In dog rescue, the VIP clients are the dogs. That’s a fact for many rescues and, from my point of view, a “should-be-true” in others.

This doesn’t mean that humans don’t matter. It means that we humans must always remember why we do dog rescue, and why we seek to adopt from rescues.

It’s because we all agree on the need to help dogs. Each of us hopes to ensure that a rescued dog never has to suffer again. Whatever our other differences, we can all agree on this goal.

A person might retort that some dog rescues don’t alleviate suffering, either because they “warehouse” dogs without attention to enrichment, social opportunities and capacity for care, or because they use aversives on dogs.

I don’t know it from experience but I am aware of a few rescues who’ve reportedly either chosen, or slipped into, the dark side; however, this is no reason for the rest of us to let our mission of safety, protection and well-being slide.

Beyond the rejection of aversive handling, training and conditions, how can we together achieve our mission of helping dogs? The first thing we must do is commit to the mindset. We check self-centric attitudes, so that we may partner with each other on behalf of needy dogs.

We work together to examine and conclude what is the best long-term for each individual dog. We become willing to take the time, demonstrate the patience and spend the funds that each dog needs. We become willing to give up our sense of entitlement to having a particular dog just because we can and instead look for how we can make ourselves the best possible human for that dog.

In other words, we acknowledge that each dog is entitled to the best possible lifelong conditions, and we make it our job to create and provide those. We consider their futures, and we do whatever we can to ensure that their futures are not repeats of their pasts.

History tends to repeat itself until we take specific action to break patterns. Since dogs are a household pet species in our culture, with little to no control over their own lives and outcomes, they can’t do much to interrupt the patterns they’ve suffered — they can’t just decide to set themselves on a new and better life course and then take whatever actions are required to make it happen. As the ones in control, that is up to us.

What are the actions that can help rescued dogs out of the patterns of neglect, abuse, abandonment or loss that brought them into rescues and shelters to begin with? What are the actions most likely to achieve safe, protective, forever-happy lives for these dogs?

In dog rescue, the way we humans become VIPs is by thinking of needy dogs as the VIPs, and acting accordingly. I could list specifics, but instead, how about you make a list. Drop me a note with your kind, generous, dog-centric ideas for ensuring that rescued dogs enjoy lifelong safety and well-being.

Rain Jordan, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP is a certified canine behavior and training professional. Visit her at www.expertcanine.com.