If you find that you cannot keep your pet, please make it a priority to find a proper facility in which to place him or her. Most humane societies, county/city shelters, etc. have no choice but to euthanize animals due to lack of space. A stray that is brought in by animal control must be held for three to five days in most cases. A caring owner might be looking for them. On the other hand, an owner-surrendered animal can be euthanized immediatley.

If you're considering placing your pet through a rescue group, please check out the group thoroughly. Regretfully, there are unscrupulous people out there who 'pretend' to do rescue. They take pets in and sell them to laboratories for experimentation, breed them to death, sell them to puppy or kitten mills, or just keep them (hoarding) in miserable and cruel conditions. Please be cautious of these groups or individuals. If you are unable to keep your pet, then at least do your best to ensure a happy and safe future for him or her.

These are some indications of a phoney rescue person or organization:
• Unwilling to let visitors see the facilities where animals are kept.
• Unwilling to say how many animals are actually present, or vague about the number.
• Little effort made to adopt, and much effort focused on acquistion.
• Continued acquisition in the face of declining care for existing animals.
• Claims of being able to provide excellent lifetime care for animals with special needs (paralyzed, feline leukemia positive, extreme aggression) without verifiable resources.
• Number and staff and/or volunteers inconsistent with the number of animals.
• Desire to receive animals at a remote location rather than on-site.
• Cannot or will not provide veterinarian references.
• Allow pets to be adopted without being properly vaccinated, spayed/neutered.
• Charge unusually LARGE adoption fees, which indicates the pets are being SOLD, not adopted.
• Has no affilitation or positive relationship with local Animal Control Department or Animal Shelter.