How should I start my (dog rescue?) career?

GET real life exprience first, by volunteering at a shelter or a local dog rescue group. Until you've been IN THE TRENCHES you cannot imagine all the work or costs, entailed. This will NOT BE a paying job. You will be LUCKY if you can stay afloat financially, doign rescue.

Setting up rules for an age limit on dogs you want to save or on what health problems you will (or will not) be able to treat, is important. Some folks with really deep pockets take everything, but in many cases of no-kill shelters, older dogs or those with serious health issues, may never leave.

IMO, it is MORE than showing dogs love. In many cases they were loved, but if somebody looses their job or has a baby or adopts a child with asthma or allergies or if the dog kills the neighbor's cats - it often has to GO.

The POINT of rescue is to make dogs physically well & to be socialized & trained well enough that they can be re-homed, not stack up in your house & yard - that become hoarding.

IMO, people who are willing to adopt, DESERVE the best dogs possible. IMO, not all dogs can, or should be saved. (There are NOT enough adoptive homes.)

Most rescues are non-profit & that is a lot of paper work. Where you plan to have this kennel, you need to get an approval from zoning, you need to get a permit from Animal Control to operate there. It has to be inspected by Animal Control yearly, yearly fire inspection, yearly permits......... It is really a bunch of red tape but it is a lot of stuff that has to be done & approved before you can get started.

I did it a bid different. Zoning only allowed 5 dogs to one residence , so I kept 5 dogs at all times for 45 yrs. I rescued large & extra large dogs & provided their last 'forever home' & they are buried on my property.

Now I found out they can issue a rescue permit that allows more than 5 dogs at one time. Too late for me cause health forced me to quit. I have three left & they all are about 9 yrs old.

Rescue isn't a "side job"... its an expensive hobby