Is Lhasa Happy Homes a non-profit, charitable organization?
Where is Lhasa Happy Homes located?
Can we see the dogs at any other time besides on Sunday at the Farmer’s Market?
What is the adoption process?
Where do the dogs @ Lhasa Happy Homes come from?
Do the dogs you rescue stay in a kennel or are they in foster homes?
How long are the dogs in foster homes before they are adopted?
Do you have any history on the dogs?
If the dog is a stray, how do you know how old it is?
Can you send me more information on this dog?
Do you train dogs at Lhasa Happy Homes?
I have heard that Lhasa (also Shih Tzu and Maltese) are prone to skin and other allergies. What do you recommend for this?
Do you adopt out of state?
Do you adopt outside Southern California?
What is a home check?
Is there an adoption fee?
Why can I adopt a dog from a County shelter for $37 and it is $250 to adopt from a rescue organization?
Why is there an adoption donation?
Do you have a refund/return policy?
What if we have a pet and the two pets don't get along? Is the adoption fee refundable?
I can’t keep my dog will Lhasa Happy Homes take it for me?
Is there a fee for surrendering a dog to Lhasa Happy Homes?
Are Lhasa Apso’s good with children?
Do you adopt to young children?
Do you ever make exceptions and adopt to children under 8 yrs old?
Do Lhasa Apso’s shed and are they hypoallergenic?
Is Lhasa Happy Homes a non-profit, charitable organization? Lhasa Happy Homes Rescue, Inc., is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization. Our federal tax ID number is 01-0697206. All contributions are 100% tax deductible (with the exception of the donation paid when adopting a dog, which is not deductible).
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Where is Lhasa Happy Homes located? We are a private rescue organization with offices located in Santa Monica, California. We show our dogs weekly at My Pet Naturally (one block East of Bundy at 12001 W. Pico Blvd., 90064) every Sunday 10:30am-3:00pm. If you are coming to our showing, please let us know so that we can look forward to meeting you!! Please bring a copy of your application and pictures of your home/yard/fencing/gates if we have not yet done a home visit. Please also bring your dog, if you are looking to make a "forever match!" We also participate in special adoption fairs, which are listed under "Adoption Events" (under the Adoption menu on this website).
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Can we see the dogs at any other time besides on Sunday at My Pet Naturally? Unfortunately, since all of our dogs are in foster homes, it is difficult for us to arrange for you to see the dogs prior to our adoption event on Sunday. However, if you are interested in a particular dog, your application has been approved and it is not possible for you to attend on Sunday, we will do our best to make arrangements for you to see that dog. Please call us at 310 74 LHASA once you have completed the application. You can also contact us via email at LhasaHappyHomes@aol.com. You can get more information about the dogs we have for adoption by clicking on the Available Dogs link on this website.
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What is the adoption process? If you will visit our home page and click Adoption Process the answer to this question is detailed. We do request that once you’ve reviewed our available dogs and have chosen one (or two!) of interest, that you complete and submit the adoption application before calling. Our goal is to make the perfect match between you and the dog of your choice but we cannot do this without having specific information about you. We also want to give you the time you deserve so when you call we have the time to speak with you. Our general office hours are 9am – 6pm Tuesday-Saturday. We are closed on Sunday and Monday.
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Where do the dogs @ Lhasa Happy Homes come from? The majority of the dogs come to us from city and county shelters in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and Orange County. These are dogs that would likely not make it out of the shelters without our assistance. We specialize in dogs that have medical maladies – some who have been hit by cars or abused; some with eye issues, bladder/kidney conditions, patellar problems or just plain neglected. On a space available, case-by-case basis, we will accept Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians and mixes of these breeds owner turn-ins (OTI).
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Do the dogs you rescue stay in a kennel or are they in foster homes? The dogs at Lhasa Happy Homes do not stay in cages or kennels; they live in foster homes. These dogs have been through enough, and our goal is to make them feel safe, secure and loved. We feel that the best way to evaluate a dog’s personality is by living in a home environment, with a family, with other dogs, being socialized and reintroduced to the world. This is not to say that the dog’s personality won’t change over time, and we pretty much guarantee that once they are comfortable in your home, this will happen. We believe in the “loving your dog to life….not spoiling them to death,” approach, and many of our breeds have a dominant streak that needs taming! Our foster families work on training to some extent, but we believe that the new guardians must be prepared to take on this task. Foster parents can identify issues that the dogs might have that need attention and/or correction.
