Twisted Branch Aussie Ranch is a nonprofit dog rescue group in the beautiful Cedar Creek Lake area of East Texas. Although we started out in 2011 focusing on rescuing and rehabilitating Australian Shepherds and a couple of other herding breeds from Texas animal shelters, through the years we have transitioned into mainly a sanctuary for the dogs here who are not able to be adopted for various reasons. We will occasionally have a dog available for adoption, but for the most part, we are not taking in new dogs and are concentrating on the dog “family” currently in our care. Unlike other rescues, we do not use foster homes. The dogs in our rescue live here in the home with us as members of our family, and they sleep and eat indoors and have free run of the yard during supervised times. We feel that this is the best way for us to prepare these dogs for adoption and life with their new families, to teach them house manners and basic obedience training, and to get to fully know them so that we can make a proper placement. They benefit from the socialization of other well-balanced dogs, and are trained using positive reinforcement methods which strengthen the human-dog bond. For some dogs, this is the first time they have had any structure in their lives. Dogs come into our rescue in a variety of ways. Most dogs are rescued from animal shelters just in time to save their lives. Over 7,000 dogs die in U.S. animal shelters every single day, surrendered often for behavior that can easily be corrected with training and patience. Some dogs end up in shelters when their family moves, or has a life event like the birth of a child, where they feel they can no longer care for the dog. Some dogs are surrendered to shelters when their owners fall ill, and others are surrendered directly to rescue groups for the same reason. We often do not know the background of the dogs we rescue, but we work to reveal their secrets and give them the very best start at their new journey. Whatever the story, rescue dogs all have one. And they all need just an extra little bit of love to help them overcome and start anew.
1. We must have a reviewed, approved Adoption Application from you before scheduling a visit with the dogs. 2. You must have a securely fenced yard for your adopted dog. We do not adopt dogs to homes where they would be allowed to roam free on acreage. Our dogs are not ranch dogs, and they are not working dogs. They are companion pets. Most of the dogs that come into our rescue were stray and never reclaimed in the shelter, so they have already proven that they will not remain on property. This rule is for the safety of the dog. 3. Due to health concerns for young puppies, puppies under the age of 4 months can’t be adopted to apartment homes where they could be exposed to canine viruses in the common areas of the complex. Puppies underage for spay/neuter are only available for local adoption, no out of state. 4. You must be able to travel here to meet and adopt your new dog. We do not ship dogs, and we want the opportunity to meet you in person before trusting you with one of our babies. 5. You must be ready to adopt when you apply, as we are unable to hold dogs. If you are not ready to adopt when applying, please let us know that in advance. We often have many good, qualified applications for the same dog, and if you are not ready to adopt at that time we will have to move on to an applicant who is. Although we are in no hurry to get our dogs adopted, every day that they are with us is a day that we can't save the life of another dog in need, so time and space is very valuable in rescue. Thank you for understanding.