How to Find A Rescue Near Me
Are you on the search for your newest family member? Congratulations! Finding the right fit for your family can be a lengthy process. After all, it’s a long-term commitment. Before you type “rescue near me” into your Google search bar and pull up the first result, there are some important factors to consider. Not all animal rescues are created equally…
While we would love to believe that every animal rescue advertising pets for adoption are legit and trustworthy, that’s not the case.
There have been many examples of backyard breeders and puppy mills posing as animal rescues on websites like Kijiji and Craigslist to sell their puppies. By claiming to be a rescue, they get away with exploitive and abusive practices.
Other ‘rescues’ boast the large numbers of pets that they are adopting. However, a look behind the scenes reveals it’s not necessarily something to be bragging about…
Known as ‘rescue mills’, they focus on moving high numbers of animals.
In the process, they neglect to provide the care and attention these rescue animals require. This could include skimping on veterinary care, failing to give the pets time to decompress, or adopting dogs with behavioral problems without disclosing any concerns.
With all of this to consider, you may find yourself wondering, ‘How can I find a trustworthy rescue near me? How do I tell the good from the bad?’
There are some important red flags to watch out for when selecting a local pet shelter or rescue organization.
Tips for Finding a Reputable Shelter or Rescue Near Me
They are Cooperative and Willing to Answer Your Questions
A reputable and trustworthy rescue will be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. No question is too big or too small.
In fact, they want you to ask questions because it shows that you are taking the process seriously.
This is your opportunity to learn as much as possible about the rescue, the adoption process, and the pet(s) that you are considering.
Some important questions that you may want to ask include:
- How did the pet come to be in the shelter/rescue and how long has he been there?
- Does he have any behavioral problems or concerns?
- Has the dog ever nipped, bitten, or attacked anyone, human or pet?
- Does he get along with other pets? Children?
- Are there any medical concerns or special needs to consider?
- Is he housebroken? (Don’t assume a dog is just due to their age)
- What is his energy level like? How much exercise will he need?
- Is he crate trained?
- Does he show any signs of resource guarding? (Food, toys, beds, etc.)
- Does he show any signs of separation anxiety?
- Has he been taught basic obedience?
- Is he well-behaved when walking on a leash?
A trustworthy rescue is going to have all the answers to these questions or know who to contact to find out (such as a foster parent).
They Also Ask You Questions About Your Family, Lifestyle, and Home Environment
You shouldn’t be the only person asking questions and trying to find out information. The rescue should also be interested in learning about you.
A reputable rescue wants to ensure that you can offer the lifestyle that the pet in question needs.
This includes finding out information such as:
- What kind of lifestyle you live and whether the pet you are interested in will fit into it
- Whether you have other animals and if they will all get along
- How much space you have available and if it’s enough for the pet
- The number of people in your family and if everyone is on board with the new member
For example, a German Shepherd rescue is going to have different requirements than a small dog rescue. These will also be different from the questions asked by a bird rescue or a small animal rescue.
Each pet is unique and as such, each pet’s needs in a home are unique.
If you find yourself communicating with a ‘rescue’ that is willing to approve you without finding out anything about you first, that’s a sign of trouble.
They Have an Adoption Process Including Interviews, Vet Checks, and Referrals
The adoption process can be frustrating for those who are actively applying for a dog. But it’s in place for a reason.
A reputable shelter or rescue isn’t just going to hand a pet over to the first person who walks through the door. Instead, they want to find the best fit both for the pet and the adopter.
If the rescue appears to be pushing to finalize the adoption as soon as possible without any of these steps, it’s a red flag!
Any ‘rescue’ that is focused on nothing more than making money is one that should be avoided.
They Take the Pet Back if Something Goes Wrong
When adopting from a shelter or rescue, there should be an adoption contract that outlines your commitment to the pet.
This includes stipulations like agreeing to get your new pet neutered or spayed if they are adopted too young for the procedure to have happened already.
