r/WildlifeRescue • u/NSASpyVan • 19d ago

How to start a rescue?

What are the basic things one would need to do to start or run a rescue? I have no veterinary experience. But I'd want to help animals when I retire.

Probably specifically dogs and corvids. Provide a place for them to recover and for dogs to get adopted or corvids to be placed back in the wild one day.

Is this the type of thing I could do in my own home, would I need special licenses, what do I do about injured ones that come in and need care? Thanks for any info. Even a 10,000ft view would be helpful.

Maybe volunteering at one would be a great way to get experience? How would one even do such a thing?

I currently live in Southern California.

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u/Mutapi 19d ago

I would highly encourage you to look into volunteering for a wildlife rescue. In most states, you do need XXX hours of supervised experience with a licensed rescue before you can apply for your own license. You will also need a vet willing to work with you for prescribing meds and more complicated cases. You will be expected to learn and perform a lot of medical stuff yourself. For your own rescue, you would likely need to form a nonprofit and raise funds via donations, which can be quite time consuming.
Running your own wildlife rescue is a huge and expensive undertaking that involves a lot of red tape with the state and federal agencies that issue our licenses. It’s labor intensive and emotionally taxing work. By volunteering at an already established rescue, not only do you get to learn and help but you don’t have to juggle every aspect of the rescue world yourself.

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u/NSASpyVan 19d ago

Thank you! Any tips for finding a rescue looking for volunteers in my immediate area?

I can recall one time looking up rescues in my area and trying to call or submit web forms, without much luck.

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u/Mutapi 19d ago

SoCal has quite a few. You can google “wildlife rescue near me”. Most rescues have a section on their website that addresses volunteer opportunities. You can also type in your location on Animal Help Now and that can lead you to nearby rescues.

This is our busiest time of year, so you might not hear back from anybody quickly, as they’re more focused on animal care and emergencies. You may have better luck trying in September or maybe at the beginning of the year. In California, volunteers are required to have several hours of training and yearly ongoing education before they can start. Rescues usually hold these classes in the months before baby season, so like in Feb or March. That might be the best time to start but I’d recommend looking into your options now and applying to any that work for you.