Big Hair Animal Rescue is a volunteer-run, non-profit rescue in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2015, they’re a foster-based rescue with no kennel facility. They aren't a breed-specific rescue, but they primarily focus on helping the common breeds that overpopulate shelters.
Big Hair Animal Rescue recognizes that all of the animals in their care have been failed previously. Some have a long history and pattern of failed placements. Due to this, they prioritize getting to know the dogs prior to placing them responsibly in the community. All cats and dogs are medically and behaviorally evaluated and have their temperament tested to ensure responsible placements moving forward.
The goal (and definition) of a successful adoption is a permanent home for the rest of the dog or cat’s life. Both the evaluation process and the time spent in the rescue prior to re-homing allows Big Hair Animal Rescue to determine whether or not a dog is suitable to live with other dogs, cats, or children. Dogs are tested for food aggression, resource guarding, reactivity, and separation anxiety.
The process to adopt from Big Hair Animal Rescue has been designed to ensure a strong match between animals and their adopters. These are simple steps to follow:
Please be aware of the requirements to adopt a pet from Big Hair Animal Rescue:
Big Hair Rescue can't stress enough the importance of understanding the personality of the animal you're adopting. Consider how they fit into your home and lifestyle. Research the different breeds, temperaments, energy levels, and think about what really works best for your household.
Ready to adopt a pet from Big Hair Animal Rescue? Complete an application form below:
Adoption fees at Big Hair Animal Rescue are as follows:
Your adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, a full set of vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea/tick prevention.
*Single kittens are only adopted out to homes that already have at least one cat.
Your adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, rabies and DHLPP vaccination, and FIV testing
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.
