Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network

Our Cairn passed away after 14 wonderful years. It's hard to live without a Cairn after you have had one. So I find a dog for adoption on Col. Potters website. I click the button that says "Adopt Me". 2 hrs later after filling out a crazy long application, I begin wondering if this is a good idea. Anyway i go along with their process. After a week someone contacts me thru email and says i am approved to the point that they will check my references now. You would think a reference from my vet would be good enough (we have 4 dogs all in good health), but no , they want to call your personal friends and family. They finally after a week get done with all the reference calls but by then the dog we were interested in was already adopted. So no they inform me that they have to do a house inspection. After another week that is finally scheduled. Some lady and her husband show up and look thru my house and property. They don't tell me anything negative so I assume everything will be ok. NO. The next day I get an email that says "Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our dogs however at this time we are not able to proceed with approval. You are obviously a loving home for your pets - but new rescues are very unpredictable and while you know your current pets and are able to keep them safe a new dog would be at risk for getting into trouble. We prioritize the well-being of our dogs and Cairn terriers are active and playful dogs that need room to move and explore. They are very curious dogs that will get into anything left out." Thats all it says. No explanation or reasoning. They admit that i know how to keep my safe but then they contradict and say a new dog would be at risk. We know Cairn Terriers. We had one for 14 years. My house is two bedrooms. We have everything dog proof. I also have about 2 acres of property completely fenced in with another area fenced in just for the dogs. Clearly Col. Potter Rescue is not a rescue but a place for boujee people to get a Cairn Terrier. The lady that did the inspection lives on a Singer Island in condo with her Cairn and a Chihuahua, thats no place for a Cairn to live. Stay away from this place. We will go to a shelter and adopt from real rescuers.

We adopted a Westie - Gravy, now Monty - from Col Potter. FIRST RATE organization. They answered all of our questions, explained the process in detail from beginning to end, and were there AFTER we had adopted Monty to answer any questions or help in any way. They are very focused on ensuing the dogs go to good homes and we respect that, tremendously. We have donated to them for other dogs in need, and we are working with them for another Westie rescue. Recommend HIGHLY.

Our local animal shelter wrote an article describing the many reasons people RETURNED their adopted dogs. It was maddening and heartbreaking. Thank goodness Col Potter's lengthy application, which includes the Vet's and references' input, and home safety visit enables a thorough screening which prevents those heart wrenching and senseless RETURNS.
After researching and contacting many rescues, we adopted from Col Potter which is an ALL volunteer rescue run with incredible efficiency and kindness.

I spent about 2 hours filling out their application after having looked at local shelters and rescues for almost 2 years. Was so excited to be contacted by someone from this rescue. Not only did she send emails full of typos and horrible grammar, but she accused me, after contacting our vet, of lying about the number of heartworm pills we give our dog yearly. She clearly did not care at all about simple, basic, kindness or consideration, and was rude and insulting. Her excuse for this behavior was that she's a volunteer.
I would suggest that Colonel Potter vet their volunteers in the same ways they vet potential adopters. No wonder there are so many dogs available and so many people waiting, when this organization allows people like the one I was unfortunate enough to interact with, to represent their organization and decide whom is worthy of a dog.
Disgusted, disappointed, and sick to death of holier than thou groups like Col. Potter Rescue.
SHAME ON YOU.

This group has a super dedicated group of volunteers! They work long and hard unpaid hours to make sure ever cairn or cairn wannabe pup in their care find a home handpicked just for them. I have adopted several cairns and a cairn wannabe from them and they go above and beyond to help in you and your new family member to adjust. Then after the adoption they are always there to answer questions, be supportive or just to brag to. You not only get a great new family member you become part of a huge new family.

Colonel Potter needs to look at their adoption process. I am not surprised that they have so many furbabies up for adoption. It was clear to me from the person who was suppose to do my home visit that I was not going to be approved because I lived in an apartment with no yard. Also she ask questions about my ability to exercise the dog and it was clear that she thought I was too old. I am a very active senior and I resent her discrimination. I have raised 4 Terriers and would have provided a loving home; however, I became so frustrated, dropped out and went somewhere else. What a shame for the furbabies who need love and a home.

