For many owners of rescue dogs (including myself), the checklist of what a reputable dog rescue organization looks like is discovered long after the adoption takes place because the excitement of dog ownership takes precedent over the practicality of researching a rescue beforehand.
While many rescue organizations have their hearts in the right place in wanting to place dogs in the right homes, many fail to comply with the standards that cause a rescue to be considered reputable.
In my opinion, the Ohio Great Dane Rescue offers the most extensive list of what a reputable rescue looks like but since their list is 32 items long I decided to highlight only 7 of them but please refer to their list for further information as needed.
1) A
reputable rescue makes sure animals are up to date on all vaccines, and
microchips where appropriate to ensure all pets are healthy, up to date on all
shots, heartworm tested/on prevention, and received necessary vet care before
placement.
Most rescues obtain
an Intrastate Health Certificate which means it is only good for
transporting reasons. If you adopt from a rescue be sure to take your new pet
to your own vet for a check up.
2) A
reputable rescue takes responsibility for the animals adopted through them for
the span of each animal’s life, not "just” for the span of foster care or
transport.
Many of our clients who have adopted
dogs from rescues STILL receive yearly or twice-yearly check-ups from their
rescue agency. Now, that's impressive!
3) A reputable rescue will never “hurry up” a process, or waive requirements simply for the convenience of the adopter.
Putting pressure on the public to adopt by a certain date in
fear that the dog(s) will be euthanized or put back in van for a lengthy trip back to the rescue organization is unfair to potential adopters and equally unfair to the animals who have been transported to an adoption site.
In my opinion, it is the rescue organization's responsibility to have a foster home or animal shelter reserved for the dogs in case adoption does not occur at the adoption site.
4) A
reputable rescue will help adopters make decisions about which animal is a good
fit for their home, and will offer advice and assistance on meeting the correct
animal for the adopter.
5) A
reputable rescue helps educate new adopters, and may require adopters
to participate in training courses to assist in a good adoption.
6) A
reputable rescue keeps animals in foster care, or in situations where the
animal was at a shelter, works with shelter staff for a short period of time before
placing them, to screen for health or behavior problems.
Rescue workers should have foster
homes in place and they should keep in touch with them regularly. Every effort
should be made to place dogs in a permanent home as soon as he/she is ready.
7) A
reputable rescue is not for profit, and works on adoptions, not sales.
Before adopting from a rescue
organization be sure it is licensed to
operate as a shelter and not as a pet store store.
If you are considering adopting a dog from a rescue organization, please take this checklist into consideration. You'll be happy you did!
When it comes to relationships, Babe prefers to observe her pet sitters for awhile before she showers them with affection. She needs a little time to get used to us and when she finally gives her paw of approval she purrs, head-butts, and allows us to brush her silky fur. She's a wise old soul!
Like all sidekicks, Abigail is just plain good company! Unlike her sister, Amanda, Abigail is ready for attention and she shows that by greeting us at the door at every single visit. She stands on a stool to watch us prepare her Fancy Feast meal and she monitors us when we fill her bowl with dry food. She wants to make sure we know what we are doing and she does a good job of it. I wonder if her fancy "Lion Cut" hairstyle gives her the confidence to be such a social cat? You know what they say....when you look good, you feel good!
Nermal is a savvy cat who doesn't mind entertaining herself, but when her pet sitters arrive she is ready to play or sit on the couch beside us. She's a bit unpredictable though; one minute she will stare lovingly into our eyes as we pet her and the next minute her paw will graze across our face! Unpredictable and cute...that's what we like!
Papi is a cat who loves to PARTY! He is a lucky cat who gets to go in and out of his house as he pleases. He is a dog in a cat's body and if he had his choice he'd be a dog just like his golden retriever siblings, Molly and Cooper, but he makes up for it by following them when we head out for our mid-morning walks. Somehow he can detect the sound of our cars as we approach his driveway and then greets us on his front steps nearly everyday. He is an amazing cat and we enjoy him immensely.
Ziggy was a cat who did everything in a unique way. For example, he didn't drink from a ceramic bowl like every other cat; instead he preferred to drink from the garden hose, the bathtub, and a large red Dixie cup. During our visits, Ziggy was in charge. If he wanted to be indoors, he would meow until we figured out that he wanted to be brushed and when he got tired of that he would ask to go outdoors so he could watch the squirrels or bathe in the sun. Ziggy was a dear friend who passed away last June and we miss him dearly. 
