Animal rescue refers to organisations, associations, and foundations that are created to rescue and rehabilitate animals. Some of these associations are dedicated to pet adoption. They take abandoned or stray animals and find suitable homes for them. Most rescue associations are created by and run by volunteers.
Also, there are rescue associations and foundations that specialise in rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals like lions, tigers, cheetahs and so on. They usually work together with zoos, wild parks and other conservation organisations to keep these animals from harm or extinction.
Wildlife rescue associations, unlike many other animal rescue associations, focus on the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. They rescue them from illegal breeders and abusive situations to release them into the wild.
Rescue associations and foundations work closely with animal shelters. When animal shelters get healthy and pet-worthy animals, they may hand them over to animal rescue associations that will work to find suitable volunteers with spaces in their homes for them rather than have them euthanised.
In some countries, there are clear differences between animal shelters and rescue associations. While animal shelters are usually run and funded by governments and their agencies, rescue associations are funded mainly by donations and staffed by volunteers.
In the United Kingdom, there are numerous animal rescue associations and foundations. Some specialise in rescuing wildlife animals, while some specialise in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming pets. One organisation can also do rescue, rehabilitation, advocacy and shelter in one.
These associations and foundations can have their premises and operate from commercial kennels and foster homes with volunteers who take care of the animals until they are adopted.
Also in the UK are dog pounds which are commercial kennels that have a council contract to take in stray dogs. Some of them carry out rescue and rehoming activities in conjunction with rescue associations and foundations.
This website provides information about wildlife animal rescue associations and foundations in the UK. There are articles on animal shelters and hospitals, animal rehabilitation, as well as events and activities that promote animal-rescue initiatives.
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