The decision to adopt an animal or provide support for a business helping animals should be made with some knowledge about the institution. The legal character of the business will help you make decisions on where to donate your money or time, and whether to adopt from the facility.
Animal Shelter
In Seattle, the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) is an agency of city government. It has responsibilities to the city and its citizens, including transparent decision-making, budget accountability and fair labor practices. It is funded by the city and donations, and oversight is by the city government.
The Shelter’s scope of operations is found in Seattle Municipal Code 9.25. Like many municipal shelters, SAS can declare that an animal is dangerous, can set limits to the number of chickens you can have, and charge annual licensing fees for companion animals. It rescues homeless animals, rehabilitates abused and neglected pets, and has limited police powers to seize endangered animals.
It has a spay/neuter program other jurisdictions laud. Its foster network is vast and has many foster parents with specialized knowledge of certain medical conditions or specific to species.
Like any city agency, citizens have the right to ask for records from SAS via a public disclosure request.
Animal Rescue
This type of business is generally a non-profit. Check the IRS Charity Finder for records about the company. (Hint: select “Search for Tax-Exempt Organizations”, change the second box drop-down to read “Organization Name” instead of EIN, fill in the third box, and add the state name). You will be able to see tax returns for the Rescue. Once you are satisfied that the company is legitimate, read the mission statement and other information about the rescue on its website. Ask questions if you have them.
Rescues can be species specific or mission specific. They will not have the ability to seize animals (a police power) or enter private property to check on animals. They may take in injured, abandoned or neglected animals, provide care and rehabilitation, and rehome them. Rescues may also take in animals transferred from municipal shelters when those shelters are under-resourced, full, or due to specific species or behavioral needs of the animal.
Rescue businesses are run primarily by volunteers but may have paid administrators. Fundraising is essential for the day-to-day operations, supplies, rent, utilities, vet bills and more. They may impose stringent adoption criteria such as mandatory home visits or require a set period visiting with the animal to see if there is bonding.
One important difference between SAS and a local rescue is that the rescue is essentially a private business, and does not have to give its records to you. If you are curious about how donations are spent, for example, you may not be able to see detailed financial records if the business doesn’t want you to have them.
All shelters and rescues are different. If you do some research before donating your time and/or money, you will be confident that the organization is helping animals.