I have been involved with Rhodesian Ridgebacks for many years. The breed is very important to me and if I can help protect the breed I will do so. As I am not a breeder, I feel the best way to help protect this wonderful dog man created in my country, South Africa, is to spay and neuter every dog that comes into the rescue program. I do not want those mixed breed Ridgebacks out there intact as no one checks them for a Dermoid Sinus and they will be passing that gene on to thousands.

All the individuals involved with Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue are volunteers. We strive to take those dogs needing to be rehoused, evaluating them, taking them to the vet for health checks, spays, neuters, vaccines, dermoid surgery, or whatever is needed to make sure the dog we are adopting out is healthy.

Our funding comes from the adoption fees we ask for each dog. We cover all vet bills, transporation costs, feed, shelter and incidentals. We are often in the red as we operate only on a shoestring of small donations and adoption fees. We are always looking for help with fund-raising and grant writing.

Elizabeth Akers - 2004

I would like to dedicate these pages to all the DS dogs and to Bliksem, my first Dermoid rescue dog. I took him into rescue at the age of three days. He was slated to be euthanized, the vet refused, I cried but made a vow to take care of him for the rest of his life. His Dermoid was removed at 10 weeks. The surgery was botched and he suffered with dreadful nerve damage to his neck and shoulders. Bliksem was humanely euthanized in May 2004 at the age of 10 years. He had survived Mast Cell cancer, but the  Fibrosarcoma metastisized and we lost the fight. I miss him dreadfully.