Adopting from reputable shelters and rescue organizations
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A satellite adoption centre is a pet store or other location that does not sell cats and dogs, but instead displays cats and dogs that are available for adoption from a humane society, SPCA… or rescue organization. Interested adopters must be approved under the same screening process that the organization has in place for all animals it adopts.
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Your first stop when looking for a new pet should always be your local humane society or SPCA…. Many loving animals are surrendered to shelters because their owners made an impulse or uninformed decision and end up being unprepared or unwilling to care for the animal.
Some people may be reluctant to adopt an animal for fear that they are “damaged goods”. The reality, however, is that most animals at shelters are there because their previous owners did not know how to raise them and the animals simply need a second chance. Read on below for information dispelling the myths on pet adoption, and our collection of adoption success stories for happy endings.
What is the difference between a humane society, shelter, rescue organization, a pound and a “no-kill” shelter?
Humane society/Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA…) – This generally refers to an organization dedicated to the betterment of animal welfare. They usually run a shelter and an animal adoption program to find new homes for abandoned, mistreated and/or surrendered animals. They also conduct education in their community and are often mandated to enforce provincial and federal animal cruelty laws.
Shelter×refers to the physical building where animals are held when they are being put up for adoption. Usually run by an organization such as a humane society, SPCA… or a municipality. Good shelters not only do comprehensive physical exams on all the animals that they receive, but they also do temperament testing to ensure that all animals available for adoption will be safe members of the community. Animals that have physical or temperament issues may be euthanized if the shelter does not have the resources to work with them. However, if a shelter is overcrowded it may be forced to euthanize healthy animals to free up space in the shelter.
Rescue organization – this is an animal rescue organization that is usually run out of an individual’s home or by a network of individuals fostering animals until they are adopted. Some may concentrate on certain breed of dogs or cats to rescue.
Pound – this is a municipal animal shelter. Some municipalities contract their local humane society or SPCA… to provide the pound service and some are run independently from the humane society. Pounds generally take in stray animals and keep them on average three business days to give owners a chance to claim their lost animals. Many pounds will then offer the animals for adoption.
“No-kill” shelter
Some shelters state that they are a “no-kill” shelter and will not euthanize any animal that they take in for any reason. No-kill shelters may have a limited admission policy meaning that they will only take animals in when they have the room.
Photo Credit BC SPCA…
Penticton Branch of BC SPCA…
Benefits of adopting from a reputable shelter or rescue organization
- Adoption fees usually include spaying/neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, and a full check up by a vet. If you were to purchase each of these services yourself at a private vet clinic, you would likely spend up to $1,000 or more.
- Conduct extensive health and temperament testing to ensure the animals are physically and behaviourally ready for a new home.
- Have purebred animals and mixed breeds, as well as young, adolescent and older animals.
- Provide you an opportunity to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem in your community by giving a home to an animal in need.
Click here to find out how the CFHS… is working with Petfinder.com to promote pet adoption.
Myths about shelter pets (adapted from AdoptADogCanada.ca)
There are many misconceptions about the quality of animals found in rescue shelters. The stigma that shelter pets have been stuck with for many years is that they are “damaged goods”.
Myth: “Shelter pets are obviously not good pets, or else their original owners wouldn’t have gotten rid of them”
Charlotte County SPCA…
Truth: Pets end up in shelters for a number of reasons, but not this one. Surrendering an animal to a shelter is usually done for the following reasons:
- The pet was purchased or adopted by someone who failed to do their homework and take into consideration all of the responsibilities of pet ownership. This means that the reason the animal is in the shelter is because someone was a “bad owner”, not because the animal was a bad pet.
- The animal’s owner passed away, and no family members are willing/able to take the animal in.
- An irresponsible owner didn’t get their pets spayed or neutered so they found themselves with a litter of babies that they could not keep or did not want.
- The animal’s owners were abusive to the animal, so the authorities have removed the pet from the harmful environment.
Myth: “Animals from abusive homes will never be good pets because they have been mistreated for so long”
Truth: Animals that have been abused are looking for someone to love them, give them a good home, and devote time and leadership to their training. Most shelters will do behavioural and temperament testing on dogs that they adopt out, so they can give you a really good idea of what the animal’s personality is like.
Shelters are also starting to implement “personality” tests on cats and dogs available for adoption to help better place them with prospective owners. The Meet Your Match program developed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helps shelters “evaluate an animal’s behaviour and interests and matches them to an adopter’s preferences “. The ASPCA… has made their Meet Your Match program available to organizations across North America through their workshop series. For more information on the Meet Your Match program please visit: www.aspca.org/adoption/meet-your-match/
For more stories on adopted animals that have turned out to be great pets check out our Success Stories section.
Myth: “You never know what you’re getting with shelter animals” or “All animals in rescue shelters are sickly or unhealthy”
Truth: Although it’s true that the medical history and temperament of an animal adopted from a rescue shelter cannot always able be tracked down, shelters employ veterinarians and other animal care specialists to make sure that every animal that is adopted out is in the best health possible. Some shelter animals will have special needs in regards to their health, however most needs are manageable with regular care and attention and check-ups with a vet. Buying a purebred pet gives you no guarantee against disease; some breeds of cats and dogs suffer higher rates of particular health problems than “mutts” do.
Top Ten Reasons to adopt an Older Cat
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