ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Scams are out there, from romance schemes to rental fraud.
Meanwhile, one that Orange County Animal Services is putting out a warning for concerns scammers impersonating the shelter.
With that in mind, here is what experts say to look out for when finding a reputable dog rescue.
Mary Nichols, of Sophie’s Circle Inc., a rescue based out of New Smyrna Beach, said the first thing people need to check is to make sure the organization is registered with the state as a nonprofit.
“If they aren’t registered then it’s against the law to be taking any donations,” Nichols said.
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To add on, checking the rescue’s website to make sure it does a proper application process is key.
Nichols said most reputable organizations’ application process will include:
- Asking you lots of questions about your life, what experience you have with dogs and descriptions of your home.
- Medical records of the dogs it has up for fostering or adoption.
- An adoption fee.
Lastly, contact your local county animal services hotline, as they may be best to point you in the right direction in finding a reputable dog rescue organization.
Meanwhile, if you suspect that the dog rescue you find may be a scam, the best point of action is to either file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or through the Florida Attorney General.
After finding that credible dog rescue, the next step is choosing your new furry best friend.
Our animal-loving Manager of Content and Coverage Tara Evans has created these guidelines on how to choose the right dog from a rescue:
- Keep in mind, animals that haven’t been in a consistent home can take some time to decompress, so the personality you see when you first meet them could change some as they settle in and become more comfortable.
- If you have dogs or children in the home, bring them to a meet and greet to be sure your new pet gets along with them. Keep in mind, this too can change once at home — sometimes existing pets can become territorial at home even if they’re not in other environments. You may also find one or both pets guard things like food and toys but will do well meeting other dogs in more of a public setting where those things aren’t present.
- Make sure you understand the breed. If you are looking for any kind of shepherd, they typically need more stimulation and “work” to thrive than other, more relaxed breeds.
- Consider your family’s lifestyle. If an individual dog you’re interested in really needs a lot of exercise and walks and you’re more of a couch potato, it’s probably best to consider more of a couch potato dog, and vice versa.
- If you’re unsure if a particular dog would be a good fit, check if the rescue you’re working with allows overnight visits or a foster-to-adopt scenario so you can try it out before making it permanent.
- Dogs can be up to a 20-year commitment. Know what you’re signing up for.
- Keep in mind that adoption fees are not only to discourage people from adopting for nefarious purposes, but also because shelters have many expenses and will use the fees to take care of costs for food, crates, medicine and so on.
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