If the beads you are making are not large, you can use annealing bubbles to cool them. I would hang on to them and properly anneal them in a kiln when you can afford one.
http://www.artcoinc.com/annealing_bubbles.php
Good luck with your new little dog. We have the same problem here except it's cats that people drop off. We never turn them away - the animal shelters here are always full.