shelters

[animalgurlxx]

what does it take to start and run a shelter

[BarkingPup]

I have no personal experience in this respect but I do know what it takes to run just about anything: MONEY and TIME

[animalgurlxx]

well duh about the money
i mean do u have to have a special license and all that stuff

[BarkingPup]

It's most likely different for every country. I would suggest asking maybe a shelter near you or some other place you can think of...

[asta7775]

http://www.arfs.org/start.html
I googled starting up an animal rescue, didn't find much but I found the site above. I looked it up as I was curious myself. Someday if I had the money it would be something I would be interested in. It mainly talks about a farm rescue but I think it may give you some idea of what may be involved and the only thing I could find. I know in some area's your only allowed a certain number of pets on your property so if your in the city you would probably need a license to have more than the allowed number. Anyway I hope it was a little helpful and good luck.

[asta7775]

http://www.avianprotectors.homestead.com/Mentoring.html
Just found this other site, it talks about bird protection but at the bottom there are a bunch of links about start your own shelter, rescue, sanctuary etc...

[Kimmy85]

If you want to be a non profit organization you will have to have 501c3 status. I have heard that it is not that difficult to obtain but it can be a little pricey ($900 is what I found). I don't believe you have to have non profit status to run a shelter but if you want to recieve donations people/businesses will donate more if they know it is a tax write off and non profit status makes it more "legit". So I have heard lol.

[Jennicat]

Yeah, and you also need to be recognize as a non-profit by the state, which is completely different paperwork, and different in most states. :)

[PrismWolf]

You don't HAVE to be a 501(c)3 charity, but it does help. It only costs $150 to obtain this status. It's a HUGE amount of paperwork...thank goodness I wasn't the one to fill all of this out...:p.

You already know you need money, you need a good vet that will work with you...you need to learn to let go. If you run this from your home, you will be closer to these animals than if you had an actual building to hold them in. I am still trying to learn to love them for just a little while...until they "go home". There are always permanent casualties of the heart. These tend not to leave. You will have animals that come though your doors that leave lasting impressions.

Depending upon the animals you will concentrate on, this will make a huge difference in how many you can help. Make sure the animals you bring in have the supportive vet care needed. (I have a problem with reptile care...there are none closer than 75 miles). Learn to do as much as you can yourself medically. Sub-Q fuids, preventative shots, minor wound treatment, etc are all things you can learn yourself and save money doing so.

Don't take on too much. Learn to say "NO". Burnout is real and can happen fast. If you are at capacity, don't try to make room for one more. We can't save them all. We can only do our best with who we do have.

I know you probably didn't need the info past the first paragraph...but they're easy things to overlook when starting out...and even if you've been doing it awhile. I don't have nearly 30 animals here without bypassing some of my own suggestions...;).

Best of luck to you.

[TielLover2004]

DOnt want to still the thread but prismwofl can i pm you with some questions thank you

[PrismWolf]

It's my bedtime...but you're more than welcome to email me. I'll get it first thing in the morning...:) prism_wolf@yahoo.com

[TielLover2004]

k thank u alot

[brandy pup]

http://www.akitarescue.com/starta_rescue.htm