When our elderly Scottie passed on, we found a house without a dog is not a home. I had researched the Scottish Terrier, and found Cairn Terriers were likely the progenitors of both Scottish Terriers and White Westhighland Terriers. So I started looking for Cairns. I found Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue online. I looked through the available Cairns, I saw an older boy with the most beautiful eyes... and there were quite a few others I found appealing, too. So we put in an application, went through a thorough vetting process, and were matched with an older "mill mama" with beautiful golden hair. She came here, we called her Meg (her name was Megalyn) and she just loved being adored and spoiled. The day came, though when she was to go to the Rainbow Bridge, and we let her go. She's in our 'pet cemetary' with our Scottie boy. We went back to Col. Potter a few months later, re-applied, and were matched with that Cairn boy with the beautiful eyes! He was flown to us from his foster home, and we brought him home. We had adopted a Cairn from a local rescue, Malcolm, because he had heartworms, & we could afford to get him treatment. So Jim Dandy, a very shy, insecure little man, was welcomed by Malcolm. Soon, we dropped the 'Jim' and just called him Dandy. He became more confident, and his "cairnitude" blossomed. It was a wonderful thing to watch that little mill boy become the Cairn he was meant to be.
Since then, we've adopted Princess I, Kenna (fka Turnip) and Truman. We were trying to foster Kenna & Truman, but we couldn't let them go. We know now we're just not meant to foster, but we can provide a wonderful place for Cairns from 4 to 14. We've gotten to know many other Cairn owners & lovers through the Cairn Rescue Mentoring Yahoo group, & gone to two gatherings of people & Cairns. It's glorious. And our gratitude is eternal.

I discovered Col. Potter 12 yrs ago after I bought a cairn from a 'broker' and wanted to learn more about the breed thru others' experience.. I volunteer in many areas from fostering, to transporting dogs, to craft making for fundraising, to finding homes for cairns in foster care-thru follow up after adoption. This organization truly cares about the breed/their foster dogs and great care is taken to bring the dogs' health up to par before any adoption takes place, as well as where each dog is placed in a perm. home. Each prospective home has reference checks done as well as checking with the family's vet. Home visits are always done to make sure the home actually matches what is written on the application-such as fenced yard, will dog be tied to a tree and left outdoors 24/7, etc. Dogs with expensive medical needs are taken in and fundraisers done if needed, as long as a foster home is available. This is a first class organization all the way around. This is a totally volunteer run organization,. There are no dues or membership fees requested to belong-only a love of the breed.

In my search for a Cairn Terrier puppy in 2007 I found Col. Potter Cairn Rescue. I decided I wasn't ready to adopt so I volunteered to help do transports -- they send the dogs each in their own crate! Wonderful! A few months later I adopted my Brodie from them. Two years later I adopted Connor, a 14 week old puppy. In early 2010 I started fostering little girl Cairns for CP -- I just sent my 17th foster to her forever home. And I have adopted my 3rd CP boy -- Harlequin! These folks are great to work with (things start a little slowly, that is just to make sure they are finding the right match between dog and forever home, don't get discouraged!), and many adopters develop a long-term relationship with the organization. You can't work with a better group to bring a ray of sunshine into your life!

I accidently found Col. Potter when I was considering adding a 2nd Cairn to my home, and decided to foster. The process was not hard, and the support I recieved as a 'foster parent' is unbelievable. I have not had more than a half dozen pups go thru my home, but each one was special in one way or other, and some I needed more help with than others. All are now in forever home and Col. Potter mentors continue with support as long as new owners desire. This is a great organization to be involved with.

