This is Part 2 of a 4-part series. This follows on from Part 1: Things to consider before buying a pet, where we delved into how to choose the right pet for you. This takes time, planning and lots of research.

So, you’re ready for the commitment to bring an animal into your family, let’s make sure you get your best friend from a reputable animal rescue, shelter or pet store.

Getting your pet from an animal rescue or shelter

Adopting a pet can be a cheaper alternative than buying a pet from a breeder or pet store and it’s a great way to give a fur-baby a second chance, by providing a loving fur-ever home.

While some shelters put animals into foster homes, many are housed on site in kennels. Rescue groups place all their rescues into foster homes as they do not have shelter facilities. Rescue groups are funded mainly by donations and most of the staff are volunteers.

Shelter animals are often not on their best behaviour because a shelter can be a very scary place for an animal who is not used to being in a confined space with other animals. For this reason, you might miss a opportunity for great pet due to the animal being scared or timid when you meet it.

Rescue animals spend a lot more time in the rescue home living with their foster parents, therefore there is usually a lot more information about the animal you may be interested in. This also means that what you see and hear is what you will get when you adopt from an animal rescue. You will have a chance to interact with the pet candidate many times before taking home the animal. This means a more gradual adjustment which is less stressful for the animal and for you.

WA Pet Project (Animal Rescue)

Website: http://www.wapetproject.com.au

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/wapetproject

Email: hello@wapetproject.com.au

WA Pet Project are a Perth, WA, based animal rescue. Their aim is to 'break the cycle' by offering a range of programs such as their Adoption/Foster Program, Spay It Forward, educational programs and resources.

WA Pet Project have a pet adoption process which matches their foster pets with their new parents and home. They offer a trial period to confirm if the animal is the right fit for you. The only costs associated with the adoption is the adoption fee that includes de-sexing, microchipping and vaccination.

For more information about their Pet adoption process

http://www.wapetproject.com.au/our-adoption-process?fbclid=IwAR3E0KaM8mHoQJITiJWBBOrTyiF-eqypw-Sfeu9uP1eluIobHHFP1Kvqwdc

RSPCA WA (Animal Shelter)

Website: https://www.rspcawa.asn.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPCAWA/

Email: rspca@rspcawa.asn.au

The RSPCA’s aim is to protect all animals from cruelty by promoting public awareness about animal welfare and advocating for improvements in the way people relate to animals.

In Australia, the RSPCA shelters receive more than 130,000 animals every year. A large proportion of these animals are cats and dogs, but they also offer sanctuary for livestock and a wide range of wild and native animals.

For more information about their pet adoption process

https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet

Getting your pet from a Breeder

You are not subjecting a shelter animal to a grim fate if you purchase a pet from a responsible breeder. It is your decision to have a pet or not, and where that pet comes from is your choice.

Reputable breeders are knowledgeable about the breed they represent and can help with behavioural and physical issues that might arise later. These breeders socialize their puppies early on, breed in good traits and breed out bad ones and they can show you your pet’s parents and give you their history. Reputable breeders are not puppy mills.

Mills are the unregulated breeding facilities owned by disreputable breeders. These animals are often bred far too frequently, are kept cramped together in squalor. They are not socialized with humans. In addition, these breeders do not always care about the health and strength of the breed, which often results in genetic illnesses, poor health in general and unlikable personality traits.

Buying from a Pet store

There are pet stores that are working with local shelters and animal rescue’s to re-home pets. You will find that outside of this exception most puppies and kittens that come from pet stores come from puppy or kitten mills. Lots of pet stores say that they buy their dogs from responsible breeders, what you will find is, an actual responsible breeder usually doesn't want to sell their dogs to a pet store, they'd prefer to sell them in person to a buyer.

In July 2018 the state of Victoria introduced a new bill, which bans commercial pet stores from selling puppies and kittens from breeders. Stores are required to source dogs and cats from registered animal pounds, animal shelters or community foster care organisations. The full story can be found here.

If you’re ready for the commitment to bring an animal into your family, make sure you get your best friend from a reputable animal rescue, shelter or pet store. If you’re not quite ready to adopt but want to support your local shelter or rescue you can donate or volunteer to walk dogs and play with cats at the shelter or look to foster animals. For more information contact your local animal rescue or shelter for more information.

With the next blog we will go into preparing for the big arrival day of your new pet.