Continuation: Assessing your Adoptee

The following is out of the Preparation section of my Rescue Guide:

1) Learn about your animal:

Find information on the species/animal needing rescuing. Ideally you want to educate yourself with knowledge on the subject of this animal on a higher level than what the average person would know.

Areas of Focus:
· How to determine the sex
· How to determine the age
· Known/Common illnesses
· Average Lifespan (in captivity if an exotic animal)
· Ideal food (ask people who are nutrition experts of this animal...it likely will not necessarily be a Vet nor a food manufacturer)
· What are ideal living/sleeping environments (temperature-light, etc.)?
· What are this animal’s predators or common causes of premature death?
· What other types/sizes of animals can co-habitate with this animal?
· What kinds of people are good companions for this animal?
· In what kinds of dwellings would these people be living?

Other Information Resources:
· Other Rescue Organizations of this type of Animal, i.e.; Breed Rescues (see link to left)
· The Internet
· The Library
· New/Used book stores
· Breeders (be careful here – listen for old-wives-tales & panic-mode theories, and some also may be subjective and self-serving)
· Breed Associations or Show clubs (same as above)

2) Set up your animal in its ideal living conditions within your means as quickly as possible.

3) Prepare the animal. These are subject to the animal’s condition at the time of rescue.

Ideally the animal should be in good physical condition for the following actions:

Areas of Focus:
· Spay or Neuter the animal (if applicable).
· Test for common incurables (do these ASAP, especially if
disease is suspected).
· Inoculate for common illnesses if tests are negative (regardless if
you “believe” in vaccines or not, what must be considered is where the animal will end up at the end of this process. If you decide to keep it yourself then you can discontinue vaccines at your discretion).

If you need clarification on any of the above points feel free to ask.