Are you one of those people seeking the right animal shelter to adopt or foster an animal? Maybe you decided to volunteer to support homeless pets within your community.
Are you trying to report lost or found animals or maybe animal cruelty? Whatever the case, your best bet is reaching out to your nearest animal local animal shelter.
However, there are different factors you need to consider, so you can find the right shelter.
What are these factors? Luckily, this post has gathered important information you need to keep in mind on how to find the right animal shelter for you.
But before we present you with the methods you need to do, let’s look first at the essential qualities of a good animal shelter.
You could stack the deck in your favor by adopting from a dependable animal shelter. That’s true, even though the best pet shelter may at times foster a dog into a home, which is not suitable for you.
The same goes for seeking shelter if you should give up your pet. Take note that surrendering a pet to your perfect animal shelter will work to get to know her and put her in the best possible home.
Further, they will responsibly euthanize the pet, particularly if she was suffering and didn’t find any reasonable cure. It is up to you to support a great pet shelter no matter if you are surrendering the equation’s side or simply adopting.
Take note that putting your support and money towards an ethical and sustainable pet shelter will help more than your dog.
Pet Shelters to Avoid
There are instances when it is simpler to talk about the things to prevent than talking about what to look for. That’s especially true in the case of searching for a good animal shelter.
Amazing shelters come in all sizes and shapes. However, you will find a few warning signs of shelters you need to steer clear of. Do not adopt a pet from or surrender them to a pet shelter that:
Does not have the resources to help your dog when searching for a pet shelter to surrender your pet to, bear in mind what your pet’s potential hurdles are as a shelter pet.
You must go for a shelter with behavior trainers that can help, especially if your pet can be a bit jumpy and nervous with strangers.
It would not be reasonable for your pet to leave him at a pet shelter, which cannot offer him the support he requires.
1. They won’t talk about what happens to hard-to-adopt pets.
It is essential to ask difficult questions about hard-to-adopt dogs, particularly in a shelter that is proud to be no-kill.
Many shelters and rescuers need to deal with one serious aggressive dog. Dig the pet shelter decided to:
- Risk danger to kids in your town by adopting the pet out
- Put the pet into a sanctuary
- Move the dog to another rescue
- Euthanize the dog to keep the community safe?
Go for a pet shelter whose decision making in such scenarios aligns with your principles.
2. Has blotchy communication
You need to doubt a pet shelter, which allows their emails to sit for days or weeks.
Most shelters are run by volunteers and may have difficulty keeping up with communication. However, that is not a good indication for other people.
Don’t go for a pet shelter that is unresponsive to your messages or emails.
3. Rushes the adoption process
You will find lots of sketchy pet shelters out there that oblige you to make quick decisions.
Worse, they may drop the dog off with you, organize a midpoint meetup with a limited time, or hurry you if you are at an adoption event.
Take note that a great pet shelter will enable you to put a pet on hold for several hours, allowing the whole family to meet the pet. That suggests they have the long-term interest of the pet in mind.
4. Adopts out pets, which are not neutered or spayed
You need to shy away from those pet shelters, which adopt out pets that are not fixed yet. The dog should be fixed before the adoption, even if you are fostering a small one.
5. Does not present proof of vaccinations
Avoid those pet shelters which cannot present your official proof of vaccinations. The same thing applies to shelters that adopt out unvaccinated dogs.
Can’t the pet shelter avail vaccinate the pets in their care? Then it would be best not to keep them in business.
Hence, make sure you ask for proof of vaccination. Do not simply request if the pet is updated. That must come with all dogs leaving a rescue or shelter.
6. Adopts out younger puppies
Does your shelter properly fix and vaccinating its animals? Then there’s no possible way it will have puppies younger than eight weeks old up for adoption.
These shelters may be seeking foster homes. Nonetheless, underage dogs must not be up for any adoption.
That’s considered prohibited in most states apart from being extremely unethical.
