What rescue means to a rescuer is saving a dog, or any animal, from some situation that could be fatal or, at best, bad for the dog, then finding that dog a safe supportive home. Dog is used universally to represent all animals for the purposes of these articles. Rescuer encompasses all of the rescue parties, whatever their part. Adopter is the person, family, or extended family that may take custody of the dog. An owner decides, for whatever reason, that they cannot keep their dog.
Animal control turns a stray into an animal shelter, or an owner turns in their dog to a shelter.
The owner turns custody of the dog over to a rescuer. A person who has found a dog passes it to the rescuer. Once the dog is in rescue custody, the rescuer either fosters the dog or passes the dog to a foster home. When the dog has been evaluated over the course of time, usually two to three weeks, sometimes longer, then a home that matches the dogs needs is sought. When a matching home is identified the rescuer approaches the potential adopter with the profile of the dog and, usually, photographs.