Frequently Asked Questions

  The following questions are just some of the inquiries that we have recieved over the years by different people.  If they are on this list, it is because the question has been asked more than once on separate occasions, by different people in either emails, telephone calls or in person.

We have been compiling this list for a while, and as time goes on, we tend to keep adding to it.  So please, read the list of Frequently Asked Questions prior to emailing or calling us as it may help to clear things up for you.  

Have you read the Frequently Asked Questions section? Do you still have questions? Than please feel free to contact Chris at CeeJays03@aol.com or Dawnie at Duranie@dslextreme.com.

Question:.    Are the Adoption Fees tax deductible?

Answer:  We are a California Non Profit 501(c)(3) corporation, which means any money donated to our organization is considered a charitable donation (usually over $100.00) and should be tax deductible.  We can provide you with a reciept that has our tax id number.  HOWEVER, due to everyone's circumstances being different, you should always check with your CPA or Accountant, before you make the assumption regarding write offs and charitable deductions.  Any other questions regarding donation and tax deductibility contact DiannKozlowski@hotmail.com.

Answer:  the first thing you should do is email dawnie and duranie@dslextreme.com and inform her that a application has been submitted.  We ask you to do this to help us out, sometimes, applications fail to come through, so we know if you submitted one we can review it and move on to the next step.

Question:  I have a dachshund that I need to give up because I can no longer care for him/her, how do I do that?

ANSWER:  I order to give up an dachshund for whatever the reasons may be you can contact Chris Jacobson at CEEJAYS03@aol.com and explain the circumstances.  Dachshund Haven rarely denies taking in a dog, however, we need to know the reasons behind it and then we decide each situation on an individual basis.  Once you decide to relinquish dog we ask you to give us ALL relevant information, this includes any and all health issues, medications needed (we will want your former veterinarians name and telephone number so that our veterinarian will be able to contact the former treating doctor about the animals needs and any and all doctors reports, xrays etc that you have in your possession we will want you to turn over to us).  We also need to know about behavior information both bad and good.  Once you relinquish custody of your dog to us, you will sign a waiver that states that you are giving up your rights to your animal.  This is so that we can properly vet, care and feed your animal as needed on a permanent basis, if they become a sanctuary dog, or on a temporary basis until the animal is stable enough to be placed in a forever home with another family. 

Question:  I have filled out your application, however, I have not given you my address because I am uncomfortable doing so, can I still adopt.

Answer:  NO.  You do not have to give us your address over email through the application, if you feel uncomfortable doing so.  However, YOU MUST give it to us over the telephone.  We have to have it for our records.  We  do home visits and we need to know where are animals are that we have placed.  This means when you move, a courtesy email or telephone call to give the new address is appreciated.  Please realize that we do this often to know the areas where are animals are.  We need to know they are safe and being cared for and that they do not end up in another shelter etc.  Also, there are have been situations, (which have thankfully not involved our rescue) with past rescues that we have heard from other states, etc where they “trust” the people and after an adoption they find their animal has been mutilated, poisoned abused etc.  But because they were unable to find where their animals were the rescues were unable to prevent horrible issues. 

Question:  I am under the age of 21, can I adopt a dachshund?

Answer:  No.  Unfortunately, there are several reasons for this, but the main one is that often a person under the age of 21 is often still living at home (this is more common nowadays) and young people without permission would often come adopt a dog, the people they lived with either their parents or whoever, did not want the dogs and they ended up in a shelter.  All people who are living in the home, must be agreeable to adopt, and the adoption must take place between someone over the age of 21.   We do not allow the animals to be adopted as a “surprise”. 

Question:  I have a large dog(s) can i adopt a dachshund?

Answer:  More than likely no.  At least not a dachshund.  Dachshunds have what we like to lovingly call “short man’s syndrome”.   What this means is that they are often easily intimidated by animals larger than them.  More often than not you will find that a dachshund will charge or try to attack a large dog that they are intimidated by.  In the rare occasions that you find a large dog and a dachshund together, more often than not, the animals were raised from puppies together and by the time the dog is larger than the dachshund they have bonded too much to let the little dachshund be bothered by the size (although please note that this is not always the case, they may grow up and be afraid of their partner they have known all of their life).   Many people find themselves confused when they raise a dachshund and a large dog together and then the large dog passes away.  When they try to replace the large dog they find that the dachshund does not have the same reaction as he/she did to the other one. 

The other main concern that we have with large dogs and dachshunds is the physical difference in size when an accident comes into play.  A dachshund and large dog may be the best of buds running and romping but we have seen many times before where a playful romp turns into a serious matter because a large dog is jumping around and lands straight on the dachshunds back and breaks it.  Or, the dachshunds try to keep and strain their backs trying to keep up with the large dogs. 