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How long are the dogs in foster homes before they are adopted? Our foster dogs are with us anywhere from a week to several months – whatever it takes to insure their adoptability. This will vary, depending on their health, social ability, rehabilitation and needs. They live in a home environment with lots of love and attention, not to mention toys treats and training, when necessary!!
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Do you have any history on the dogs? Unless the dog is listed as an owner turn in (OTI), we rarely have any history. On the rare occasions where we do have background, we will include it in the dog’s “Adoption Package” (along with any medical records, vaccination and sterility certificates, etc). We will discuss all known issues, medical information and behavior with potential adopters prior to adoption. Most of the dogs are rescued as strays; and even when owners turn them into the shelters, information provided is limited. It is our responsibility to disclose to any potential adopter any issues that we know about the animal, which we do in all cases. But unfortunately, we can only share with you what we know from our experience with each specific animal.
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If the dog is a stray, how do you know how old it is? Age is estimated by evaluating the eyes and teeth and overall medical condition of the animal. We pride ourselves on being as accurate as possible, but with so many variables, we can only estimate. In most cases, we will “over” estimate a dog’s age before under estimating!!
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Can you send me more information on this dog? All the information we have on each dog is usually contained in the written profile on Petfinder.com. This usually includes their breed, age, coloring, size, physical condition (to the best of our knowledge) and whatever general personality traits we have gleaned from our time with the dogs. They are also temperament tested during their stay, so that we can give you our professional opinion on how they appear to be with kids…other dogs…people….what they like/don’t like….habits...etc. One thing we’ll never guarantee is that they are housebroken (a pleasant surprise when they turn out to be!).
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Do you train dogs at Lhasa Happy Homes? We do not take responsibility for housetraining the dogs at Lhasa Happy Homes, however we will work with them while they are in our charge to the best of our ability. Dogs who exhibit dominant behavior, which Lhasa is famous for, are sent to South Bay Doggie bootcamp, for behavioral rehabilitation. These dogs, when adopted, come with free training sessions (by donation only) @ South Bay Doggie for the new guardian and “child” to insure the success of this adoption. What is important to understand is that many times, these dogs are in the wrong home to begin with…maybe with young children, or puppies in senior homes, or too much freedom or no training whatsoever and the dog’s behavior becomes unruly. Lhasa Happy Homes are huge proponents of training, whether it is Obedience or Behavioral. We believe that training will help to insure having a dog that respects you and knows that you are the Alpha. It is important to your Lhasa or Shih Tzu or Maltese or any small dog to know that YOU are the boss of him/her and NOT the other way around!! It is a condition of adoption from Lhasa Happy Homes that each the dogs are taken to Obedience Training or, in the case of a dog having been thru Boot camp, that the follow up sessions be applied. Training doesn’t fix the dog….it only gives you and the dog the tools to manage the issues so that they don’t present themselves in a destructive manner.
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I have heard that Lhasa (also Shih Tzu and Maltese) are prone to skin and other allergies. What do you recommend for this? This is a very broad question and is more identified under the heading Lhasa Learnin’ on our website. However, many times, skin issues are connected with the type of food that is fed. We highly recommend that you select a food that uses human grade ingredients, natural chicken or other protein (fish, venison, duck, rabbit, buffalo, lamb), without corn, wheat or soy. There are many premium foods available today that include antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and omega fatty acids which are wonderful for their overall health and their coats. DO NOT select a food that includes by-products! Foods we recommend, which can be purchased online or at your nearest pet store include Life’s Abundance (www.healthypetnet.com/randeegoldman), Innova, Merricks, Wellness, Eagle Pack, Nature's Variety, Natural Balance, Canidae, Wellness, Solid Gold, Artemis....there are so many good foods on the market now, you have a wide selection to choose from. If your dog suffers from allergy problems, and he/she has been eating chicken or lamb, switch to a different protein, such as fish and sweet potato, venison and brown rice or duck and potato and this should help. A raw diet is usually the best for skin conditions; check with your local pet store to see if they sell "Stella & Chewys" or Halshans brand of raw diet. You will find that the food you feed makes a tremendous difference in your dog’s appearance and overall health.
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Do you adopt out of state? As a general rule, Lhasa Happy Homes does not adopt out of state. There are many reasons for this, the most important one being if the dog doesn't work out in the home, the dog would need to come back to Lhasa Happy Homes in CA. This can be a logistical nightmare! If there is another dog in the home, and the dogs don't get along, the dog -- you guessed it -- would have to come back to us. It is also difficult, in most cases, for us to do a home visit and this is a mandatory policy of Lhasa Happy Homes.
