01/10/2025
This is an excellent post about what to look for when looking to adopt from a doggy rescue organization. Not all rescues are good rescues. Please make sure the one you pick is not supporting puppy mills or will leave you in the lurch if things go sideways with your new dog. Please share this post with your friends and family who may be thinking of adopting a dog!
In our experience monitoring rescue activities, we have noticed some patterns. We believe that many rescues out there fall into certain categories:
💰The broker (or flipper). Their bottom line is volume and in turn, profit. This rescuer will pay lip service to saving animals and regularly remind you of the large number of animals they have “rescued”. These rescues want inventory, and profit is usually their bottom line. They obtain their animals from the easiest source, whether that’s an overloaded shelter, a less developed country, or a puppy mill. They organize large transport initiatives, tend to be lazy (or fraudulent) with paperwork, and you will receive your animal straight off a transport vehicle. If things go sideways, they will deflect and abandon you – unless the animal is highly adoptable and can be flipped into a new home.
💔The bleeding heart. These rescuers start out with good intentions, but underestimate how difficult it is to run an ethical rescue. It’s not just about having compassion. You have to think about financial stability (unexpected five-figure vet bills anyone?), behaviour and medical assessments, supporting foster homes, and long-term sustainability. The bleeding heart is usually keen to start their own rescue and they eventually become overwhelmed – they crash and burn, abandoning the dogs and people they pledged to help. Animals may be placed back into bad situations out of desperation, or they may end up in hoarding situations.
😇The martyr. This one works hard, and everyone around them knows it! Rescue work is tireless, but it also comes with a lot of validation. Some seem to get a rush from a dramatic rescue and the attention and veneration that ensues. These individuals often do good work, but they are always stressed, always in crisis, and always drawn to the saddest story. They do not do well working as a team, and they aren’t interested in big picture thinking – they are the types that will buy puppies from a puppy mill to “rescue” them, not acknowledging that they are lining a breeder’s pockets and facilitating a new litter.
💪The sustainer. Level-headed rescue people exist, and you’ll find that these organizations aren’t constantly posting about their high numbers, their drama, or their exorbitant vet bills. They will have a diverse team so that if one person burns out, the entire system doesn’t collapse. They will know their limits and know when to say “no” – because if you try to do everything today, you will burn out and help no one tomorrow. These groups will have reasonable numbers of animals up for adoption, and the bios will reflect that they are real, imperfect animals that you can go meet before signing adoption papers. They will have multiple, sustainable sources of fundraising and usually dabble in policy, advocacy or educational work to address root causes of animal welfare issues.
Do you agree with these categories?
Have you encountered examples in your own experiences with rescues?
