Pet Rescue & Adoption:
Adopt a Pet in your area...

So, you want to adopt a pet, huh? Great idea! Here are a few reasons why adoption is the loving option:

Saving Lives: Whether you adopt from a local shelter or a rescue organization, you're saving lives. That's right: lives, as in more than one. I know, I know…you only want to adopt one dog or cat, right? Adoption saves more than just the life of the dog or cat you adopt. If you adopt from a shelter, you're making room for another dog or cat, or you're allowing other dogs or cats at the shelter to be kept for a longer period of time, giving them a better shot at being adopted. If you adopt from a rescue organization, you're allowing that organization to rescue another dog or cat for adoption at a public shelter, which, of course, saves the life of that little guy plus the lives of others at that shelter by creating space so new dogs and cats can be kept longer. As you can see, adoption is truly a continuous cycle of saving lives and it's the right thing to do!

Know what you're getting (especially if you adopt an adult): With adoption, there are a lot of things to consider when you're deciding what kind of personality your new family member should have. When you adopt an adult dog or cat from a rescue or shelter instead of buying a puppy or purebred kitten, what you see is what you get. Their personality is already developed, and you'll be able to spot the characteristics you're looking for much more easily than with a puppy or kitten. Rescue organizations, and many shelters that provide adoption counseling, are able to assess the personality of each dog or cat for adoption, and carefully match you up with the right one for your lifestyle. With a puppy or kitten, there is a lot more guesswork involved. Sure, you can train your puppy or kitten on certain behaviors, but other traits (like activity level) seem to be inherent in each individual. Want to adopt a dog or cat who will instantly fit in with your family? That's easy when you adopt an adult from a rescue organization or shelter!

Pet adoption = an instant friend for life: Ask anybody who has adopted, and they'll swear their bond with their rescued pal is as deep as they come. When you open your heart and your home to a pet who needs help, they really do show their appreciation for the rest of their life! Dogs or cats who have been uprooted from their homes, or have had difficult beginnings are likely to bond completely and deeply with their new human caretakers, whom they regard as heroes. Pups and kitties who find themselves in the shelter or at a rescue because of a death or other tragedy in their former human family usually go through a mourning period. Once they are adopted, however, they usually want nothing more than to please their new hero---YOU! No matter what circumstances brought them to the rescue, most dogs and cats for adoption are exceptionally affectionate and attentive, and make extremely loyal companions. But first you have to adopt one!

Training and Socialization: Many rescue organizations use foster homes, where pups and kitties for adoption are socialized with children and other dogs and cats, and given basic obedience training before they go to their new homes. Many dogs and cats in shelters are already housebroken, trained and ready to go! As an added bonus, many rescue groups and shelters offer post-adoption workshops and training classes. When you adopt from these shelters, you'll have their continued support to help you through any rough spots you face during your dog or and cat's transition.

A smarter option than buying a puppy or kitten from a pet store: No matter how "reputable" you think your local pet store is, they're getting their puppies and kittens from one of two sources: 1) a "backyard" breeder, or 2) a puppy or mill. The majority of purebred dogs and cats in shelters or rescue groups are the product of "backyard" puppy and kitten breeders. These are people who make some easy cash by breeding their purebred dogs and cats and they often also sell puppies and kittens through the newspaper classified ads. Most of these breeders don't know a thing about breeding for favorable health and temperament qualities, and they don't know how to raise a properly socialized litter. Many of these little dogs and cats are weaned from their mothers way too soon. Sometimes, backyard breeders turn into small-time puppy or kitten mills. What's are puppy and kitten mills? A puppy or kitten mill is basically a purebred puppy or kitten factory farm. The dogs and cats are kept in small cages and forced to breed at unhealthy rates… it's all about the money. Female dogs in puppy mills are made to have several litters per year, which is extremely dangerous and cruel. Each purebred puppy or kitten mill produces several different breeds, and pays little attention to the specific health and genetic diseases due to inbreeding. Genetic health testing is almost unheard of and mass-producing pets for profit is the bottom line. In the worst puppy and kitten mills, unspeakable abuse and horrifying conditions are the norm. How can you stop puppy and kitten mills? There is only one way. Take away their profits. NEVER BUY FROM A PET STORE! Remember, adult adoption is the most humane option!

The Unsung Heroes of Dog and Cat Rescue!

Thank goodness for rescue organizations and their hardworking, dedicated volunteers. Without them, there is no telling how many more dogs and cats would die in public shelters each year. They scan shelters constantly, looking for pups and kitties whose time at the shelter has almost run out, and rescuing them before they are euthanized. Many rescues use a network of foster families, who keep dogs and cats for adoption in their own homes while they assess their personalities and often provide any necessary training. Rescues are very careful to make sure their adoptable dogs and cats go to the right homes. Each rescue organization has its own application and screening process for potential adopters. In addition to protecting the adoptable dogs and cats, this process is designed to make sure you end up with the right pet for your family. Since rescues really get to know their dogs and cats for adoption, they are able to match you up with the perfect companion for you. Volunteers with rescues also follow up with you after the adoption to make sure everything's going well. They can help you get through any rough spots by offering training tips and other advice. Adopting from a rescue group has another benefit: if, for some reason, things don't work out with your new friend, most rescues will take the pet back, saving you a lot of heartache and headache.

Rescue groups come in all shapes and sizes. Some rescue groups have a shelter facility, where adoptable dogs and cats are kept until they are adopted. Other rescue organizations use a network of dedicated foster families, volunteers who care for adoptable dogs and catsin their own homes. Some rescue groups only take dogs and cats from public shelters; others take in strays and accept dogs and cats relinquished by their owners. There are several rescue groups that specialize in senior or disabled dogs and cats. Some specialize in small dogs, some rescue only giant breeds. There are thousands of rescue groups devoted to a particular breed of dog or cat, too! At the heart of the rescue world, however, are the groups who make up the meat-and-potatoes of the movement: the all-breed pet rescues. These are rescues that take in all kinds of pets of various breeds and ages, and concentrate on saving as many lives as possible.

All rescue groups have a few things in common. They are made up of extremely caring, passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to save pets' lives. They all rely on volunteers and donations to keep their efforts going. Unfortunately, they all spend their days cleaning up the messes of irresponsible dog and cat owners, and trying to prevent new messes by educating the public about the responsibility of dog and cat ownership and the importance of spay and neuter. Most importantly, all rescue groups deserve our most sincere gratitude for making this world a better place for dogs and cats!