A New Project for Everyone

[krazyaboutkatz]

Here are a few links where I've adopted cats before.

Humane Society This is my local Humane Society and I adopted both Storm and Sky from here.

Friends Of San Martin Animal Shelter I adopted Starr from a woman who worked with this shelter group.

Stanford Cat Network This rescue group helps homeless cats at Stanford University. I adopted Cirrus from them. Most of their cats are ferals or semi-feral.

Here's a link in adobe format that lists California rescue groups: CA Rescue Groups Master's List I adopted Sunny from Unconditional Love but they don't have a website right now.

[Karen]

Can someone post about experiences they've had with breed rescue? I only know of one person locally who was given such a run-around, and then her calls were not returned, and she eventually gave up, even though she would have been an excellent home, and was willing to follow the group's protocols. It was quite disheartening.

[Beauty17]

I will post about the Greyhound Rescue Society in my area - somewhere slightly upstate NY. Although I know that other Greyhound Rescue Societies are very good (my sister has two greyhounds), these people took our initial application fee and never contacted for us afterward. We did not follow further, because we were offended at their lack of courtesy.

[Ginger's Mom]

Can someone post about experiences they've had with breed rescue? I only know of one person locally who was given such a run-around, and then her calls were not returned, and she eventually gave up, even though she would have been an excellent home, and was willing to follow the group's protocols. It was quite disheartening.

I think a lot of breed rescue group are very small individually run programs. I fostered for an American Eskimo breed rescue that covered from Massachusetts through New Jersey. That rescue organization was actually just two women who also had full time jobs (and one had a husband and son to care for), who just cared very deeply about the breed. They would receive many many e-mails from people who wanted to adopt, just wanted more info. about the breed, wanted to turn in their unwanted Eskies, etc. And they were extremely busy answering those e-mails, transporting dogs, and doing home checks. Please don't get discouraged if it takes a while for a breed rescue to get back to you, as I said it is usually only a small group of people who do this in their "spare" time. I think that breed rescue does try to match the right dog with the right home, and "rescuers" are always there to answer questions about the breed if certain problems should pop up once you get the dog home.

[Sudilar]

Can someone post about experiences they've had with breed rescue? I only know of one person locally who was given such a run-around, and then her calls were not returned, and she eventually gave up, even though she would have been an excellent home, and was willing to follow the group's protocols. It was quite disheartening.

When you go through a breed rescue, it can be quite disheartening. The reason for all the things we make potential adopters go through is for the good of the dog. The dog in rescue has been uprooted already once, so a permanent forever home must be found. This takes a lot of work. First there is the application...I believe ours is 10-11 pages long with lots of questions with a vet referral and other referrals which we do check. Next is the home visit. Then the application and home visit is reviewed. If the applicant is approved, then we will see if there is a dog that will fit that particular home. Sometimes it is not the dog that the potential adopter had his eye on. If we don't feel the fit is good, then it will not happen. Many times the potential adopter will have to wait til a dog that fits his needs comes along...and that may take a while. Then there is the "Meet and Greet" where the potential adopter meets the dog. If all goes well, then shortly after that the adoption will be approved and the dog goes off to his forever home (hopefully). We do everything in our power to place the dog in a forever home. It is all about the dog. Sometimes it may seem too strict, but it is what is necessary so that the dog is not returned to us.
If you go to http://gsdrni.org/forms.htm you can see what the application looks like and what our policies are.

[DrKym]

Can someone post about experiences they've had with breed rescue? I only know of one person locally who was given such a run-around, and then her calls were not returned, and she eventually gave up, even though she would have been an excellent home, and was willing to follow the group's protocols. It was quite disheartening.

Karen I used St Louis Purebred rescue to adopt Rusty the amazing felon, he is vWB and has thyroid issues but they were amazing! I am sorry to hear your friend had a problem with a rescue, but Donna was amazing, she emailed me back the same day, called that night to talk in depth arranged a meeting in our home with Rusty as he had never been around cats or small dogs or guinea pigs, or small kids for that matter. She arrived at 9 am stayed until 3 and Rusty has been an incredible addition, she still emails us and drops a line now and again. She bent a few rules so we could adopt him as he fit so perfect.(our fencing wasn't fully up yet and we lived out of state) so I would reccommend rescues highly btw Rusty is a red doberman.

[ratchet22]

Yes I agree petfinder.com is the best place
I am at www.arlingtonkittensandcats.petfinder.com

[Reachoutrescue]

REACHOUTRESCUENFP

THIS IS MY RESCUE BASED IN HOMETOWN, ILLINOIS. WE ARE COMPLETELY NOT FOR PROFIT. WE ARE NOT GOVERNMENT OR STATE FUNDED. IT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS. WE HELP ANIMALS ALL OVER ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA.

