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The Importance of Supporting Small Rescues Rescue work is like a dam; if it doesn't keep flowing, it all stops. In a time of historically high shelter overcrowding, the heartbreaking reality is that dogs are being killed in exchange for space to accommodate the constant intake of more dogs. It's a vicious cycle that we rescues strive to interrupt. The most efficient way for rescues to save dogs is to utilize a foster based approach, and for the community to get involved. Without fosters, we are either forced to place the dog in a boarding facility or to leave the dog's life hanging in the balance at the shelter. Though the dogs placed in boarding have technically been “saved,” the rescued dog is still in a shelter like environment while the search for a foster or adopter continues. Often times, the public and networkers often forget about them since they aren't at risk of immediate death. Boarding for long periods of time can negatively impact their stress levels and they may exhibit signs of anxiety or depression. For some dogs, it can mean regression or behavioral changes. Not only does this put additional stress on the dog, but places financial stress and responsibility onto the already overworked rescue. While rescues certainly appreciate the shared passion from fellow advocates who pledge and plead for the safety of dogs in the shelter, rescues NEED FOSTER FAMILIES!!! Foster care greatly improves the chances of a dog being adopted. It is imperative for their rescue. We urge you to help the dogs in your community. If you have the ability to foster, do it. Even just a week of fostering can be the catalyst for a beautiful future. When the community comes together to support the flow of animal rescue, we will see greater life saving outcomes.

If you have considered rehoming your dog, it is critical to do so humanely and responsibly. When dog owners advertise their pups as being "free to a good home," they may have the best of intentions. In reality, it can put the dog in a dangerous situation. Listing any animal on Craigslist, Facebook, or other websites and forms of social media as “free to a good home” may put the animal at risk of falling into the wrong hands. With shelters overcrowding and dogs being turned away, people often resort to this method of rehoming out of desperation or blissful ignorance. Many may not grasp the potential harm and it is crucial for pet parents to understand the risks of posting for pets for “free”. Criminals scour the internet in hopes of finding these listings, knowing they can easily prey on these families and their pets. They will rely on that raw emotion and make every effort to persuade you that they will make a good guardian to the pet. Naturally, people want to believe others are good and would never harm an animal, which is to criminals' advantage. In many unfortunate instances, the dog may end up involved in dogfighting, unethical breeding, resold commercially, or to a laboratory. Some laboratories try to save money by recruiting dishonest middlemen who deal in stolen animals. These sellers are referred to as "Class B dealers" and are recognized by the USDA as random source animal sellers who are permitted to sell animals to research facilities for use in experiments. Animals are often obtained by Class B dealers in dishonest ways. Your animal will become unprofitable to them if you charge a little adoption fee, so they'll probably look elsewhere. Those searching for animals to abuse typically won’t pay an adoption fee. By having an adoption fee and a screening process, you can also stop people from impulsively adopting your animals, returning them to the shelter when they lose interest, or leaving them otherwise neglected or abandoned. Dogs require expenses past being adopted, so an adoption fee can also guarantee that the person is willing to pay these expenses and are more likely to take them to the vet and supply their needs. An adoption fee is just one way to ensure the new pet parent is willing to make an investment in the animal. Preforming a home visit, asking for personal and vet references, checking animal abuse registries, and forming a contract are just some of the important ways of making sure that your dog is going to a good home. If you are unsure of how to rehome your dog in a proper way, consider reaching out to your local shelters or rescues for help to ensure their safety. If a dog owner truly cares about the life and well-being of the dog being re-homed, taking the steps above to ensure he goes to a good home are worth the time and effort.

With shelters filling up quickly, rescue dogs all over are facing euthanasia at faster rates than ever before. South Carolina specifically, has an overflow of rescue dogs. Everyday more dogs are coming in than are being adopted or fostered, putting shelters in a state of emergency. With the population of humans increasing, and the growth and development of areas like Charleston County, there naturally will be a surge in dogs, but it is common that lack of responsibility that is one of the main reasons hundreds of dogs are being surrendered on a daily basis. A shortage of veterinarians is also a contribution to the overcrowding, as South Carolina has a law that adopted dogs must be fixed, and 75% of the shelters don’t have a dedicated veterinarian. Due to the lack of space and large population of dogs, it is becoming more difficult for shelters to establish a calm and comfortable environment for them. The shelter is already often a scary place for dogs, so with adding pop-up kennels and additional dogs, comes new stress and fear for dogs. This may also affect how quickly they become adopted as people commonly avoid reactive dogs, but it is hard for many dogs to remain calm in this situation. If you are unable to adopt, shelters ask for you to please consider fostering as it will open space in shelters to maintain a positive environment and bring comfort to the dogs you choose to foster. Medical bills are also a major issue for shelters and animal rescues as many dogs come in with injuries or sick and face costly care. Viruses like distemper are spread easier and are more common because of the overcrowding. Due to many of these places being ran on volunteers and donations, these costs are extremely hard to cover making donations crucial. Sharing this crisis on social media and helping to spread the word is also vital in getting these dogs the second chance they deserve.