[Hushpuppy]

When finished school and both my boyfriend and I have money coming in (after school is done) we are going to look into buying some land where he can create a little wildlife area. He is in school for this and I have a dream of opening up a dog rescue. In my city there's only one kill shelter and I want to build something like Ceasar/Dog Whisperer has- create a pack etc (instead of isolating dogs in cold cages). There will be a lot of space in my "hypothetical " future situation where we will build a warm place for the dogs and give them lots of room to run.

However, I'm uncertain if it's doable, how many dogs I could take in..etc..I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge on th eprocess for Ontario people. What is involved etc..

Or is fostering dogs from the existing Shelter a better idea? Take them in, socialize and train them and help find them homes?

I just know that if I have the room for animals, I definitely want to do some good with it.. but it's really still hypothetical (not impossible or unlikely though in our circumstance)

[cigwyllt]

I'm in the UK so rules and regulations etc are totally different but I do have a friend who runs a small scale rescue although it is totally informal - just that word gets a round in an area like ours and people bring their animals to her.

She started by rescuing a pony on the spur of the moment - she was living in a council flat at the time! Now she and her husband have a fair bit of land and they have all sorts of animals, pigs, sheep, horses, small pets, cats and dogs.

Her intention was just to help the odd one or two but she finds it impossible to say no! She no longer takes animals in to her home but she will travel anywhere to help a dog in need and find a foster home.

She is tied to the house, exhausted most of the time, hasn't got a penny for herself, can't afford proper heating but she is happier than she has ever been.

[skivvies]

It would probably be best to start off fostering a couple of dogs before you start your own rescue, just so you get the hang of it.

I have a friend who started her own rescue. She doesn't foster more than a few animals at a time. She finds other people to help her foster the other animals. In addition, she plans adoption events at pet stores, arranges transports, and plans fundraising events.

[Lunareclipse]

Whenever I try to foster, I end up adopting my foster, so I don't.