What makes CPCRN a GREAT nonprofit? It isn't because CPCRN rescues dogs (specifically Cairns, ie. the 'Toto' from the film, The Wizard of Oz). Rescuing even hundreds of dogs annually doesn't make that much of a difference -- for those dogs, certainly -- but it's The BIG Picture where Colonel Potter's Cairn Rescue Network makes the difference. Case in point: CPCRN rescued my own 'Toto,' left an orphan when his owner(s) died. I stumbled upon CPCRN, looking for a pet for myself, and gave 'Toto' a home. One dog saved. However, consider the difference that has made, not just for that one 'Toto,' but for me, and the impact I have on others, and dogs in general. From CPCRN I have learned how to be a better, more responsible pet owner -- general health issues, diet, overall care -- and I've shared that with every dog owner with whom I have come into contact. I am confident with what I cite because I have learned it from experts who care, not just about Cairns, but all canines. I have learned from CPCRN the facts about mom-and-pop pet stores and the puppies they sell, backyard breeders, and large puppy mills, that sometimes take focus in the news, but more often than not, don't. I have learned what it takes to create a happy, healthy dog which, as a part of any family, makes for it being happier and healthier. Few pet owners get rid of a dog because it's perfect, and perfect for their family. So, take one rescued dog, one pet owner that rescued it, and multiply that exponentially, and you have some sense of what exactly contributes to CPCRN's being a GREAT nonprofit. It has not been unusual for me to meet any number of other dog owners, who, like me, rescue pets, and who feel good about it -- but what is different, and has made all the difference -- not just for the one dog -- but is the support given after the lines on the papers are filled-in, references are checked, vet history verified, monies exchanged, and the dog transferred. All the difference is what makes CPCRN 'great.'

I love Col Potter !!!!!!! I was looking for a Cairn Terrier Calender when i came across one from CP...I purchased it and I was hooked. I had a cairn terrier already(Ozzie) but he was about 14 and I knew I wouldn't have him forever...so I joined CP rescue...since the I adopted Marvel and Twinkletoes...Love them both soooo much.This rescue is sooo awesome.I would rescue from them again in a heartbeat.The volunteers and organization are wonderful......I just can't say enough good things.It's all about the dogs. Please consider adopting a Cairn...they are the best!!!! I am now a blanket auntie...when a dog comes in to rescue they each get their own fleece blanket and bandana..I am one of the volunteers who does this. i LOVE COL POtter

In 2006 I adopted the sweetest Wheaten Cairn ever, Minkus. My experience with Col Potter's Rescue was amazing from start to finish. Their desire to make sure both adoptive puppy parent and Cairn are happy is evident. They were thorough, caring and informative. There were so many volunteers that touched my case, I marveled at the dedication of so many caring individuals. I am beyond happy with my experience and will adopt another little guy when the time is right and will go no where else except Col Potter's Cairn Rescue.

In 2003 we brought home our first Colonel Potter kid, a four month old puppy we named Beau ( he was a southern gentleman) and I joined CRM at that time. A few years later I responded to a request to do a home safety inspection for CPCRN and loved being able to give back to the organization that found our little guy for us, so I became an active volunteer on the communications team doing reference checks for potential adopters. I cannot say enough about the dedicated teams that make up this organization and I am very proud to be part of it all. My heart is happy helping these wonderful animals find their forever homes. We recently welcomed our 2nd Colonel Potter fur kid into our lives, a 5 year old puppy mill mumma we have named Baci which means "kisses" in Italian. I hope to be part of this volunteer organization for a long time to come!

This is one of the most organized and efficient non-profits I have ever worked with. They make every penny count, they support their volunteers 100% and they put heart and soul into saving the dogs brought into their network. I do several jobs to help, including hundreds of miles of transport every year. But my favorite is fostering. It has been a life changing experience for the dogs entrusted to my care as well as for me.

I lost my little cairn in 2001 and the loss created a huge hole in my heart. Thru my tears, I googled CAIRN TERRIER and was brought to the Col. Potter Cairn Rescue website. I looked at all those little ones needing an nice comfy home. I sent in my application and was approved and adopted the most darling little boy named Rocket Man. I have had my boy for over 10 years and he is now 12 yrs of age. Rocky has filled that hole left by the loss of Moses and now Col. Potter has become like family to me.

These people are amazing! I can't say enough.They will not only be there for you to decide if a Cairn is right for you,but will then help in finding the perfect little one,and be there for you as long as you want or need them! You will be blessed by any involvement with Col.Potter,and God bless these hard working/loving people!

I lost my cairn of 16.5 years on August 28, 2004. Little did I know that my Sissy was born on the same day. I went to the web looking for sites about grieving and came upon Col Potter Cairn Rescue. I filled out an application, but really wasn't serious about adopting until I saw Sissy fka Almond on the website and her birthdate. Well that was it. They did an extensive background search, checked references, etc. On December 4, 2004, Sissy became ours. I met a bunch of wonderful people through this group, especially the foster parents of Sissy who i am still in contact with and others. Thank God for these people who save and rescue Cairn Terriers/Mixes. Without them these dogs don't have a chance. I highly recommend them.

