FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. What is your geographical adoption region?
Q. Why do you limit your adoption area? I have a fine home and....
Q. Who is Harlequin Haven?
Q. Why do you charge so much for the dogs? Are you folks greedy?
Q. Why do you need all that personal information on the adoption application and who sees it?
Q. Do we really need references?
Q. Who decides whether I can adopt?
Q. Who decides what dog is right for me?
Q. Why can't I adopt a dog as gift for my girlfriend?
Q. Why are you only open on Saturdays?
Q. Where do your dogs come from?
Q. Do they have their shots?
Q. Why must we have a fence? Our dogs have never run away. Our dogs never leave their yard.
Q. I've had great luck with invisible fences--why isn't that acceptable?
Q. What fences are acceptable?
Q. Since Danes are so big they must be really tough?
Q. I live in a rough neighborhood--are Danes good guard dogs?
Q. Do you have any females that I can breed to have puppies? I want a male so I can stud him out.
Q. Do you have any dogs with AKC papers?
Q. Do you have any puppies? I want to raise my own dog. I want my child to have a puppy.
Q. Why do you say "no small children"?
Q. What IS a "small child"?
Q. Can my child ride our new Dane? They're big enough!
Q. My last Dane was perfect--can I get another one just like him?
Q. I love dogs--can I volunteer?
Q. Why do family members and dogs living in the household need to come to meet the dogs?

Q. Why do you limit your adoption area? I have a fine home and I'm willing to drive from 3 states away.
A. Each of the surrounding states (and most states) have their own homeless Danes and Dane Rescues from which you can adopt a homeless Dane. And, if for some reason in the life of the dog it does not work out we are better able to help get our dogs returned to us if they are in our geographical region.

Q. Who is Harlequin Haven?
A. A group of volunteers that dedicate their lives to saving homeless dogs. As of September 2013 we have adopted out more than 1,470 dogs to caring, forever homes. See our Mission Statement and Annual Report.

Q. Why do you charge so much for the dogs? Are you folks greedy? I can't afford that price. Aren't you paid to care for the dogs and the medical care is all done for free?
A. Our adoption fee does not cover the cost that we incur with most dogs. Very few come in with any medical history so we have to start from scratch with vaccinations, worming, etc. We do not get federal, state, or county funding--our funding comes from donations and adoption fees.

Q. Why do you need all that personal information on the adoption application and who sees it?
A. We do a thorough background check to make sure that the dogs are placed in safe "forever" homes. Only the Directors and/or Review committee see the application.

Q. Do we really need references?
A. Yes, you do. We carefully check all references to be sure that you and your family would be the best possible "forever" home for one of our dogs.

Q. Who decides whether I can adopt?
A. As a 501(3)(c) non-profit, HHGDR has a board of directors and a review committee which meet once a week to make decisions on HHGDR matters, including reviewing adoption applications.

Q. Who decides what dog is right for me?
A. The directors and other knowledgeable volunteers who know the dogs and can match your lifestyle and family for several potential matches. Please read our adoption procedures.

Q. Why can't I adopt a dog as gift for my girlfriend (father, fiancé, grandmother, etc.)?
A. It is extremely important to match the individual dog with the individual person, so we must have the adopter themselves apply, interview with us, and meet the dogs. If you really want to make a "gift," buy the adopter some pet accessories or offer to pay the adoption fee. See "Dogs and Puppies as Gifts"

Q. Why are you only open on Saturdays and Sundays?
A. That is the only days that we can get enough volunteers every week--it takes a lot of people power to get the facilities and dogs ready, and conduct the adoption appointments.

Q. Where do your dogs come from?
A. Our dogs come mainly from animal shelters where they have been picked up as strays, and also directly from individual owners who can no longer care for their dogs (called "owner surrenders").

Q. Do they have their shots?
A. All vaccinations are given including rabies and lyme. The dogs have also been wormed, heartworm checked, and placed on heartworm preventative.

Q. Why must we have a fence? Our dogs have never run away. Our dogs never leave their yard.
A. Most of our dogs come to us as "strays" from animal shelters. Those dogs' families, I am sure, also thought their dog would never leave their yard. It is for the safety of our dogs.

