According to the Humane Society of the United States, between six and eight MILLION dogs and cats are turned over to animal shelters every year. Of those millions, half of them will be euthanized. And, 25% of the abandoned animals are purebreds of all breeds, including the increasingly popular breed, the Havanese. Havanese information on the Internet has made the breed more in demand than ever.

You don’t have to try and find a Havanese to rescue all by yourself. There are many organizations and websites that will gladly help you make the perfect match between a hard-luck Havanese and you. If you know of any Havanese showers of breeders, they will most likely already know of dogs needing homes, or can give you addresses of workers in Havanese rescue charities you can contact. The Havanese Club of America (HVC) will also happily get you in contact with Havanese rescues. If you are thinking of getting a Havanese or adding another Havanese to your household, you should consider adopting from a Havanese rescue charity rather than buying a puppy from a breeder or a pet store. The dogs are usually already housebroken, are finished with the hyperactive stage of puppy hood and are healthy. Havanese rescue volunteers don’t put a dog up for adoption unless they know the dog would make a great pet. No matter how cute the puppy is, this can wear on your nerves if you have to balance a career, family and raising a puppy. And, if you are a senior citizen or not in the prime of health, you will not have the energy to keep up with a rambunctious puppy. Havanese rescues often check up on you weeks, months or even years after you have adopted to be sure things are going well. Usually, if you have to give the dog up, the Havanese rescue will be willing to take the dog back. Saving a dog by adopting from a Havanese rescue shelter is a wonderful way to get a new pet. You can contact Havanese Rescue, Inc. in Phoenix to get more information or to find leads to other shelters. Unless you plan to breed or show your new Havanese, a shelter dog is a good choice for both owner and pet. If you live on the East Coast, the HVC should be able to get you in touch with those Havanese and Havanese mixes available for adoption from a database of dog shelters. One of the databases they use is Petfinder.com, which you can use as well. There are no-kill rescue shelters all over the country that rely on donations and volunteers to do all the hard but much necessary work. Caring for animals always gives you a warm feeling and a better outlook on life.