PAWSCHICAGO

THIS IS A NOT FOR PROFIT SHELTER AND CLINIC LOCATED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THEY OFFER LOW-COST VACCINES AND SPAY/NEUTER. PEOPLE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIEVES FREE SPAY/NEUTERING FOR CATS/DOGS.

[kitten645]

I just found this website for missing pets in Florida. Don't know if you have it yet.

Pets 911

[NoahsMommy]

There are a lot of rescues that deal with dogs and/or cats locally. These 'smaller' rescues (as opposed to placed like Best Friends, Pet Finder, shelters) sometimes are known at their own vets. When I worked at a vet people ALWAYS asked if we knew of anyone with dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, etc. We had a rolodex for rescues in the area.

Going to your vet, wherever you live, is a great way to help rescues!!

A lot of rescues will contact vets and put up fliers. This is a great way for them to find homes for their rescues.

PetCo and PetSmart and like stores also have weekend rescue "fairs"....this is an excellent way to find a critter to love.

GREAT idea, Karen. You'd be surprised at how many people DON'T have any idea how to get a rescued or quality bred animal.

[heidiv]

My local Purebred Cat rescue that I have kept a close eye on is the Pure Bred cat rescue. They are located in Kenosha Wisconsin they deal with all purebred cats. Siamese, lots of persians and himalayans and they also once in a great while they will get Devon Rex, Sphynix and Ragdolls. The people at this rescue are absolutely amazing and extremly easy to work with. They really do an awesome thing here. Many of the animals are from Bad Breeder seizers. It would be amazing if they could be placed onto this list.
www.purebredcatrescue.org

I help my local Humane Society I fostered and I adopted my youngest Cat Paris from this shelter. Its located in Eau Claire Wisconsin
www.eccha.org
Very helpful and kind faces at this shelter. And I may be a little bias but I was lucky to get the sweetest little kitty from this shelter also

[crow_noir]

I've actually been thinking about making an updated list for MI one of these days organized by County. The main portion would only list those that have websites. Down at the bottom would also include those with just addresses. Below that would be other related organizations. I'd also have notes for which shelters still use gas euth.

In the mean time here is one of my favorite links for MI rescues. http://www.kalamazooanimalrescue.org/michlink.htm

I'd suggest for people looking to adopt to look County by county in a search engine. (Also to not forget that the phone book can be a great resource, as well as asking a vet what organizations they might know of.) Type in each of the following. County means the name of the county. "County dog pound" "County animal control" "County Humane Society" "Humane Society of County" "County ASPCA" "County Animal rescue" And also trying the name of any major metro city in any of those combinations. Even the re-arrangement of words can produce different results. AND don't use just one search engine. USE at LEAST three different search engines. (I suggest Yahoo, Goodsearch, and Google. ...with safe search turned off.) If you are truly serious in finding the perfect companion this will be well worth your time!

A good question to ask a shelter is what vaccinations are given? Tests performed?

Fees should be reflective of the care that a shelter gives an animal.

If it is a rescue rather than just a shelter, you should ask what experiences the animal has had since it's time with them and if they know of it's history.

Oh, i wish i had the link on hand, but i remember finding an excellent page on what to ask breeders. I do know to stay clear away from those that don't have questions to ask you. Don't buy any dog site unseen!!!

[Barbiecat]

I recently bought items on Ebay from a women in Sayreville, NJ, who does feral rescues. Her organization name is Whiskers Rescue, and this is what is says on her Ebay site:

Whiskers Rescue is a non profit cat rescue based in New Jersey. Our ebay store consists mostly of items that have been donated to help raise funds for medical expenses. We often have vintage and other kinds of jewelry. What we sell completely depends on what has been donated.

I don't know if she has a website, but you can find her on Ebay by looking up sellers. I believe it's listed as one word, Whiskersrescue.

[crow_noir]

www.whiskersrescue.org

I recently bought items on Ebay from a women in Sayreville, NJ, who does feral rescues. Her organization name is Whiskers Rescue, and this is what is says on her Ebay site:

Whiskers Rescue is a non profit cat rescue based in New Jersey. Our ebay store consists mostly of items that have been donated to help raise funds for medical expenses. We often have vintage and other kinds of jewelry. What we sell completely depends on what has been donated.

I don't know if she has a website, but you can find her on Ebay by looking up sellers. I believe it's listed as one word, Whiskersrescue.

[catfamily]

http://www.harvesthills.org/cats.php
this is a wonderful shelter in fryburg maine.they really take great care of the cats and dogs there.there are many volunteers that work there.
and they all enjoy helping out.the cats i have seen there really need a home.they are all very loving cats,and very well cared for by the volunteers.
please...if your in fryburg maine and you can take an adult one preferably.the kittens go to quick.