Pets Stack Exchange
Pets Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [shelter]

Any establishment that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are offered for adoption.

For questions about the process of adopting pets from a shelter or animal rescue organization and about any problem that might arise in the context of such an adoption. With "shelter" we mean any establishment that temporarily takes ownership for pets, regardless of whether it's maintained by private organizations, local government, or supported by charitable contributions,

For questions about "shelter from the weather" or "a place that offers protection" please use instead.

45 questions
47
votes
8 answers

Is this normal first day home behavior for my kitten, or should I be concerned?

My girlfriend and I received a kitten last night from a neighbor whose cat had a litter. It's my first cat (first interactive pet), but she's had experience in the past. According to our neighbor, our kitten is a little over a month old…
Glenak1911
  • 573
  • 1
  • 4
  • 6
37
votes
8 answers

How can we find a dog to "test drive"?

My girlfriend is interested in getting a puppy. We have been doing some research before getting one, and the book "Before you get your puppy" says on page 9 of the linked PDF: Make sure you test drive several adult dogs of your selected breed…
Adam
  • 473
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
13
votes
2 answers

Are there any animal charities that focus on preventing pets from being rehomed in the first place?

Kind of "prevention rather than cure" - are there any charitable organisations that work to educate people, supply resources, or whatever else might be needed to stop pets from needing to be rehomed? If so, how do they go about it? (I know that if…
starsplusplus
  • 3,764
  • 8
  • 33
  • 59
13
votes
2 answers

What is the difference between "Open Door" and "Limited Access" shelter policies?

In our area, we have several animal shelters. I have heard some described as "Open Door" shelters and others as "Limited Access" shelters. What do these terms mean, and what is the difference?
James Jenkins
  • 29,385
  • 40
  • 135
  • 246
11
votes
2 answers

How long can I spend with an animal to get to know it before adopting?

When adopting a pet I obviously want to make sure I'm making the right decision. Taking an animal that I would have to return later would cause unnecessary stress to the animal, as well as being unhappy for me and for the shelter staff. So, in order…
starsplusplus
  • 3,764
  • 8
  • 33
  • 59
9
votes
3 answers

Am I allowed to take existing pets to the shelter to meet potential pets?

Am I allowed to take my existing pets to the shelter to meet my potential new pet to check they get on before adopting? Should I ask the shelter first, and if so what do I say?
starsplusplus
  • 3,764
  • 8
  • 33
  • 59
9
votes
1 answer

Do rescue animals get vaccinated?

If you get a dog or cat from an animal shelter, will it have the necessary vaccinations taken by the shelter, or is there a chance you will have to pay for and organise these yourself? On the one hand, I know that animal shelters are often strapped…
starsplusplus
  • 3,764
  • 8
  • 33
  • 59
9
votes
2 answers

How much time should I expect to volunteer at a shelter in order to be useful?

I was once part of a group that volunteered at a shelter for an afternoon (as part of a community-service project). But that wasn't very useful to the shelter; they have mandatory training programs for volunteers and none of us had gone through…
Monica Cellio
  • 8,285
  • 6
  • 43
  • 83
9
votes
2 answers

What are the expectations of pet fosters?

I have seen several rescue organizations that have said they are looking for fosters. I know that there may be specifics for some organizations but I am really just wanting to know what in general are the expectations of a person fostering pets, and…
Critters
  • 2,457
  • 1
  • 18
  • 29
9
votes
2 answers

Essential care for rescue rabbit

I found a rabbit on the side of a trail in the woods. Clearly domesticated. Possibly released. While I wait for replies to rescue organizations and Craigslist replies from the owner (and if no reply, decide if I'll keep or give away), what should I…
mankoff
  • 273
  • 1
  • 2
  • 5
7
votes
1 answer

I noticed many rescues do not offer same day adoptions, Why not?

I went to a local rescue shelter and fell in love with this great dog I met there. I filled out the application and was ready to take him home when they told me there would be a waiting period before my application could be approved and I could…
Critters
  • 2,457
  • 1
  • 18
  • 29
7
votes
1 answer

Other than cash (always welcome), what donations might be of the greatest use for rescue organizations?

Not everyone can afford to give money to rescue organizations, but many might have supplies and equipment from prior pets that could be of use. Are there items that are often in short supply and might be very useful and valuable to rescue…
Joanne C
  • 20,389
  • 5
  • 59
  • 104
7
votes
2 answers

Why does this rescue group want to talk to my vet?

In filling out the application to take a new animal, the rescue group asks for information for my current veterinarian. Why do they want that information and what will they ask/tell my veterinarian?
Zaralynda
  • 20,276
  • 15
  • 78
  • 150
7
votes
1 answer

How accurate are personality descriptions given by a rescue organization?

When browsing pets online through many websites like Petfinder, rescue groups will list some personality characteristics (snuggler, good with kids, etc). How do they determine these personality characteristics and how accurate are these methods? If…
Zaralynda
  • 20,276
  • 15
  • 78
  • 150
7
votes
1 answer

How does one go about selecting a "good" rescue shelter?

18 months after losing our previous dog, we've finally decided we are ready for another dog. We'd like to get a rescue dog, but after some initial searching, we're finding a lot of different breed specific and general rescues that show up in basic…
psubsee2003
  • 3,428
  • 22
  • 50
1
2 3