HOW TO RESCUE AN ANIMAL

Rescuing an animal is pretty easy. But what usually puts people off is ‘what to do once you have them’.​

‘Every rescue mission is possible’, so don’t let the worry take hold. After all, that little beating heart and those innocent eyes need you more than ever. Now it’s your turn to step up and do something.

Rescuing an animal will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done. It will also fill you with worry and fear—anxiety about the unknown. But don’t let it grab hold of you. The fact is, you have found another being needing your help, and it’s up to you to take action!

What a wonderful moment! You’re cradling the adorable pup in your arms, and it’s showering you with love. It may not understand that you’ve rescued it, but those puppy kisses and that sweet breath have already won you over. It’s a heartwarming feeling, isn’t it?

    1. Take it to the vet and have a full checkup. Click here for vets in Bali.
    2. I don’t have transport. Click here for drivers in your area who are happy to help you with dogs for a fee. If you have saved a puppy, put it into a backpack with the zips slightly open so it can breathe. Wear it to the front. Get a Go-Jek, ask a friend to take you, or drive it to the vet yourself.
    3. I need money. No problem. Start an online crowdfunding page like Indiegogo, GoFundMe , or KitaBisa (Indonesia). Tell your social media community, friends, and family about what an awesome person you are for saving a life and ask them to help you with the financial side. Cute photos and a heart-wrenching story will help.
    4. I can’t keep it. I live in a homestay/apartment/hotel. Talk to your vet about keeping the animal for one week and add it to your budget/fundraiser. If it’s an adult animal, contact one of the boarding facilities to see if they can help in the interim. Better still is to find a foster home. Join all the community pages and ask someone who lives here to help you.
    5. I leave tomorrow. Well, that is a problem. Most rescue groups are so overwhelmed that they will push back on helping. Please contact them individually and offer to fund the entire rehab and boarding of the animal. We must tell you that it is not always the financial issues with rescue that are the problem; it is the human time and resources needed to find the animal a good home. Please respect the rescue people’s time and energy. Keep it friendly and polite. We are all doing our best.
    6. I don’t know how to find a home. No worries, we got you covered here in our how to rehome guide.

Yes, this is sadly a common sight but EASILY treatable.

Please, before you do anything, ask the people in the area where the dog lives. Get out your phone and use GOOGLE TRANSLATE to be able to ask and problem solve. Sometimes these animals DO have a family, but they don’t have the funds for treatment. It’s great you found them, and YOU can help.

  1. I located the home. Awesome. Call a vet in the area (list here) and have the owner and the vet converse to make an appointment. Money will be an issue, so please offer to fund the treatment and ask the vet about the best way to pay them. Also, factor in vaccinations and sterilisation. This is KEY to stopping the suffering of the homeless animals.
  2. They’re a stray. Contact one of the rescue groups to see if they can supply you with medicine or organise a vet to treat the animal.
  3. I have no money. No problem. Start an online crowdfunding page such as Indiegogo, GoFundMe or KitaBisa (Indonesia).
  4. Tell your social media community, friends and family about what an awesome person you are for wanting to save a life and ask them to help you with the financial side. Photos and a heart-wrenching story will help. Remember to factor in funds for vaccinations, worming and sterilisation. We don’t want more babies, no matter how cute they are!
  5. Now what? If the animal is a street dog and knows life on the street, then sometimes it is the best place for the dog to stay. Ask the locals if anyone is caring for them, feeding etc. If your heart is breaking and you want to get them off the street, see point 5!
  6. I can’t keep them. I live in a homestay/apartment/hotel. Talk to your vet about keeping the animal for one week and add it to your budget/fundraiser. If the animal is an adult, contact one of the boarding facilities to see if they can help in the interim. Better yet, find a foster home. Join all the community pages and ask someone to help you.
  7. I leave tomorrow. Well, that is a problem. Most rescue groups are so overwhelmed they will push back on helping. Please contact them individually and offer to fund the entire rehab and boarding of the animal. Although we have to tell you, it is not the financial issues with rescue; it is the human time and resources trying to find them a good home. Please respect the rescue people’s time and energies. Keep it nice and polite. We are all doing our best.
  8. I don’t know how to find them a home. No worries, we got you covered here in our how-to rehome guide.

Sometimes the puppies and street dogs have serious trauma. It’s understandable with the way some of them have been treated. Please be advised that trying to rescue a dog that is seemingly aggressive can be dangerous due to rabies. If you are confident you can handle it (or have the rabies vaccination), then proceed with caution. 

