There are many ways in which you can get a pet dog. While breeders are around the corner offering their puppies, the best option is to adopt one from your local dog rescues. They’re patiently waiting for their turn to be brought home by a loving and responsible family.
What you do is not only grant them a better future but also save them from an unknown one. Yearly, around 920,000 pets are euthanized in the US alone, with 390,000 being dogs, according to the ASPCA.
Help make a difference and visit the best dog rescues in Frederick, MD, so you’d get to meet the dog you’ve been searching for.
7 Best Dog Rescues in Frederick, MD
1. Animal Welfare League of Frederick County
As a no-kill animal organization, the AWLFC believes euthanasia is not a solution to managing pet overpopulation. It’s a volunteer-run group that promotes the humane treatment of all animals through advocacy, education, and working with other humane groups.
They aim to ensure that Frederick County no longer has homeless pets anywhere. In part of their dedication and effort to make this goal a reality, the AWLFC also provides monetary assistance to pet owners who need help getting their dogs and cats treated by a veterinarian.
Some of their programs may be suspended due to a lack of funds. Community effort will get these going again. Show your support through either monetary or supply donations or shop at their website.
Adopting will also make their burden lighter. Take a dog rescue home to make room for a new homeless pooch.
How to contact them:
Website: Animal Welfare League of Frederick County
Address: 1202 East Patrick St., Suite 13A, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: 301-663-5855
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook and Instagram
2. Calvert Animal Welfare League
Working for animal rights and welfare since 1992, the CAWL has been saving dogs and cats from unfortunate circumstances and working on getting them placed permanently. Their mission is laser-focused in Calvert County, where their animal adoption and education center is situated.
As a non-profit organization, their volunteers show their support to their rescues by making them fit for adoption again. Often, the dogs they saved come from situations where they experienced neglect and abandonment.
On top of that, they also work on reminding everyone about responsible pet ownership and respect for animals. To help CAWL achieve its goals, adopt by appointment. You can also volunteer and donate so these beautiful dogs continue to receive proper medical treatment, socialization, and quality food for their daily nourishment.
How to contact them:
Website: Calvert Animal Welfare League
Address: 1040 Prince Frederick Blvd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: 410-535-9300
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook and Instagram
3. Lonely Hearts Animal Rescue
It’s not any dog’s fault that they end up in a rescue center. Often, they’re discovered in bad conditions physically, behaviorally, and emotionally. The LHAR is another sanctuary that offers them a place where they can thrive and be nurtured.
Their steps include rescuing, fostering, and placing them in wonderful homes. They also cooperate with other state-sponsored shelters and organizations to reduce animal abuse cases and get them out of those circumstances. So far, since 2008, around 5,000 animals have successfully been saved.
If your home is open to having a rescued dog, check out LHAR’s available dogs for adoption. You can also be the next foster parent if you’re still unsure about it. Donations are also welcome, so this organization keeps going forward in fighting for the lives of unwanted Fidos.
How to contact them:
Website: Lonely Hearts Animal Rescue
Address: 450 Prospect Blvd Frederick, Maryland 21701
Phone: 240-744-0010
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
4. House of Puddles
Look nowhere else if you’re mainly into Basset Hounds. In HOP, you’ll meet many floppy-eared dogs, often unwanted due to old age. Aside from this breed, you’ll also see Beagles and other mixes in this sanctuary, and all of them are provided with the best care in the world.
Some of the dogs they saved were almost euthanized. Thanks to this organization and many others, the rescued dogs keep breathing, hoping that one day, they’ll feel how it is to be loved again by a human or a family.
Since most of them are senior dogs, HOP commits itself to provide them with only the best experiences in life. However, it would be better if you consider adopting one and letting them spend the rest of their life with you.
Admittingly, HOP’s noble work is costly; hence donations are appreciated. Another opportunity where you can help is through volunteer efforts and becoming a responsible pet owner.
How to contact them:
Website: House of Puddles
Address: 4422 Reels Mill Rd. Frederick, MD 21704
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube
5. Wags to Riches Rescue & Rehab
Another dog rescue you can visit in Frederick, MD, is Wags to Riches Rescue & Rehab. They continuously save dogs, rehabilitate them, and find their ideal homes and families. Knowing that, in reality, mercy killing is still in practice in some shelter homes, the WRRR works hard to prevent animals from ending up in such a fate.
They rescue all sorts of dogs regardless of breed, size, and age. Their effort has also resulted in various pooches and Fidos getting adopted. There are still more waiting to be noticed by potential adopters. Their heartbreaking stories can be replaced by a wonderful ending through you and many others by considering adoption over breeders.
Fill out the dog adoption application to start the process and wait for a response. In no time, if you’re suitable with any of their rescued dogs, you’ll be on your way home with a four-legged companion.
