What is a Rescue Dog

Many people have asked us, “What is a “rescue dog”?
First off, usually a rescue dog is one that most shelters consider un-adoptable. They could be heartworm positive, too old,
food or toy aggressive, blind, deaf, crippled, and many other reasons to make them not be adopted quickly.
Many require hundreds of dollars of treatments that no shelter is willing to do. If the expense is too high the shelter will put the dog to sleep. We rescue groups take in the so called throw-aways and provide them with all the medical help necessary to get them healthy again. We then take them into our homes and teach them what it means to be loved and safe again, which can take months.
At that point we can find them forever homes.
Some people ask why do you charge to adopt a pet?
The answer to that is without money we can’t rescue dogs.
Every person in our group is a volunteer. We do pet fairs to raise money. We drive hundreds of miles to rescue a dog, or transport a dog to a new home. We make gifts to sell to earn money to pay expenses on these dogs. Everyone that does this gets no pay. They use their time, their gas, their car. Every cent we get goes to help another dog. We won’t turn away a dog because it needs a thousand dollar operation – we find a way to get the money and help the dog. And in the end, the dog’s adoption fee may be 250 dollars. There is no profit in rescue. We will go to any length to help a dog and many tears have been shed over one because, no matter how hard we tried or how much money we spent, we couldn’t save this poor angel. The people who work in rescue are very special. The dogs are even more special. What someone throws away, we take and nurture back to health and show them what love is really all about until the day we hold them in our arms as they pass on to the rainbow bridge and never have to fear being cold, hungry, sick or alone again.

Something to think about

DO I GO HOME TODAY?
by Sally Thompson
My family brought me home cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me and showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them – all snuggled in the sheets.
Here is a wonderful poem that says a whole lot about people and and pets

I used to go for walks, often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash, I’m very proud to say.
These are the things I’ll not forget – cherished memory, because I now live in the shelter – without my family.
They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn’t know the difference between the old ones and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.
They said that I was out of control, and would have to live outside.
This I did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn’t time.
I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely, in the back yard, on a chain.
I barked and barked, all day long, just to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to the shelter, but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy, then they each kissed me goodbye.
If I’d only had some classes, when I was just a little pup, then I would have been a better dog when I was all grown up. “You only have one day left.” I heard the worker say.
Does that mean I have a second chance?
DO I GO HOME TODAY?