Why Wildlife Rescues Cannot Accept Domestic Animals
- Missy Dubuission
- Aug 30
- 3 min read
At Wild at Heart Rescue, Inc., we are often asked why we cannot take in cats, dogs, or other domestic animals alongside our injured or orphaned wild patients. It’s a great question, and the answer is rooted in law, ethics, training, and the best interests of every animal.
Wildlife rehabilitation and domestic animal rescue are two entirely separate worlds, each with their own systems, goals, and expertise. Here’s why it matters.
1. Legal Reasons: Permits and Regulations
Wildlife is strictly regulated by law. In most countries, including the United States, native wild animals are protected by state and federal regulations such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state wildlife codes.
Wildlife rehabilitators operate under special permits granted by agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state Departments of Natural Resources. These permits only authorize care for native wildlife.
Taking in domestic animals would violate the terms of these permits, putting both the animals and the rehabilitator at risk.
Domestic animals fall under a separate system, which includes animal control agencies, humane societies, SPCAs, and local shelters. These organizations are structured, trained, and legally empowered to handle pets.
2. Mission and Ethics: Different Goals
The mission of wildlife rehab is clear: to humanely care for sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals and release them back into their natural habitat. Every action we take supports this ultimate goal.
By contrast, the mission of domestic rescue is to care for lost, injured, or unwanted pets and prepare them for adoption into loving homes.
These purposes are fundamentally different, even opposite. A wildlife rehabilitator works to keep animals wild and fearful of humans for survival, while a shelter works to make pets social and trusting toward people. Mixing these missions would harm the animals.
3. Specialized Knowledge and Care
Wildlife and domestic animals have very different needs, and each field has its own expertise.
Wildlife rehabilitators understand species-specific diets, medical care, and the housing needs of animals like rabbits, raptors, and songbirds.
Domestic animal professionals such as veterinarians and shelters are trained in vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, socialization, and adoption processes.
Each group is specialized to give the right care to the right species.
4. Disease and Safety Concerns
Zoonotic diseases: Wildlife can carry illnesses like rabies or distemper that may spread to humans or pets. Domestic animals can also spread diseases to wildlife.
Stress factors: The presence of domestic animals, especially predators like cats and dogs, creates immense and sometimes fatal stress for wild prey animals.
Safety risks: Rehabbers are trained to safely handle wild animals, while shelters are trained to manage the different challenges of domestic pets. Mixing the two increases risks for both groups.
Who To Call First
Knowing who to call ensures the best outcome for the animal.
If you find injured or orphaned wildlife: Always use Animal Help Now first. This national resource connects you to licensed wildlife rehabilitators in your area.
If you find a lost or injured pet: Contact your local animal shelter or humane society. These organizations have the training, permits, and networks to help domestic animals.
Local Resources for Domestic Animals
Here are trusted organizations in our region who can help if you encounter a stray, injured, or lost pet:
Humane Society of South Mississippi
2615 25th Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501
(228) 863-3354
Jackson County Animal Shelter
4400 Audubon Lane, Gautier, MS 39553
(228) 497-6350
Hancock County Animal Shelter
7175 Texas Flat Road, Kiln, MS 39556
(228) 466-4516
Southern Pines Animal Shelter
1901 N. 31st Avenue, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-6632
Stone County S.P.C.A.
1989 MS-26, Wiggins, MS 39577
(601) 928-1930
George County Animal Shelter
3571 N. 16th St., Lucedale, MS
(601) 728-7709
Mobile County Animal Shelter
7665 Howells Ferry Road
Mobile, AL 36618
(251) 574-3647
In Summary
It’s not about one type of animal being more important than another. It’s about making sure each animal gets the care it deserves, in the right place, by the right people.
At Wild at Heart Rescue, Inc., our doors are open for the wild patients we are legally and ethically entrusted to rehabilitate. For domestic pets, we rely on our shelter partners to provide the specialized care and adoption pathways they need. Together, we ensure that every animal receives the best possible chance at life.
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