How to contact them:
Website: Wags to Riches Rescue & Rehab
Address: 4121 Tottenham St., Frederick, MD 21704
Email: [email protected]
6. Frederick County Government Maryland
The Frederick County Government Maryland is not a dog rescue. However, they provide opportunities for pet lovers to adopt their rescued dogs. You have to schedule by appointment if you want to meet their available Fidos or do an initial scanning through their web page of what canines might interest you.
Volunteers here constantly nurture all dogs and cats, ensuring they are rehabilitated before they get placed for adoption. Thousands of them need new homes, while hundreds have been successfully reunited with their owners.
Start the adoption process now. The FCGM will collect information about you and your experience with pets and check your home’s suitability for the dog. Right before you’re set to bring your pooch home, they get sterilized to help reduce pet overpopulation.
How to contact them:
Website: Frederick County Government Maryland
Address: 1832 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21702
Phone: 301-600-1546
7. Bourbon County Rescue
The Bourbon County Rescue is another go-to site for adoptions. The rescue team and the volunteers are initially from Paris, Kentucky. However, they do their rounds by driving their pets to Frederick and Montgomery for adoption.
Their application and pre-approval process is seamless and hassle-free, especially with the aid of their very communicative group. They ensure that every prospective adopter follows through with their requirements, requiring proof of the vet one week after bringing their pooch home.
On top of being able to assist thoroughly, they’re very knowledgeable of your potential dog’s behavior, including what they need and what their current status is physically and medically. Many who adopted in Bourbon County Rescue have a positive experience with them as they’re upfront about what kind of dog you’re about to get.
How to contact them:
Website: Bourbon County Rescue
Address: 1275 W Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21702
Email: [email protected]
5 Things to Do After Adopting a Dog in Frederick, MD
Right after adopting your rescued dog, the first few days of their stay with you are crucial. Transitioning can be challenging for your Fido, but you can help make the process go smoothly by establishing the rules and boundaries clearly and early on and letting them get on with the routine and structure in your home.
Here are 5 essential things to bear in mind after adopting a dog:
1. Give Your Dog Some Time
Dogs in new environments can take days or weeks before they fully adjust and feel comfortable around you. This is because “Every dog is different,” according to intern Sabine Fischer-Daly of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University.
Let them have their space for a while. Be patient and just let the Fido get close to you when they’re ready. Forcing your expectations on them immediately can end them in streams of anxiety and fear.
2. Gradually Introduce Your Old Dog or Pet
If you have an old pet, introducing them to each other is necessary. Not that you have to let them stay in one place immediately, but rather set a boundary between them so they can only see and smell each other. This also keeps the other from being aggressive to the unfamiliar pooch.
Remember, any signs of aggression should be discouraged immediately. Avoid territorial aggression by putting away your old dog’s toys or possessions from your adopted dog.
You can ease their boundary slowly each week until there’s no more need for an indoor gate or a leash when getting them introduced.
3. Establish a Routine
Provide your dog structure and confidence by establishing a daily routine. These are creatures of habit, after all. Feed them on a set schedule, take them for a walk, or let them out in the yard for playtime.
Routines must be consistent, and smart dogs will know what activity should be done at a particular hour without looking or even knowing what a clock is for.
4. Provide Toys
Chew toys and interactive toys provide enrichment for your rescued dog. These are small investments that can keep them from developing unwanted behaviors. A chew toy can also help them soothe themselves whenever they’re anxious or nervous.
Just ensure that the kind of toy you purchase won’t be a choking hazard and is indestructible.
5. Train Your Dog
Start with the basics if your dog is still a puppy, more so if they make many mistakes when testing what they already know. Get them to understand what a crate is for and give time to teach them obedience training, socialization, verbal commands, and more.
This keeps your home in order, avoiding stressful situations such as finding your dog peeing in inappropriate places.
How Much Would It Cost to Adopt a Dog in Frederick, MD?
The expected cost to adopt a dog in Frederick, MD, ranges from $75 to $150. The senior dogs are at the lowest fee range, while puppies are on the opposite side as they still have several medical treatments. It includes microchipping, sterilization, vaccinations, and deworming.
Bonded dogs, or those who have developed a relationship with another dog, must be adopted in pairs and are typically for $150. This is an excellent choice for families that want two Fidos.
Of course, adoption fees vary a lot from one dog rescue to another.
Is It Worth Adopting a Dog Rescue From Frederick, MD?
It’s worth adopting a dog from Frederick, MD. You’re saving more than one life since another dog rescue finds space in the rescue center. Aside from that, adoption also helps in discouraging evil puppy mills from thriving. If nobody buys their puppies, their business will be out in no time.
Make animals feel safer and loved by starting the change in your locality. Frederick, MD has various dog rescues listed above that shelter thousands of dogs. One or two of them sure are meant for you.
