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Recently, there was a posting on Facebook: Shelters vs. Rescues, “Why are rescue adoption fees higher than shelters?” This article is filled to the brim with incorrect information about animal shelters, and misguidedly attempts to offer an explanation as to why some rescues request such a high adoption fee. The reality is far different from what this authorless article states.
I’d like to address this article as it is clearly inaccurate and has absolutely no basis in truth. The author of the piece is unknown. However, I’m certain it is an individual who has profited greatly from the exploitation of dogs and puppies – also a motive as to why they opted to write this misleading article. I believe the article was written to give misleading answers to people with questions that keep surfacing about some rescues: “Where does all the money go?”
First, the article states that shelters are funded by the government. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most animal shelters are privately funded, which means that they survive on donations as it is with the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA (CGHS/SPCA). We receive no county, state, or federal funding, and the majority of animal shelters in the United States are the same. The fact is, many community shelters save taxpayers money. Take CGHS/SPCA for example. We offer cruelty investigation in both Columbia and Greene counties in New York. CGHS/SPCA investigators typically respond to more than five hundred complaints of cruelty every year. This, in turn, saves a county Sheriff or Deputy, State Trooper, or local law enforcement officer from having to respond to these complaints. By doing so, this keeps law enforcement on the streets to assist people when needed.
Second, it is a falsehood that shelters will euthanize animals that may need medical treatment. The majority of shelters, like CGHS/SPCA, spend tens of thousands of dollars on injured and sick animals. For example, reputable shelters don’t pick the dogs they want, we take the animals that find their way to us. Shelters, unlike some rescues, do not discriminate against breeds. We offer all animals a safe haven and a forever home – and yes, “pit bulls” are always welcome at CGHS/SPCA. We maintain a fund for injured, sick, and/or abused animals; it’s called Marvin’s Fund, named after a dog that was a victim of horrific animal cruelty. This fund has helped hundreds of our animals to heal and recuperate from bleak circumstances, and many shelters have similar funds.
Why are there so many rescues today, despite the fact that, in many states, unwanted dogs have decreased? The answer is easy – money. Some rescues seem to have an endless amount of puppies and highly desirable small breed dogs. This is where it gets interesting. These dogs allegedly come from remote areas in the Southeastern region of the United States where, according to some rescues, the shelters are full and puppies are euthanized daily. As a fifteen year veteran of animal sheltering, I would firmly call this into question. To euthanize puppies is HIGHLY unusual and rarely, if ever, done by animal shelters.
Keep in mind that while there are many good, reputable rescues that work tirelessly to help animals in need, there are also many rescues that have popped up for the sole purpose of profiting from exploited animals. This is simple economics. Puppies and highly sought after dog breeds are purchased from unknown origins for $50 to $75 per head. Then they are brought to areas such as the Northeast where indiscriminate dog breeding is down, where the puppies can then be sold for a sizable profit. The rescue masquerades as a non-profit animal rescue. Red flag warning folks – these are the new “pet shops.” Currently, there is a national investigation on this practice and the “rescues” involved.
Please understand that we encourage people to adopt from a well-established, reputable private rescue, and we thank those rescues for their commitment to animals. What is reputable rescue? This is what to look for:
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xxx | Their currently adoptable animals should be up to date on all vaccines, and spayed or neutered with a health certificate from a NY veterinarian. |
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xxx | They will require you to fill out an adoption application, and verify your information (i.e., they will make sure you are a quality home before they collect an adoption fee). |
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xxx | A small amount of research, by direct questioning, private references (veterinarians, trainers, etc.), and by visiting resources such as the internet, should all provide a sound character reference of the organization you are considering adopting from. Make certain that the rescue is a non-profit by asking for their non-profit federal tax ID number (verify that number online) and their financial statement. Also ask them if they have a Board of Directors and their affiliations. A reputable shelter maintains a volunteer Board of Directors for oversight on policies and procedures. |
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xxx | What you should NOT see: Multiple litters of what appear to be purebred puppies. These are from puppy mills. |
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xxx | If these animals are from out of state (and they’re usually NOT), a paper trail should be provided from the point of origin. |
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Anyone interested in purebred rescue should consider dealing with or getting references from the listings given on the AKC website for each specific breed.
One final major issue with animal rescues is that there is no authoritative oversight on their maintenance. For example, in New York, humane societies and SPCA’s are audited by an independent accounting firm to verify that the shelter is adhering to proper accounting procedures as outlined by the federal and New York State governments and the NYS Board of Charities. New York shelters are also inspected annually by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. These requirements are not enforced for animal rescues, and therefore anyone adopting from such a rescue must be sure to ascertain these standards on their own, sometimes a daunting task. I encourage all adopters to do their homework!
Once again, no reputable rescue permits their animals to go home without being spayed or neutered, accompanied by a health certificate from a licensed New York State Veterinarian.
As I stated in the beginning of this response, there have been and will continue to be questions swirling around these rescues and the all-important question “Where does the money go?” … and maybe more importantly, “Who is profiting from it?”
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Ron Perez
President/CEO and Investigator
Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA
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