Husky Rescue Guide: How To Find One, And What It Will Be Like

Siberian Huskies make great family dogs. Although they have a wolf-like appearance, these fantastic pups are gentle, friendly, and open to strangers. While most people mistake their inability to bark more often for shyness, the truth is that they aren’t diffident by any means- Huskies are just not as people-focused and possessive as other dog breeds. Now, if you like everything about these dogs, adoption is one easy way to become a proud Siberian Husky owner. But where can you rescue a Husky? How will the process be like? How much should you expect to pay for a healthy Husky? If you are looking for information on this, or anything closer to it, we’ve got you covered in our today’s article!

So, how do you find one and what will it be like? Well, Huskies are readily available in animal shelters and rescue groups. You can easily find your nearest Husky shelter/rescue group online. These facilities will typically require you to fill and submit a letter of adoption. They will then review the letter to see whether you meet the minimum threshold for owning one.

But why did we go direct to recommend adopting instead of buying a puppy? Isn’t getting a purely bred Husky puppy and watching it grow under your care more fun?

Well, let me explain…

Why You Should Rescue a Husky Instead of Buying a Puppy

While we don’t discourage buying a newly-bred puppy from a trusted breeder, we must admit that rescuing offers more perks than striking a deal with a breeder, especially for a dog breed like the Siberian Huskies. Here are a few reasons why you need to prioritize rescuing a Siberian Husky more than buying a new puppy.

It Will Require You to Pay Less

Huskies are generally highly prized because of their beautiful wolf-like appearance and their sweet temperament. For a small puppy, you may have to pay about $1500. If you choose to go for one with a superior pedigree, don’t be surprised to hear the breeder demand a staggering $6000. Comparing this to the $15 to $300 you will need to pay for adoption from a shelter or rescue group, expect to save a bundle. If you are lucky enough, you may get a lovely Husky pet without having to pay even a cent.

It Is Easier Than You Could Be Thinking

Most people see rescuing a fully-grown Husky as a lengthy process. However, the fact is that it is a pretty straightforward affair. Once you have identified the dog and expressed your interest, the rescue volunteers will try and reach as soon as possible. Some will take a day while others may take a few weeks or months depending on the time they get for the volunteering work. However, once they confirm your application, the process will then flow smoothly from there.

You Will Have Saved a Life

If stats given by the Humane Society of the United States are anything to go by, about 6-8 million pets (cats and dogs) enter shelters each year. Of this number, only 4 million are adopted annually. The number of those euthanized yearly to give room is approximately 3 million. Therefore, by adopting a Husky from a shelter or rescue group, you aren’t just getting a perfect companion- you are saving a life!

These Dogs Are Great

It’s easy to think that most of these dogs wound up there because of something they did wrong. However, that’s not the truth. A good number of these pups end up in the hands of animal shelters and rescue groups because of problems emanating from their human partners. Relocation, divorce, and death of their human partners are a few things that leave them homeless. In some cases, some of them are surrendered to shelters when their human partners find their shedding or exercise requirements more than they are able to meet.

They Are Normally Healthy

Rescue groups put much effort into ensuring that all pets under their care are in their perfect health condition. They keep them up to date in terms of vaccination and other necessary health requirements. In fact, from the statistical data produced by the Humane Society of the United States, of the pets that are humanely killed annually, 80% are healthy. That is about 2.4 million. Apart from that, some even have the necessary house training already. All they are waiting for is you to give them a place to call home!

Adoption Is a Way to Combat Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are facilities that breed with the major aim of maximizing profits. These commercial organizations put money above the pet’s health, frequently housing them in filthy conditions with minimal to no medical care. As a result, these puppies grow troubled and may contract some serious illnesses that may remain mild until several months or years after buying. Most of the parents of these puppies are kept for years to be bred as many times as possible with slim to no chances at all of ever joining a family.

Shockingly, after they can no longer serve as cash cows for the facilities, these dogs are gotten rid of through killing or abandoning. I know it’s hard for you to buy this claim, but the fact is that these organizations are the majority, only that they have for years succeeded in concealing what actually happens behind the curtains through their clever tactics. That said, by using adoption instead of buying, you are making a significant contribution to fighting puppy mills.

