Independent dog rescue groups are a valuable resource that should be utilized by the SPCA. These rescue groups have spent far more time working one-on-one with all kinds of dogs in a natural environment (as opposed to SPCA cells) than SPCA staff ever have. In many cases these rescue groups are breed-specific and should be looked upon as a wealth of information when it comes to the temperament of their breed, as their only goal is the welfare of the dogs. They offer their help and expertise to the SPCA yet the SPCA continually rejects this help.

The SPCA has demonstrated time and again that it is NOT knowledgable about different dog breeds, and this is evident right from the get-go when a dog arrives at an SPCA and is labelled with the wrong breed type by SPCA staff. SPCA Animal Welfare Manager Nadine Gourkow has written on the subject of successful dog adoptions and how to ensure a proper match between dogs and guardians. But how can a successful match be made when the basic breed information about the dog is wrong from the start? The only way any adoption matching program can work is if the SPCA allows the input and help of outside independent rescuers, who are far more knowledgable and experienced with the particular breeds. Sadly, what is best for dogs in the SPCA's care seems sometimes to be the last thing the SPCA is willing to do.

Here is what a former SPCA staff member has to say about this:

Anything that they are unsure of is a "Pit" at the SPCA - it is horrible how often dogs are labeled as having Pit in them. I have had huge arguments over it many times.They also label ANY dog with black on the tongue as a Chow! You might as well call it a Pit if you are going to call it a Chow, as they also have a bad rap! Black and tan dogs are another one; they are ALWAYS Rotties! So many have been Doberman X's and we even had a 99% Black and Tan Coonhound mix in, and labeled as a Rottie from another shelter. This poor Coonhound was adopted out and returned because he was not like any other Rottie these people ever had. He never stopped howling!!!
It is crazy and WRONG!

Once again the SPCA is setting up dogs for failure, and when dogs fail at an SPCA they are killed. That is not animal welfare.