Aren’t rescued animals more likely to be sick?
Animals at county shelters don’t always get the full range of treatment and so can have diseases that are not noted or treated during the adoption process. I just adopted a cat from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter on Pico and she was vaccinated against rabies and was sprayed with flea/tick medicine, but she was not checked for other diseases like Feline Leukemia. I took her to the vet and she had tape worms and needs to be tested for other worms and diseases now that she was not treated for at the animal shelter. The full appointment came to almost $300 (including the "free consultation" I was given). Shelter animals that are strays are more likely to be sick than surrendered animals simply because they have a higher potential to have been exposed to the outside elements and other animals. It was a miracle my cat tested negative for Feline Leukemia.
While we can’t speak for others, all animals rescued or received by C.A.R.E. have the advantage of receiving health care per the C.A.R.E. GUIDELINES FOR RESCUE AND REHABILITATION. Click on the link to review our procedures. The licensed veterinarians who participate in the C.A.R.E. coalition certify all animals we offer for adoption. You should be aware that there are a wide variety of standards, and in some cases, no standards, throughout the industry including rescue organizations, shelters, pet stores and breeders. When adopting or purchasing any animal, be sure to receive a written statement of the procedures concerning the animal’s health or simply look for or ask about the CARE SEAL OF APPROVAL. The C.A.R.E. GUIDELINES FOR RESCUE AND REHABILITATION are available in printed form from our website to use as a guide for questions you should ask.