You Are Helping More Than a Single Dog

With numbers of dogs that are finding a way to animal shelters and rescue groups surging year after year, these canines have very slim chances of finding a family given that most pet owners prefer buying new pups over adoption. Most of these canines at the rescue and animal shelters can make fantastic family companions and all they want to prove is a family. Therefore, by adopting a Husky, you are simply giving him an opportunity to enjoy a family reunion. While in most cases you will be required to pay a small amount of adoption fee, this money is normally for taking better care of those still in shelters and hoping to reunite with families. 

You Make Room for Others

With the overwhelming number of pets flowing to animal shelters and rescues every year, things are becoming tougher and tougher for these organizations. They are finding it hard to take more pets. If they have to, there are only 2 ways of creating room for the new pets; adoption and humane killing. By adopting a Husky from a rescue group, you are simply providing a room for a homeless dog somewhere. Adoption will also encourage other people around you to adopt given that a good number of potential pet owners see dog adoption as an invitation to trouble.

The Adoption Process

Before we can delve into the adoption procedure you should expect, it’s important to understand that there is a difference between rescues and animal shelters. While most of the animal shelters are governmental projects, rescues use private boarding facilities and rely on service from volunteers. Of course, since they are people like me and you, they have other things that need their attention besides pet volunteering. Most of them turn to volunteer work in days when they are off from work, let’s say weekends and holidays. Therefore, when choosing to adopt from a rescue group, be sure to not run out of patience when the process takes a few weeks or even months.

That aside- when we talk about the adoption process, every rescue group will have its own adoption procedure given that they are private organizations. Therefore, the procedure provided here is aimed at giving you a clue of what generally you should expect.

Fill Out An Application

After you meet a Husky dog who is at rescue online and are at peace with their level of shedding and “talkative” nature, the first thing you need to do is express your interest for the dog. You should do this by filling an application form. The application form aims at digging information about you to know whether you have all it takes to make a good pet parent. Rescue groups always want to ensure that all dogs adopted from them are the perfect match for the families and that the new pet parents are capable of giving them the best life. They want to be sure that these dogs won’t end up in the facility months or years later. Therefore, don’t be bothered that the questions are asking too much “personal” information about you.

Meet the Dog

Once you send an application, the rescue personnel will go through it and contact you. Some will call you while others prefer to reach you through your email. The feedback typically will be inviting you to visit them. Once you get to the facility, the volunteers will help you meet your potential best friend. This is the best time to see the dog’s energy levels and other information not captured in the online bio. Be sure to ask everything you would want to know about the dog. In most cases, these volunteers will be happy to respond to your questions. In fact, it is another way that will send a message to them that you are really interested in the dog.

Share Your Views

After you have met the Husky that you need to adopt and have all the information about him/her, the rescue volunteers will then request you to share your thoughts. They will want to know whether there is something that you don’t like about the dog and if you are willing to proceed with the adoption process.

It’s Time for A Home Visit

While some of the rescue volunteers won’t need to do a home visit, there are a few that will go to the extent of asking you to organize for one. At this stage, they want to confirm the provided information and assess whether the dog can thrive in your home. Where necessary, this team may highlight a few areas where you need to do several improvements and modifications to make life more comfortable for the furry friend.  Usually, during this visit, they will come with the four-pawed colleague and see how he/she feels about the potential new home. 

Adoption Counselling

After all things work in your favor, volunteers of the rescue group will then take you through a counseling session. In most cases, it may take an hour or less depending on the information they see relevant to you. If you have never owned a pet before, this counseling may extend beyond an hour. These sessions aim at providing you with tips on how to take the best care of your new friend. During this time, the team will also want to discuss with you about any known medical conditions and any veterinary partnership they have in case you need to access veterinary services anytime in the future. It’s also at this time that the rescue personnel will tell you whether the dog needs any special attention in terms of behavioral life.

Make Payment

The final step of the adoption process is paying the adoption fee. The fee may differ depending on the rescue group. While some will demand as low as $100 or less, some rescues may demand up to $300. Usually, this amount is for compensating for the cost of vaccination, microchipping, food, deworming, and other health procedures. Once your payment is approved, the rescue volunteers will then email you medical and other essential documents of the dog.

