7 Signs of a Reputable Animal Rescue Organization

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.

The following 7 signs will help you choose the right rescue organization that is right for you.

1) 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) Takes responsibility for the animals adopted through them for the span of each animal’s life and 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) 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) 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) Educates new adopters and may require adopters to participate in training courses to assist in a good adoption.

6) Keeps animals in foster care 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. 

If you are considering adopting a dog from a rescue organization, please take this checklist into consideration. You'll be happy you did!

Seven Signs of a Reputable Dog Rescue Organization

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 organization beforehand.

After doing a great deal of research I found a list of 32 signs of a reputable rescue from the Ohio Great Dane Rescue but this post would be too long if I listed them all so I've highlighted seven that I felt were the most important below:

1) A reputable rescue makes sure animals are up to date on all vaccines, microchipped,   heart worm tested, and has had all necessary vet care before placement.

Most rescues obtain an Intrastate Health Certificate which means it is only good for transporting reasons. Be sure to ask which certificate your new dog has before adopting!

2) A reputable rescue takes responsibility for the animals adopted through them for the span of each animal’s life and not just for the span of foster care or transport.

Many of my 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 the adoption process or waive requirements simply for the convenience of the rescue.

Putting pressure on the public to adopt by a certain date is unfair to potential adopters and equally unfair to the animals who have been transported to an adoption site because the dog may not be right for the family and/or vice versa. 

4) A reputable rescue will help adopters make decisions about which dog is a good fit for their home and will offer advice and assistance on meeting the correct one 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 dogs in foster care to screen for health or behavior problems.

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 keep this checklist in mind. You and your new pooch will be happy you did!

7 Signs of a Reputable Dog Rescue Organization

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 organization beforehand.

After doing a great deal of research I found a list of 32 signs of a reputable rescue from the Ohio Great Dane Rescue but because this post would be too long if I listed them all I chose highlight seven that I felt were the most important below:

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.

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 the adoption process or waive requirements simply for the convenience of the rescue.

Putting pressure on the public to adopt by a certain date is unfair to potential adopters and equally unfair to the animals who have been transported to an adoption site because the dog may not be right for the family and/or vice versa. 

4) A reputable rescue will help adopters make decisions about which dog is a good fit for their home and will offer advice and assistance on meeting the correct one 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 dogs in foster care to screen for health or behavior problems.

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 keep this checklist in mind. You and your new pooch will be happy you did!

7 Signs of a Reputable Rescue Organization

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 organization beforehand.

After doing a great deal of research I found a list of 32 signs of a reputable rescue from the Ohio Great Dane Rescue but because this post would be too long if I listed them all I chose highlight seven that I felt were the most important below:

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.

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 the adoption process or waive requirements simply for the convenience of the rescue.

Putting pressure on the public to adopt by a certain date is unfair to potential adopters and equally unfair to the animals who have been transported to an adoption site because the dog may not be right for the family and/or vice versa. 

4) A reputable rescue will help adopters make decisions about which dog is a good fit for their home and will offer advice and assistance on meeting the correct one 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 dogs in foster care to screen for health or behavior problems.

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 keep this checklist in mind. You and your new pooch will be happy you did!

7 Signs Of A Reputable Dog Rescue Organization

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! 

7 Signs of a Reputable Rescue

While I’m sure the directors and the volunteers of rescue organizations have their hearts in the right place many organizations do not comply with the standards of what it means to be a reputable rescue.

I obtained the reputable rescue checklist from Ohio Great Dane Rescue and I have highlighted a few of the standards below: 

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 has a contract, screens every potential adopter with a MANDATORY home visit before a pet is placed there, incl. foster/temporary basis and requires references.

In my opinion, none of these dogs should have been adopted out without a home interview, references checked, etc, but since this was a "Fast Eddie Salesman" operation, home interviews and reference checks weren't possible

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.

Of course, owners of rescue organizations want to find homes for their dogs as quickly as possible but a reputable organization should still take the time to ask potential adopters plenty of questions such as: 

• What is your family’s lifestyle? Would you prefer a active dog or a lapdog? 
• Will your schedule allow you to exercise your dog regularly?
• Have you ever owned a dog before and if not who is going to offer assistance and training? 
• Do you have written permission from landlord to own a dog?
• Do you have a fenced in yard?

5) A reputable rescue works carefully to match up the right forever home with the right pet, based on the pet's needs/personality/etc.

Every dog and every family/individual had their own unique personality and it is important to match them up accordingly. For example, an overweight, inactive person should not adopt a Jack Russell Terrier because Jack Russell’s are high energy and need a lot of walks. He would be better with a lapdog or a dog who does not require a lot of exercise.

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. A reputable rescue should be licensed as a shelter which means they will be running the rescue for the sake of the pets and not for their own profit.

I am not against adopting dogs from the south but putting pressure on the public to adopt by a certain date in fear that they be euthanized puts unfair pressure on vulnerable potential adopters.

If you are considering adopting a pet from a rescue organization, please take a look at the following checklist before doing so!