Adoption Options: All About Animal Rescues

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between animal shelters, rescues, and breeders? Have you heard of puppy mills but don't know what they actually are? Wondering if it's safe to buy a pet online? Are you considering bringing a pet into your family, but don't know where to look? This series is for you! Welcome to part 2 of our 5-part series, Adoption Options.

So what's the big deal with shelters vs. rescues vs. breeders? Many people have strong opinions on this topic, but we aren't here to convince you one way or the other. All options are giving animals who don't have a home, a home, and that's a wonderful thing. This series is here to educate people about the main forms of obtaining animal companionship so folks can make their own educated decisions about what's the best fit for their lifestyle, family, and situation.

Animal rescues

Fred is a young Pit-Amstaff rescue dog. He loooooves cuddles.

What are they?

Content warning: brief and vague mention of animal abuse

Animal rescues are, broadly speaking, part of a large network of groups that do one or more of the following: identify animal cruelty, rescue those animals, and/or rehome the animals in a loving forever home.

For example, municipal animal control groups (mentioned in the previous blog in this series) are a part of this broader network: they investigate reports of animal cruelty and remove animals from unsafe conditions. They might bring the rescued animals to an animal shelter or to an animal rescue organization that focuses on rehoming. For the purposes of this article, as we are focusing on adoption, rehoming groups will henceforth be referred to as "animal rescues" and "rescue groups".

An animal rescue might do one or more of the above mentioned tasks; one organization doesn't have to be responsible for all of the steps.

Fred likes naps, going on walks, and sniffing things vigorously.

Animal rescues are usually private organizations run by volunteers and funded via donations. Animal rescues provide temporary homes for the animals they rescue through a network of volunteer foster parents until the animals can be adopted. If an animal has health or behavioral issues, sometimes they need to be fostered through rehabilitation or treatment and only then can they be adopted. Since rescue animals aren't always properly trained, the foster family they stay with may also work on training with the animal before you adopt them, though this is not guaranteed.

Animal rescues sometimes focus on helping certain breeds. For example, there are lots of Pit bull rescues in the United States. There are other rescues that focus on age, like senior animals, who have a harder time getting adopted. Still other rescues focus on finding forever homes for disabled animals. People who foster animals for specialty-focused rescues often have a passion for the specific breed or type of animal, which means you know they're very likely in good hands. If you're looking for a purebred dog or puppy and want to avoid puppy mills, one option to consider is adopting from a breed-specific rescue. The AKC Rescue Network is another great resource for finding a purebred animal to rescue.

Rescue animals are typically very well-treated and looked after. They are usually healthy, spayed or neutered, and fully vaccinated. If this is not the case, there is a complete health record showing what else the animal needs upon adoption. Animal rescues can also sometimes secure discounted veterinary rates for those who adopt a rescue animal.

Ava is Fred's best friend. She was adopted from a shelter.

The adoption process

The adoption process from a rescue is a lot more involved than the adoption process from a shelter. It's highly personalized instead of streamlined, which makes it rigorous and lengthy. Rescue animals can come from very difficult, negative situations, and the foster families who care for them are committed to making sure these animals are going to a forever home where they will be truly loved and cared for for the rest of their lives.

This is not to disparage shelter workers at all, they want the same thing! They just don't often have the resources to get to know all the animals on this level, and are not usually as strict.

Because the animals live with people, the foster parents can tell you all about the animal's personality, general likes and dislikes, how they get on with people and other animals, etc. They have lots of one-on-one time with the animals. Animals housed in a home environment have an easier time retaining their social skills and feeling used to being around humans all the time.

Most rescue organizations have websites where you can learn about the organization and the animals they are currently fostering. There may be an initial questionnaire or application to fill out, but this varies by rescue group.

Fred folds himself up for a nap in a cozy corner of the couch.

Once you reach out to the rescue organization about a particular animal, you may be invited to meet the foster parent and the rescue animal at a central public location, like at an adoption event, a pet supply store, or a local park. Most rescues don't have facilities, and if they do, they're usually small. This first meeting is a good chance to see if you and the animal get along, and for the foster parent to get a good idea if you and the animal are going to be a good fit. After all, they know the animal pretty well.

