Adopt a Rescue Pet - Please!

When adopting a new pet into your family, always keep in mind the many rescued animals that need a great home. This article will give you some ideas of how to go about looking for a pet that may have been a stray or given up by a previous owner.

The following sources should be investigated when searching for a rescued animal to adopt.

1. Internet

Rescue organizations all have a presence on the internet now days. By doing some basic searches, you can locate rescue groups that handle the specific type of pet (dog, cat, etc) in your area that you're interested in. For example, if you where looking for dogs in Phoenix, you could search for 'rescue dog phoenix'. Another example could be that you are only interested in golden retrievers, so your search would be "rescue goldens phoenix'. You will find pictures and information about the animal posted by the sponsoring organization, as well as contact information.

Rescue groups use foster homes for their animals, so you will be visiting the foster home when you meet the animal, which is a very natural setting to see how the animal behaves.

2. Craigslist

Classified ads for pets needing a home can be found on Craigslist, which is an online listing service. An example search that would return the Phoenix Craigslist ads for pets would use 'Craigslist pets Phoenix' as the search term.

3. Animal Shelters

A shelter is another great place to look for a pet. Check the phone book to find your local shelter. Some shelters also maintain a web page. If you're looking for a purebred animal, go to the shelter after a holiday time. Pets are given as gifts for a holiday, and some times then turned into the shelter when they can't be kept by the new owner.

4. Pet Stores

The Humane Society does sponsoring and housing of some animals at nationally franchised pet stores. You can meet and play with a wide selection of possible pets right at the store. The adoption fee for a Humane Society pet is low, and was $40 for our kitten, which included neutering and the implant of his chip identifier.

5. Newspaper

The classified section of the newspaper may also provide a lead on a pet for you. You never know when someone needs to find a new home for an animal that would be perfect for you. You might be saving the animal from a trip to the shelter.

The other thing to consider if you can't adopt a pet is to donate to the Humane Society. They are a favorite charity of many people.

Rescued animals make great pets and will bring you tremendous joy. You will always be proud of your decision to open your home to one. Good luck in finding the right pet for your family.