About Rescue

What is Arizona Italian Greyhound Rescue? 

We are a group of rescue representatives and volunteers for Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation in Arizona dedicated to the rescue of Italian Greyhounds in our state that have been abandoned, lost or surrendered to shelters, or owner surrendered to Rescue by owners or relatives of the owner. We are all volunteers and work with rescue because of our love for Italian Greyhounds. We are not a shelter, and all of our dogs are fostered in homes with our volunteers until their forever homes are found.


Is an IG right for you? 

Be sure to research this breed before making the commitment to own one.

Visit this site for more information on IGs.  This is a very affectionate breed that loves human contact, is difficult to housebreak, and cannot be taken off-leash in an unfenced area.

Rescue dogs usually come with some baggage, either emotional or physical, and each home has to be willing to deal with a particular problem.   Every dog will go through a period of adjustment in a new home, which could include potty accidents, sleeplessness, etc. and an adopter must be prepared to deal with this for weeks or months depending on the dog.  Seldom do we get puppies into rescue, although it is not unheard of.


For Adoptions and Questions on Applying to Adopt: 

Email Dawn – azitaliangreyhound@gmail.com

If you would like to apply for a specific dog in our program, please fill out an application by clicking on the adoption application link above. You can follow up on your application by writing to Dawn. We are all volunteers, it may take up to two weeks for a representative to evaluate your application and contact you for a telephone interview, which is the first step in the application review process. If we do not have a match in our program for you and you are approved to adopt, we hold your application open until we have a match. The process of finding a match could take anywhere from two weeks to several months. Your patience and support of rescue is always appreciated.


What is the adoption process? 

The adoption process includes an application, phone interview, reference checks and a home visit.  All dogs will have complete vet care (spay/neuter, vaccinations, dentals, fix broken legs, etc.) prior to adoption.

If you are located in Arizona, please click on the image below, to print an adoption application: 


The adoption donation varies based on the age of the IG:

< 1 year : $450

1-2 years: $400

3-8 years: $350

9+ years: $300*

* Certain Senior IGs or IGs with health issues may qualify for a reduced rate

Often we have approved homes waiting for high demand dogs, such as young females, and place the dogs before they even make it to the website.  If you do want to adopt a rescue dog but do not see the right match on the website, you must complete the adoption process so that you will be approved when the right dog comes into rescue.


For IGs Needing Help (Surrenders, strays, etc.):

  Dawn Ruotolo: (602) 361-3794 Email: azitaliangreyhound@gmail.com

   We accept dogs within the state of Arizona only.


Interested in Fostering?

Many people are afraid they will get too attached to a rescue dog to foster.  If this is stopping you from stepping forward, PLEASE! Contact Us!  We’d love to talk with you about fostering and we understand your feelings!  Its true that a foster dog can steal your heart but we can assure you that there is no greater joy than giving a homeless Italian Greyhound a safe and loving place to be while they wait for a permanent family to call their own.  Our ability to help IGs depends entirely on foster home space and it keeps IGs out of the concrete cages of the county shelters and The Humane Society where often, they are not chosen by families because they are too stressed to ‘make a good impression’.  These shelters have to euthanize dogs they cannot place or transfer to a rescue with space available.

Will you help us have a “space available”? Will you give your heart to a homeless IG for a short while to give it another chance to find its forever home?



Not in Arizona? 

If you are not located in Arizona please visit the Italian Greyhound Foundation web site to contact your local representative.


If you want to Volunteer for IG Rescue or for any other questions: 

Email Dawn at azitaliangreyhound@gmail.com


DONATIONS WELCOME!

The donations received when an IG is surrendered or adopted through the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation program are used to help cover the costs associated for vetting incoming dogs to the program. Often times the donations received do not cover the actual cost of the medical care an IG receives upon entering the program; if you wish to offer a donation to help Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation continue offering care and services to IGs in need through the Rescue program, please contact azitaliangreyhound@gmail.com