Usually, multiple visits are required. This is great for really being sure that the situation is a good one, both for the animal and for the adopter. Having multiple visits is also a more gradual and less stressful way for you and the animal to meet each other.

If everything seems to be going well, the foster parent(s) will let the organization know if they think you're a good fit or not. There will be paperwork and interview fees, and this can take weeks to process. They might also want to contact your veterinarian and personal references to further verify that you are who you say you are. They go through all this extra, unpaid work because they truly care about these animals.

Rescue groups often conduct home visits before finalizing adoptions, to make sure that the home fits their requirements for the given animal and is generally a suitable, safe environment. Some rescues require home visits months after the adoption has been finalized. This may seem unnecessary, but rescue organizations really care about making sure their animals are being well-treated long-term, not just when they're shiny and new to a household.

Fred and Ava love cuddles!

Things to keep in mind

It's important to know that all rescues are different, just like all dogs. Adoption process, operation, and requirements differ from rescue to rescue. Requirements for one dog at a particular rescue could very well be different than what that rescue requires for another dog. Sometimes it's necessary to tailor the requirements in order for each dog to have a fulfilling and joyful life. Some dogs won't get along with other dogs because of their past trauma, but others might get on just fine with other canine pals. Active dogs will likely have a fenced-in-yard requirement for them to expend their energy in. Puppies will often require obedience school enrollment, and the rescue may want proof of this. This is likely a cost you will be taking on yourself.

The more intense vetting process does mean that rescues are more expensive than shelters. Additionally, the scheduling process can be complicated, as the foster parent(s) is a volunteer and likely has a job, so finding times to meet may be difficult. However, all that work is absolutely worth it to bring a loving companion into your life.

Ava resting after a nice walk.

Private rescues will also usually take the animal back if, despite the thorough vetting of the situation, the animal is not a good match for your household. Animal rescue organizations are dedicated to the thriving of the animals they rescue.

The reason these animals are called "rescues" is because many of these animals are quite literally rescued from dangerous, abusive situations or homelessness. Patience, understanding, and TLC can help these animals work through any past trauma they may carry.

Interview with Shawn, adopter of Ava (shelter) and Fred (rescue) the dogs

What made you decide to get a second dog after you adopted Ava?

"I lived in a decent house at the time, and Ava is getting older and I wanted her to have someone to play with. I had a big yard and thought it was a good time to get her a friend. This was pre-pandemic. I looked at a couple of rescue dogs in Minnesota and went down to meet Fred. He kinda just was really cool. He played with me, chewed my hand, and laid on my lap."

Fred and Ava love doing nearly everything together   sleeping, eating, going for walks, playing...

What made you decide to adopt from an animal rescue?

"I wanted a Pit rescue because I know how rough it is for Pits. Not a lot of people are looking for them or want to adopt them. I went out of my way to find a Pit and give one a good home. I went to Minnesota Pit Rescue. Most of the shelters around here still have stigma around bully breeds, so not a lot of shelters have them.

Fred came out of Texas, some shelters down there are overrun with Pit pups. Fred's mom met up with a non-Pit dog and had a litter of mutts. Nobody in that part of Texas wanted Pit mixes. They either get adopted from rescues or most get euthanized. It's not their fault they came from a mill. If you're good to them and they're good to you, it's a good experience."

Tell me all about the process. What was the first thing that happened?

"I went online and looked up Pit bull rescues in Minnesota. I came across Minnesota Pit Rescue. There were a couple of organizations I was looking at, but this one was pulling Pits out of bad breeders and puppy mills in Texas. That's something I can get behind. I went on their website and there were a couple of dogs I took a remote fancy to. I applied for one of the dogs, but it turned out that dog was already adopted. I applied for another one  Fred."

Fred tore his nail and does not like the temporary bandage! (He went to the vet shortly after.)

"They ran a criminal history check, a credit check, and a background check, like when you get an apartment. If you pass, they invite you to visit the foster home. I met with the foster parents and had a little intro with Fred. It went well. After the meeting, the foster parents contacted the Minnesota Pit Rescue people and let them know how they felt about me. Once that was done, a week or two later the rescue got in touch with me to finalize everything. I paid the adoption fee and finished up paperwork.

One of the foster parents happened to have family where I lived, so she drove Fred up herself. Otherwise I would have picked him up.

