Animal Rescue and Animal Shelter: What is the Difference? 2023

Chances are you can find dogs, cats and other pets in adoption events organized by the local animal shelter or rescue in your area wherever you are in the country.

While these two may be very similar in terms of helping adoptable animals search and find loving homes, they're actually distinct from each other. But you'll save a life either way!

• ALSO : 👉Read the ultimate guide to pet adoption: 13 blog post articles to help you make the right choice with pet adoption 🐶🐱

If you're still wondering what separates the two, then you've come to the right place. Make sure you follow because I'm also going to get you in on why pet adoption is a much better choice when you search for a new furry friend.

What are Animal or Local Shelters?

It's typically your government-owned local pound. However, not all are funded by taxpayer money. It is a community where strays like dogs and cats are surrendered or brought in when their previous owners either cannot take care of them anymore.

• YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: 👉Pet Adoption- What If You Can't Take Them With You?
  

These places generally "adopt" or save all sorts of animals (not just the usual "furry friend" depending on local restrictions) and are almost always full. Sadly, they have to euthanize pets rather than set them loose to fend on their own and live miserable lives.

5 Pros for Shelters for Adoptable Pets

1. You need to only have an on-site visit when you adopt a pet.

2. While this is not a universal statement, the processing time for pet adoption is usually shorter and has fewer requirements.

3. Most have a community area or playroom for you to meet and greet puppies, kittens, rabbits and other pets to check if they can be an ideal new family member.

4. Most treat minor health conditions, particularly among dogs and cats, prior to pet adoption.

5. Deworming, spaying and neutering are usually done when you adopt a pet.

5 Animal Shelter Cons for Pets

1. Some animal shelters may be in a hurry—sometimes less than a week—to get you to adopt due to their limited space and resources.

2. Some animals up for adoption have no known history.

3. The staff and volunteers may not really know enough about a dog or cat to gauge whether it will be a good adoption fit for you as your new best friend.

4. Some private shelters have extra fees and requirements before letting you adopt or take a pet home.

5. Shelter dogs and cats are often not on their best "adoption behavior" because of the confined environment and lack of food.

What is a Rescue?

Animal rescue is usually a private organization or initiative that saves dogs and cats, among others from abusive homes or homeless situations. Some examples include PetSmart Charities, Petco Love and ASPCA Happy Tails, which also have constant pet alerts on pet adoption.

It provides temporary homes through a network of foster parents who agree to host a puppy, kitten as well as older dogs and cats until it is adopted. While a rescue can take in all sorts of animals, some of them can be age and breed-specific to meet the location and lifestyle of their foster parents.

A rescue generally runs on pure donation and goodwill. It is very rare for it to receive any help or funding from the government.

5 Rescue Pros When You Pet Adopt

1. Animals are often housed in an on-site environment where they can retain their social ability with humans.

2. There is much more on-site information about a cat, dog and other pets like breed, health status and overall disposition.

3. The pet adoption process is generally more selective and engaging to help ensure you're going home with the right pet or animal companion.

4. When you pet adopt, the animals are often very healthy, spayed and neutered, as well as completely vaccinated.

5. Before you adopt a pet, you'll have a chance to interact with a potential match many times.

5 Cons You Should Know

1. The amount of time spent matching pets with potential adopters can take months.

2. There can be a lot of paperwork and fees to take care of.

3. You may be asked to shoulder vet fees when you express interest to adopt a pet.

4. Meeting a potential pet like a dog or greatly depends on a foster parent's schedule and family life.

5. Some may require continuous home visits even months after the adopt a pet process has been finalized.

The Inside Scoop on Rescues

A rescue is typically manned by volunteers and can be stricter when matching an animal with a pet parent because they know the animal really well.

HomeFurEver shares: “Every rescue is different. We all have different systems of operation, adoption processes, and requirements. Approval through one rescue does not guarantee that you will be approved through another rescue."

Adoption for Pets: Which One is Better?

There is no real answer regarding which is better to adopt. It all boils down to who are the people running the same and how much they care for the animals. But going for adoption is much better than buying from an unscrupulous breeder or puppy mill!

Some animal shelters have partnerships with local rescue groups to ensure that animals who may not have a chance of surviving or have special needs will still have a chance to be adopted.

A Final Word on the Adopt a Pet Process

Every organization and facility is different. Usually, shelters are not as strict as rescues in processing adoptions but there can always be exceptions. Are you getting excited about adding a pet or companion animal to your family? Check out our entire pet adoption series – The Ultimate Guide to Pet Adoption.

Like you, we're passionate about animals and would like you to have the same joy we have as pet parents. Join us on Facebook to get updates on our future articles and be notified whenever we post more pet and animal-friendly tips!

About the author

Suzie Cyrenne

HOMEOPATH & CO-FOUNDER OF ZUMALKA

Suzie Cyrenne has dedicated more than 20 years of her life in making and improving natural animal health solutions in the global setting.

Being the co-founder of Zumalka, Suzie is a forerunner in enhancing the lives of pets through natural and homeopathic options using the knowledge she has gained from the Classical Homeopathy School in Quebec.

Through the guidance of her mother-in-law and fellow natural health expert, Denyse Lessard, Suzie constantly devotes herself to create premium pet products that are aimed at dealing with the root causes of wellness problems and not just their symptoms.

Besides immersing herself in books, personal development and visiting new places, Suzie also enjoys keeping herself in tiptop shape by snowboarding and taking daily hikes with her husband and Zumalka co-founder, Matt Lessard, and their Golden-Doodle, Westin.

Find out more about Suzie when you click HERE.