What a great nonprofit! They first and foremost objective is to help cairns in need. I am a volunteer and also rescued one of the dogs after fostering him! We just couldn't let him go. The volunteers with the group are very special, kind and thoutful. Every need is taken care of and usually above and beyond. I couldn't think of a better group.

I have been a Col Potter foster parent for a few years. I needed help then and still getting it today. The leaders, Mentors and all Volunteers are always at your email or phone to help you out. Not only all the wonderful and different dogs I get to care for but all the forever parents that have become my forever friend. I have to thank Col potter org. all the time for all this.

I discovered Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network when we decided to adopt a companion for our cairn terrier, Chewy. After adopting Walter, we started volunteering with Col. Potter in order to "pay it forward" and also because we were so impressed with the organization. We started out doing some transportations and since then have fostered ten Cairns. We were honored to help them on their way to a forever home. As a volunteer I am even more impressed with the workings of Col. Potter as an organization. The board of directors is very involved and many work directly with the volunteers. Col. Potter is very open with their policy and procedures and with unfailing patience explains them both to their volunteers as needed. The intakes, fostering and matchmaking process is a well-oiled machine and handled in a very fair and professional manner. And there are NO paid employees - NONE! Every penny of every donation goes directly to helping cairns in need. I am very proud to be a part of Col. Potter and I recommend them whenever possible.

We adopted a Cairn from this organization in April 2011. Riley had belonged to a breeder but had been in a foster home for a couple of months before we adopted her. I can't say enough about this organization. From the application process through the adoption and post adoption coordinators, everyone was friendly and professional. Foster homes help socialize the rescues and prepare them for their forever homes. The matchmakers make sure that you get the right dog for your family situation. Riley has been a wonderful addition to our family. I was so impressed with this group, I decided to become a volunteer.

My name is Linda Bagley and I am a volunteer with Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue, www.cairnrescue.com .

I came across your website and saw your page on helping our rescue.

As part of the Promotions team we are very open to any avenue that we can find to raise money while raising awareness to adopt and not to shop. Our organization places approximately 300 - 400 cairn terriers in forever homes every year. We turn no dog away. As we are a breed specific rescue our dogs are cairn terrier or cairn terrier mixes.

When I say we turn no dog away that means even if they have medical conditions. Our objective is to raise money to rescue cairns and get them the medical treatment that they need, be it basic or emergency surgeries. This is a common occurrence for us as 1/2 the dogs we take in are from puppymills and kill shelters, the other half are owner surrenders.

Here is the story of Miracle, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzRwhNYe_IU .

Before and after pictures of many of the dogs that we have rescued
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlDGGokAWxo

We are approximately 800 strong, everyone playing an intricate part, be it foster home, blanket auntie, transports, our list of volunteers sometimes do double duty. We have no building, no kennels, just people working out of their homes all across the US and parts of Canada communicating over the internet.

We are looking forward to hearing from you as to what kind of a partnership we can form to raise money. I never want to think we will ever have to turn a dog away, not during my lifetime. Thanks so much for this opportunity. If I haven't overwhelmed you enough here are some stories from families that have adopted our rescues, http://www.cairnrescue.com/adoption/stories.php

To us it doesn't make sense to rescue a dog and keep it locked in a kennel. Putting dogs in foster homes so that they can learn what a loving home is is the only answer.

Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.


Linda Bagley
Port St. Lucie, FL
Foster Mentor & Foster Home
Promotions Group/Grants Group
Mom to Dude, Redford, Miles, & Oliver


"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."

"Be who you are and say what you feel...
Because those that matter... don't mind...
And those that mind... don't matter."

I continue to be involved with the wonderful organization of Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network. We decided to become a foster home for rescued cairn terriers in 2010. Fostering is one of the most gratifying experiences. It is truely amazing the comprehensive vetting and care Col. Potter provides for each one of their rescues. Col. Potter will take a cairn that no other rescue wants because of health issues, and fully vets them and gives them the chance to be happy and healthy cairns in a loving forever home.