First and foremost, there really is no reason to place a highly adoptable dog out of state and put them through the trauma of transport when there are wonderful homes in CA!!
Of course, are always exceptions to the rule! An exception would be if we had a special needs dog and/or a difficult placement and the "perfect" home happens to be in another state. The application would have to be approved, references checked and a thorough interview process would need to take place. Additionally, several qualifications would need to be met before this could take place:
1. The potential adopter(s) would be required to come to LHH in CA to meet the dog and us;
2. We would need to have a local representative do the home visit;
3. We would need to have a back up rescue who would take the dog in the event the adoption did not work out OR a commitment that the dog would be hand delivered to LHH, which would be firmly agreed upon prior to the adoption being completed.
4. No dog, under any circumstances, would ever be shipped by cargo to an adopter. This is not negotiable!!
We do, from time to time, adopt to homes in Northern California. All of the above qualifications must be met.
Our goal is to always make the right match for the dogs in our charge. The only way we can do that is by meeting the potential guardians and learning as much about them as we possibly can. This is not only to benefit the dog, but to benefit the guardian...as it has to be a right fit for all!!
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Do you adopt outside Southern California? We will consider an adoption to the right home outside of Southern California; however, the same policies would apply as those for an out-of-state adoption (see above.).
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What is a home check? Prior to finalizing an adoption, a representative of Lhasa Happy Homes will visit your home to see where the dog will be living. The goal here is not to be invasive but to insure the best environment for the dog. Since we’ve had first-hand experience with each animal, we can advise you of areas to be cautious (i.e., if it is a jumper, escape artist, garbage can junkie or just likes to open the refrigerator and get a snack!) and help you make adjustments, if/where necessary. This is done to guarantee the ultimate protection of the dog so that both canine and parents enjoy the best experience!
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Is there an adoption fee? There is a minimum adoption donation for each dog which ranges from $150-400, depending on the age and breed. All dogs are spay/neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed, given flea control and groomed. If medication, surgery or behavioral training is indicated, Lhasa Happy Homes pays for these procedures before any adoption is completed. We also include a 3 oz bottle of Colostrum (highest quality available from New Zealand) in your adoption package, which is a supplement that we give each of the dogs to build up their immune systems. We don’t know where most of them have been and we want to see to it that their new start in life is a good one! Lhasa Happy Homes rarely has puppies for adoption, since puppies don’t usually need to be adopted! On the rare occasion where we have a puppy, the adoption donation is on the high end.
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Why can I adopt a dog from a County shelter for $37 and it is $250 to adopt from a rescue organization? We highly encourage the public to visit the shelters to find a dog if they (1) do not have another animal (2) don’t have any kids (3) are looking to save a life (4) would consider a senior dog (4) have the means to handle any medical expense that might occur. However, if you do not fit into any of these categories, we recommend going thru rescue. When you get a dog from a shelter, you have no information about the dog’s behavior, personality or medical status. You don’t know if the dog is good with other dogs, kids, people, cats or what issues the dog might have. One of the benefits of adopting from a rescue organization is that we evaluate the dog and can provide you with a good deal of this information.
Additionally, when you get a dog from the shelter, it is usually in pretty poor condition. Dog may have a simple case of kennel cough or something more serious….you never know! When you get a dog from rescue, no matter what the condition, we make sure when you adopt the dog is in good health. We are forthcoming with any medical maladies that we are aware of and complete any surgical procedure that is deemed necessary at the time of your adoption. The truth is, you can pay that $37-105 bail fee….and end up spending far more than $250 by the time you are thru!! In the long run….rescue is a bargain!
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Why is there an adoption donation? Lhasa Happy Homes is a non profit, all volunteer organization that solely relies on donations for its existence. Last year, we spent 49% of our donations on medical care for the animals. We pay all expenses for each of the dogs out of pocket, which include adoption fees to the shelters; vet exams; vaccinations; spay/neutering; microchip; grooming; flea control; and de-worming for every dog; surgical procedures, x-rays, medication and/or behavioral training where indicated. Additionally, Lhasa Happy Homes provides each adoptive family with a gift of a leash, collar and identification tag; and you also receive a free evaluation and training session at South Bay Doggie. Without donations, Lhasa Happy Homes could not survive.
