounds.
Volunteers staff NERR&R. Generally, we have about 10 dogs in our program at one time. We also list Rottweilers from area
humane agencies for adoption on our Website's Referral Page. We offer telephone consultation to all adopters of our dogs
and to any Rottweiler owner seeking help on any number of issues.
NERR&R is a Massachusetts non-profit corporation with tax-exempt status under U.S. Internal Revenue Code
section 501(c)(3).
Policies
Intake
1. An approved NERR&R volunteer will evaluate each dog prior to its being accepted into the program. Evaluation forms
are provided by NERR&R and include testing for socialization, obedience, aggression, resource possession, etc.
2. Dogs are not accepted into the foster program without a temperament evaluation. Specific exceptions may be made
by NERR&R officers for extraordinary situations (puppies, sick or injured dogs,etc). These dogs will be evaluated at a
later date before becoming available for adoption. Dogs failing the evaluation will be euthanized at the discretion of
NERR&R's Board of Directors.
3. NERR&R will not consider a dog that has a reported bite incident or aggression problem. NERR&R also does not accept
dogs that have been used as security or guard dogs. Exceptions will be made for dogs that are being brought in for
the expressed purpose of euthanasia.
4. All dogs must be legally surrendered to NERR&R upon entering the program. NERR&R will provide a transfer of
ownership form at time of surrender. The dogs must be physically transferred to an officer of NERR&R or a party
specifically designated by an officer of NERR&R.
5. All surrendered dogs become the property of NERR&R and dogs must wear a NERR&R identification tag on its collar
and permanent identification in the form of a microchip or tattoo on its body.
6. Before the surrender of a dog to NERR&R, a complete medical history for each dog is required from either from
the shelter or owner.
7. Priority is always given to dogs in animal shelters. Owner surrenders will be considered as space or urgency designates.
8. NERR&R cannot accept stray dogs that have not gone through an animal control program. The dog must be declared
"legally unowned" by an agency with the authority to do so.
Adoptions
1. NERR&R re-homes Rottweilers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine (except
for Aroostook, Piscataquis and Washington Counties), Northern New Jersey (above I-80) and limited areas of
Southeastern New York (Putnam County, Orange County east of 87, and Dutchess County south and east of Poughkeepsie).
2. All prospective adopters must fill out NERR&R's adoption application. The application process consists of an
interview with the applicant, a veterinary check, three personal reference checks and a homecheck. If the applicant
rents or lives with family members, an additional check with the owner of the home will be made to ensure that
Rottweilers are allowed on the property. NERR&R may also contact the applicant's local Animal Control Officer.
3. NERR&R reserves the right to refuse any adoption application for any reason.
4. Applications are approved by a team of volunteers. Applicants may not visit foster homes to meet dogs until
after their adoption application is approved. Applicants will receive an Education Packet via email and are encouraged
to read and understand the material.
5. NERR&R dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. They are up tp date on vaccines, have been tested for parasites,
and are on monthly heartworm preventative. Tattoos or implanted microchips have been applied for tracking purposes.
NERR&R will disclose all known medical conditions, if any, as well as notify adopter of any and all medications that
must be administered.
6. All adopters will sign a contract upon adoption. See a
Sample Contract.
7. If, for whatever reason, an adoption does not work, the dog should to be returned to NERR&R.
8. If NERR&aR finds information contained in the application to be false, NERR&R retains the right to turn down the
application or remove the animal from the adopter's premises without a refund of moneys paid.
Volunteers
1. Volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application and sign a liability waiver stating that they have
read and agreed to NERR&R policies. Volunteers will be required to renew their liability waiver annually.
2. A volunteer may not participate in any NERR&R activities until a signed volunteer waiver has been received by
the Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers and foster families are approved by the Volunteer and Foster Coordinators
respectively.
3. Foster families are approved in the same manner as adoptions. Families whose application is rejected will receive
a letter stating the reason for rejection.
4.Authorized NERR&R agents will carry ID cards. These cards are to be presented when picking up, delivering, or
evaluating a dog. This will ensure that NERR&R is not misrepresented and that dogs are not signed over to NERR&R
erroneously or given to unauthorized parties.
5. NERR&R volunteers are required to use official NERR&R forms for all NERR&R business. Forms will be turned over
to the appropriate coordinator in a timely manner. Use of NERR&R forms outside of NERR&R business must be authorized
by a NERR&R Director.
6. Volunteers may not make public statements on behalf of NERR&R without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
7. Volunteers may not leave a dog unattended at an event for greater than 15 minutes at a time. If a dog brought to
an event on behalf of NERR&R behaves inappropriately or shows aggression to people or other animals, the dog will be
removed from the event by a volunteer. Sick dogs will not be permitted at an event.
8. Volunteers are not permitted to bring personal dogs to NERR&R sponsored adoption events or events that they may
staff on behalf of NERR&R unless previously approved by a NERR&R board member. Exceptions to this specifically include
events in which a volunteer will be competing or demonstrating on behalf of their dog/self, events that are designed for
social purposes that include personal dogs, and events that are designed as fund raisers that may include personal dogs.
Personal dogs should not be present in the adoptions/education booth for any of these exceptions.
9. Volunteers may be asked to discontinue their service to NERR&R at any time if the board deems this action appropriate.
Misconduct or violation of NERR&R's policies by any volunteer or board member may be reported to the NERR&R Board of
Directors, the Volunteer Coordinator or to the Regional Volunteer Coordinator.
Miscellaneous
1. A permanent record of all incoming calls is kept by NERR&R officers. Calls are generally returned collect within 48 hours.
2. All donations are documented and an acknowledgement is sent to the donor.
3. NERR&R maintains liability insurance for accidental damage occurring during NERR&Rtouc activities. A detailed
summary of an incident is required before a claim form will be provided.
Return to Volunteer Information
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