Choosing a Reputable Animal Rescue: What You Need to Know

If you’ve decided that you want to bring home a new pet and you know that adoption is the way you want to go, congratulations to you! You are about to make a huge difference in an animal’s life by providing them with a loving, forever home with you and yours.

Before you start your search, you might be wondering how you can be sure that the rescue or shelter you choose is a reputable organization that is actually taking good care of their animals and actively seeking to put them in loving homes. Your concern is not misplaced: in some cases, organizations that appear to be animal shelters or rescues are actually serving as a front for a breeding or even hoarding operation. Before you head to your closest shelter, do just a little bit of research to ensure you are supporting a reputable organization that truly has the animals’ best interests at heart.

Observe the Animals

If you go into a rescue or shelter and you notice that the animals held there appear to be unhealthy in some way, or if they appear dirty, lethargic, thin, or you see any other signs of concern, that might be a sign that this is not a reputable organization. Any signs of open wounds or tick infestations are a red flag, and the animals’ behavior can also be an indicator. Animals may show signs of stress, behaving very shyly or fearfully, or you might notice increased aggression, all of which can be caused by neglect and lack of socialization. Reputable organizations will look after the physical health and emotional wellbeing of the animals in their care. Though it’s not always possible to ensure that all animals are in perfect health all the time, you should see clear signs that the animals are regularly cared for and socialized with volunteers and other animals in the shelter.

Notice the Size and Statistics

This refers to the size of the shelter itself. You should notice adequate outdoor space for the animals to run around, appropriate flooring in the crates (they should not be standing on wire), and enough staff to take animals outside multiple times a day. If you note crates stacked on top of each other, or several animals housed inside one kennel, that is a warning sign that this is not an organization you want to deal with.

In addition to the actual space in the shelter, you’ll want to ask about adoption statistics. An organization with low adoption rates or many animals that have been at the shelter for an extremely long time could point to problems with adoption standards. It is possible for adoption requirements to be unrealistic, resulting in shelters being over capacity and the animals housed there not receiving appropriate care. In spite of this overcrowding issue, some shelters will continue to accept animals, creating more and more problems. Note that some organizations do provide long term care to animals, but in most cases, animals should move relatively quickly through the adoption system in a reputable organization.

Animals Younger Than 8 Weeks Are Available for Adoption

This is a very important red flag. Any shelter that is taking good care of the animals will provide proper veterinary care, ensure the animals are vaccinated, and spay and neuter them. They will not have dogs or cats under the age of 8 weeks available to adopt. At under 8 weeks, it is not possible for the puppies or kittens to be spayed or neutered or to have their vaccines administered. It’s possible a shelter might be searching for a foster home but adopting out animals at so young an age can be unethical.

Status of the Organization

Another thing you can check is whether the organization is registered as a 501(c)(3) charity. You can check for reviews at websites that track non-profit organizations and charities to ensure they are what they seem. Business review sites may also list shelters; in any case, a quick Google search can reveal problems immediately. The rescue should also have a board of directors or some management structure and volunteers helping out on a daily basis. You should see signs of frequent adoption events, responsive communication by phone or email, and a willingness to communicate with you about how the animals are cared for and how their organization is run. A reputable shelter will also be operating in compliance with applicable laws, and it should be willing to offer you paperwork, vaccine verifications, and other documents before you bring home an animal.

Do Your Research

The main things you should do when searching for a reputable shelter are to ask questions, do your research, and in the end, trust your instincts. If something seems off during your visit, there is a good chance you're picking up on something amiss with the animals or the staff. Keep searching, and you will find a reputable place to adopt your new family member in no time!