Shelter adoption vs. rescue: What’s the difference?
In which Jill answers a question she was surprised to get.
You know you’re too immersed in the animal welfare world when you start abusing your acronyms. “Is the ACL GSD getting TPLO already OTB?” Seriously. In rescue, we make a lot of assumptions about who knows what.
Recently, in a Fortune 10 company’s online DogLovers chat group, someone asked: “What’s the difference between adopting a dog from an animal shelter versus using a rescue?”
Many families are considering adoption for the first time. They aren’t familiar with the rescue vernacular, never mind where to go for help. So, herewith, is a quick guide of shelter adoptions vs. rescue adoptions. But first, some definitions.
Shelter adoption
Adopting an animal at an animal shelter means selecting a pet from the shelter’s inventory, filling out an application, and bringing your pet home. Before Covid-19, this often meant visiting the shelter in person, often traversing various buildings to look at different animals, making a selection, filling out the paperwork, and taking a new pet home. These days, more shelters are offering services like online adoptions and curbside pickup.
Rescue adoption
Using a rescue involves either finding a pet that belongs to the rescue, or using the rescue to help “curate” the best pet for your situation. Rescue organizations often save animals from overburdened shelters. Many rescues specialize in a certain type of pet, from specific breed rescues to those who save seniors, medical, and/or other animals with special needs. People who have specific criteria for their new family members might choose rescue organizations to get more personal assistance or to scout for animals at shelters on their behalf.
Whether direct adoption or rescue is better depends on your situation and preferences. This table can serve as a useful guide:
The above descriptions are becoming more fluid as Covid-19 continues to drive changes in the way both animal shelters and rescues do business. But one thing doesn’t change: Shelter animals begin to thrive once they get outta the cage!