We are so impressed with Col. Potter! We brought our first Cairn, Rusty, into our lives from a breeder. Rusty is wonderful and the breeder seemed like a nice person who claimed she only bred her dogs once a year for her kids' college fund. Who knows? We always talked about finding Rusty a playmate and constantly looked in the paper and online. My husband stumbled across Col. Potter. Long story short - we adopted Pepper. Every volunteer who worked with us throughout the adoption was friendly, responsive and genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Cairns. They exercised "due diligence" in determining whether the adoptor and the adoptee would be a positive match. Pepper is the perfect match for our family. We feel as if we have a special "bond" with her foster parents - they were great matchmakers and we are grateful. Without a doubt, we will adopt more Cairns from Col. Potter when the time is right.

We bought a Cairn in a pet store many years ago. She was an awesome little dog and lived with us for almost 18 years. We got a couple of dogs from a shelter after she passed but we really wanted a Cairn again. I searched for many hours on the internet and finally found the very beginnings of Col. Potter. We started fostering shortly after 9/11 and we are thrilled with fostering. It's a way to 'make up' for having gotten a dog from a pet store which we now know is a terrible way to acquire a dog (ALWAYS go to a rescue or shelter). We've fostered over 60 Cairns since then. We've adopted two of our fosters. We enjoy having different dogs in our home and we think our dogs enjoy that as well. Every one brings something different to the relationship. We laugh, we cry, and we totally enjoy fostering and working to help Cairns in other ways as well. There are many different ways that people can help, join us and find your way. You'll be so glad you did!

I wanted to let you know we adoped the PERFECT 5 year old Cairn Terrier from Col. Potter. If pet shops and breeds did their homework like the Col. Potter organization did to see if we were good adoptive parents, there would be alot less animals that need rescuing. The love and attention given to every individual pet is unconditional. I will go back to Col. Potter anytime to adopt another loving pet and refer as many people as I can to do the same thing. Save a life!!!!! I love this organization and will always be a supportive voice.

Last year our wonderful Cairn called Melody died of chronic kidney disease. We still had Bilbo (our other Cairn) who was very sad and lonely without Melody. They had been together for 12 years. My husband and I decided we wanted to get a friend for Bilbo. We decided a rescue dog was the way to go because there are so many homeless dogs. We think Cairns are the perfect dog so fiesty, full of energy and inquisitive and so perky and scruffy so we wanted another Cairn and found Col Potter on the web. Everyone at Col Potter was a professional and went out of their way to help us find just the right little Cairn called Rook. Rook is remarkable and her and Bilbo are best pals. SInce there are so many Cairns in need of good homes, we are once again working with Col Potter to adopt another little Cairn. This is a remarkable organization who helps these wonderful little dogs find just the right forever home. Our hearts go out to all the dogs in need and without Col Potter these dogs would probably end up in kill shelters. God belss Col Potter and all the volunteers. Thank you Col Potter. Thank you for bringing Rook into our lives. Our lives are richer and fuller becasue of Rook.

I ran across Col. Potter when I was searching for my Cairn Terrier a playmate. This organization gave a detailed screening to make sure the dog I adopted was going to a good home and would be taken care of. It took a little while but finally the right dog came along for my family. Lucy joined us 2 years ago and has been a joy ever since. I was so impressed wtih the organization I have become a volunteer. EVERYTHING this organization does is on volunteer basis, and it's a LOT of work. Good people working for a good cause and I'm proud to be associated with them.

I went to Col Potter Cairn Rescue almost 5 years ago to adopt a Cairn Terrier after losing my beloved "Doogie". My other Cairn- Lucy seemed lost without him so I decided to get her another brother or sister but wanted to rescue a dog that needed a loving home. After spending several days on the web site looking at all of the adoptee's I focused on a dog, known then as Noodles, now known as Ricky. He had been badly affected by years spent in a puppy mill and was not the most socially adjusted dog as you can imagine. He lived with his foster mom, Mary Ellen Luthy, not too far from where I lived and after careful screening by this wonderful organization I was allowed a visit to see if it was a match- he had already been returned by one family. Well it was a match- a match made in heaven and I could not imagine life without him. I think the strength of this organization lies within its caring volunteers and the time and effort everyone puts forth in making sure these "kids" go to the right homes. I thank Col Potter for giving me the opportunity to have Ricky in my life and anyone considering making a Cairn Terrier a family member should absolutely support this organization and adopt a Cairn in need.....they will repay your kindness every day with true love and affection. And, by the way, Ricky sends his love to everyone that helped him make this journey!

