Eskimo Dogs Find New Homes
by Gina Parsons

    Billy, an American Eskimo dog, watches people walk past him at the pet store. If they stop and talk to him he wags his fluffy, white tail and rushes to greet them. It’s adoption day and Billy is looking for his forever home. 
    Billy was a stray in rural Indiana and wound up at a shelter. When no one there seemed to want him, the shelter contacted American Eskimo Rescue of St. Louis, Inc. (AER), to see if its volunteers could find Billy a good home.
    American Eskimo Rescue is a not-for-profit organization devoted to saving the lives of homeless dogs. Its mission is to rescue American Eskimo dogs – also called Eskies – in life-threatening situations and place them in loving homes. Since its inception in 1999, AER has found homes for 300 dogs. Funded by donations and adoption fees, AER takes dogs from shelters, owner surrenders and animal control in and around the St. Louis area, plus Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas.
    Dogs rescued by AER live with foster parents until they have permanent homes. Having enough foster homes has always been a challenge, and the group needs even more foster homes now, according to Sandy Michael, AER director. This past spring, 400 American Eskimo Dogs were rescued from a puppy mill in Washington state. Volunteers recently helped transport seven of those dogs to an affiliate rescue group in Indiana. Several more are awaiting transport to this area to find homes.
    Billy currently lives with his foster parent Robert Steeves of St. Louis. “I wanted to foster, to help out,” Steeves said. “If someone adopts Billy, I’ll foster someone else. Billy’s a really nice dog. He likes kids. I’m really hoping someone who has kids adopts him.” Steeves knows it will be heart-wrenching to see Billy go, but he knows that his efforts will help dogs find permanent homes. 
    Medical expenses for foster dogs are paid by AER. The foster families care for the dogs as if they were their own and bring the dogs to weekend adoption events at pet stores for potential adopters to visit.
    In addition to fostering Billy, Steeves adopted a dog from the group about a year ago. After his 19-year-old Eskie died, he wanted to rescue a dog.  “It seemed the right thing to do — to adopt a dog,” Steeves said. He wanted to adopt a puppy rather than an adult dog. He visited the AER Web site and found the organization had Chase, a 4-month-old male. “I like this breed,” Steeves said. “They’re smart, trainable. Chase can do all kinds of tricks. They like to be a part of the family. He’s always right near me. If I’m on the couch, he’s right next to me. If I’m in the bed, he sleeps on the bed.”
    The typical Eskie loves to be with its family and is very affectionate. They live for belly rubs. Their eagerness to please and ability to jump helps them excel at obedience and agility. They love to learn and show off new tricks. In fact, Eskies were often used in traveling circuses around the turn of the twentieth century. Eskies come in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard. They generally live 12 to 15 years. 
    Like most breeds, some have undesirable traits. They are very loyal and can be protective of their owners and property. Strangers aren’t always greeted with a tail wag. Most Eskies will bark to alert a stranger is near. Some can be possessive. A commitment to training can help correct problems.
    For those interested in adopting, the adoption fee is $250 for dogs under a year old, and $175 for dogs over a year. The fee includes vaccinations, spay/neuter, fecal check, heartworm check and microchip, as well as any medical attention needed before the adoption. The adoption process takes about a week. To help ensure the dogs go into good homes, AER conducts a home visit of potential adopters.
    For more information or to inquire about adopting or fostering, visit www.Eskierescuestl.org, or call (314) 647-1112.