Q. What fences are acceptable?
A. Visit our page on acceptable fences at http://www.hhdane.org/care/typesoffences.htm.

Q. I've had great luck with invisible fences--why isn't that fence acceptable?
A. Many dogs show up every day in animal shelters wearing invisible fence collars, proving that this is not always a safe type of fence. Invisible fences do not work when the electricity is out, also the fence can malfunction and the owner may not be aware the fence is broken. Once a dog has learned it can go through the fence they will not stop. It is also has a high rate of causing dog aggression due to people teasing the dog to watch the dog get shocked. The electronic fence offers no protection from theft or an attacking dog. See our page on acceptable fences.

Q. Since Danes are so big they must be really tough.
A. Actually the opposite is true--giant breed dogs have some special needs, including soft things to lie on and elevated feeding surfaces. And they are true people dogs--they need to be in the house and with the family.

Q. I live in a rough neighborhood--are Danes good guard dogs?
A. No. If you want protection, get an alarm system. If you want to love and be loved in return, get a dog. Danes will typically help a thief carry your items out as long as they are nice to the dog.

Q. Do you have any females that I can breed to have puppies? I want a male so I can stud him out.
A. No, all of our dogs are altered (spayed or neutered) prior to adoption. Did you know that eight to ten million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters last year? More than half of them were euthanized. To empty the cages at every U.S. animal shelter, each household in the country would have to adopt at least six cats and two dogs.

Q. Do you have any puppies? I want to raise my own dog. I want my child to have a puppy.
A. On occasion we have puppies but most homes would be happier with a young adult or an adult. Remember puppies can be destructive. We do not place puppies with small children for the safety of the child and puppy.

Q. Do you have any dogs with AKC papers?
A. No. All AKC papers are returned to the AKC per their request.

Q. My last Dane was perfect--can I get another one just like him?
A. Probably not, there are few perfect dogs or people in this world. But any dog can be the perfect companion if you take time and train him/her.

Q. Why do you say "no small children"?
A. Typically the dog has been checked with small children and in our opinion is not good with small children. If it is a puppy then we do not adopt puppies with small children because many times small children are the reason we get puppies into the Rescue. Children play rough with puppies and puppies do not know better and play rough back then the parents blame the puppy or the puppy gets a bite history. Adult dogs that are good with children know to get up and move away from children when they start to irritate the dog. NO small child should ever be left unattended with a dog no matter what the age and history of the dog.

Q. What IS a "small child"?
A. Typically 12 years and under, but this varies slightly depending on the dog and the child in same cases..

Q. Can my child ride our new Dane? They're big enough!
A. NO!! A dog is not meant to ride; they have very fragile backs and can be paralyzed if weight is put on their backs. If you want something for your child to ride then adopt a pony.

Q. I love dogs--can I volunteer?
A. Email us at info@hhdane.org and we will gladly send you a volunteer application to fill out.

Q. Why do family members and dogs living in the household need to come to meet the dogs?
A. Dogs have distinct personalities, just like people. We have had occasions where dogs that love everyone don’t like an existing family dog; we’ve also had cases where the current family dog doesn’t get along with one of our dogs (although in either case, the family dog will get along with another rescue dog). Likewise, some people realize after meeting the dogs that one doesn’t quite fit what they were expecting from the picture (“perky”, “laid back”, etc) and won’t fit in with their family routine. We ask that your family and dog come on the FIRST visit, and subsequent pre-adoption visits (if necessary), so that our volunteers and your family (including your dogs) can evaluate how a rescue dog will react in your home. We don’t allow the first visit with a dog or a family member to be the day of adoption, as we spend time grooming the dogs and getting them ready for their big day (yes, we tell them they’re going home, and they understand) because, after all of the excitement building up to the adoption--if a family member or existing dog doesn’t like the rescue dog, it can cause depression in an already homeless dog. Please understand, we do all of this not to inconvenience you, but to protect and provide the best environment for the dogs at rescue, both during your visit and if they make your home their forever home.

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