Here’s my question of the day. It’s something I think about a LOT.
When a rescue expands to the point where the salaries of the principals of the rescue can no longer support it, and it is to some degree (or entirely) dependent upon donations/volunteers, is that irresponsible/short-sighted in of itself? I tend to think it is.
Let’s face it: You can’t MAKE people give money. Charitable donations vary greatly depending on many factors: the economy, your rescue’s reputation, changes in tax law, etc. Donations of labor/volunteering depend on the same factors. When the economy is poor, a part-time job becomes more appealing than volunteering.
Now obviously we all know of organizations that have well-developed fundraising departments and really have it down to a science, where the ups and downs of giving are never in danger of totally shutting down operations. I.E. HSUS. But in between the small, privately financed rescue, and the huge, national organization,there seem to be a lot of rescues a little too big for the principals to support, teetering on the brink of disaster and constantly begging for money. I’m sure they think they can build things into the next HSUS…but just like new, small businesses, most of them crash and burn. Unlike Suzy’s Coffee Shop and Tattoo Parlor, though, personal bankruptcy doesn’t solve everything when a rescue fails. Instead we are left with, typically, dozens or hundreds of animals on whom vet care, nutrition, etc. has been neglected – a massive mess for someone else to clean up.
I have nine right now – two personal horses that just got old and are retired, one baby coming up to be a show horse, one senior aged mare who is supposed to be my riding horse but has had hoof issues all summer, and five old retirees with various degrees of disability. One is a gelding with mild arthritis out on lease to a good home with a 4-H’er that I pray, pray, pray does not get given back. One I placed where it turned out her special needs were a bit too much for them to keep up with, so she’s back. I work hard to come up with the cash on a monthy basis, and I’ve decided you kind of have to assume everything you ever place is still yours, because they can and do boomerang. Right now, my horse care expenses are the biggest expense I have on a yearly basis. If I had kids or a mortgage, I couldn’t do it. That’s why when I see anyone with 50 horses – whether it’s a rescue or a breeder, I start mentally calculating 50 x $35 hoof trim 6 times a year, 50 x $10 dewormer 6 times a year, 50 x 2.50 of hay per day x 365 or at least 200 with good pasture…and I say “how are they affording that?” And in many cases, the answer is, they’re not. They’re not keeping up. They have too many. Look at our most recent “rescue” – 35 horses? They’re coming up with $7,350 in hoof care yearly? No, they’re not. They’re just not doing it. I don’t ever want to be that person and that realization helps me go to the sale and walk away from all of the horses who need help, and say no to the begging e-mails I get on a daily basis.
So I’m interested in input from everybody…how does a rescue expand responsibly? Those of you who’ve done it successfully, how did you do it without ever endangering the animals’ care? What are your tips for other rescues and would-be rescuers? Like I say, my main tip is: Everything you rescue is YOURS. They CAN and WILL boomerang. Don’t ever assume it’s placed and you don’t have to budget for it. (They’re kind of like adult children, except those you can ethically boot back out the door!)
Our happy note of the day: As I’ve said, I loooove great before and after pictures.
This is a 27 year old Thoroughbred mare. The first pic is in February 2007 – the second pic just seven months later. HOORAY for Steve and Tracy for this fabulous rehab job. The mare needed no special care and had no health issues…she just needed food. More proof that old does not inevitably equal skinny!
This is so cool. What a gorgeous, gorgeous mare! No one would guess her for 27. Look at her topline. This is a heck of a nice mare, and I’m so VERY glad she met the right people last winter.
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Our happy note of the day: As I’ve said, I loooove great before and after pictures. 
Thank you FHOTD
The 27 year old mare lives with me, and I am a foster for Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. As a rescue specializing (but not limited to) off-track horses, they budget for their horses. When one leaves, they then consider another. They have a target (the at-risk ottb/stb) and they do their best to stay focused. The mare pictured “Angel”, is a tattoed TB and was in a risky situation so she was taken in by FFI without hesitation. I must give credit to the woman who actually took her out of that situation in the first picture. She was a first time horse owner and bought her like that, fed her hay and gave her pasture (and that’s it, no vet, no farrier, no worming) and then called FFI for help. We picked her up in fair condition after being with that woman for 4 months where she made an amazing enough rebound (considering). She blossomed here with some routine care, but all that poor mare needed was some food to get turned around.
I once spoke to a rescue owner who said “I’ll take any horse in any condition. The more horses I have, the more my benefactors will see that there is a need”. That was some backwards thinking.
I am a first time owner and I adopted (for free) a horse and he was in as bad shape as that pretty girl and covered in rainrot. The rescue got his worming started, feet, teeth done, and a nasty abscess taken care of. January is the fourth month since his being surrendered to animal control and he looks great…he is 24 yrs old ex-racer.
The rescue has given me lots of advice and support for any question that I have no matter how simple.
Triage. Often people seek out animals that need the most help. Sometimes its genuine caring, but can get mixed in with wanting to be a hero, which can be selfish. But when resources are scarce, might it be better to spend it on horses that have the least problems, and the best chance for sucessful rehoming? I am more apt to support rescues that are realistic enough to euthanize the hopeless cases, or very difficult cases if they can’t do them justice.
I haven’t read all the comments, and this is only my second time posting….but if I might suggest a source of “help”…growing up I went to an agricultural highschool in the NE. the students were out of school for the summer in APRIL if they had a “job” that pertained to thier major 99% of the “Horse/Barn Management” kids (including myself) got “jobs” (I use the this term loosly because it was actually a working student program) we worked at the barn/stable/training facility/etc in exchange for riding lessons. (and classroom credit)
The facilities would contact the school and offer placement for the students.
