Many rescues start but many many burn out in a few years.  To build a successful rescue, you MUST start out with clear goals that are REALISTIC and measurable.  You may want to consider contacting a pit bull rescue close to you to see how they operate and volunteer with them before striking out on your own.  Start SMALL, your new manta will be
" YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL"  Understanding that will be vital to your success and longevity.  You will never be able to save every dog.

Informational Websites

• Starting a Successful Rescue

• So You Want to Start a Rescue?

• Starting a Purebred Rescue

• Starting your Own Rescue

• Mr. P's Rescue Resource List

• Starting a Rescue Group in Your Area

• How to Start a Rescue in 4 Easy Steps

• Starting your own Rescue and Volunteer Info

• Start your own rescue

• Stick to small manageable tasks - try sticking with ONE breed and ONE small geographical area or working with ONE shelter.  Once you have a few placements under your belt, you may want to revise your goals but in the beginning stay small.

• Know your breed - it is absolutely imperative that you get to know your breed.  Do not take an all breed approach to purebred rescue. Your breed has quirks and special needs and you need to  know exactly what they are so you can make responsible placements.  Especially if your breed is considered a "high risk" breed.  Breed education and breed understanding are extremely important.  You can not send a dog home with a new owner without educating them about the breed.

• Keep your Day Job - Funding is hard to come by and if you pick an unpopular breed.......well, you will be digging into your own pockets to pay for needed vet care.  Be realistic.  Once you have become established, you can consider applying for a non profit status.  However, having that non profit status is no guarantee you are going to start getting donations.  To receive donations requires marketing and getting yourself out in the public eye.  Getting in the public eye also has its consequences as well.

• HAVE YOUR OWN PLACE - I can't say this enough.  Don't start rescuing while you are a renter or don't have a stable place to live.  If the landlord calls it quits or your parents say the dog "hobby" must stop or whatever - you aren't doing the dogs any favors nor other rescuers who have to step in or get a bad name.  If you rent an apartment or house and want to get permission from your landlord to take in one dog at a time, do it but make sure to have an agreement..... don't go overboard.  And please be of legal age.

1. Funding - how are you going to pay for things? Adoption fees rarely cover all of the costs associated with getting a dog healthy and fully vetted for adoption.
2. Legal Issues - does your state require registration or license to rescue?  Will you incorporate at the state level?  Non Profit?
3. Housing - where will these dogs be housed?  In your home, boarding, shelters?  Do not allow pit bulls to share kennel space with other dogs. See breed info for more details.
4. Intake - Who decides which dogs are accepted into the program?  Where will they be from?  What criteria will you use?  Do you accept owner surrenders?  Since you are here on this site, we can assume you are interested in bully breeds?  Are you sure they are the right breed for you to be rescuing?  Which of the bully breeds?  Will you help all or a few?  Will you accept mixed breeds?
5. Volunteers - You may want to consider recruiting others to help. They can help with expenses, fundraising and decision-making. Finding people that share your passion for your breed is not always easy, but local breed, obedience or all breed clubs may be good starting points.
6. Care Guidelines - What will be the minimum care guidelines for your organization?  What vetting will you provide as a part of the adoption package?  It should absolutely include spaying/neutering.  Will you include training, housebreaking, crate training, basic obedience?
7. Advertising - how will you go about finding homes for these dogs?  Will you advertise on the internet, at PetsMart, on Petfinder.  PBRC is a free listing service for bully breeds (www.pbrc.net)
8. Screening - You will need to develop a process for screening applicants and determine who will be qualified to adopt. 
9. Contracts - You will want to have solid "transfer of ownership" agreements for dogs coming into rescue and adoption contracts for dogs going to new homes.
10. Follow ups - How will you follow up on each rescue that you place?  Will you be available to help the new owners with issues and problems that may arise during adjustment
11. Returns - You are responsible for the lives of the dogs that you place.  There may come a time when an owner is no longer be able or willing to care for the dog adopted from you. How will you handle returns, whether they're due to people issues or behavioral reasons?  If a pit bull shows inappropriate aggression, how comfortable are you with euthanasia?