Rescue

What is a rescue Vizsla?

For a variety of reasons, some people cannot keep their Vizslas, and these dogs become available for re-homing. We also bring “shelter dogs” into rescue. Sometimes rescue Vizslas have had no prior training or have been abused and need special care and rehabilitation. Rarely are they puppies.

As a rule, our rescue Vizslas make wonderful pets and adjust well to their new families. Vizslas are active dogs that often behave like puppies until they are three or more years old. Therefore, for working couples or families with children, we highly recommend adopting an adult housebroken Vizsla because these dogs settle into the family much more quickly than puppies do.

Before placing a rescue in a forever home, all shots are brought up to date, and all immediate medical needs are addressed. All dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption. Vizslas coming from an animal shelter environment may spend several days in quarantine as an extra precaution against contagious illness or temperament problems.

How do I adopt a Vizsla?

There are volunteer Vizsla rescue organizations throughout the country. Each prospective owner is asked to complete an adoption application to help match the best dog for them and their family. The adopter signs a contract to ensure the dog’s care and well-being under rescue, to agree to follow-up visits, and to arrange obedience training as needed. Please get in touch with the group closest to you for the application form and details on that group’s application process.

How do I surrender my Vizsla to rescue?

Please contact the closest State Rescue Coordinator for more information about surrendering a Vizsla to rescue. We request that all registration papers, health records, and any other paperwork relating to the dog be provided to the rescue volunteer at the time of transfer. We also request that all dogs coming into our program be neutered or spayed and be current on all shots, whenever possible.

What does a rescue Vizsla cost?

Each rescue organization sets its own fees, but please expect to pay a reasonable adoption fee to cover vaccinations, spay or neuter fees, a health exam by a licensed veterinarian, and/or a microchip.

Rescue Contacts

Below you will find a list of Volunteer Rescue Coordinators by State (US only). Please note that each Rescue Coordinator operates as an individual rescue organization, neither directly affiliated with nor part of the Vizsla Club of America.

VCA National Rescue Coordinator, Laurie Cummings Cahill at vcarescue@gmail.com

Learn more about applying for a grant from the VCA WF to support purebred Vizsla rescue

Please get in touch with the rescue volunteer closest to your area. If the matter is urgent and you cannot reach a local volunteer, please contact the Regional Coordinator listed at the top of each regional section. A Regional Coordinator will contact someone else in the volunteer rescue network to help with both surrender and placements of purebred Vizslas.

Because this is a volunteer rescue network, they all work together and can provide referrals for transport, foster homes, or adoption to another rescue group as needed. While they may coincidentally help you find the dog of your dreams, their primary concern is placing the right dog with the right owner. Therefore, dogs are placed on a “best fit” rather than a first-come, first-served basis.

NORTHEAST

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

MID ATLANTIC

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia

SOUTH CENTRAL

Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

SOUTHEAST

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

NORTH CENTRAL

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

NORTHWEST

Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

SOUTHWEST

Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada

Make a Donation to Rescue

Please donate to the Rescue Fund of the VCA Welfare Foundation (VCA WF). Donations to the VCA WF Rescue Fund are used exclusively to subsidize veterinary expenses incurred by our dedicated rescue volunteers on behalf of the purebred Vizsla.

The VCA Welfare Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit with 501(c)3 status. Donations are tax deductible and will be allocated to the Rescue Fund.

If you prefer to give by mail, please make your check out to the “VCA Welfare Foundation” with “rescue” in the memo line and send to the following:

Donations by check may be sent to:
VCA Welfare Foundation
c/o Laurie Cummings Cahill, Treasurer
916 Windy Ridge Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517