Are You Considering:

Looking for a New Pet?

If you are on this site because you're looking for a new pet to add to your family, thank you for considering a rescue/shelter pet!! If you weren't really considering a rescue pet and just ended up here by mistake, or if you're not sure... then here is some information that might help convince you!

Did you know that there are many, many more pets being born each year than humans? Even if every single person wanted a pet there wouldn't be enough homes. An alarming number of pets are ending up at shelters and rescues, and many of these are euthanized since there just aren't enough homes out there for them. If you adopt a shelter or rescue pet, you will be saving a life. You'll also be opening up a space in the shelter for another homeless animal so that he/she has a chance to be saved also.

Don't be worried that the you are adopting "someone else's problem". Most of the time the animals given up have no behavioral problems - they are given up due to family difficulties, or lack of time and commitment. Some have minor problems that are very easily worked with, or just regular "animal behaviors" that the previous owner wasn't prepared to deal with. Many of the reasons that animals are given up are just plain silly. Here is a compilation of some of the lousy reasons people find for giving up their pets.

A responsible, animal-loving person really only has two choices for sources of pets.

You can try to find a responsible breeder: one who breeds only to better the breed, who does health and temperment checks on their animals, and who participates in showing and working tests of their animals. You will pay quite a bit for an animal from a breeder like this, but you will be rewarded with a sound, healthy companion who will cause you much less pain and heartache down the road.
Or, you can adopt a shelter or rescue pet. There are pets of all sizes, ages, and breeds available in your local shelter. If you have a particular breed in mind, you can contact a breed rescue for that breed. There are some younger animals, puppies, and kittens available through rescues and shelters, and there are also many mature pets who have already gotten past the annoying baby and adolescent stages (ie, housebreaking, chewing, etc). All of my animals are "formerly homeless" shelter or rescue animals. I will vouch that they make great pets and most definitely bond strongly to their new owners! For help finding a rescue or shelter pet in BC, check out the Rescue Organizations page and also the Adoptable Pets page.

The following sources are not acceptable sources of pets for any animal-loving person!

Pet Stores - although "that doggie in the window" may be sweet and cute, do not buy it! If you do so, you are supporting a terrible, terrible industry - the Puppy Mill industry. These people breed tons of dogs without caring for their health or temperment. That pet store puppy's mama dog is probably suffering in a tiny cage with insufficient light, food, and water, as well as being overbred. And sadly, pet store puppies are also prone to many health problems due to the lack of genetic testing on his parents. You may feel like you are "rescuing" the puppy by taking him home, but in reality you are sending a message to the Puppy Millers - "keep it up, there is a market for your 'merchandise'". See the banners below for more information about puppy mills.
Backyard Breeders - these people are the "small-time family breeders" that you might see advertising on a sign in their driveway: "Rottie Pups for Sale". Although they are sometimes well-meaning and really care for their dogs, they do not do genetic health testing or temperment testing on their dogs. They do not take the time to find a suitable mate for their dogs. They do not participate in showing or other events to help verify that their dogs are good examples of their breed. Sometimes these people can be hard to spot - but make sure you get proof of successful genetic test outcomes on the sire and dam of your prospective pup. A pup from a backyard breeder has a much higher likelyhood of developing health and temperment problems later on, then one from a responsible breeder does.

The following are some links with more information:

Ten Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog
Dog Owner's Guide: Rescue topic list
Rescue and Adoption Information from Leilah's Laughs
Adopting an older dog - The Senior Dogs Project

Also remember, although many of the sites above are geared getting a mature pet from a shelter or rescue (and that is a wonderful thing to do), if you are convinced that you want a puppy or kitten there are still alternatives to the pet store! Many times there are puppies and kittens available through shelters or rescues. But if you cannot find what you're looking for, please do the research and find a responsible breeder.

Another important thing to consider, especially with dogs, is what type of dog to get. Dog breeds are about more than just looks! Each breed has its own typical temperment. Many of the dogs in shelters today are there because its owners didn't research their breed and find out what to expect from their new dog. Even if you are planning to get a mixed-breed dog, some research will help you predict possible traits based on the dog's breeds if they are known. Choosing a Dog will help you learn about what type of dog may be best suited to your lifestyle and family situation. The most important thing to remember is that a dog is like a new family member, and it is your responsibility to remain committed to your new dog for its whole lifetime, once you bring it home. If you can't make that commitment then you should reconsider adding a dog to your family at this point in your life.

