Choosing to bring a new pet into your life is an exciting journey. Many people decide to adopt, rather than shop, for a pet, since there are so many cats and dogs who need homes.
Whether you search a municipal shelter, a rescue organization, or an online adoption site, each option offers a unique way to connect with animals in need. Understanding how different adoption options work can help you navigate the process with confidence and compassion.
Shelters and Rescue Groups
Municipal shelters are city, county, or state operations funded by tax dollars. Government shelters usually combine pet adoption services with animal control duties and may be associated with police or health departments. You can find local municipal shelters online. These shelters are staffed by paid employees and often include veterinarians employed by a governing body. Most municipal shelters have facilities where you can view many dogs and cats in person.
Private shelters and rescue groups. Civic-minded individuals often form private shelters and rescues that are funded by tax-deductible donations and grants. They may have paid personnel but are largely staffed by volunteers who have other full-time jobs. Veterinarians may partner with shelters to provide health care for the pets. Some private shelters have brick-and-mortar facilities where you can visit potential adoptees, while others house pets in volunteer foster homes and organize adoption days at specified locations.
Online Resources
Spreading the word electronically is often more efficient than word of mouth. With well-developed websites that are updated frequently, many rescue groups and humane societies make shopping for a pet online a fruitful experience. Even though you cannot pet a dog or cat while shopping online, you can gather valuable information, choose a potential pet, and then meet them in person.
Online resources are often funded by donations or grants from private individuals, pet food manufacturers, veterinary pharmaceutical companies, and other veterinary industry partners. Some websites allow you to narrow down your choices geographically. These sites may also contain educational information on pet care. You can search online for rescue agencies in your area, or you can visit one of the larger, nationwide websites, which will direct you to a local shelter.
One of the oldest and best-known animal rescue organizations is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The ASPCA was the first humane society to be founded in North America. You can look for a dog or cat on ASPCA’s national database by visiting their website and typing in your zip code to locate needy pets in your area.
The goal of the ASPCA is to move pets from shelters to homes and to lawfully protect them. With a national outreach, this group can level out the supply and demand of homeless pets. The ASPCA transports pets from areas of high supply/low demand to areas where adoption may be more likely.
PetFinder.com has an enormous database and serves all North America, including almost 14,500 animal shelters and adoption facilities. It provides additional pet care information and a venue for online discussions. PetFinder also guides you to local shelter websites.
Adopt-a-Pet.com allows you to enter your zip code to localize your pet search. Although they do not have pets physically available for you to go visit, you are able to see photographs of your potential new family member and click on the photo to find out more. Adopt-a-pet provides contact information for shelters and visiting hours so you can meet your next pet in person.
Many of these organizations are now using social media to show off pets looking for homes, but other less trustworthy organizations or individuals may also find their way into your algorithm. A good not-for-profit rescue will be able to discuss the temperament of each pet and which home may suit them best. They will likely want to know a lot about you, your lifestyle, and your home to ensure that pet will get the best care. They may even request home visits. There should be medical records detailing veterinary care, including vaccinations and spaying/neutering if performed already.
Large or small, local or national, these online resources have the same goal: match available pets with the most suitable homes.
Adoption Advantages
If you visit a shelter, you can see many pets at one time, which makes it easy and fun to find your pet. You can personally talk to staff members and volunteers to get first-hand information about each dog and cat.
If you adopt a pet from a rescue organization that uses foster homes, you may have to wait until the next adoption day to meet your prospective family member, though some fosters allow home visits. Luckily, many groups have weekly adoption days at public facilities, so the wait should not be too long. You can talk to the foster parent, who has intimate knowledge of the pet and will be a good source of information for you.
The biggest advantage of adopting a pet is the ability to give a lucky dog or cat a loving home, and you will forever be their hero. There are many sources to find adoptable pets. Whether you are a walk-about shopper or an online shopper, you are sure to find the right pet for you.
