| According to the Humane Society of the United | | | | Since the Havanese is a relatively rare breed in |
| States, between six and eight MILLION dogs and | | | | America, you need to do your homework to find a |
| cats are turned over to animal shelters every year. | | | | Havanese rescue. You can also ask for information |
| Of those millions, half of them will be euthanized. And, | | | | from the Havanese Club of America (HCA) or from |
| 25% of the abandoned animals are purebreds of all | | | | the AKC (American Kennel Club), which will get you in |
| breeds, including the increasingly popular breed, the | | | | contact with the HCA. They should be able to tell |
| Havanese. Havanese information on the Internet has | | | | you all about the dogs they have for adoption and |
| made the breed more in demand than ever. | | | | what part of the country your prospective new best |
| Havanese breeders in the United States charge about | | | | friend lives. |
| $1000 per pup, because of the rarity of the breed. | | | | The main Havanese rescue charity organization in the |
| But why pay all of that money when there are | | | | United States is called (appropriately enough) |
| perfectly loving, healthy and trained Havanese in | | | | Havanese Rescue, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona. They |
| Havanese rescues all over the country? Havanese | | | | rescue not only purebred Havanese, but mixes, too. |
| rescue volunteers do not get any fame or glory from | | | | But whatever dog rescue organization you meet, you |
| their hobby to lessen suffering in the world. They do | | | | will be thoroughly quizzed and your home checked to |
| their best to match abandoned Havanese to forever | | | | be sure you would be a good, loving owner to a |
| homes. You can also help lessen some of the | | | | hard-luck Havanese. They want to be sure the |
| suffering in the world by choosing to adopt your | | | | hard-luck Havanese won't have to loose yet another |
| next dog rather than buy a puppy. | | | | home and go back through the shelter system. |
| If you are thinking of getting a Havanese or adding | | | | If you live on the East Coast, the HVC should be |
| another Havanese to your household, you should | | | | able to get you in touch with those Havanese and |
| consider adopting from a Havanese rescue charity | | | | Havanese mixes available for adoption from a |
| rather than buying a puppy from a breeder or a pet | | | | database of dog shelters. One of the databases they |
| store. The dogs are usually already housebroken, are | | | | use is Petfinder.com, which you can use as well. You |
| finished with the hyperactive stage of puppy hood | | | | might also want to look under "Maltese" or |
| and are healthy. Havanese rescue volunteers don't | | | | "Maltese-mixes" in your local animal shelters or on - |
| put a dog up for adoption unless they know the dog | | | | they might be misidentified Havanese. |
| would make a great pet. | | | | |