Shelter or Rescue?
You’ve heard the phrase “Adopt, don’t shop” and you want to rescue a dog in need.
There are many million dogs in need of homes. Thank you for making the decision to help one of them!
If you’re not sure how to go about adopting a rescue dog, and feel intimidated trying to figure it all out, I’ve got you covered.
What is a shelter?
A shelter, also called a humane society, is a facility that houses many animals at the same time. It’s a common misconception that there is a national organization that runs all of the shelters. Most people have heard of the ASPCA or Humane Society of the United States and assume that their local “humane society” is affiliated with ASPCA or HSUS – it is not. In fact, nearly all shelters are independent nonprofits, and most don’t receive government funding. The conditions and care each dog receives vary greatly from shelter to shelter, but regardless, when you adopt from one, you are helping a dog in need.
The benefit of adopting from a shelter is that you can walk in, fall in love with a dog, and adopt them on the spot, walking out an hour later with a new family member. Shelters also usually have a large selection of dogs, so odds are high that you’ll find a dog that’s the perfect match for you. And at most shelters, the dogs are up-to-date on their vaccines and medications, and spayed or neutered – which is not only convenient, but also saves you hundreds of dollars.
The downside of adopting from a shelter is that often, not much is known about the dog’s history. Dogs might come in as strays, or be brought in by someone who doesn’t provide much information about them.
Similar to shelters are animal control facilities. These are municipal entities which are managed by city or county government. The pros and cons of adopting from an animal control facility are similar to shelters.
What is a rescue?
A rescue is an organization that takes in dogs in need, and houses them in volunteer foster homes. Rescues are also nonprofit organizations, and the care each dog receives and criteria for adoption vary depending on the organization.
The benefit of adopting from a rescue group is that the foster home really gets to know the dog, and can tell you a lot about them. They’ll know if the dog is active or a couch potato, what activities they enjoy, what type of food they do well with, and whether they are good with kids, cats, and other dogs. Dogs adopted from rescue groups are also typically up-to-date on their vaccines and medications, and spayed or neutered. In addition, many rescues are breed-specific, so if you’re looking for a particular type of dog, you might have better luck with rescues than shelters.
The downside to adopting from a rescue group is that the process is slower. Rescue groups are typically mostly run by volunteers, so it can take some time for them to review your application. Expect the process to take a minimum of a week, or sometimes many weeks, before you go home with your new family member. But you should also expect it to be worth the wait!
Anything else to know?
Just like most things in the world, there are a few bad apples out there. Be careful of sham rescues, which are actually puppy mills pretending to be a rescue group. Some even have applied for and received nonprofit status.