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Where can I adopt a dog? A thread:
Disclaimer: there will always be exceptions for these descriptions. This is not a place to debate what rescue type is best. They all serve a vital purpose, and as with anything, there are always good and bad of all things. This is for informational purposes only- please research.
This info comes from my experience. We are involved with our city shelters & local rabbit rescue, volunteer with a foster-based canine rescue group, and have had foster animals of various breeds, ages, and special needs in our home. I am here to alleviate concerns about adoption.
1) City or county animal shelter.
These are open intake shelters, which means they are required by their municipality to accept animals brought to them for any reason. They also serve as facilities for animal control. Animals in these shelters get basic medical care but funds 1/?
These are open intake shelters, which means they are required by their municipality to accept animals brought to them for any reason. They also serve as facilities for animal control. Animals in these shelters get basic medical care but funds 1/?
and staff are often very limited. They are funded through taxes as part of the budget for the municipality. Adoption fees are low because care is subsidized by municipality funding. These shelters typically euthanize animals for space as they are required to continue intake 2/?
of animals and do not have a choice but to maintain a healthy capacity at the shelter (not because they are cruel or evil or don’t care about the animals). They may utilize fosters for some of their animals who cannot be in the shelter environment if they are available. 3/?
2) “No kill” shelter.
These are private rescue organizations that function on donations, but usually animals live in a shelter building similar to a city shelter. They have selective intake and can choose to accept an animal or not as they have no obligations to the city or 4/?
These are private rescue organizations that function on donations, but usually animals live in a shelter building similar to a city shelter. They have selective intake and can choose to accept an animal or not as they have no obligations to the city or 4/?
county. These shelters do not euthanize for space as they can simple decline to intake animals once they reach capacity. They must maintain a certain high live-release rate to be able to say they are “no kill,” but they may still euthanize animals for medical reasons or due 5/?
to an animal being considered behaviorally unadoptable. They may utilize volunteer foster homes for some of their animals who cannot be in the shelter environment. Adoption fees may be subsidized by donations and medical care provided varies from org to org. Adoption fees 6/?
tend to be higher than city shelters because they keep long-term residents, provide more medical care than many city shelters, and often pay staff members and other overhead facility fees. Animals are transferred from city shelters that are overcrowded or may come directly as 7/?
strays or owner surrenders depending on available space and perceived adaptability. 8/?
3) Foster-based rescue.
Like “no kill” shelters, these groups run on donations and have selective intake. Some are breed specific, some are general rescues. Medical care provided, quality of care, screening processes, etc. vary from org to org, but typically are similar to a 9/?
Like “no kill” shelters, these groups run on donations and have selective intake. Some are breed specific, some are general rescues. Medical care provided, quality of care, screening processes, etc. vary from org to org, but typically are similar to a 9/?
“no kill” shelter in that more care will be provided than at most city shelters. Animals with these groups live in foster homes with volunteers while the rescue funds care. Adoption processes can be more involved than a typical shelter adoption process and often involve the 10/?
tindividual foster parent in attempting to match dogs to proper homes. Adoption fees tend to be higher than city shelters because they are solely subsidized by donations, but most foster-based rescues do not need to cover overhead costs for facilities or pay staff. Animals 11/?
can come from any number of sources. Many will be pulled from local city shelters, but some may accept owner surrenders or strays. Some groups will specialize in rehoming greyhound racers, importing Asian meat market dogs, or other focused missions. 12/?
Conclusion: all of these organizations have advantages and disadvantages. City and county shelters will never be beaten on costs, and if you want to adopt a dog in need those tend to be it as their time to be adopted or transferred is limited. While the shelter experience is 13/?
never ideal, having been at any sort of shelter does not necessarily mean that a dog will experience negative emotional or behavioral problems. Many are just happy to leave and then forget all about it when they go on to their new lives. Any sort of shelter is also likely a 14/?
good choice if you are looking to adopt a dog on the spot.
“No kill” shelters tend to have more of an application process than city shelters who are the most motivated to move dogs out, but generally do same day adoptions and have only basic adopter requirements to meet. 15/?
“No kill” shelters tend to have more of an application process than city shelters who are the most motivated to move dogs out, but generally do same day adoptions and have only basic adopter requirements to meet. 15/?
They have also likely done some level of behavioral screening on all of their accepted residents.
Foster-based rescues are great if you are nervous about finding the right fit for your home. Their adoption procedure tends to be a multi-step process, but they will have the 16/?
Foster-based rescues are great if you are nervous about finding the right fit for your home. Their adoption procedure tends to be a multi-step process, but they will have the 16/?
most information about how the dogs behave in a home environment and are most likely to allow home visits and trial adoptions, though there are “no kill” shelters who will do so (and city and county shelters are always required to take animals back should things go awry). 17/?
I hope that this is helpful to someone out there who may be nervous about the adoption process and where their potential new pets may be coming from. All dogs are a gamble, but for someone who is willing to do a bit of research, there is a wide array of options for rescuing 18/?
your next pet no matter your needs or expectations. I am always happy to answer any questions you may have about shelters, rescues, and fosters to the best of my ability. 19/19
Merry Christmas! 
