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Step 1
Your first step in the process of rescuing a Maltese should be deciding whether you are ready for the commitment of a dog. Think about owning a dog in terms of how it will affect you and your family's lifestyle. A dog is a long-term commitment, just like any relationship. There are also serious repercussions should you not be able to care for your dog. In Illinois, a pet owner is required by law to provide veterinary care for the pet and if he/she doesn't they could be fined or sent to jail. (anticruelty.org)More specifically, you need to check your city ordinances as well; Chicago, for instance requires a dog license for dog owners.
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Step 2
Once you decide you are ready to make the commitment, make sure a Maltese is right for you. Look at your lifestyle. Are you active or more leisurely? Do you have a lot of space in your home, or very little? These are all factors to consider before deciding on a Maltese. There are dog-match quizzes you can find at Petfinder.com that will help you decide.
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Step 3
You have decided on the Maltese. Now decide how old a dog you want and what gender. You can look at petfinder.com, type in your city, state and "Maltese." A number of Maltese will appear with their ages and sexes listed. There are also other websites pertaining to those just in Illinois. Some Illinois animal rescue sites are: save-a-pet-il.org, and anticruelty.org.
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Step 4
Once you have selected your match, there is an adoption process you will go through with the animal shelter of choice. Petfinder.com is a website listing dogs and cats of all breeds and all locations from different shelters. The adoption process varies shelter to shelter but usually involves a donation fee, a home examination, all family members to be present at the time of the adoption, and sometimes past veterinarian references.
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Step 5
After you have completed your adoption application it can take some time to find your companion. If there is a waiting list for the Maltese you have chosen you might not even get to rescue the one you wanted, so be prepared to keep looking.
