Every year, millions of people in the UK and US search for some version of pet adoption, cat adoption, dog adoption, or puppies for adoption. Adopting from a local shelter is one of the highest-impact things an individual can do for animal welfare. But for many people, adoption isn't a current option — and for many animals, no adopter exists. This guide is for both groups.
If you can adopt
Start local. Search for your nearest municipal shelter, council pound, or independent breed-specific rescue — most areas have several. Avoid breeders and pet-store puppies; adopting an existing animal frees a kennel slot for the next one. Pay attention to less-adoptable categories: senior dogs, cats with manageable medical needs, and overlooked breeds.
If you cannot adopt
- Foster. Short-term foster homes save more lives per slot than permanent adoption, because they keep shelter capacity flowing.
- Sponsor. Most credible rescues let you sponsor a kennel or a specific animal for a fixed monthly amount.
- Volunteer. Dog walking, cat socialisation, transport runs, photography for adoption listings — every shelter is short of hands.
- Fund field rescue overseas. The animals in the worst situations — trafficked wildlife, working horses, street dogs in cull zones — cannot be adopted out of trouble. They need someone to fund the rescue itself.
How WARN fits in
WARN does not do US/UK pet adoption — but we are building the capacity to rescue animals that no one can adopt: orangutans, parrots, pangolins, street dogs in cull-zone cities, and snared elephants. If you already support a local adoption shelter, consider pairing that with monthly support for international field rescue. We are at the launch stage and your help matters most right now.
Lost an animal?
If you have arrived here while grieving an animal you loved, we are so sorry. Many supporters tell us that doing something concrete for another animal — in their pet's name — helps in the early weeks. See WARN's in memory giving page, or read our short pet loss support guide.
We need your support to make this happen
World Animal Rescue Network is at the launch stage of this work. We do not yet have rescue numbers to share — and that is exactly why your support matters now. Every donation helps us put trained teams on the ground, secure veterinary supplies and equipment, and reach the first animals before they are lost.
Donate today to fund our first deployments, or sponsor an animal to back a specific species through rehabilitation. You can also join the network as a volunteer, fundraiser, or monthly supporter.
