Unfortunately, there are many irresponsible rescuers who are becoming more and more common and their behavior can endanger the lives of innocent animals. Animal shelters should save lives, but while there are rescuers who work hard every single day to save animals and make them feel safe and happy again, others may be well-intentioned, but they end up being irresponsible and provide inadequate care for these poor souls. 

So, in this case, you have to ask them a lot of questions and if you notice a strange behavior or animals that are not properly cared for, you should definitely make a complaint about that shelter. Before you decide to adopt a little furry friend, try to sign up as a volunteer or donate, because this way you will find out if you are helping a well-meaning animal shelter. 

So, here are some ways that will help you identify an irresponsible animal shelter. Read on for more info!

The animals appear to suffer from various untreated medical conditions

If you choose to visit an animal shelter, you should ask to see the animals first and if they appear to be in poor health, it may be a sign that something bad is happening there. Animal shelters should take care of these innocent creatures and provide them with medical consultations and treatments. Animals should be safe and their health is crucial. 

“The pets may present as emaciated, tick-infested, urine and feces covered, suffering from open wounds or other untreated medical conditions,” said veterinarian and board-certified toxicologist, Dr. Steve Hansen, president and CEO of Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix.

In addition, you should pay attention to their emotional side as well. “They may be suffering emotionally and exhibiting fearful, shy, shutdown or aggressive behavior from a lack of socialization or history of prior abuse and neglect,” he says.

Unfortunately, animals that live in poor conditions are more likely to develop kennel stress. So, try to observe if they are stressed. “It can lead to fence fighting and increased reactivity in which animals redirect their anxiety on one another. Other kennel stress behaviors can include excessive barking, spinning or jumping in the kennel, panting, red mucous membranes, and inability to settle,” he said.

The animals live in inadequate space conditions

Animals must live in decent space conditions. Thus, animal shelters should provide them with large cages so they can have space to play and run and the staff should walk them every time they need to defecate. 

“Animals should be housed in double-sided cages or there should be enough volunteers or staff present to take them out for bathroom breaks two to three times per day, plus exercise,” said Dr. Hansen. 

Outdoor space is also essential. “Whether through outdoor runs and/or adequate time outside of their kennels within play yards or out on a walk,” he said. 

As we said before, animals need space to avoid the apparition of kennel stress and these rescue shelters should meet their needs.

Check the adoption rates for that shelter

Unfortunately, people don’t usually want to adopt an animal that was kept in poor conditions, so if that shelter has low adoption rates, it could be a sign that these animals are being treated badly or that the organization has unrealistic adoption requirements that can’t be met by those who want to adopt. 

“Capacity to care has been exceeded for the shelter or rescue, which means that not all animals are receiving necessary care. Despite this, many will continue to accept additional animals,” said Dr. Emily Dudley, a veterinarian with Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

The building is not clean

If you choose to visit an animal shelter and notice that the whole building is not clean, you have to be very wary and highly suspicious of their professionalism and ability to care for the animals well being. Animals should live in a clean environment, with clean bedding, cages, toys, food, and water.

“High levels of ammonia often indicate excessive pet urine and feces, which can lead to respiratory issues for both people and pets, a lack of cleanliness and lack of adequate ventilation,” says Hansen.

You have to trust your instincts, so “if you walk into a shelter and have a not-so-good feeling, trust that instinct and let somebody know, because chances are it’s gone past the ability to help an animal as initially intended,” says Michael Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs MSPCA-Angell in Boston.

They hide key info on their website

Important information should always be made public and available to anyone when viewing the website of an animal shelter. In other words, their address, email address, telephone number, and so on should appear on their official site. “If listed as operating by appointment-only, that could be cause for concern. If invited in, be sure to request a tour of the facility or foster homes,” said Dr. Hansen. 

According to Dr. Jeannine Berger, vice president of rescue and welfare at San Francisco SPCA, every animal shelter should follow a mission statement. “Do they follow their mission statement, and do they have any information on welfare for the animals in their care?”

They don’t promote their benefits and facilities

Every reputable animal shelter will promote their benefits and facilities and show all their programs, policies and practices because other people should know exactly what they do and how they care for animals. 

“An exceptional rescue or shelter will be forthcoming in how they care for their animals and will allow the public to tour their facilities or foster homes,” says Dr. Hansen.

In fact, they should give you all the information you need about both the animals and the organization per se, such as animal history, veterinary consultation reports, spay or neuter, vaccinations and so on. 

“Ideally, the shelter will have information on how the pet interacts with unfamiliar people and other members of its own species. Even if the pet has a history of being friendly toward other pets, all pets are individuals,” said Berger.

The staff seems disinterested

When you choose to adopt an animal, the staff should work with you, determine your needs, help you find the perfect animal and give you all the information you need. But if they look disinterested, this may be a sign that indicates a reg flag.  

“A good shelter allows the potential adopter to take his or her time to meet and observe the animal and their environment,” says Berger. “Services may include follow up in order to ensure successful adoption, training advice and class opportunities, the willingness to work with you if you have behavior concerns about your pet, and If needed, be able to take the pet back if its indeed not a match.”

They don’t have a clear adoption process

When visiting an animal shelter, “adopters should expect to be asked several questions helping the organization to come up with the best fit,” said Berger.

So, before you make a decision and determine the quality of that shelter, you should have a discussion with a knowledgeable person to help you in this direction. This is how you will realize how respectable the organization is. “When adopting from a good organization, an adopter should expect to meet with a counselor to discuss needs, the process and the pets that are available. This is a good time to learn the background of the pet you are interested in,” Berger added.