Adoption from Animal Shelters Vs Rescues

When adopting a Siberian Husky, you can either get them from a nearby animal shelter or rescue. So, which of these places is better? Well, each of these places has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, animal shelters will allow you to see more pets once you visit. This makes it easy for you to choose the pet that looks the best for your family. Also, although the two sources require much less amount than breeders, adopting from an animal shelter is generally cheaper as compared to rescue. But with all these advantages, we still see adoption from a rescue group as the best option. Here are two major reasons;

Dogs Are Well Cared For

Most animal shelters have workers. This is different from Rescues that have volunteers. In other words, rescues have people doing the work out of passion, something we aren’t guaranteed in animal shelters. Therefore, dogs in rescues get better care and attention than those in animal shelters.

They Have Vast Information About Every Dog

Since most animal shelters deal with these dogs at a group level, it’s hard for them to have precise information about every dog they are having. That’s not the case with rescues. Since they are working out of passion, rescue volunteers want to attend to each dog at an individual level. This makes it easy for them to know much about each of their dogs. Therefore, the information they are going to give you about the dog you want to take home is more reliable.

What Is The Best Adoption Age For A Siberian Husky

While most people want Husky puppies, the fact is that they aren’t easy to find in animal shelters and rescues. Also, the young furry colleagues will need basic training, something that most adult dogs already have. So, should you pick any fully grown Husky? Definitely No! Before you adopt one, ensure that you don’t get a dog that is too old given that most large dogs don’t live as long as the smaller breeds. You want to have as many years of friendship as possible with your furry friend. The life expectancy of Huskies ranges anywhere between 14-15 years. The older these dogs get, the more susceptible they become to age-related illnesses. Therefore, when adopting one, it will be wise of you to get one that is just past the puppyhood stage.

Important Information Before You Adopt A Siberian Husky

Before you go ahead to adopt a Siberian Husky, you need to know the most basic information about these dogs. This way, it will be easy for you to tell whether Huskies are the kind of dogs you want for your family. Here are a few things about them.

• They are Great Shedders. As aforementioned, some of these dogs ended up where they are because the original owners get fed up with their heavy shedding. Therefore, before you bring one home, ensure that you are ready to put up with their heavy shedding. But given that you can meet their grooming requirements, shedding shouldn’t put you off from bringing your best friend home.
• They Need Daily Exercise. If you don’t have an active lifestyle, it’s unfortunate that a Siberian Husky dog may not thrive perfectly under your care. These dogs will need a daily run, walk, or play to remain physically and mentally fit. Therefore, before you bring one home, be sure that you are ready to meet their daily exercise requirements. Their level of exercise means that they may not thrive very well in apartments.
• You will Hardly Hear Them Bark. Siberian Huskies were originally intended for pulling sleds on a snowy surface. Therefore, they were not by any means intended to serve as watchdogs. That’s why they don’t bark so often like other dogs such as the German shepherds, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas. That means that they may not make an excellent dog for you if you want one that will bark to scare away intruders.
• They Are Very Talkative. Although they don’t bark, Huskies are blessed with other sounds that most owners refer to them as “Husky talk”. Of course, since no one can understand what is encoded in these sounds, they will more often be irritating to your ears than fun. Therefore, be sure that you are ready to take all these “talks” before you bring one home.
• They Are Great Jumpers. Huskies are light-footed. That’s why they were the preferred over any other breed to haul diphtheria cure to Nome, Alaska after this deadly disease broke out in that area. Apart from that, these dogs have strong back legs that can produce a very powerful jump. Therefore, before you bring one home, you will need a tall fence.
• They Thrive Better In Cold Weather. Huskies have a very thick coat that was intended for keeping them warm as they move on snowy surfaces. That means that these dogs will live better in colder areas than warm regions. Hence, if you aren’t living in such areas, ensure that you have a mechanism of providing them with the cold and comfortable space they need.

Final Word

Before you adopt a Husky dog, you need a thorough and honest evaluation of your lifestyle to see how well it suits a dog of this kind. While they may not need much food like other dogs of other breeds, Siberian Huskies will need a lot of exercise daily. They also need plenty of attention and may develop separation anxiety when left alone for many hours. That means that they do better in homes where there will be someone around most of the time to play and have fun with.