Dachshund Dogs Available for Adoption

HIS STORY: Thumper is a 6 year old red longhair standard male dachshund. He should weigh about 15 pounds but is very obese thanks to his elderly owner feeding him table scraps. He is working on a serious weight loss program, and also needs a major dental. We estimate he will be ready for his new home around the beginning of June. If you are interested in adopting, request an application from us and if approved, you will be on the wait list for consideration for this dog. Our applications are sent only by postal mail, so we need a name and postal address as to where to send it. You can send that information to: coordinator@dfwdachshundrescuetexas.com

Can you give Meeko a loving, permanent home with lots of attention? If so, read the rest of the information below and then contact us for an adoption application. Please be aware that our adoption applications are sent out by postal mail only and are not sent by e-mail nor are they available on-line.

Before you contact us for an application, please be sure you take some time to read and learn about this breed. Dachshunds are personable and intelligent; however, they take extra time and patience to housetrain, and it is important to know this before you apply to adopt. There are many good books about Dachshunds currently available. Time spent reading one or two of them is well worth it.

ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for adoption through DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation, you must: Be over 21 years of age and have verifiable identification to that effect. Be able to verify that you may have a pet where you live. Live within the immediate Dallas/Fort Worth area. We appreciate your understanding and hope that, if you live outside this area, you will consider adopting a pet from a rescue group that services your geographic area. Be prepared to donate to our rescue efforts an adoption fee of $250. Be willing to fill out an adoption application, the entire contents of which will be verified upon receipt. Be aware that vet references will be verified to confirm current pets are altered, up to date on vaccinations as well as being annually tested for heartworms and regularly taking heartworm preventative. Have a complete, secure, and safely fenced yard. Be prepared to have a home visit from one of the rescue foundation members as part of the screening process to adopt this dog. During the home visit, our representative will do a brief temperament evaluation of all current dogs in the household. We are unable to adopt to homes where any current dogs exhibit people-aggressive dog-aggressive, or fear-aggressive behaviors during the home visit. In addition, while we do not preclude adopters who currently own large breed dogs, due to size differential and a dachshund's predisposition to spinal injuries, we are also not able to adopt to homes when the board determines there may be potential for injury to the dachshund. This is to ensure a safe match for our rescued dachshunds. Understand that DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation has the right to deny any application.

LOCATION OF DOGS: Be aware that we do not have a public kennel facility for our dogs; our rescue dogs are fostered with individual families throughout the DFW Metroplex area.

VET CARE FOR RESCUE DOGS: All rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, fully immunized, tested for parasites (and treated if needed) and tested for heartworms (and treated if needed). In addition, each dog receives a basic blood profile, has a dental cleaning (very young dogs may not need this) and is microchipped. Any infections or other health related issues identified by our veterinary clinic will also be treated. It is our goal to have the dog in excellent health by the time he or she goes to an adoptive home.

MEETING DOGS: We do not permit visits to any of the rescue dogs until an interested household has filled out an application, and had a reference, vet and home check. Only screened and approved applicants may visit dogs available for adoption through our program. We will not hold dogs for homes that have not yet been approved by our rescue committee. If there is a dog you are interested in applying for, do indicate that in your application, but realize other applicants may be considering that dog as well. This is especially true in the case of female dachshunds and puppies. Unlike city animal shelters, we do not use a first come, first served philosophy when it comes to placing dogs from our program. Our goal is to thoughtfully and carefully select the correct home for the dog, and the correct dog for a particular home. The rescue foundation board has final approval on any adoptions for dogs from this program. After the home visit has been completed, the board will consult with the foster parent and/or home visit coordinator and decide on the proposed adoption. Decisions by the rescue board are final.

APARTMENTS/TOWNHOUSES: While we do not preclude adopters who live in apartments or townhouses, be aware that most dachshunds bark a lot and often do not make good apartment/townhouse dogs. We rarely have apartment/townhouse suitable dachshunds available for adoption. If you live in an apartment or townhouse and wish to apply, be aware that you may wait a year or more for a suitable dachshund from our program. In addition, for safety reasons, your apartment/townhouse must have ground floor access.

CHILDREN: While we do not preclude families with children as potential adopters, it is important to be aware that dachshunds and other small and toy breeds, as a rule, do not respond well to the sudden moves, higher activity level and more impulsive behaviors typically shown by children under 10 years of age. Please be aware that we do not often get dachshunds that are a good match for homes with young children; so, anyone applying may experience a longer wait. Instead, you may want to expand your search to breeds that are known to be better with children, such as Labradors, golden retrievers and boxers. Larger dogs may be better able to tolerate the activity, noise and rough play that occur in a home with children. Another choice is to postpone the adoption of a dog until your children are older and more mature and better suited to living with a small dog.

PUPPIES: We rarely, if ever, have puppies available in our rescue program. If you are interested in a puppy, please contact us for the puppy referral packet to reputable breeders in our area. Please be aware that when we do have puppies or dogs under 1 year of age, they will not be placed in homes where they will be the only dog.

CAT OWNERS: If you are planning to apply to adopt a dachshund, and own a cat(s), please take into consideration the fact that dachshunds are a hound breed. They tend to view a cat as prey and in many cases, a cat may not be safe living in a home with a dachshund. Most dachshunds coming to our rescue program are not good with cats.

Our adoption application has been designed to evaluate potential adopters to ensure that each person who adopts a dachshund is not only aware of the responsibility that comes with adopting a dog, but also to address the suitability and permanence of each dachshund placed in a new home. When considering a new home, our goal is to make the best possible match for each of our rescued Dachshunds. These special dogs deserve the stability of a permanent home where they will be loved, secure and safe for their rest of their lives.

The dachshund is a small dog breed known for its long body, short legs, and distinctive appearance. Originally bred for hunting badgers, these playful and loyal dogs make loving companions for families. Dachshunds come in three coat varieties smooth, wirehaired, and longhaired each with its own unique charm. Despite their size, dachshunds are bold and courageous, with a curious nature that can sometimes lead to mischief. Their endearing personality and adaptability make them popular pets worldwide.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Dachshund Rescue Foundation is a well-established 501(c)(3) organization with a history of providing dachshund related education and...