I adopted my perfect angel, Penny, from Austin Sheltie Rescue and it was a fantastic experience. Sunni made sure that I could adequately care for a pet and ensured that Penny would be going to a good home. The organization was prompt and professional and I'd recommend them to anyone! read more

Austin Sheltie Rescue - Penny, Austin Sheltie Rescue pup - Animal Shelters Near Me

Faced with a health condition that compromised my ability to properly care for my Sheltie Jack, I faced the difficult decision to put him up for adoption. I had had Jack for 12 1/2 years, since he was 8 weeks old. I had never surrendered a dog and was unfamiliar with the process. Looking back, reflecting on my experience, Sunni Wiginton and Austin Sheltie Rescues, their practices, and the legal form she presents, do not show adequate concern for the forfeiting pet owner. In some measure, Ms. Wiginton hastened my forfeiture. Later it came out that even minimum concerns, for the forfeiting party, even when in the pets interest, were just not her concern. During the ensuing months, I realized there were no safeguards that would allow the forfeiting party to understand adoption quality. Worried about my ability to care for Jack, I completely failed to comprehend the possibility of his being placed in care substandard to even my diminished capabilities, much less the full care that had marked his life before my illness. Five months after surrendering Jack, doctors determined what was causing my medical condition. After treatment, recovery was relatively swift. As to the surrender though, what happened happened. On the chance Mrs. Wiginton had not found a standard placement, and providing direct upfront assurance I had no interest contesting the placement, I contacted Austin Sheltie Rescue to check on Jack's status. My sole interest was to inform about my health recovery with a request that Austin Sheltie Rescue communicate with the adoptive household that should the adoption not work, or in the case circumstances that might have to put Jack up for adoption again, I was available. These seemed to me to be very minimal and resonable requests. I was shocked how immediately Sunni Wigginton became hostile and defensive, and escalated on these simple requests to provide a safety net under the adoption. Had I been better informed, with the benefit of hindsight, I would not have surrendered Jack to Austin Sheltie Rescue. Sunni Wiginton closes all her communications with the statement, "I hope to be the person my dogs think I am." My experience is she does not practice her creed. Sunni has a bit of a dark side, two faces of Eve. The personality she exhibited during the forfeiture stage was absolutely not the same person I experienced later on. Beware, Austin Sheltie Rescue certainly knows how to serve a big dish of rude. Austin Sheltie Rescue, you could stand to buff up your practices to improve relations and transparency for the surrendering household. Solely in the interest of the rescued Sheltie, and should the situation arise where there are problems with the adoptive household, rescue services should facilitate notice. In closing, it gives me no pleasure to render this critical review. Society and community should value the effort of rescue organizations. Mistreatment of any party, the dog, the forfeiting former owner, the adopting person, gives a bad name to rescue operations everywhere. read more

I adopted my Sheltie, Ginobili, from Austin Sheltie Rescue in January 2012. I began working with them in early December 2011 and brought home the furry love of my life January 9. I feel very lucky to have Austin Sheltie Rescue in my life. Here's why: --I adopted the best dog ever: at 5-years-old, Ginobili came perfectly house trained and with excellent manners, knows several tricks and all basic commands, sleeps through the night, and is very nice to dogs, people and children alike. --Because my dog was an owner-surrender, the rescue agency was able to provide vet records. --Sunne, the coordinator, was always responsive to my application and subsequent emails. --Eric, Ginobili's foster dad, was very patient when we visited his home to meet Ginobili and eventually adopt him--it's obvious Eric and Sunne (who originally fostered Ginobili) took good care of him and as his very proud and adoring mama, I'm so thankful for the people who took him into their homes while he was waiting for me to find him. --Because he was fostered with loving families, I was able to know exactly what I was bringing home in terms of temperament, health issues (in his case, none really) and habits. --Because so many dogs are given as Christmas gifts and returned, and because the holidays are so stressful, the rescue doesn't adopt dogs over the holidays. This is just one example of their dedication to providing the best home and best chance of success for the dogs and their new families. --Not all of their dogs come from once-good home situations like mine (think abuse, neglect, etc.), and Austin Sheltie Rescue provides necessary vet care for dogs needing treatment. The cost to adopt a Sheltie subsidizes the healthcare of all of the dogs in the program. This is money very well spent. We take Ginobili everywhere, and are constantly complimented on his good behavior and sweet spirit (not to mention his stunning good looks). People are shocked to find out he's so recently ours and was a rescue. Please check out Austin Sheltie Rescue and consider an older dog! read more

Lovely Shelties. Stern rule driven rescue. I suppose it's best that their dogs are absolutely guaranteed a 100% perfect home life, which means Central Texas first, then all the other requirements short of a criminal background report. How about a credit rating? People that go to a rescue, take the time to fill out a thorough application, and willing to pay the fees are most likely not terrible people with dogs. When a person loses a dog and finds an opportunity to rescue a dog and find a partner again then I personally pursued that goal and was ignored, hung up on, kicked out of their Facebook page, and Sunne was just plain mean to me. I am 40 miles from El Paso, Texas but I might as well be on the moon. No amount of monetary compensation, sad story or being a competent dog person will convince her to make exceptions. I'm retired, 59 and have all the time in the world to add another fur baby to my family. I've had wonderful dogs all of my life, have a college degree, married and adopted a boy. But I'm not good enough for this rescue. Their requirements are extremely strict. read more

I am so greatful for this rescue group. Sunne was my contact and she is very professional and very dedicated to this breed of dog. I had to give my sheltie up- she was 9 years old when I received her and she had a quirky personality- I was hoping I could get closer to her and have bond but after 7 months I did not see or feel a bond at all. She was such a beautiful dog and her face was just precious! I wanted to snuggle with her as I had with my previous dogs but she was very high strung and only wanted very limited contact. I read up on this breed and it seems this trait kinda goes with this breed. I know in my heart that after some work with this loving rescue group She may learn to be a little more giving. I appreciate the group taking Sophie because she is a precious dog and deserves a family that understands her better than I did. Gayle 07-12-2017 read more

I have owned one registered Sheltie, and have rescued two others who were either seriously mistreated or unwanted. My experience is extensive with Shelties. My most current rescued Sheltie died of mammary gland cancer after a wonderful life in the country and I miss her and want another Sheltie. I want to provide a loving home to a Sheltie in need, so I contacted Austin Sheltie Rescue. I was told I would not be able to adopt one of their Shelties because I live in the country on 11+ acres without a small fenced area attached to my house. My entire property is gated, fenced and cross-fenced. I also have a large, covered, 8ft x 10ft "kennel" that could be used instead of a small connected fence. So, requiring an attached fence to my house is a ludicrous requirement. I do not live anywhere near busy city streets where cars speed by. Nor do I live in an apartment where a dog would have to be cooped up all day long -- without any type of opportunity to be outside when the owner is not around. If people in the city with speeding cars all around or people living in apartment complexes that don't have attached fences are allowed to adopt from Austin Sheltie Rescue, I cannot understand why a home for a Sheltie in the country, in an environment that caters to a Sheltie's natural herding instincts and desire to be outside, could be inappropriate. I have already told Austin Sheltie Rescue they should be ashamed of themselves for denying my request to adopt one of their needy Shelties -- now I'm telling all the rest of you who are interested. read more