They did a home inspection before officially finalizing the adoption. They wanted to make sure Fred wouldn't be in a small studio with no yard because dogs have lots of energy. I had a half-acre backyard fenced in, ample space for him to stretch his legs and run and burn off energy. They made sure it was a good place for him, clean and generally doing their due diligence. It doesn't benefit anybody for a rescue dog to return to the rescue. They wanna make sure it is a forever home for this animal. It's not fair for the animal to bounce between families, it's not fair to the foster family. These animals have already had bad luck, the foster families want to make sure they have the best environment possible."

Fred's first cone! (So he wouldn't chew on the aforementioned injured paw.)

When did Fred and Ava meet?

"Fred and Ava met when Fred was dropped off. The foster parent supervised a little. She came in and we sat down with the dogs make sure they got along. After first 5-10 minutes, they were ok. They were smelling each other and started playing. Ava was 9-10 at the time, Fred was 4-5 months old. She put him in his place a few times, set boundaries, but they've been good ever since."

Was Fred vaccinated and neutered before you adopted him?

"He was vaccinated and he was neutered prior to coming into the house. A lot of that was included in the cost. It was $400 for the adoption. The younger they are, the more expensive they are. He had no training when I got him, so we've been working on that. They require certain breeds to get training, at least at Minnesota Pit Rescue."

Would you recommend adopting from a rescue to others?

"I would."

Conclusion

Animal rescues are organizations full of zeal for rescuing and rehoming animals in difficult situations. Some focus on the rescuing, others focus on the rehoming, and some take care of both. They are most often private organizations funded by donations and run by a network of dedicated volunteers.

Rescue animals are housed by volunteer foster parents, and since they have so much one-on-one time with the animals, they can give you a lot of information about that animal's behavior. The adoption process is more expensive and rigorous than a shelter adoption, but the personalization of the experience makes sure that you're going home with an animal that is an excellent fit for your lifestyle and living situation.

All adoption options have benefits and drawbacks, and it's up to you to decide what best fits your situation. Countless animals have found their forever homes thanks to animal rescues, the people who volunteer for them, and the people who adopt from them.

Fred and Ava love their human more than anything.

Photo credit: Shawn Cruze and Skye I. R. Iwanski

Series Sources:

Admin. “Survey Reveals Misconceptions about Purebred Dogs in Animal Shelters.” American Kennel Club, 14 July 2015, www.akc.org/clubs-delegates/government-relations/government-relations-blogs/survey-reveals-misconceptions-purebred-dogs-animal-shelters/.

Cyrenne, Suzie. “Animal Rescue and Animal Shelter: What Is the Difference?” HomeoAnimal.com, 2019, www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/81114180-animal-rescue-and-animal-shelter-what-is-the-difference.

Gorey, Megan. “The Differences: Animal Control Vs. Humane Society.” WCYB, WCYB, 20 Dec. 2011, www.wcyb.com/features/weekend-drive/the-differences-animal-control-vs-humane-society.

“Federal Licensing & USDA Standards.” ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/barred-from-love/laws-rules/federal-licensing-usda-standards.

“How to Find a Responsible Dog Breeder.” The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-responsible-dog-breeder#:~:text=You%20can%20find%20responsible%20breeders,or%20visiting%20professional%20dog%20shows.

Kleinfeldt, Alexandra. “Overview of Animal Euthanasia.” Animal Law Legal Center, Michigan State University College of Law, 2017, www.animallaw.info/article/overview-animal-euthanasia.

“Rescue vs Shelter vs Breeder Pet: Which Is Right For You?” My Pet Cab, Starwood Animal Transport Services, 4 Nov. 2020, www.mypetcab.com/blog/rescue-vs-shelter-vs-breeder-pet.

Sharma, Arvind, et al. “The Management of Cow Shelters (Gaushalas) in India, Including the Attitudes of Shelter Managers to Cow Welfare.” Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, MDPI, 28 Jan. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070297/.

The Shelter Pet Project, theshelterpetproject.org/.

“Understanding Your Local Government & Animal Control.” Alley Cat Allies, www.alleycat.org/resources/guide-to-local-government-animal-control/.

Thank you to Erik Streck, Shawn Cruze, Gloria and Howard Atkison, Abri M. Iwanski, and the Fox Valley Humane Shelter for their information and assistance with this series.