Adopting a Dog or Cat: Where Should I Look? Local Shelters and Rescues
- Shel Graves
- May 17
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Recently, someone in an online forum asked an excellent question. I loved it so much I'm giving it a long answer here.
They asked: What are some good local rescues to adopt from?
What I loved about the question was not just that they wanted to adopt, but also that they were planning to adopt. Also, they wanted to adopt dogs in need in Washington State.
There may be some excellent rescues doing good work in other states and internationally and I love and work with some of those out-of-state rescue animals. However, because I worked in shelter and rescue locally and saw great dogs linger for months, even years, without finding homes, I have a bias toward rescues that focus on the animals here in Washington State who need our help (although they may help other rescues in times of emergency rescues and natural disasters).
One of the key questions I recommend asking a rescue is: Will they take the animal back if it doesn't work out? Hopefully, the answer is "Yes!". You can see the trouble here if the animal was transported a long way (another additional stress for everyone in an already stressful situation).
Rescuing is a wonderful service -- and you want to bring a rescued animal into your home who is a good fit for your family! May you have a great rescue experience. May you be excited to adopt again. May you be able to praise your adoption experience to family and friends and remember the rescue fondly every "gotcha day".
You don't want to find out that a dog who was supposed to be "good with cats" is endangering the life of your cat or that a shut down animal said to be "good with children" now bites and have nowhere to turn.
If you are considering adopting, but not ready yet, fostering can be a great option. If you would like to care for an animal in your home but are not ready to make a longterm commitment, try fostering. You might also like to volunteer as a foster, because it's a lovely, helpful thing to do!
I also appreciate that the person asked about a "good" rescue. I'm going to say that all rescues are run by well-intentioned people who want to help animals. That's certainly largely true. However, rescuing is hard work that requires a lot of knowledge and resources. A rescue without enough support can be one medical or financial crisis away from needing rescue itself.
And there is always more that we can be doing for animals:
There's medical care, enrichment and behavioral care, and emotional and spiritual care for the animals and the humans involved. There is a lot to learn and know about the animals in our lives.
Even the minimal needs of daily nutrition, fresh water, and enrichment to reduce fear, stress, anxiety and frustration can be difficult to provide. Animals' needs do not take a day-off or a vacation. They don't happen between set and convenient hours.
Should you adopt from your local shelter? Yes! And support and advocate for their work. While, I'm talking mostly dogs and cats here, there are lots of adoptable rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and farmed animals in need of homes, too. They are found in local shelters and specialized rescues.
Municipal shelters - take all comers, help animals without another place to go
Nonprofit shelters (they have a place for the animals on-site) filling community animal needs (many also use fosters when available)
Camano Animal Shelter Association - Camano
Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation - Coupeville
Whatcom Humane Society -Bellingham
The NOAH Center - Stanwood NOAH stands for Northwest Organization for Animal Help Homeward Pet Adoption Center - Woodinville
PAWS Companion Animal Center - Lynnwood PAWS Cat City - Seattle, University District Pasado's Safe Haven - Dog Towne and Kitty City - Monroe
Seattle Humane - Bellevue
MEOW Cat Rescue -Kirkland
Mercer Island Eastside Orphans and Waifs
Seattle Area Feline Rescue - Shoreline
Foster-based and specialized rescues - the animals live in homes and organizations rely on foster volunteers
Old Dog Haven - specializes in senior dogs age 8 and up
Forgotten Dogs Misspits - specializes in pitbull mixes and cattle dogs
Must Love Boxers rescue - rescues abandoned boxers in Washington State Seattle Purebred Rescue -- Are you looking for certain breed of dog because you like the look, certain breed traits, or you have lovely memories of a purebred dog? SPR includes a number of breed-based small rescues run by people dedicated to specific breeds.
Some questions to consider when looking at a rescue:
Will they take the animal back if it doesn't work out?
Where do the animals come from?
Does the rescue partner with other rescues, shelters, and humane societies?
Does the rescue "pull" animals from local shelters? This is heroes' work!
Does the rescue have adequate staff and volunteers?
Is the rescue able to provide enrichment and behavioral evaluations? A great sign!
Does the rescue provide training? Is it positive-reinforcement based?
Can the rescue objectively describe the behavior of adoptable animals in its care? Descriptors like "sweet" or "spicy" won't give you the information you need. You want to ask and know about bite incidents and body language ie what it looks like when the animal is fearful and in what situations this occurs and what it looks like when the animal is happy and relaxed and in what situations this occurs.
Here are a couple of examples of wonderful language on rescue websites:
We are positive reinforcement based and do not breed, sell, or eat our animal friends. We advocate for force-free training, spay and neuter, and respect for all beings. — MissPits Rescue, misspitsrescue.org
Dogs have individual needs and personalities and we take the time to get to know each dog that comes into our rescue... All dogs in our care receive age appropriate vaccines, are microchipped, spayed or neutered and receive any additional medical care they might need while with us. — Forgotten Dogs Rescue, forgottendogsrescue.com
A couple additional mentions, if you are considering fostering, Beck's Place in Monroe provides a great service helping keep animals in their homes by providing temporary fosters for animals whose caregivers are in need.
Rescues can access positive reinforcement trainers through this group: The Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers.
If you are thinking of starting your own rescue, please consider supporting an existing animal organization or volunteering first. Yes, you may be able to fill an unserved niche or have the energy to try something new or revive something that's been tried. Yes! And, do connect with others doing the work in your community. You cannot do this work alone. There are not enough of us working on behalf of animals and we need everyone.
For a cautionary tale, read I Once Was Lost, but Now am Found, Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue. Warehousing animals is not rescue and there may be a small vulnerable space between rescue and hoarding.
Did I miss anyone? Did I get something wrong or not quite right? Please let me know. Email info @shelgravesanimal.com or schedule a call to discuss.
Do you need help selecting or evaluating a dog or cat you plan to bring into your home -- and preparing for a great life together? That's a service Shel Graves Animal Consulting provides.
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