When our beloved 15-yr old Cairn passed away, we missed her presence so much that we knew we needed another Cairn in our lives. Rather than
go to a breeder, which I had done the first time, we decided to seek out a rescue. Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue is absolutely wonderful. They take the time to match the right Cairn with the best forever family. It wasn't a quick process, getting matched up, but it was very thorough and positive experience when all is said and done. Our little Lucy (formerly Biscuit and Homemaker) is a precious and loving member of our family, gets along very well with the other four-legged family members, and has shed most of her fears. Her biggest accomplishment is that she will now walk through the sliding door, even if someone is standing next to it! For the first year, we had to back away from the door, almost out of sight, so she felt safe re-entering the house. Now she hops through the door and heads straight for the "treat" cabinet, wagging her tail so hard that it almost wants to fall off! I recommend Colonel Potter to anyone who truly loves these beautiful, wonderful companions. These dogs deserve so much better than what they were exposed to. It's a pleasure to love them.

After I adopted my little puppy mill rescue from Col. Potter, I was so impressed with all that they do that I now help as a volunteer. Col. Potter does wonders for cairn terriers that others would deam "unadoptable." They are also dedicated and very organized.

We adopted a female Cairn Terrier from Colonel Potter last year. What a great organization. When I think of what my little girl went through at a puppy mill, it makes me sad and angry. Thank God for Colonel Potter and their mission to rescue as many Cairn Terriers as possible. Adopting from them was wonderful, so good in fact I have done it again. It is such a herculean undertaking. They do it so well. I have also donated to the cause, and will probably continue to do so.

These dogs have brought us an enormous amount of joy and just plain fun. Whether it God's hand or providence, I don't know. I am just grateful for Colonel Potter.

This is a wonderful organization with the most caring people I've ever met. The love and concern for the Cairn Terrier leaves me in awe. My wife and I adopted from Colonel Potter 2 years ago and received our female named Meadowlark who we now call Miri. Along with our male, Finny, they have become great friends and he's very much the gentlemen toward her. Miri is always wagging her tail and dive-bombing Finny when he's not looking. She is smart and very affectionate toward everyone she meets. There are so many great people who contribute their own time and money to this endeavor and give to others of themselves when we are need of advice. God bless Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue Network!!! If you're thinking about adopting from this great organization, don't hesitate. You may miss the opportunity of a lifetime to help and own a great dog!!! Rich & Barbara Oliver, Hawthorne, NJ

I am both an adopter of cairns from Col Potter and a volunteer. This generous group of people give way more than money, they give hope, kindness and support to the cairns they rescue, to their members and to rescues of all sorts. No one needing advice or help with dogs is turned away and when there might be "no room at the Inn" for cairns in need members step up to find space for these wonderful cairns. The hearts of the members are evey bit as big as those of the cairns they help.

Like a well-oiled machine, Col. Potter rescues Cairns and finds them the best home possible by matching the Cairn's personality to the prospective home's personality and making sure that the future is bright for both. Everything they do is meticulously carried out and because they have rescue down to a science, they are the most efficient group ever. I give them two thumbs up and five stars!

We have never been prouder to be a part of anything in our lives, as we are of being a part of Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network. Most of us only want to make a difference in life, Col. Potter allows us to do that.

"Saving one dog won't change the world, but it WILL change the world for that one dog". By helping these dogs we are helping people that needs us to care for their Cairns that they can no longer keep. We help find companions for people that need a companion in their life - to help them with each day.

Help us help them by picking up one of our award winning cookbooks by going to www.cairnrescue.com and clicking on the cookbook link.

Col. Potter Cairn Rescue is just the greatest.
We adopted our little girl from them 4 years ago and it has been the best thing for us and her.
Not only did they insure her good health, they were with us every step of the way of the adoption and after the adoption.
If and when the time comes, we will surely adopt through them again.