ANIMAL SHELTERS VERSUS ANIMAL RESCUES – WHERE SHOULD I ADOPT? A basic question that’s often asked is what’s the difference between an animal shelter and an animal rescue?  The answers are not always straight-forward, but I hope to dispel some of the confusion. SOME BASIC DIFFERENCES Animal shelters always have a physical shelter, although they may also use fosters for some animals. Rescues sometimes have a physical shelter, but they’re much more likely to use foster families to house their adoptable pets. Shelters can be either euthanizing facilities, or non-euthanizing facilities. Animal rescues never euthanize, except in cases of terminal illness or severe aggression. Animal shelters are generally non-specific to any breed or type of animal, and most take in both dogs and cats. Rescues can be general in nature, but are more often breed, species, age, or special needs specific.  For example, Gray Face Acres in Virginia only takes in senior dogs.  There are many breed specific rescues which may take only, for example, Great Pyrenees purebreds or mixes. Animal shelters are generally, but not always, limited in the area to…