Doggedly seeking good homes

That barking you heard over the weekend was the sound of dogs looking for a home.

Well, the dogs weren’t looking, exactly. But the members of Long Island Bulldog Rescue were looking on their behalf. The dogs — bulldogs, all — came along just to look cute and provide incentive to prospective owners.

The dogs did their jobs.

Tails wagging, the dogs strutted their stuff as prospective owners and volunteers from the nonprofit met at the Petco in Baldwin to chew on the practicalities.

The bulldog rescue group, which, despite its name, includes a territory from New England to Maryland, specializes in rescuing the abandoned or abused pooches, rehabilitates them and finds them homes.

Volunteers from the group spent their time trying to educate the public about the joys of bulldog ownership. Volunteer Howard Metzger of Baldwin said the agency has about 50 dogs waiting for new homes. Until that happens, the animals are farmed out to foster families across the region.

Not everyone who is looking for a dog should get a bulldog, Metzger warned. “They’re very misunderstood,” he said. “They have a lot of medical issues. People love them, but they need constant care.”

In addition, he said, bulldogs “tend to be stubborn,” and because they don’t move very fast, they may not be ideal for active families. He said the dogs are the No. 1 breed that faces abandonment, mostly because of the medical issues.

But those that have them, love them, he said, especially those who rescue the dogs. He said his group has many members around the South Shore, especially in Freeport and Oceanside. Metzger said he and his fiancée have two rescue bulldogs.

“It’s our own social community,” he said, noting that the group tries to solve any dog problems together.

The privately funded organization relies on fundraisers and sales of items such as t-shirts to help pay for the care of the rescued dog, Metzger said.