For those of you out there
that are familiar with dog rescue, in the current age of technological wonders, and social media, you have all seen the energy that comes
about when saving these dogs who are at risk, and on their last hours
of life, if no kind souls step up for them and save them from
euthanasia. This is truly a wonderful time, as it is resulting in
more lives of these innocents saved than ever before. That is truly
beautiful, and very praise worthy. But, what happens after a good
number of these dogs are saved? Some of them have solid foster and
adoptive commitments, and they go right into loving homes. They get
to live the life and have the second chance they deserve. Happy.
Cared for. Loved. What about the others? The poor souls left behind
when foster and adoptive commitments fail, and the whirlwind of
frantic social media activity has long since passed them by, and
moved on to the next deserving beneficiary in need of a group of kind
souls, working tirelessly to save them from the clenches of certain
doom? The answer to that is simple. These dogs end up in boarding,
sometimes for a short term, sometimes for extended months, sometimes
for even years.
Why boarding; do we WANT to
put them there? Again, there is a simple answer to a very complex
situation. No, we do not. We put them there because when fosters and
adoptive families can no longer keep their commitment to these
wonderful creatures, we have no alternative BUT boarding. We do this
to keep them from returning to the place we worked so tirelessly to
save them from, and therefore, again, putting them back at risk of
being put down. There is no simple solution to their plight, and
conditions that are less than ideal are better than the alternative,
so we simply do what we have to do to ensure their safety. The goal
is always to have them there for a week, maybe two, while a foster or
adoptive family is found. We fail these sweet babies when those few
weeks turn into months and years. We fail these sweet babies when we
allow them to become forgotten. We can not allow this to happen any
more. We can not continue to fail these lives that we worked so hard
to save.
To the dogs, after we
rescue them, if they end up in boarding instead of a home, their life
continues to be the same. They are still sitting in a cage, waiting
for human contact and affection. They have no concept of the fact
that their lives almost ended. Only we know that. To them, life just
continued, the same that it was yesterday, and the same as it may
continue to be tomorrow if no one comes for them and takes them home.
They wait for us to come through with our promises of a better life.
They wait to go home, to a family that loves and cherishes them. They
simply wait. We can do better. We have to. We owe it to them.
So, what can we do? To
rescuers; continue to check up on the dogs you helped to save. Make
sure that the home they had waiting for them came through with the
commitment. If it was a foster home, and they haven't, continue to
share them and tell their stories until another one is found. If they
are in foster, share their stories until they find an adoptive home.
Don't see the word "safe" on their listing, and then forget
them. Follow through, and check up to make sure they truly are saved,
and not just out of danger of dying.
To kind hearted people who
just want to help; Open your hearts and homes to one of these
misplaced pets. Be it through foster or adoption, if you are in a
position to give one of them a place to stay, please do. For however
long you are able. Even short term commitments can make a huge difference.
If you can't foster or
adopt; Please donate to the costs of their continued care, until
someone finds them who can bring them home. Sometimes, as little as
$5 really does mean the difference between life and death for those
who have nowhere left to go. If the rescue can't afford to pay their
boarding bills, these dogs really do run the risk of ending up at
high-kill shelters again. Every little bit adds up quickly, it
doesn't have to be a lot to make a difference.
What about if you can't
foster, adopt, or donate? Volunteer. Go to the shelters and kennels
where these dogs are waiting. Throw a ball for them, play tug with a
rope toy, take them for a walk, or simply sit with them and give them
a scratch behind the ear. Let them hear the words "good dog"
from the lips of a person who cares. Let them feel love and
affection. 30 minutes once or twice a week is hardly enough to stress
the schedules of most people, but it means the absolute world to the
dog in need of attention. Just that little bit of time has such a huge impact on their
lives and well being, while they wait for someone to bring them home.
It truly makes a difference. I understand, it is hard to leave them.
It is hard to walk away, and know they are still there. To hear their
cries of wanting to "go with". It is hard. But, ask
yourself, is it worse for you to hear them wanting to go with you, to go home, than it would have been for them had you never come, leaving them to
sit alone while they wait?
If you aren't in a position
to volunteer to care for and spend time with them, share their
stories to help them find their family who is out there searching for them, too.
Everyone who sees them puts them one step closer to going home.
Something as simple as just sharing their stories can have such a
tremendous impact, and is truly so simple to do.
Just do something to help
them. They need us until they find their families. They need us until
they get to go home. They just, simply, need us. Please do something,
whatever it is that you can do, to help them. Don't just turn a blind
eye and walk away. Don't just forget them, and let them continue to
wait alone.
For rescuers; we have
created a Facebook page and a Blog spot as a place to post the ones
who have been left behind after rescue, and are currently waiting
long term in kennels for a foster or adoptive family. Please utilize
this page and blog to continue spreading the word about the ones in need,
after they are technically "safe". You can find them here:
To donate; The rescue I work
with most frequently has several of these poor, forgotten souls
waiting in boarding, and a substantial boarding bill that has been
acquired because of their long term care while waiting. Many have
been there for 6 months to a year. All of them just want to go home. If this bill is not paid, these dogs will be returned to kill shelters, and their lives may end up lost, after all. To make a donation to keep them safe until we can get them home,
please donate here:
To volunteer, contact your local animal shelters and see what they are in need of regarding volunteer activity. The rescue I work with most frequently would gladly accept volunteer help, if you are convenient to the area of Chicago, IL, that is where our long term boarders are located. There are also other dogs, from other rescues who have been in boarding a year or more, as well. I am sure they would love a visit from a kind soul as much as "our dogs" would. Even 30 minutes a week of attention from a kind, and caring person makes all the difference. Please send an e-mail to recycled.pits@gmail.com and ask about what you would need to do to volunteer to keep the pups company while they wait for their forever homes.
To share their stories;
Simply press the share button on the Facebook posts as you come
across them. It really can be just that simple.
Thank you for reading,
Jamie Lynn
