Rescue Organizations vs. Animal Shelters – Is there a difference?

While people use the term “rescue” and “shelter” interchangeably, there are many differences when it comes to the terms. Both “rescue” and “shelter” are used for any organization that provides temporary housing and a safe place for cats, dogs, and other animals to be taken care of while they find their new home. There are both pros and cons of adopting from either place in this article.

Animal Shelters

Shelters are typically funded at the town, city, or state level. People may refer to them as animal control or the pound. Workers at the shelter may be paid if not there will be volunteers that provide their time in caring for these animals. Depending on the location, they may, unfortunately, euthanize these animals if the population at the shelter goes beyond the normal capacity. Medical treatment and caring of the animals initially will need to be done by the adopter which can pose a great challenge without knowing the animal’s health and medical history.

Rescue Organizations

Most rescue organizations in the United States are non-profit 501(c)(3) and run by private individuals or by a small group. Rescue organizations don’t typically have paid positions and funded solely by the person or the organization’s own money as well as any public donations. Most rescues do not have over-populated facilities and are able to care for each animal on a personal basis. Like FuRRR, this also means all health and any medically related problems are addressed and treated before they go home to their new loving home. You’ll also find more knowledgeable volunteers at shelters that not only take time to get to know each animal but can recommend specific types to any potential adopter. Rescue organizations are also very strict about who the animals go home to so the process may take longer than if you were to stop by at an animal shelter. Many rescue organizations in that sense also do not have a public location but by-appointment-only after the adopter(s) is approved for adoption.

While the adoption cost may seem higher than going to an animal shelter, the expense of running these shelters primarily goes to medical care. In that sense, most of the money that gets paid by the adopter goes to the next cat or cats that may need medical care which includes emergency surgeries which aren’t uncommon. As mentioned earlier, unlike shelters that may process the animals and wait for their home, rescue organizations like us will make sure they are 100% clear to go home and are pampered by all the volunteers before they go to their “FuRRRever home”.

You also have the advantage of being able to consult rescue organizations during and after the adoption. Often times, our adopters will keep in touch with new photos, and anything they want to sure which we absolutely love!

So talk to us and ask questions! We don’t just exist to adopt our cats but to connect with new families and find their PuRRRfect home for all cats.