Please note:  each situation is different.  We try to evaluate each situation on an individual basis.  Which makes follow through on the adopters side the most important thing.  If you have a large dog, and you wish to adopt a dachshund when it comes time to arrange the “meet and greet”  we ask that everyone who is in the house is present and all the animals that will be in direct contact with the dachshund be present.  The initial reaction between the family members and the dogs are a huge clue on how the animals will get along in the future. 

Question:  I have small children can I adopt?

 Answer:  Yes.  But again, it will depend on the situation.  First and foremost, it should be noted that most of the rescue turn-ins are from families whose children are grabby, rough and mean to the animals.  When the dachshund has enough, they turn on the children with either a growl, a snap and in extreme cases a bite.  The parents freak out, and rather than teach their children proper treatment of their animals they throw the animals in the shelter.  Please know that mean and snappy behavior on behalf of the dachshund is usually not initially in their nature to do, however, their former treatments often leave an impression on them. 

There are situations where we have younger dogs that don’t have that background and can be placed in a house with small children. 

In any case, if you wish to adopt a dachshund with small children it will take a lot of time, patience and effort on the adopters behalf.  Your small children whether your children or grandchildren, must be taught proper treatment of the dachshund or a problem may occur in the future.  If your home with small children is not properly supervised and your small ones are not taught how to properly treat the dachshund, including the way the should be petted, held and picked up, then they may growl, snap and in certain occasions bite.  If you wish to adopt a dachshund that has this in their background that we know of, then the adoption will take a lot of time and effort and supervision.

Question:  i have cats, can I adopt a dachshund?

 Answer:  Please notice that all of our little ones have not been tested with cats or small children.  So unfortunately, we do not know how they react with them.   You will have to take the opportunity to work with both animals when and if you adopt them.

However, sometimes they come to us with these little quirks and we will be sure to inform you of anything that we know of their attitude and personality quirks.

Answer:  No.  Although, it helps, it does not guarantee you an adoption.  Again, each situation is based on an individual basis.  When you submit an application it helps to explain your past with dachshunds and what happened to them.

Answer:  If you have viewed our site and there is no one that you feel is the right fit for you, you can email us with what you are looking for, or note it on the application.  We are constantly bringing in dogs weekly.  Just because we don’t have one now does not mean we won’t have one in the next few weeks. 

Question:  What is a spay and neuter contract?

Answer:  Puppies are unable to be adopted to new owners until 8 -10 weeks of age.  A puppy who finds a new home at that age will be adopted only through a spay and neuter contract.    A spay and neuter contract is a contract that is entered into by Dachshund Haven of Garden Grove and the new owner or adopter upon adopting a dog under the age of six months old.  It is a fully signed contract that is REQUIRED. 

 We are interested in both the happiness of the new owners but also the welfare of the animals overall.  In order to ensure the animals protection, the contract states that the new owner or adopter shall spay/neuter the newly adopted dachshunds as soon as they reach the age of six (6) months old.  The spay/neuter shall occur no later than the seventh (7th) month.  This is done to prevent the accidental and purposeful breeding but also to promote the future major medical problems that a unspayed/neutered dog can have.  Spaying and neutering does not guarantee that the dog can have no future medical problems but it does highly improve their chance of a happy and healthy future.   An amount is arranged by Chris Jacobson to be placed as a binder to keep the contract. 

Once written proof is provided Chris Jacobson with the signature of veternarian who performed the spay/neuter, she returns the binder money to the new owners and the contract is fulfilled.

PLEASE NOTE:  NO VERBAL PROOF IS ALLOWED.

If the adopter fails to keep the contract, then the contract becomes null and void and Chris Jacobson/Dachshund Haven of Garden Grove has the right to retrieve the dog(s) adopted to the new owners and the binder money and adoption fee shall be kept and given to Dachshund Haven of Garden Grove for failure to comply with the terms of the fully understood contract that was entered into by both the new owners and Chris Jacobson/Dachshund Haven.  The adoption fee and binder money shall be used to care for the dog and their spay/neuter until a new adopter is found.

Question: I want a dachshund but I don't want to go through the adoption process, can I just give you money and take the dog?

Answer:  No.  Never.  Please do not contact us with an email asking, begging or even bribing us with a claim for a “hefty donation” if we just give the dog over.  This happens mostly when we have an announcement of puppies on our site, however, it happens all of the time.  We get constant requests from people to “just sell them the puppies/dogs”.  WE ARE A RESCUE SITE, NOT A BREEDER SITE, SO WE DO NOT "SELL" ANY OF OUR LITTLE ONES TO ANYONE FOR ANY REASON.  So please stop asking. 

If you want a puppy, and do not wish to go through the process of adoption, then you can contact a  reputable breeder if you choose to do so. 

We are a rescue, more often then not, we do not have a nice work relationship with breeders or puppy mills as they continue to defeat our purpose of rescue by breeding way too many dogs in our society that has too many unwanted ones already.  The only exception to this, is  if these breeders and mills decide to turnover some of their so called "rejects" and most of the time the relationship ends with them turning over their unwanted little ones to us and further they often wish to remain anonymous. 

