Who We Are...
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Our Mission Statement
It is our mission to provide a temporary safe haven and rehabilitation for field bred English Pointers and English Setters found homeless in shelters. In an effort to find the dogs homes, we also hope to educate the public on dog health and training. We also work to dispel such myths as “a neutered dog won’t hunt” and “you ruin a hunting dog by letting him live in the house.”
About IBR
Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving, transporting, vetting, fostering, and adopting homeless American Field-bred English Pointers and English Setters - a group of canines commonly known as BIRDDOGS. We are funded solely from adoption fees and donations. Since our slow beginning in October of 2001, we have placed over 500 dogs and puppies.
Most of our rescue dogs are in foster care in the Chicagoland area with a wonderful group of volunteers who dedicate their free time and energy to help the dogs get ready for their forever homes. While in foster care, the rescues live in a home and are socialized with other dogs, people, children, and cat tested if possible. To assure that they will make good house pets, our rescues are also taught basic manners, are housebroken and crate trained. Unfortunately many of the rescues that come in have been abused or are in poor health. We take care of any medical issues and give these dogs lots of TLC.
On occasion we test the dogs hunting instinct using planted pigeons or quail to see if they have any scent pointing ability. Seeing one of our birddogs pointing a bird by scent alone is a beautiful thing. We have successfully adopted out our dogs to hunters as long as they are spoiled rotten house pets first.
While our organization focuses on pointers and setters, we also work in conjunction with other birddog groups across the country who save Brittanys, German Short-haired Pointers, and Setters by helping them transport their homeless hunters to safety.