Giving Up your Pet?

If you are on this site because you're looking for a way to give up your pet, please check out this link: Can We Help You Keep Your Pet? It is a compilation of the many different reasons people feel the need to give up their pets, and some possible solutions to each one. There are countless pets in rescue and shelters right now, and there aren't enough homes for them all. There is no guarentee that your dog will find a new home, no matter how cute, smart, or well-behaved he/she is. It is quite likely that your pet will end up being euthanized if you give him/her up. You took on a big responsibility when you took this pet into your family - please live up to your responsibility and do the best thing for your pet. Hopefully some of the suggestions on this page will give you new ideas on how to work with your pet and overcome whatever problems you have.

If you are convinced that it is impossible for you to keep your pet, there are some steps you can take to help ensure your pet finds a good new home. The first thing to try is contacting your pet's breeder, if known. The breeder may agree to rehome your dog, but don't count on it unless it was stated directly in your contract when you bought the dog (it should have been, but not all breeders are this responsible, unfortunately). If it is not an immediate emergency, you might consider finding a new home yourself. This takes time and effort, but it is the best way to ensure your animal does not end up as just another sad statistic. You will have to advertise, interview prospective homes, and check references. For more information one how to do this, go to Finding a New Home for your Siberian - although this site deals with Siberian Huskies, the advice is good for every dog.

If you feel you do not have the time for this, you must look for a NO-KILL or rescue group to take your pet. These organizations are often full, under-funded, and sometimes they are choosy about which pets they will take in. If your animal is purebred, or an obvious mix of purebreds, a rescue would be the best bet. You can find breed-specific rescues in BC on the Breed Rescue page. No-kill all-breed shelters are listed on the Rescue Organizations page. Taking your pet to a kill shelter such as the SPCA should be a last resort - there is a very high chance that your pet may be euthanized in one of these shelters.

Getting Involved with Rescue?

Helping out the homeless animals is a great thing to do. It may not seem like a lot, but every little bit counts. Rescue works by saving animals one at a time - and trying to avoid getting discouraged by the "big picture".

There are lots of ways you can help the homeless animals of BC. I will start with the easiest and work my way up to the ones that take the most commitment and time.

Give Donations - this is something that every rescue organizations can use. You may choose to donate money, or else other items that are needed by te dogs, such as food, bowls, dog beds, etc. If you donate money, some rescues are registered charitable organizations and you can get a tax receipts. Please contact the individual rescue association to for details about how to give a donation, and what type would be most appreciated.

Volunteer at a Shelter - most of the shelters in BC would be happy to have you as a volunteer. You can get involved with many aspects of the shelter. If you want to deal with the animals hands-on, you can walk dogs, groom dogs and cats, clean cages, help with feeding time, or maybe just work on play time and socialization with the animals. There is also lots of work to be done interviewing potential adopters, and following up on adoptions to ensure that things are going smoothly in an animals new home. There is also office work you can do if you prefer - telephone answering and book-keeping are important as well. Organizing fund-raising events is also an area where volunteers can help out. You can contact your local shelter to find out about their volunteering program. BC shelters are listed on the Rescue Organizations page.

Foster a Dog - Many shelters and rescues are overcrowded and do not have room to take in new animals. Some animals come into rescue sick or pregnant, or otherwise unadoptable. These animals can stay in the rescue system for a long time taking up much-needed space where other animals could be taken in and homes could be found. You can help relieve the pressure by offering to foster a rescue animal in your own home. The Vancouver Pound has a foster program that you can get involved with. You can get more details at the Vancouver Pound Foster Program page. If you are interested in a particular breed you could contact the local Rescue Representative for that breed, if there is one - find out by checking the BC Breed Rescue List.

Start your own Rescue Organization - see the next section about starting your own non-profit group:

Here is link to 100 Ways to Help Rescue - lots of ideas of ways that you can help out.

Starting Your Own Non-Profit Charity Rescue?

Here are some general links about starting a non-profit charity organization:

Here are some links about starting rescues specifically:

Starting a Purebred Rescue