7. Does not take any dogs back
Ask the shelter before you adopt or surrender if they need the pet back if something goes wrong.
We hope your pet won’t need to come back to the pet shelter. Still, it would be best to choose shelters that having that plan.
8. Takes pets straight from transport cars to adoption
One of the major red flags is a pet shelter, which takes pets immediately from transportation to adoption.
That’s much typical in rescues specializing in bringing pets to your place to place.
Dogs being adopted straight off the transport vehicle indicates that rescuers do not get to know the animals, allowing them to relax.
Worst, they jump on medical checkups before they adopt the pets out.
9. Does not allow the adopters to meet the pet before the adoption day
There’s no doubt that you can learn lots of things from simply checking at the bios and photos on dog adoption sites.
However, there is no alternative to meeting your new pet. You and your pet will be the happiest if the pet shelter is great about allowing you to meet.
Many shelters will let you meet the dog as often as you prefer. Just remember that somebody else may adopt your pet while you contemplate about it.
Qualities of a Good Pet Shelter
Congratulations on doing your research. Now, you have a decent concept of which rescuers are not a great fit for you.
That surely gets rid of the worst places close. However, it does not indicate which shelter is the ideal fit for your dog. Below are the crucial things you need to look for to find the best pet shelters:
1. A good pet shelter takes care of the pet’s overall mental health
Stellar shelters offer their pets a piece of soothing music, regular walks, calming spray, and puzzle toys.
If you want to support these shelters, why don’t you adopt one of their pets? You can also set up your pet for success by leaving her at them.
2. A good pet shelter offers behavior support and has vets.
It is best to go for a pet shelter with on-staff trainers and vets. That’s true, no matter if you are relinquishing your pet or planning to adopt.
Tips When Searching for a Pet Shelter
Most locations have great pet shelter facilities, which work hard to pair the perfect dogs with the right individuals.
When we talk about searching for a place to adopt one, you must learn where to search:
1. Check the internet and the Yellow Page
Try to search in the phone book under Humane Society or Animal Shelter. You can check under county or city government sections for Animal Control.
What you will love about the internet is that it has facilitated pet adoptions. Various websites link pet shelters throughout the nation, letting you know what pet shelters exist within your region.
You can also search through breed and species. Other websites even provide images and descriptions of the pet. That data can help you find possible pets that you can meet in person.
Just keep in mind that these websites aren’t a replacement for an in-person visit. Nonetheless, they will inform you about what is out there.
Further, they will put you into contact along with other close pet shelters, which you may never have discovered.
2. Ask for suggestions
Why don’t you ask your family members, friends, colleagues, or some local animal care specialists what they know about local pet shelters? These people can often suggest the ideal places to foster a pet or share with you their experiences, along with numerous regional and local pet shelters.
Ask the shelter for some references after you have a shelter in mind. You can also ask for a recommendation from the following sources:
- Pet stores that do not sell dogs and cats
These local stores often sell pet accessories and supplies to people who fostered or adopted a pet from a shelter. They may also collaborate with local shelters.
- Local pet trainers
Pet trainers, particularly the ones teaching obedience courses, have possibly seen different dogs coming from shelters.
These people may have a distinct point of view on the way shelters evaluate behavior and adaptability.
- Local vets
Did you know that vets within the area have possibly met and treated pets adopted from local pet shelters? You may not know it, but they may have special thoughts on how specific pet shelters deal with their animal’s health.
Moreover, they may have the idea into some of the animal’s temperament and health that people have adopted from pet shelters.
You will find a plethora of benefits to seeking pets for adoption through a pet shelter. However, are you ready to begin searching now? You can check the internet that allows you to search for dogs by area code and breed.
That will help you find a pup in need of a loving home. So, have you recently fostered from a pet shelter before? What are your experiences?
What would you suggest to somebody seeking dogs to adopt or foster? Feel free to let us know by leaving your comments below!
We wish you the best of luck in your journey!
