5 ways to support responsible rescue

Badass is the leading responsible rescue for dogs. This is an approach to rescue that we are proud to practice and are committed to continuing to invest in. Responsible rescue means a focus on rescuing the most vulnerable dog populations in the most underserved communities, investing resources into each dog we take into rescue, raising public awareness about the importance of rescuing, and empowering people to give back.

Specifically, here are ways that Badass practices responsible rescue:

• All of our dogs are rescued from high-kill shelters. In many rural shelters dogs that end up there often do not make it out alive. We focus on the most at-risk population by pulling from high-kill shelters in the southern US and the US Virgin Islands.

• We do not discriminate by breed, age, size, or medical history. Some orgs apply a filter for rescuing dogs that are “more adoptable.” We believe every dog deserves a second chance—from seniors to those requiring tens of thousands of dollars in medical care. 40% of our annual budget goes towards veterinary care.

• We focus on fit, not speed of adoption. 
  In order to reduce the return to rescue, we take a two-prong approach to matching dogs with families. Our foster program helps get dogs ready for adoption, and because we have more information about our dogs’ needs, we can then better match them with prospective adopters to improve successful outcomes.

• We provide education, resources, and tools.
  A large majority of people are unaware of the difference between adopting a rescue dog and buying a dog. Even with the best intentions, many people lack the tools to become responsible dog owners, such as the importance of spay/neuter. We invest in providing communities with resources and tools—such as spay/neuter education, awareness about responsible rescue, and providing training opportunities and publicly available resources.

As we continue our mission to save deserving dogs, here are 5 ways YOU can support responsible rescue:

1. APPLY TO FOSTER

Responsible rescue does not stop at the shelters—we need loving foster homes for these dogs when they arrive in New York! As a foster-based rescue with no physical shelter, the number of dogs we can save depends entirely on the number of foster homes available. A dog’s chances of getting adopted increases exponentially when they are removed from a stressful shelter environment and receive the care and attention they need in a foster home.

We work hard to set our fosters up for success through education and training programs, creating a supportive (and fun!) community, covering all vetting expenses, and matching them with dogs that fit their level of experience.

Every day, thousands of dogs perish in shelters across the country because there are not enough foster homes. It is one of the most important ways you can support responsible rescue.

Fostering = saving lives.

2. BECOME AN ADOPTER

Once Badass takes a dog into rescue, we prioritize matching them with the most suitable adopters. We never ever speed our dogs through to adoption just to get our numbers up, and we share everything we know of their history to help potential adopters make informed decisions. Every dog we meet is an individual with a distinct personality, even though all are sweet and eager to please given the right circumstances.

Adopting a Badass rescue dog is not just a way to find your new best friend, it is YOU supporting our life-saving work as a responsible rescue!

3. DONATE TO BADASS

Saving lives takes resources. As a responsible rescue, Badass pulls dogs of all breeds, ages, sizes and medical status. That often means dogs that will require more in-depth care (veterinary, training, and otherwise) to get them physically and emotionally healthy enough for adoption. Some call them "harder-to-adopt" dogs, we call them Badass! The average cost of saving a Badass dog's life is $750—$200 less than our adoption fee—and our generous donors and sponsors help cover the rest. 

These animals need us to save them from being mistreated, neglected, or abandoned.

4. BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Did you know that Badass has remained a successful volunteer-run rescue for 11 years? That’s right! Volunteers have saved the lives of over 3,000 Badass dogs! They form our core teams: handling everything from logistics to foster support to adoptions, staffing our events, driving dogs and supplies, and so much more. Volunteers are always welcomed to dig deeper into responsible rescue through our training programs and online resources, take on a variety of roles, and forge friendships with all the people who have been touched by Badass!

5. BECOME A PARTNER

To ensure that all Badass dogs in rescue receive the best possible care, we work with a variety of charitable partners who share our commitment to responsible rescue. Our partners include vets and pet service providers that offer rescue-pricing as well as corporate partners that provide financial sponsorship or donate products. There are many ways for our partners to give back and earn recognition as leaders in responsible rescue!