Things You'll Need:
- Contact info for shelters in your area
- Prospective locations
- Dog supplies
- Business plan
- Donations
- Website
-
Step 1
Make sure you are up to the challenge. Opening your rescue ranch will not be easy, but if it's something you really want--and not an impulsive decision--you can do it.
-
Step 2
Consider partnering up with someone else. Running a rescue facility requires work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it's almost impossible for one person to do it all. Look for other Maltese lovers in the area who may be interested in sharing your dream.
-
Step 3
Contact other rescue shelters. Make sure a Maltese rescue ranch is needed in your community--if there are already several in your area, you may want to consider a new location or even a new breed.
-
Step 4
Find a location. To have a successful rescue ranch, you will need lots of space to comfortably house the animals. You will also want to choose a spot that is fairly remote and away from other residents. It's important that your new shelter be welcomed into the community and neighbors will not respond favorably if barking dogs are in their backyard.
-
Step 5
Check with the zoning commission in your desired location. Some areas limit the amount of dogs that can be on any one location, so you'll need to make sure a rescue ranch is possible before taking any further steps.
-
Step 6
Buy supplies. If possible, when you're selecting a location, try to find a kennel that's for sale. This will make the process much easier. If that's not an option, however, you will want to stock up on dog food, toys, treats, bedding and kennel cages. You will probably need to hire a professional to come in and build secure kennels on your property.
-
Step 7
Find a veterinarian in your area who is willing to provide medical care to your rescue animals. Many vets provide discounted or even free treatment to nonprofit shelters. Remember, you'll be responsible for these animals until someone adopts them.
-
Step 8
Meet with a lawyer in your area who specializes in nonprofit businesses. An attorney will help you get your rescue set up properly so that you have a legal nonprofit status.
-
Step 9
Create a business plan and mission statement. What are your goals? How will you run your shelter? Will you charge an adoption fee or accept donations instead? These are all questions that will need to be answered before you open your doors.
-
Step 10
Find volunteers willing to help. You're going to need a fully devoted staff to help you care for the animals. Fortunately, many animal lovers volunteer for such positions and do not require a salary. If you have the funds to pay a staff, you certainly can, but this may be difficult when you're just starting out.
-
Step 11
Raise funds for your shelter. Visit pet supply stores in the area, speak with other Maltese owners and partner up with other animal shelters to get donations for your facility.
-
Step 12
Find your rescue pets. Start by visiting animal shelters and non-breed specific rescue organizations. Search outside of your area and check online as well. Shelters and fellow rescue organizations are often willing to hand over these animals to make room for new ones, and as a nonprofit, they won't charge a fee.
-
Step 13
Promote your shelter. Make flyers, place an ad in the newspaper, or place an ad on the radio or television. Check with your local area's news station to see if they can help. Often, local newscasts will announce the opening of nonprofit businesses, which is free advertising for you. Also, be sure to announce your opening to other shelters and pet supply stores in the area, as their customers are also your target audience.
-
Step 14
Build a website for your shelter. Describe your vision, give your visitors a little background about yourself and explain why you decided to open your rescue. Your goal is to interest people enough so that will visit your shelter and hopefully, adopt a pet or donate to the cause.