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Do you have a refund/return policy? The adoption fee/donation is non-refundable. However, if we have misrepresented the dog in some way, which is agreed to and substantiated by a veterinarian or trainer, then we would return the fee. If the adopter changes their mind due to no fault of the dog, or if the dog is returned because it is not housebroken, there would be no refund. The donation can be deducted from your annual taxes. We will, however, take the dog back at any time during its lifetime. When you adopt a dog, you should be certain and have no question that this is the dog for you. We believe that by maintaining this policy, adopters will not make snap decisions and be very careful to make the right choice. Adopting a dog is not like buying a pair of shoes….it is bringing a new family member into the household and we want you to be sure when you take a dog home that it’s the right one for you. .
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What if we have a pet and the two pets don't get along? Is the adoption fee refundable? It takes time for animals to get used to each other. Sometimes, it requires a trainer to come in and help. If you have another animal, the best thing to do before adopting an dog is to test your pet with other dogs. Socialize them in/out of your home. Have friends visit and bring their dogs over to see how your animal reacts. Make sure it is not only you who wants another family member in the home!! Do your homework before you adopt a dog! It is very hard on a dog to be shuffled around from home to home. If you have done due diligence, which includes training, and the pets still don't get along, your donation would be returned within the first thirty (30) days.
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I can’t keep my dog, will Lhasa Happy Homes take it for me? While we frown on owner turn-ins (OTI), we recognize that there are situations that arise in life that are unavoidable wherein an animal must be re-homed. We do accept OTI on a space available, case-by-case basis. Naturally, dogs that are in jeopardy of losing their lives in the shelters are our first priority. In the event we do not have room and cannot foster your dog, we will post him/her for you on our web site and assist in its adoption.
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Is there a fee for surrendering a dog to Lhasa Happy Homes? There is no mandatory fee for surrendering a dog to Lhasa Happy Homes if the dog is spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. If they are not, we do request that the guardian sponsor these medical necessities. If a dog is being surrendered because of behavioral issues, we will only accept the animal from a guardian who will sponsor Behavioral Training at South Bay Doggie, our official training facility. The cost to sponsor training is $500.
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Are Lhasa Apso’s good with children? While we steer away from stereotyping any breeds, as they all have their own unique personalities just like humans, it is our professional opinion that generally speaking, Lhasa Apso are not great with children. In the same breath, there are some Lhasa who are absolutely wonderful with children, and we do our best to make this distinction in our descriptions of the dogs. So, it is not fair to put a stigma on this breed! Sometimes Lhasa mixes have better temperaments, as they have less attitude! If you are interested in adopting a Lhasa and you have young children (under 8), be very careful in your selection. We would highly recommend that you research any breed you are unfamiliar with before making a decision to adopt.
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Do you adopt to young children? Lhasa Happy Homes has a policy wherein we do not adopt to families with children under 8 yrs old. The reason for this is tri-fold. Many people are under the misguided impression that Lhasa Apso are good with kids. The Lhasa was bred to be a guard dog in the Buddhist temples and they have a tendency to be very protective and dominant. Unfortunately, [most of the time] we do not know where these dogs come from, their history, if they have been abused, if they have come from a puppy mill, etc. When the dogs come to Lhasa Happy Homes, we evaluate them and can give our assessment of their personalities, but they are still really in the "honeymoon" period. Once they get into their forever homes, it will likely change. With this in mind, we prefer to take the safe route and not take a chance with a young child -- or their visiting friends!! We would not want to be responsible for one of our dogs scaring a child, or worse yet, scarring a child physically or emotionally. Therefore, it is our policy to not adopt to children under 8 yrs old and even then, it is at our discretion.
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Do you ever make exceptions and adopt to children under 8 yrs old? The only exception to this rule would be a dog who was turned in, surrendered by owner or whose past has been fully disclosed to us and includes prior placement in a home with children. Even then, we would want to meet the potential adopter's children to see if this is a fit. It is not always the household children that are of concern, but often their friends. However, we do get dogs from time to time that we want to place in a home with children, that are not the Lhasa Apso breed, which is usually identified in the dog's individual profile. Shih Tzu, maltese and mixes with Poodle are often great mixes for families!
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Do Lhasa Apso’s shed and are they hypoallergenic? While there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, Lhasa Apso’s do not have a lot of dander, which is the allergen that causes a reaction in most people. They are double coated, so they have been taken off the “hypo” allergenic list and may not be suitable for people who have strong allergies to pets. Shih Tzu and Maltese are considered hypoallergenic dogs. They all shed very little and are very clean dogs. They do need to be groomed on a regular basis. You can read more about hypoallergenic dogs through the hyperlinks below:
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