The contract should include the fact that, if you must give the pet up, they will be returned to the rescue/shelter.
They are Willing to Share All Veterinary Documentation
Do you have questions about the medical care of the pet you are considering? Ask to see the veterinary records for their care to date.
This includes vaccination records, spay/neuter certificates, and any information about medication.
Failure to provide any of this information is a huge red flag. They may be claiming that veterinary care was offered that was never completed.
They may also be trying to hide a medical condition until after the adoption is finalized and they have washed their hands of the problem (which is not how reputable rescues operate).
They Have Resources to Help After Adoption
If you have been reading content on the blog here for a while, then you know that I currently share my home with 3 rescue dogs and 2 rescue cats.
Each time that I have set out to find a cat rescue or dog rescue near me, I created a relationship with the organization that has lasted far longer than just the adoption itself.
A reputable rescue will do what they can to support you in the coming weeks, months, and years with your pet.
This includes giving you information to help with your rescue pet’s transition into their new life.
If you need professional help, they can make recommendations for veterinarians, trainers, or behaviorists in the area.
They are committed to the long-term success of your adoption because they truly want to see it work out both for you and for the pet that they are placing in your home.
The good news is that there are many incredible animal shelters and rescue organizations out there. It just takes a little time and effort to identify the credible organizations out there.
Have you ever had an encounter with a questionable ‘rescue’? What red flags did you notice?
Feature Image Credit: mladenbalinovac | Canva
Craigslist doesn’t seem like the kind of platform a shelter for rescued animals would place an ad on. Here in the UK, if I wanted to find a reputation rescued animals I’d just look at places like the RCPCA or Google charity animal shelters. Animal shelters should always be your first port of call if you want to take on a pet
You’d be surprised by the number of people who take to Craigslist or even Facebook Marketplace in an attempt to pretend to be rescues because they know that it will give them that emotional edge for people who are set on supporting the world of rescue.
I’ve never heard the term “rescue mills” before, but it makes total sense. I have know of some rescues that are less than ethical. Your points & red flags are spot on, this is so helpful! I always tell people don’t be upset if a rescue asks you a ton of questions…. be upset if they Don’t. It means they’re not at all thorough and don’t really care who takes their pets. Reputable rescues want to do what they can to ensure a pet it the right fit and that the adoption will be successful and lifelong for the pet. I know some rescues get carried away and can refuse an adopter for what seems like ridiculous reasons, but the reputable ones are really just trying to make a good fit.
Yes! A rescue that doesn’t ask much or do much looking into potential adopters likely puts the same level of attention and dedication into medical care, addressing behavioral issues, and more. It’s a HUGE red flag.
I had never heard of the rescue mill concept until people started to shine a spotlight on the one organization that I linked to the news report about in Toronto. It’s heartbreaking to think that even the world of rescue can be skewed to focus on nothing but making money.
Love this! My dogs are rescues.
They have so much love to give, don’t they?
I actually don’t have a rescue that is in my town, sadly all we have is an animal control and I’m not a fan of them at all. They will keep their animals sick, let people adopt them or try to than say lol the dogs sick we let you get attached for nothing. That happened to my friend, and I read it happened to others. I’ve also heard them trying to steal pets out of people’s yards, so another friend as an RO against some of the people in charge of the Animal Control because of that.
Tbh, until I started reading your blog I didn’t know much about rescues and thought of them the same as animal controls, so I’m super glad that they are different and these questions are really good I never thought about needing to ask them.
The idea of animal control stealing pets out of people’s yards is heartbreaking. While there are certainly situations where a pet should be taken from an unsafe situation, that should all be done by the book. It’s sad to hear that there are no other options in your area. Hopefully, that will be short-lived and someone will step in to offer an alternative in the near future.
Am looking for a small dog…
I would recommend checking out your local rescues, like outlined here, or check out this list of rescue websites: https://shedhappens.net/pet-adoption-websites/