Rescue Abandoned Puppies: How to Do It and Why You Should

Puppies and kittens are among the most abandoned animals in the world. Sadly, there are many unforeseeable hurdles that can prevent a puppy or kitten from finding a home. These little guys don’t deserve to be left to fend for themselves on the streets, so you might want to consider rescuing an abandoned puppy or kitten rather than buy one from a breeder. Rescuing abandoned puppies and kittens is not only great because it saves their lives but also because you will get to give them a life where they are loved and cared for. In this article we will let you know how you can adopt an abandoned puppy or kitten, why should you do it, and what sort of challenges may come your way when rescuing these animals.

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What is Abandonment and Why Does it Happen?

Abandonment is when an owner leaves a pet with no known or foreseen way to get back home. This is usually due to unforeseeable circumstances such as an unexpected move or change of living conditions, a change of mind about having a pet, or financial struggles that prevent the owner from keeping the pet. Abandonment is not the same as surrender, which happens when the owner decides to give their pet away. Some owners may think that surrendering their pet to a shelter is better, but this is not the case. Shelters are full of abandoned pets that never find a home, and most of them are euthanized because there aren’t enough resources to take care of all the animals.

What to look for when rescuing abandoned puppies and kittens

When you visit a shelter, one of the first things you should do is look at the animals. The ones who need to be rescued the most are often the ones who are most overlooked. In this case, you will want to look for: - Puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted - Sometimes, people prefer to adopt an adult dog or cat instead of a puppy or kitten because they want a pet that’s already trained. When owners prefer an adult pet over a puppy or kitten, they usually go for one that’s at least 6 months old. However, puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted are sometimes the ones who stay at the shelter the longest. - Puppies and kittens with visible health issues - As cute as they may be, puppies and kittens with health problems are often overlooked because people don’t want to adopt a pet that will need a lot of veterinarian care. Nevertheless, these puppies and kittens need to be rescued more than any other. - Puppies and kittens who are shy - Shy puppies and kittens are often overlooked because people prefer confident pets. However, they might be the ones who need a home the most.

How to Know if a Puppy or Kitten is Abandoned?

Puppies and kittens are rarely abandoned with a note explaining why their owners left them behind. Therefore, it is hard to know for sure if an abandoned puppy or kitten is truly abandoned. However, there are a few things you can do to check if a puppy or kitten is abandoned. - Check the shelter’s records - If you know where the abandoned puppy or kitten was found, check the shelter’s records to see if it’s registered as an abandoned pet. If it is registered as “found”, it is likely that nobody claimed the puppy or kitten. - Ask the shelter workers - If the pet is at a shelter, you can ask the workers if it is registered as “found” or “abandoned”. If it is registered as “abandoned”, it is likely that nobody claimed the puppy or kitten.

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How to Adopt an Abandoned Puppy or Kitten

Visit your local shelter - You can find abandoned puppies and kittens at your local shelter. Visit the shelter and find a puppy or kitten that you like and can take home with you. Make sure you visit the shelter often because abandoned puppies and kittens are in high demand, which means they might be adopted quickly. Ask your local rescue groups - If you can’t find a puppy or kitten at the shelter that you’re okay with taking home, check with your local rescue groups. These groups work a lot like shelters do, but they are more likely to have puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted. Ask your friends and family - If you can’t find a puppy or kitten at the shelter or with a rescue group, ask your friends and family if they know of any abandoned puppies or kittens in need of a home.

The Challenges of Rescuing an Abandoned Puppy or Kitten

- Finding a Puppy or Kitten to Adopt - You can find a puppy or kitten to adopt at a shelter, but it might take some time. Meanwhile, the puppy or kitten might get adopted by someone else while you’re waiting, so you have to be quick. - Puppies and Kittens of Unknown Health - You can’t know for sure if the abandoned puppy or kitten is healthy, so you have to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. This can be costly and time-consuming, so you might have to choose between adopting a healthy puppy or kitten and one who has a serious health condition. - Puppies and Kittens who are too Young to be Adopted - Some puppies and kittens are too young to be adopted, but you can take them home until they are old enough to be adopted. This can be both rewarding and challenging.

Conclusion

Rescuing abandoned puppies and kittens is the best way to adopt a pet because you will get to choose the pet you want and you can rest assured that it was not bred in a cruel way. When you rescue a puppy or kitten, you will also be saving their lives since these little guys don’t have a chance at survival in the wild. When you adopt an abandoned puppy or kitten, you will be giving them a happy and healthy home and they will give you plenty of love in return.