Summer Rescue Rush!

Posted bythetreekisserPosted inActivism, All Posts, Animal Liberation, Animal Rescue, Wildlife

ADOPT or FOSTER a shelter animal before

The weeks leading up to and immediately following the 4th of July represent the deadliest time of the year for animals in shelters. Because humans insist on celebrating independence by exploding fireworks across the entire county, terrified dogs and cats find creative and unexpected new ways to escape their homes and thus end up in shelters. To make room for this influx, shelters have to kill healthy, friendly animals who have been there the longest or are deemed least adoptable. Many shelters are already at capacity during the summer, because people are more likely to give up their pets when leaving on vacation (don’t get me started…). There are so many ways we can work together to reduce the number of lives taken, and that’s where you come in. If you’ve been considering rescuing an animal, NOW is the time! From today until July 5, anyone who adopts or fosters a shelter animal will receive a discount code for 50% OFF your next order from The Tree Kisser shop! To qualify, just send me an email (thetreekisser@gmail.com) that includes a photo/scan of a dated adoption certificate or foster agreement. You will also receive a discount of 50% off Triple Threads’s new “Rescue Is How I Roll” shirts! I’m hopeful that other businesses may offer discounts as well, and if so, I will add them to this blog post!

If you’re unfamiliar with the rescue process or don’t know where to start, here are some basic tips:

Adopting 101

If you aren’t already familiar with your local shelter, the easiest way to find it is by Googling your city name plus “animal shelter”. Most shelters will have an online database with animals’ photos, but they will likely be horrible quality and not do justice to any of the individuals, so it’s best to meet them in person! You can also check the online databases of petfinder.com and shelterme.com, which list profiles and information about animals both in shelters and with independent rescue groups. Independent rescue groups differ from shelters in that the animals are not at risk for being killed, but adopting from them still saves a life by opening up space for the rescuers to go get another animal from death row at a shelter. If you’re having trouble finding the right animal for you, please shoot me an email at (thetreekisser@gmail.com) and I’ll do my best to help! I may not be able to respond quickly though, so I encourage doing the research first.

Adopting 101-2
Many people (myself formerly included) don’t understand how crucial foster homes are to the rescue process. Most rescues rely on their network of foster homes to take care of their rescued animals until a forever home can be found. Without foster homes, the person running the non-profit can only rescue as many dogs as they’re allowed in their home (unless they’re put into a boarding facility, which is expensive and far from ideal). Fostering is an incredible way to take part in the process without having to make a lifelong commitment! Many rescue groups will even pay for all expenses (food, veterinary care, etc) for the animal as long as you’re willing to take care of him/her! If the rescue holds weekly or monthly adoption events, you may be asked to bring the animal to and from the event, but some groups coordinate that transportation for you. To find a local organization in need of fosters, again I recommend petfinder.com. On the right side of the home page, you can search their directory by location in the box that looks like this:
Screen Shot 2015-06-16 at 11.28.46 AM
Each organization is different, but many will have foster applications on their website. Once you’ve been approved, just wait until they contact you with information about the next animal they’re “pulling” (rescue lingo for taking out of the shelter). Soon you’ll have a grateful new friend to cuddle and hang out with until they’ve found their forever home! Below is a short list of organizations I personally know are ALWAYS looking for willing fosters! If you’d like me to add your organization to the list, just let me know via email or a comment:
If you’re unable to foster or adopt at the moment, PLEASE consider making a monetary donation to any of the above organizations. They need funds to pay rescue fees and veterinary bills. Without donations, nothing can be accomplished. We can all do SOMETHING to help combat shelter killing. If you can’t donate, please consider visiting your local shelter to volunteer or take photos. Spread the word. Encourage friends and family to spay and neuter. This is a problem we should be able to solve, but it takes effort and action from every single compassionate person. Thank you for caring!

One thought on “Summer Rescue Rush!”

  1. Pingback: What do you wish someone had told you before you adopted your first rescue dog | All About Animals

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