We do not have any "referrals" regarding breeders or puppy mills. 

We work hard to place our many rescued little ones into stable loving homes.  All of our applications are in fact reviewed carefully before contact is made.  This makes all of the information asked on the application extremely important to us.  So please be completely honest about the facts on your application.  We have caught a few people in some "fibs" with the information they give on their applications submitted, which makes it had to trust them with one of our fur-kids, so we have to pass them over or take the dogs back.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US AND ASK US TO PURCHASE THE DOGS OUTRIGHT.  WE DO NOT OFFER THOSE SERVICES HERE. 

IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT THEN YOU MUST FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND AGREE TO THE ADOPTION POLICIES INCLUDING, HOME CHECK VISITS AND A SPAY CONTRACT.  THERE WILL BE NO ACCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE!!!

Answer: A shelter is a place that’s primary purpose is to house stray animals until they can either be placed with either a home or a rescue.  Shelters care for the animals to a point, and when they come to adoptions, they are very open with the process requiring certain information and a fee then they release the dog to the person.  They do no personal work with the animals other than initial consultations and medical exams.

 Rescues are organizations started by individuals for the good of the animals.  Often they are breed specific (ie dachshund, pug, beagle, basset hounds etc)  however, there are a lot of rescues out there that are all breed and you can often find almost any sort of dog there.   Dachshund haven was started so that dachshunds who were either dumped in shelters or owner turns ins would have a safe home environment to live in, until they can be placed into a forever home.  This helps keep the trauma of losing a former home down for the dachshunds or whatever breed.  During this time, we also work with the animals to work on what we call quirks.  Housebreaking, chewing, food aggressiveness are examples however, some come to us, with a bad attitude, dominance issues or even medical issues.  We work with them, vet them, make sure they are as healthy as they can be before they are placed in a good home.  Most shelters work with rescues.  They have what they call rescue holds on certain breeds for certain known rescues in the area. This means simply, that if no one comes for the animals, if they cannot find a home, then they place the animal on rescue hold and then contact rescue to come and pull them.   We work with Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles shelters regarding both lost and founds and owner turns ins. 

Answer:  A kill shelter is a shelter as described above however, at the end of a certain time, if the animal cannot be placed with either a owner or a rescue than they euthanize the animals humanely.  Thankfully, there are not whole lot of them around, but there are still enough that many animals are euthanized all because they cannot find homes.

Answer:  No. No. No.   In no way do we ever allow anyone to “hide out a dog”.  The damage you do the animals is irreversible.  Dawnie the webmaster personally took care of a dachshund that had been hidden out in a closet in a small condo with a small balcony.  She was placed in a locked closet, in a small crate and a blanket over her so that could muffle her barks.  She was treated this way for a very short time, of course any time is a long time in this case, before the landlord found her out and demanded she give it to a rescue or she was going to turn her over for abuse.  THankfully they turned her over.   THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN WITH ONE OF OUR DOGS, SO PLEASE DON'T APPLY IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT DOES NOT ALLOW PETS.  WE WILL CHECK.

Answer: It is common for most dogs to go through separation anxiety and fear when they go into a new home from adoption, it is usually calmed when the dog realizes after a few weeks that he or she is safe and will not be going anywhere because their new families love them.  If you are applying to adopt you must automatically know that this IS a more than a possibility for your new adoptee to react this way.  This comes from some animals being abandoned in the backyards, or thrown outside for the animal control to be contacted of even taken to a kill shelter, which is not a nice place to be.  They become scared, nervous and when they see you leave out the door, thoughts go through their little brains and then they have physical reactions to them.  Very much like a anxiety attack. 

AND IN RARE SITUATIONS DOGS MAY GO THROUGH EXTREME SEPARATION ANXIETY WHERE IT CAUSES A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THEIR HEALTH. 

This is rare, but often when the dog you adopt becomes so upset that they begin to vomit, either before you leave or while you are gone.  Some dogs will stop drinking, eating etc.  They will become afraid and maybe even become aggressive, in rarer occassions, some dogs have seizures when their owners leave.    If and when this happens, we often tell people to visit their vets office.  Mainly because if it happens everyday, and they are not eating, drinking or holding down their food or drinks right, then they may go into malnutrition and cause them to become dehydrated (which can sometimes cause seizures).  Sometimes upon vet recommendation, you may need to medicate your little one for a while.  They will give you tips on how to keep the animals safe.  Sometimes, the answer is getting the little one a partner, to play with during the many hours you are gone. 

Other times, if you have two dogs already and one has separation anxiety then medication may be required, even crating or even a neighbor popping in to check on the dogs to give them that human contact halfway through the day.

Nine times out of ten, the dog stops when they realize they are safe and that they are not going to be turned over again or left, or abandoned. 

Sometimes, the dogs come to us with these issues.  If we can place them, we usually have to place them with either a person who is home all of the time or a person who is home most of the time with a partner.  That usually calms the nerves down for the little ones.