Why don’t you take owner surrenders?

While we will always support the wonderful guardian breeds, our mission is specific to the abandoned working guardian. With this, a large percentage of our rescues were born, raised, and worked strictly outside with no guaranteed shelter. We have created our rescue and sanctuary property with that in mind; large outdoor sections with access to heated buildings so that the dog, who has only known the outdoors, can acclimate more easily.

can i volunteer at unega?

YES! We love volunteers. Just let us know when you’d like to come by and we do our best to be available. Message us on Instagram or Facebook or email us at info@unega.org

why aren’t these breeds protected in Idaho?

Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) are not protected from animal cruelty because they are considered “production animals” under Idaho Code, Section 25-3502:

(14) "Production animal" means, for purposes of this chapter:

(a)  The following animals if used for the purpose of producing food or fiber, or other commercial activity, in furtherance of the production of food or fiber, or other commercial activity, or to be sold for the use by another for such purpose: cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, ratites, equines, domestic cervidae, camelidae, and guard and stock dogs;

why do you recommend five foot and taller fencing?

Great Pyrenees and other guardian breeds are known as great escape artists, right behind goats. So while many are raised and understand property boundaries and proper recall, our rescues have never known respect, training, and what it means to remain within a specific area. We have experienced adopting out a dog to a property with no fencing and the dog has ended up coming back to us as the family couldn’t keep them contained. Guardian breeds are smart, stubborn, and loyal and it’s not every one that will wander; we simply cannot risk our rescues ever getting lost and potentially injured.