shelters and resques

[love my pigs]

I was wandering about owning a resque. I have many questions. When I can I would like to own a resque and have those resque pigs at my store (in the future) and have stuff like Oxbow foods and hays, Kleenmama's Hayloft, you know, all of the high quality stuff you won't find often. A guinea pig store. Sort of a location for my future shelter. I don't have a name but here are my questions.

1. How do you get the pigs that will find new homes if not from petstores and breeders?
2. How hard is it to keep up?
3. Can/do you get sponcerd? Mebe petco or Oxbow or realy any buisnes you buy from?
4. How do you choose the right homes?
5. Do you have to be 18 or older to realy own a resque?
6. Were do you put the dead pigs if od age or a fatal illness (even treated) comes? Do you burry them?
7. How do you put your name out there without spending 100s of dollars?
8. How do you choose your modo and name for the resque?
9. Is it a fultime job or part time job?
10. How much do you adopt the pigs out for? Do they also donate to you every month also?
11. Do you have to take any pig that comes to your shelter? Say you can't afford to take 7 pigs to the vet for sickness. Can you turn them down?
12. Do you have people work for you and the pigs or volunteers?
13. How much money a week do you need?

I have many questions and need answers. I have dreamed of owning a shelter for all pets such as Guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice, rats, hamsters, dwarf hamsters, bunnys, rabbits, & realy any fuzzy rodent or small mammal. No dogs and cats though. Please help me follow my dreams by answerind any or all of my questions and mebe even hints, tips, thing I should note, and realy any thing I need to know. I would love to give a helping hand and a second chance to small animals!

[cavyinhawaii]

Some of these questions have to do with location. You will need a business licence to run a store.In the United States to enter into any legal contract such as owning a business or property you must be 18 unless you have a gardian to co-own with you until you turn 18. Most shelters have only so much space and depend on donations and volunteers to keep them up and running. You will need to check with the SPCA for local laws. Where I live you are only allowed 2 pets at one residence unless you file for more. Which is subject to approval. You might be able to work it out with a local vet for a discount for your rescue this would be something you would have to negotiate.
I can't answer all your questions.My best advice to you is to go to a rescue. Look around and ask questions.It sounds like you need to do a lot of research.

[love my pigs]

Thanks. How do I contact the spca?

[love my pigs]

Ok... I looked up spca and what do they have to do with this?

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You want to read over Guinea Lynx :: Topic - Adopt, Support or Start a Rescue, Report Abuse, Petfinder and Guinea Lynx :: Topic - starting a rescue?

Most of us rescue from animal shelters. Some take private surrenders from owners. Some would disagree but you don't rescue from pet stores or breeders. You just enable them (unless maybe they are going out of business).

Donations are few and far between. It's like a job but most of us do it in our "spare time". You are not going to make a living doing rescue. You are going to lose money. Many I know have spent thousands and thousands of dollars rescuing animals and just starting their own non profits. You have to know your limits and be able to say no or you get overwhelmed and burned out quickly.

Most of us rely on foster homes and unpaid volunteers with big hearts.

[love my pigs]

Thats a good way to look at it. Thanks. I still need more though. I will read over your link.

[VoodooJoint]

No offense but you seem very young to be wanting to start a rescue. Please don't mention your age on the forum though.

To be blunt, running a rescue is not a cute and fuzzy endeavor. It is a heart and bank breaking undertaking. No rescue wants to be in "business". It is our dream to never have to take in another animal in need.

You need to be prepared to spend thousands of dollars a year of your own money. You cannot count on donations or sponsorship. You have to have a job, and a good paying one at that, considering some "bad" months it can cost over a thousand dollars just to care for a few animals.

If you take in animals in need you are making a commitment to provide them with vet care, proper housing, food and all other needs. To deny ANY animal proper vet care is not only cruel but against the law. You MUST be prepared financially.

If you are under 18 years of age should not run a rescue since you cannot legally own an animal if you are under 18 in most states. Legally your guardian/parent owns it and is responsible.

Rescues do not seek out animals from breeders or petshops. What sense would that make? Rescues usually get more animals then they can comfortably care for from people trying to dump unwanted/neglected pets and from the SPCAs.

It's easy to find pigs in need. It is MUCH harder to deal with their illnesses and issues and to find them appropriate homes. Most people that want a small pet are NOT appropriate homes and you need to carefully screen them, do vet checks and home checks and have strict guidelines.

Having a rescue is a full time job. Since you will have to work to support it and likely go to school too you will have next to no social life and no money left to spend on yourself even if you did find the time. What are you going to do when it's family vacation time? Who will care for all of those animals while you are gone? You will find a severe lack of volunteers and you will most likely not be able to pay anyone to help. All of the rescues I know of run in the red. That means that they are putting out much more money then they are taking in

Your entire home will be overrun with animals and supplies. Once you start the animals add up quickly. If you share your home with others you must take their feelings into consideration.

I recommend you find a rescue or shelter to volunteer or foster with. Learn what it takes to really run a rescue and put in the sweat and tears before you try to make any commitments you may not be able to keep. If you try to start a rescue prematurely and fail it's the animals that will suffer. You will have many small lives relying on you and it will be too late to turn your back on them. If you volunteer though you get to help out in a BIG WAY and feel good about making a difference yet not have to be the one worrying about how to make it all work.

[pigsforlife]

Yes, I agree with rabbitsncavyluv and VJ. Whilst you do have your heart in the right place, I do question your ability to run a rescue - it is a big big big commitment, just ask T.

[love my pigs]

Thanks so much. I would never use it as a buisiness. You are right. Fostering and volunteering is a great idea. But this isn't until I have reached my money goal. I am aware how much this can cost now. My main goal is guinea pigs and if I like that I will mebe have more varieties. I know they will depend on me. I wish I would have adopted and not bought from a petno. I got here too late. But now that I have been inspired, I wan't to do the same. I wan't to start a family first then do this. But I want to be prepared for what is to come. I apriciate your help. But I will not have every thing answered more than likely. This is in a few years. Please tell me any thing you feel I need to know because I need to know. I won't be offended.

[Biscuit]

Advocacy and communication are a big part of running a shelter/rescue, and the internet is a key part of that. Written and oral communication skills are extremely important. I would actually look into taking a writing class or something in the meantime. It will help you get a career that makes more money to support your rescue, as well as advocate for your rescue in the future.

[auburnmare5]

I think you have to have alot of commitment, and enough time and money to run a rwescue. You have good intentions but it will be alot. You can help by adopting an animal.