A Look Inside Foster Rescue

There are pet people and then there are PET people.  I am so fortunate to work with some of the most amazing pet people in my line of work.  Men and women that give not a second thought to rescuing one, two, three or more strays.  Individuals that spend their weekends not lunching, golfing or resting but at adoption events talking up their brood to passersby.

The job that these dedicated folks do is called fostering.  Or, the keeping of dogs or cats in need of adoption in homes rather than at a shelter until a permanent family is found. 

Typically, fostered animals make wonderful pets.  Issues, if any, are usually worked out while in their temporary home.  This makes sense…they are living with other animals, learning to follow a routine and are handled by many at adoption events.

Sharon Espinola, the president of St. Francis Society Animal Rescue has been involved with rescue for years.  She says that she has been with St. Francis so long that she can not remember how she learned about it originally. 

How does St. Francis differ from other rescue organizations?  According to Sharon, her group is the only rescue group in the area that cares for and adopts out dogs AND cats.  Sharon says “We’ve been around a long time, since 1997, and we were the first organization that focused on no-kill, as the history goes.”  In fact St. Francis found permanent homes for 904 cats and dogs in 2009 and early 2010!

A few important facts:

• Today, all foster groups in our area focus on no-kill
• Foster dogs come from shelters, owner surrenders and are often found abandoned on the side of the road
• Most groups work together to network dogs and find a good permanent fit
• Area veterinarians provide discounted rates to foster groups oftentimes
• Foster rescue organizations are run 100% by volunteers
• These groups are funded by donations and private grants

Dogma Rescue is a newer rescue organization founded by three young women who had been involved with other groups in the past.  They decided to take everything they learned, put their own twist on it and see what happened.

Currently, 30 dogs are in foster care and Dogma has had great success adopting out their dogs on a weekly basis. 

Amy Howland, one of the rescue’s founders, explains Dogma as an all-breed, all-shape and all-size dog rescue.  They do not discriminate.  She says that she and co-founders Melissa Weitzenfeld and Ann-Marie Pearson never really made a conscious decision to become foster parents to dogs in need but all had a life-long knack of finding and caring for strays.  This eventually led to each woman getting involved with a reputable foster organization, learning the ropes and starting their own.

Amy has a message for anyone considering fostering: “The thing we hear people say most is that they are afraid to foster because they would keep the dog.  But when you see a dog go to not just a “good” home, but an AMAZING home, where you know that dog is going to be the Center of the Household Universe, you really can do it!  The family is forever grateful to us for their dog and we are forever grateful to them for opening up their hearts and home to a rescue dog.”

When you speak to either Sharon from St. Francis, Amy from Dogma or the men and women from any other rescue organization, the heart warming stories abound.  At the same time, their needs are great.  EVERY rescue group needs foster parents; EVERY group needs funds to operate.

To get involved with either of these wonderful organizations, whether as a volunteer, foster parent or to financially support, please see their contact information below:

St. Francis Society Animal Rescue

PO Box 261614

Tampa, FL 33685-1614

813-830-7251

www.luvamutt.org

Dogma Rescue

533 S. Howard Ave, Ste 8

PMB 42

Tampa, FL 33606

www.dogmarescue.org

info@dogmarescue.org

I’d like to leave you with this sentiment:

“I’ve been involved with the organization eight plus years….I love the work.  It’s the eyes of the dogs and cats we care for…that’s what gets me and has kept me involved.  When I stare into the eyes of a homeless dog or cat I see something that is hard to put into words, but I’ve often said it’s in those eyes that I see hope.  There are no judgments, only the desire to be loved,”  Sharon Espinola, St. Francis Society Animal Rescue.

Won’t you consider fostering?

