Poodle Rescue of Houston - 2012 Annual Report
Impact Statement and Accomplishments
Poodle Rescue of Houston was incorporated in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing rescue,
rehabilitation and adoption support for poodles and poodle mixes. Poodle Rescue of Houston seeks to
adopt out dogs to stable, loving and responsible owners. All potential adopters are carefully screened to
establish that they have the desire, means and knowledge to provide necessary care and a loving home
for a poodle.
It is governed by a Board of Directors, none of whom have ever been compensated, and supported by
volunteers who assist with media and fundraising, community outreach, grooming and socializing dogs,
kennel and laundry care, and adoptions.
All dogs that PRH adopts out are spayed or neutered, and get their teeth cleaned while under
anesthesia. They are up to date on their vaccinations. Dogs are also checked for internal and external
parasites, including heartworm, and treated as necessary. All dogs are put on preventive medicines for
parasites.
Given PRH’s past successes in rescuing dogs from puppy mills, owner surrenders, or court-ordered
seizures, contacts have directed to PRH dogs with some of the most challenging medical issues, some of
them requiring extensive surgeries and prolonged rehabilitation.
Here are some of the highlights of our 2012 operations:

In 2012, Poodle Rescue of Houston adopted out 617 dogs, with 34 returns. The dogs that were
returned were in all but two cases readopted successfully.

PRH sponsored “learn to groom” classes for two 8 week sessions early in the year and two 6
week sessions at the end of the year. These classes taught volunteers how to groom poodles
and poodle mixes, from clipping nails, expressing anal glands, cleaning ears, brushing out and
bathing to clipping, trimming and scissoring to get the perfect topknot. The rescued poodles
benefit from the volunteers’ loving attention two ways – they are socialized and desensitized to
grooming, and they always “clean up nicely” – and bringing out their natural beauty helps their
prospects for adoption. By requesting a modest donation for the classes, PRH is able to provide
equipment without depleting operating funds. Several long-time volunteers began at PRH
through these classes.

PRH continued posting photographs and profiles of available dogs on PetFinder. Our extremely
dedicated photographer also inaugurated posting videos to PetFinder during the fourth
quarter. PRH has had very positive feedback that videos allow adopters to get a sense of the
dog’s personality. Videos have helped increase adoption rates, so we’re trying to get video
posted for all dogs as quickly as possible. Written profiles are also posted, to give whatever
background we have on the dog and provide a description of size, age and temperament.

PRH successfully fostered 18 puppies born to dogs that were pregnant when rescued. The pups
have been or will be brought back for spaying / neutering once they are old enough.

PRH rehabilitated several dogs with difficult medical and emotional trauma from neglect, abuse
or accidents. These included:
o Victoria, a dog that was rescued out of the Buffalo Bayou and resocialized;
o Tim, a severely traumatized Standard who was brought back to trusting people through
gentle socialization;
o Lucky, a dog who was seized by police from an abusive owner and whose untreated
broken leg required amputation and extended follow-up treatment;
o Sonny Boi, who needed surgery, a pin and rehab for a broken leg;
o Popeye, who needed to have a damaged eye removed;
o GC and Gracelynn, who were operated on for bladder stones;
o Several dogs were treated for ruptured anal glands.
Approximately half of the dogs in the program come in heartworm positive and are treated before being
adopted out.
Medical issues incurred extraordinary expenses, thus exceeding service revenues and donations for the
fiscal year 2011 (April 1 – March 31) by $50,799 and for the fiscal year 2010 by $55,362.
It was important to save these dogs while the resources remain available to do so, even though it
resulted in drawing down reserves. We have been enlisting donors to help with specific medical issues,
as well as for the general revenues, and hope to rebuild a net positive balance for the 2012 and 2013
years, without sacrificing some of the tougher cases.
Estimated costs per dog – excluding extraordinary medical expenses – are between $600 - $900. This
includes transport for picking the dog up and paying any shelter release fees, providing kennel facilities,
blankets, food, vaccinations, testing, medicines / preventative prescriptions, dental cleaning and any
extractions, spay or neutering, and grooming. Service revenues from adoption fees range from $250 for
a male and $350 for a female to $500 for Standard Poodles. In some cases where dogs are older or have
disabilities (blind, missing a leg, etc.), the adoption fee has been reduced to facilitate adoption to the
right caretaker.

Poodle Rescue of Houston conducted adoption awareness and fundraising events at
o Pet Expo
o The Dog Show at Reliant Center,
o Pet Fest in Old Town Spring, and
o Natural Pawz Adoption Awareness events in the Woodlands and Vintage Park
The events provide publicity for PRH and expenses were covered by donors, so all funds raised went to
support PRH operations. Funds raised in these venues totalled about $3,000.