Rescue Dogs vs. Shelter Dogs

I was told that I should write about the differences between "fostering" a pet and "adopting" a pet. Well, I just finished writing this entire blog and realized that I didn't do that at all. HAHA! I ended up talking about the differences between "rescue dogs" and "shelter dogs." Many people out there aren't 100% sure how exactly they differ, including myself to an extent. So yeah, fostering vs. adopting will be next time! I've done some extra research on the topic of rescue dogs and shelter dogs and plan to keep things fact-based and less opinionated, which does tend to come out in my writing regardless. Animal shelters and dog rescue groups all take in "unwanted" dogs and attempt to re-home them. Yes, they're both working toward that common goal, but there are a couple big differences between the two.

"A rescue dog is a dog that has been placed in a new home after being abused, neglected, or abandoned by its previous owner. Many animal rescue organizations exist to rescue, protect, care, and re-home dogs from unnecessary euthanasia." - Wikipedia || A huge part of a functional rescue group is its volunteers. Without them, the group would barely exist. Rescue groups are funded mostly by donations and most of the staff are simply doing this out of their love for animals. Yup ... no paycheck here most likely. Since rescue groups don't have shelter facilities, all the rescued animals are given special treatment and placed directly into foster homes. This, however, may sound easier than it really is, given the volume of rescues that come in compared to the amount of volunteers available to find them all new homes. Most definitely a bit daunting.

"An animal shelter is a place that stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals (mostly dogs and cats - sometimes sick or wounded wildlife) are kept and rehabilitated. While no-kill shelters exist, it is sometimes policy to euthanize animals that are not claimed quickly enough by a previous or new owner." - Wikipedia || Shelters are, in most cases, run and funded by local government. Like rescues groups, some shelters put animals into foster homes, however, many are housed on site in kennels. This is where the term "dog pound" comes from. It has negative connotations and isn't normally used now, but what it referred to, is a town's animal control office that often houses dogs that have been seized. The term "animal shelter" is now used in reference to this and the term pound.

To delve just a little deeper, shelters are either "kill" shelters or "no kill" shelters. The latter is a bit harder to come by. A no kill shelter is similar to a sanctuary. The animals are not euthanized unless they're in poor health or pose a threat of some sort. These shelters are extremely full most of the time and some of the animals they house have been there for years. In kill shelters, the animals that come in are given what is called, a "grace period," where they have a specific amount of time (sometimes only a few days) to get adopted. After that grace period, if the shelter has no extra room, the animal will be "humanely" euthanized ... no matter the age, breed, or potential. Keep in mind, that dogs are in shelters for numerous reasons ... not necessarily bad ones. Also, if you end up going to a shelter (either to adopt or surrender), remember to ask what their "kill policies" are. It's always important to make informed decisions.

Ultimately, it's up to you as to where you get your next furry pal from. There are lots of breeders, rescue groups, and shelters. May I suggest though (my opinion leaks out here and there), that if you're not looking for a specific breed, try a local rescue group. The volunteers are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts and, often times, don't have space to house all the animals that they find. If not them, hit up your local shelter and bring home your next best friend. There are so many abandoned dogs out there that just want to be loved. It's honestly heartbreaking. Animal shelters and rescue groups are working toward a common goal and, as animal shelters evolve, I believe that the lines between the two will become more blurred. There are thousands of dogs out there (all shapes, ages, and sizes) who need homes and almost every town will have rescue groups and shelters at your disposal. Consider yourself informed and educated! Now it's time to contact your local rescue group and/or shelter!

The following are some local Syracuse, NY (and the surrounding area) rescue groups and shelters to get you started...

-Humane CNY

-SPCA

-Barks & Rec.

-Cat Coalition

-Forever Friends

-Mountain Rottie Rescue

-Helping Hounds

-Second Chance Shelter

-Misfits Animal Rescue

-Wanderer's Rest

-Wayward Paws

-Recyclable

-Seventh Heaven Rescue

-Marsha's Mulligans

-Doggie Gone Inn

-Bernard's Beagles

-Fetch-a-Friend

-Kitty Korner