Facebook Gives Dog a New Leash on Life

Those of us on Facebook, Twitter or any of the other popular social networking sites have most likely caught up with old friends, established new business connections, snuck a peek at pictures of an old fl ame or have even avoided a friend request from someone we just didn’t know…or let’s be honest knew all too well!  But we are also very aware of the power of the repost and how fast a story can circulate. Hence the story of Chunk, a little brown and white Boston Terrier who captured my heart in less than 24 hours.  I first learned about Chunk via an email from St. Francis Society Animal Rescue in late October. Chunk’s bio was emailed along with a few other dogs who had limited time left at Polk County Animal Services. I scrolled down the list of dogs and promptly hit forward and typed in all of my “dog” friends and customers who I knew would forward the email along. Typically, someone in the litany of forwarded emails is touched by a dog’s plight and volunteers to be a foster parent or guardian angel. So, I was hopeful.  The first week of November, I received another SOS on Chunk. This time he was the only dog in the email.  For some reason, this little guy had not had anyone come to his rescue. His days were numbered. After an hour or so of attempting to send another group email blast, Yahoo decided to halt all sent email from my account. They thought I was sending Spam!! What to do?  O.k. I thought, I am posting this guy on both of my Facebook accounts and Twitter and let’s see what happens. I typed in his bio, attached his picture and hit Share. Amazingly, in less than 3 hours, one of my long time friends, who now lives in Orlando, replied to my Facebook post offering a glimmer of hope. She said the owners of Pookies Bow Wow Bakery in Orlando were looking for another Boston to add to their pack.  She would get back to me the next day.

Oh, the time crept by… the next morning couldn’t arrive fast enough. I couldn’t sleep, continued to check my Blackberry to see if a Facebook message had come through…had somehow snuck up in the last 30 seconds…but time and again nothing. Finally, the next morning at 8am the message from my friend said Yes, they are very interested in Chunk.  Here is their number. YES! This was the first step he needed.  Next was to organize the logistics, Chunk had to be “sprung” from Polk County Animal Services, brought to the vet in Tampa, then if he checked out o.k. he would be off to Orlando to meet his new foster parents. A lot to do in a couple of days. I had come this far, so I decided I would see this rescue to the end.  On November 9, I drove to Polk County Animal Services to pick up this little guy. I found Chunk in the quarantine ward as he had been pulled out of an animal hoarder’s home (he was there with 67 other animals!!!)  He had Demodex, which is a treatable skin condition and was receiving the most minimal vet care.  When I approached his cage, he was immediately at the gate licking my fi ngers and looking at me with hopeful eyes. Is she here for me? Really me? After about 30 minutes of paperwork and speaking with Animal Services officials, I walked Chunk out of his concrete jungle and to my car.  As soon as I opened the car door he was ready to launch his compact 20lb body right in. His crate was set up with comfy blankets and a furry toy which he immediately began to love, shake and paw. As I started the car, he was nuzzling his bedding and getting comfortable for the ride.  As we headed West on I-4 with the windows rolled down, I couldn’t help but stare at him through my rearview mirror. What he was thinking as the wind whipped across his face and he watched the scenery fl y by. Did he know this was his chance? His second chance at life?  We pulled in to Bayshore Animal Clinic that afternoon and I left him there for a few hours. After a great report he came to my home for a night of playing, walking, eating, snacking and overall good snuggling. A bath was certainly on the agenda. He was a joy to have around.  Chunk loved our yard and the walks around the neighborhood, but he most loved hanging out in his bed gnawing on a turkey patty.

The next morning we hopped back on I-4 and headed  east to Orlando. This time, Chunk was snoozing in the back seat…I mean really sleeping, head thrown back, mouth open and peeking at me with bleary eyes every once in awhile. A lump was building in my throat the entire drive. How did this little dog, skin infection and all, touch my heart so quickly? I wished for more miles between Davis Islands and Winter Gardens.  We made it to our destination, the West Orange Veterinary Hospital where Chunk met his new moms, Melissa and Marcia. It was love at fi rst site. After a quick once over by Doctor Fink, she asked Melissa and Marcia if they were in fact going to move forward and foster Chunk….Marcia quickly said, I think we are keeping him.  It was time to say goodbye and I cried like a baby all over Chunk’s head. Melissa and Marcia couldn’t have been any happier and Chunk, the little boy who had been in a 5’x5’ cage at a shelter for three weeks, looked right at home. A simple post on Facebook brought him from Pasco County, to Tampa, then to Orlando…his fi nal destination. I received my fi rst Chunk report on November 14 and learned that Chunk has a new lab mix girlfriend, loves his new raw food diet and most importantly has been accepted by the family matriarch, the house cat! Success!

