How to Open an Animal Rescue Shelter for Pit Bulls in Maryland

You're a pit bull lover and you want to start a shelter. Let's face it, this is not the easiest breed to adopt. Before you take in any animals, you have to do the legal legwork to get your facility up and running successfully. Research and planning with local community members, animal rescue workers and perhaps a lawyer specializing in non-profit law will help make your dream a reality, even if it takes awhile until you see those wagging tails coming in. Remember that building a rescue from the ground up is an enormous task; even just the building and maintenance of a proper facility is time consuming and expensive. Some steps below outline an overview of starting a full-blown shelter, along with some ideas for helping pit bulls one-by-one on a smaller rescue basis.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A facility in an area zoned for dog kennels
• Kennel supplies: bowls, towels, blankets, dog houses, hoses, food, leashes, collars, water
• Donations/financial support
• Staff
• Website/publicity

How to Start an Animal Rescue Shelter for Bully Breeds in Maryland

1. First talk to existing owners of pit bull or bully breed rescues. They will be enormously helpful in telling you how they got started, and how to avoid mistakes they may have made. Also talk to dog rescues in the area of Maryland where you are considering setting up shop. You want to make sure there isn't a rescue too close to you doing the same thing that you are, making competition too difficult to ensure success for either of you!

2. Look for a suitable location in Maryland for your shelter. Finding an existing dog kennel facility that is up for sale would make initial set up easier.

3. Consult your Zoning Commission to make sure your rescue is possible in the area you have chosen.

4. Consult a lawyer with a non-profit specialty who can help guide you when applying to the IRS for your non-profit status.

Tips & Warnings

• A strong Web presence is vital for a rescue organization. Especially if you're located in rural Maryland. You want to make it easy for people to find you and your dogs.
• If it's too daunting to start up an entire facility, but you have the space at your house for one extra dog, you can consider adopting dogs on an individual basis. Adopt the dog from an animal shelter and list them on your own dedicated website, or list them on other pit bull rescue sites (or Craigslist). Always be prepared to keep a dog you bring home if you are unable to adopt him out on your website!
• Pit bulls can be dangerous dogs. Be aware that when handling strange dogs of this dominant breed, that you may be bitten or attacked.

Resources

• IRS 501Requirements