488 | Rescue Groups These small, often volunteer-run organizations are often the only source of help for stray, sick, abused, or starving domestic animals Today, in most locations in the developed world, animal rescue groups operate alongside city-and county-run shelters Many groups are species- or breedspecific, rescuing only rabbits, Great Danes, or Chihuahuas, for example As nontraditional pets become mainstream, and as the public purchases and then discards these animals, rescue groups are popping up to handle every species from turtle to parrot to rat Those groups with a relationship with their local shelter are generally contacted by staff at the shelter when an animal meeting the breed or species requirement is brought in, and representatives from that group will then pick the animal up These groups both aid their local shelters by cutting down on the volume of animals the shelter must deal with, and are often better able to find a suitable adoptive home for animals which, because of their breed, species, or temperament, may be difficult for the shelter to place Rescue groups that focus on rescuing and placing nontraditional pets are faced with some unique challenges Many socalled exotic pets, for example, are in fact wild animals that are not at all domesticated, and should not even be kept as pets, because of the damage that the exotic pet industry does to wild habitats and Marc Bekoff (editor of this encyclopedia) shares a moment with a rescued dairy cow, Bessie, at the Farm Sanctuary in California The Farm Sanctuary rescues and cares for animals freed from factory farms, slaughterhouses, and stockyards (Marc Bekoff)