If there are angels here on earth, they are those who go to great lengths to reach out to neglected stray or abused animals. These individuals are exceptionally kind, as this is no ordinary feat. Opening your hearts and hands to these poor animals is an honorable act very few can achieve. If you share the same passion with these individuals, learn how you can begin caring for the lowly animals.
Where the Animals Come From
You might encounter these pitiful animals waiting to be helped in several places.
From the Streets
Rescuers find some animals on the streets, hungry, neglected, and practically wild. These animals might be hard to approach as they may be defensive, especially since they live most of their lives in survival mode. Most street rescues have health issues, and some might even suffer from badly infected wounds.
Puppy Mills
It is surprisingly common, and it is very barbaric that some people still run inhumane commercial breeding facilities. The rescues from these terrible locations have experienced suffering, not only physically but also psychologically. Some have never seen the outside of a cage and exist only to breed for man’s greed.
Dog Fight Rings
Shameless humans nowadays still find dog fighting entertaining. This inhumane and heinous form of animal cruelty is illegal. Dogs discovered here have been trained to fight and sometimes even to the death. Smaller-sized animals have likewise been saved from locations such as this, like puppies and felines, seriously injured and mutilated. These little animals have been used as “bait” to train the fighting dogs.
Where Rescuers Bring Them
After the rescue, these animals are fed and sent to the vet.
Medical examination
A vet will perform an extensive health check on these animals to see if they need to undergo any medical procedures. Wounds are dealt with, deworming/antiparasitic medications and vaccines are provided, and emergency surgeries may be performed. For a pet emergency, click here.
Grooming
Professionals are given the privilege to perform grooming services for these animals. Some rescues have tremendously matted hair, harboring foreign objects and parasites, and some may be aggressive. All are treated with utmost care to ensure the animals are relaxed and feel comfy and loved. See here for more on grooming.
Rehab
When vet care and grooming are done, these animals are given a new lease on life. Rehab will reintroduce them to the outside world to socialize with other animals and humans.
Animal Shelters
These dogs and cats might often be taken to shelters with modest kennels. However, increasingly more private citizens welcome these pets into their properties, like farms, to be looked after in “group homes.” They are enabled to connect with other animals in these spaces to enable them to emotionally and physically recover from previous traumas.
Foster Homes
There are volunteer fur parents that take in animals requiring extra care. These people may have the experience of raising other animals, even some with special needs. These selfless people nurse these animals back to health, showering them with love up until these animals find their desire to live and trust again.
Forever Homes
From shelters and foster homes, the rescues might find their forever families. Rescue animal advocates are assertively finding new homes for these animals. They look for people who can nurture and provide basic needs, such as food and routine wellness exam. They actively screen and filter possible adoptive fur moms and dads to ensure that these special cats and dogs will receive the love and care they need and are worthy of.