Pilots N Paws

Altruism is defined as an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others. In this economy I am certain that we have seen altruistic behavior at its best. Neighbors helping neighbors and people stepping up to make life just a bit easier for others in need.

The story I am about to tell you takes Animal Rescue to another level…like 10,000 feet to be exact! Consider this, pilots donating their time, planes, gas and miles to transport animals in jeopardy to a safe house in another city or state. Sound unlikely? Meet Pilots N Paws.

This amazing effort, started by Debi Boies and her partner Jon Wehrenberg, began in February 2008…just a little over one year ago. Since then, over 1,000 animals have been air lifted out of precarious situations and flown to a forever home, foster home or non kill shelter. The website, www.pilotsnpaws.org, provides an online meeting space for pilots to connect with animal rescue volunteers and help to transport animals by air.

Debi, cofounder of Pilots N Paws (a 501c3), is extremely low key. You will not find her story or her name on the Pilots N Paws website. And that’s how she likes it. During our interview, she made it clear, that it is not about her or what she does, but about the animals whose lives are saved on a daily basis.

Debi founded Pilots N Paws after her adoption experience with Doberman Pinscher, Brock. Brock was in a Tallahassee shelter and had been used as a “bait” dog in the past. Debi (who lives in South Carolina) and her husband Bob were preparing to drive to Tallahassee to pull Brock out of his situation. This is where cofounder Jon comes in. Jon, a family friend, is an avid pilot living in Tennessee. He volunteered to fly to South Carolina, pick up Debi and Bob, and then fly to Brock in Tallahassee. He did and the rescue happened in just a couple of hours rather than in a couple of days! Thus, Pilots N Paws was born.

As you can imagine, the heart warming stories abound and I was fortunate enough to speak with two pilots in between flights. It is clear that they love what they do and have a deep passion for saving animals in their own special way.

Jeff Bennett, a pilot out of Big Pine Key, has rescued 81 animals since October of 2008. He doesn’t limit his rescue missions to dogs and cats however. Jeff’s count includes pythons, pigs and even a baby chick! Jeff says that the best part of his job is saving lives. His fondest memories are of animals that were on death’s door, next in line for euthanasia, and through his efforts are now protected.

His farthest flight involved many legs…literally. From the Keys to Lakeland, Lakeland to Bambridge, GA, from Georgia to Alabama…and in Alabama he rescued 19 puppies. Seventeen of the puppies were flown to a rescue group in Tampa and two returned to the Keys.

I asked Jeff if he receives feedback from adoptive families, shelters or rescue groups. He said occasionally… like the shepherd mix that he flew from Islamorada, FL to Philly. His owner contacted Jeff to let him know that the rescued dog was thriving. But, for Jeff, the stories are written in his heart and in the memory book he has made which contains each and every rescued animal’s picture and story.

Nancy Moore, a pilot out of Ft. Lauderdale, sums up her experience in these words, “Ellen Herr and I became involved with Pilots N Paws about 5 months ago. I think, as I believe most pilots do, that we are very lucky to be able to do what we love to do – fly. Being part of Pilots N Paws allows us to combine two passions – our love for flying and our love for animals. Especially in these hard economic times, when more animals are being abandoned or given up because of their owners’ inability to care for them, it is very gratifying to be able to use our flying to assist them in finding new homes. “

If you are a pilot and would like to get involved like Jeff and Nancy and many others have, please visit the website http://www.pilotsnpaws.org/. There is especially a need for pilots in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the country. Your flights are tax-deductible and quite possibly might be the most rewarding flights you will ever make.