  1. Food builds trust. Try to tempt the dog out with some food. Cat food is effective due to its strong smell. Give a small amount and see if the pup/dog will come out. Let them eat on their own. Then start to hand feed. They will, hopefully, relax and start to trust you. This may take you some time. Be patient. Let them lick your fingers. When you hand feed, use the same hand to stroke under the chin. Gauge if the dog is still scared. Watch to see if the tail wags. See if their body relaxes. These are signs they are starting to trust. Don’t make any sudden movements. Take it slow.

See our video of rescuing Billie. Look at the physical cues she gives me. I let her decide when it was time to be picked up. Respect their space and their trauma.

  1. Get a towel/blanket. When you attempt to catch the pup/dog, use a thick towel or blanket. Put it OVER their head and grab them from behind the neck and lift them off the ground. Wrap them like a burrito, so they don’t snap around. They may scream. They WILL settle. Hold tight and wait it out.
  2. Use a slip leash. For adult dogs, the slip leash is a good way to catch the dog calmly but securely. You can simply create a noose from a normal leash, threading the leash through the handle (so the clasp will be the end you hold). Lay food down and then try to hand feed through the slip hole. When they trust, pull it tight. Don’t let go. Let them settle, then work on getting them to safety.
  3. I don’t have transport. Click here for drivers in your area happy to help you with dogs for a fee.  If you have saved a puppy, put them into a backpack with the zips slightly open so that they can breathe. Wear it to the front. Get a Go-Jek, ask a friend to take you or drive to the vet yourself.
  4. Take them to the vet closest to you.

Call a vet IMMEDIATELY! This is a critical case, and the animal needs urgent help. Here is the list of vets; find the closest to you.

If you need some support, then jump onto Facebook and ask on one of the community pages that is relevant to your area. See if anyone can help with advice. DON’T post the suffering animal on the community pages and leave the animal ‘hoping’ someone else will ‘deal’ with it. That doesn’t make you a hero; it makes you a #&$@!

  1. I don’t have transport. Click here for drivers in your area happy to help you with dogs for a fee. If you have saved a puppy, put them into a backpack with the zips slightly open so that they can breathe. Wear it to the front. Get a Go-Jek, ask a friend to take you or drive to the vet yourself.
  2. I have no money. No problem. Start an online crowdfunding page such as Indiegogo, GoFundMe or KitaBisa (Indonesia).
  3. Tell your social media community, friends and family about what an awesome person you are for wanting to save a life and ask them to help you with the financial side. Photos and a heart-wrenching story will help.
  4. Now what? If the animal is a street dog and knows life on the street, then sometimes it is the best place for them to stay. Ask the locals if anyone is caring for the dog, feeding etc. If your heart is breaking and you want to get them off the street, see point 5!
  5. I can’t keep it. I live in a homestay/apartment/hotel. Talk to your vet about keeping the animal for one week and add it to your budget/fundraiser. If it’s an adult animal, contact one of the boarding facilities to see if they can help in the interim. Better still is to find a foster home. Join all the community pages and ask someone that lives here to help you.
  6. I leave tomorrow. Well, that is a problem. Most rescue groups are so overwhelmed they will push back on helping. Please contact them individually and offer to fund the full rehab and boarding of the animal. Although we have to tell you, it is not the financial issues with rescue; it is the human time and resources trying to find them a good home. Please respect the rescue people’s time and energies. Keep it nice and polite. We are all doing our best.
  7. I don’t know how to find it a home. No worries, we got you covered here in our how-to rehome guide.
  1. Locate their home and talk to the owner.
  2. They have no home. Call a vet and ask for help. List of vets is here
  3. I don’t have transport. Click here for drivers in your area happy to help you with dogs for a fee.
  4. I have no money. No problem. Start an online crowdfunding page such as Indiegogo, GoFundMe or KitaBisa (Indonesia).
  5. Tell your social media community, friends and family about what an awesome person you are for wanting to save a life and ask them to help you with the financial side. Photos and a heart-wrenching story will help.
  6. I can’t keep it. I live in a homestay/apartment/hotel. Talk to your vet about keeping the animal for one week and add it to your budget/fundraiser. If it’s an adult animal, contact one of the boarding facilities to see if they can help in the interim. Better still is to find a foster home. Join all the community pages and ask someone that lives here to help you.
  7. I leave tomorrow. Well, that is a problem. Most rescue groups are so overwhelmed they will push back on helping. Please contact them individually and offer to fund the full rehab and boarding of the animal. Although we have to tell you, it is not the financial issues with rescue; it is the human time and resources trying to find them a good home. Please respect the rescue people’s time and energies. Keep it nice and polite. We are all doing our best.
  8. I don’t know how to find it a home. No worries, we got you covered here in our how-to rehome guide.

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