I must say though I don’t recall ANY rescues coming to the school looking for working students! I realize most rescues might not be able to offer riding lessons in exchange for work, but I am sure experience working with dis-advantaged horses would be vaulable.
citydog, you’re the exact reason I don’t deal with the humane society anymore.
Remember, there are other questions on that questionnaire.
How long have you owned your current pets? –> One cat, 14 years, one dog, 12 years. 3 horses 3 years. Those are the only pets I have EVER owned.
Have you adopted from a shelter before? –> Yes, the cat. Lived with us for 14 years and finally lost him to arthritis and a cataracts. He lived a pretty active life.
What are your plans for training the dog? –> basic socialization at school XXXX with follow-up class at 1 year.
What is your activity level? –> we are avid runners and cross-country skiiers. We would love to have a dog to bring with us on daily runs.
So yes, I’m sure you could have found a home that would have kept the dog inside. Bear in mind that it was a coyote/husky cross that needed a whole whack of obedience training, but that was a nice friendly sort otherwise. This is a no-kill shelter with over 100 dogs on the property. They can afford to turn down good owners, I guess.
In my life, small dogs live in the house, short-haired dogs live in the house…but big, furry dogs live outside, in sight of the kitchen window, and get lots of attention.
Christ, “outside” doesn’t mean chained, alone in the yard.
I knew that if I posted my little adoption adventure someone like you would rabidly affirm that I was an awful pet owner.
Have fun with the 100 dogs. You know, the guy who does the dog-fighting down the road keeps his dog inside…
Great subject. My two cents:
Websites for a rescue are, first of all, really important. The ones that make use of youtube clips of various horses are smart, because video is going to make a bigger impact than photographs.
And I’ll never understand rescues that have a “donate” button that leads you to a page that doesn’t offer a way to make a monthly pledge. I bet many people willing to donate $20 are also willing to donate $20/month. 100 people at $240 a year .. well, you get the picture. But if the option isn’t easy, most won’t pursue it.
Speaking of great websites and a great sort-of-rescue/sanctuary, if you don’t know this one, you should check it out – and this sanctuary cares for approximately 80 blind or disabled horses, dogs and cats, has one paid employee, volunteers more during good weather than winter, and a husband and wife, and the animals seem to get great care:
http://www.rollingdogranch.org
I’m a monthly contributor myself and have received both emails and mail thanking me. Steve and Alayne did it right, have it down, enjoy a great reputation, and will be able to help more and more animals in the future.
In my opinion. You should be stable in your work and in your home in order to start your own rescue.
You should have money in the bank, upwards of 50k. You should own your own land. I’m not talking about just 10 or 20 acres here. I’m talking about the required 5 acres per horse. Some states require more than that. You should also own your own home. You should have a safe, clean barn with enough stalls to be able to house these rescue horses properly. Have safe durable fencing, clearly marked to prevent any injury. Clean fields, that you seed every spring to help it maintain its quality. To have at least a minimum of one household member making upwards of 150k per yer. In some parts of the country I would say even a minimum of 200k per year. You should be able to maintain on your own with your own money and resources.
I do NOT agree with figuring in others to “donate” trims, shavings, vet and the like. You should be able to do this on your own, with your immediate family. If you have to hire help, then don’t ask others for donations. Be able pay for it all yourself. Don’t rely on others charity.
If this is truely what you want to do. I believe if you start to depend on donations, and trims, etc you may start getting horses you cannot afford to rehab. You might begin to count on the help or donations. You never know when the help will stop or the donations will stop coming in. You should be able to do it yourself, otherwise I believe the horses may suffer.
If you do get donations. Those should be put in a seperate account for emergency vet issues only.
JMHO – Stacey
The rescue close to me seems like getting some state (or county) funding. At least they were looking at much bigger land to buy close by to expand operation. I know for sure they do presentation “How to start and run rescue” on Horse Expo, but I never had a chance to go and listen myself.
BTW, great job with that tb mare! It’s so relaxing that with all these BYB (and other ***) there are always people who will go ahead and save horse, or cat, or dog!
I have a few other suggestions, based upon observation of the one rescue in my state.
First, transparency is a good thing.
If you are shilling for donations regularly, show that the money you have already taken in, has been put to good use.
Second, new blood can be useful. Don’t categorically deny help from go getters who would like to help-simply because the board is 1)afraid of change, 2) afraid of losing control, 3)cares more about reputation than results.
Third, open meetings. If you are asking the local community for help routinely, operating in secrecy “behind closed doors” is not a good image. Besides, someone attending could provide invaluable input or help.
Fourth, hire outside help. If the organization is so small that talented people aren’t allowed in (see above) then by all means get professional assistance with fund raising, grant writing, etc. Much of this can be done on a percentage basis, payable only on results.
Fifth, rotate your board members. Too many years in one position makes for burn out, and in some cases, complacency and inaction.
The reasons that I listed above, are the primary reason the one state wide rescue group remains woefully unprepared and underfunded and staffed.
If you are going to run the thing as your own personal thing (even if you have 7 board members)-then fine, don’t ask for tax deductible donations and plead for help in emergencies.
People cannot help this group because their meetings are closed and not advertised. They are too afraid of losing control to allow anyone else in. They do very little in the way of real community interaction except for one fund raiser a year-also a dismal failure IMO. New ideas are slapped down as quickly as possible (control issues, mostly) and so they suffer on, year after year-handicapped by their own policies and agendas.
Here is an example of someone who had the intention of doing something good (in this case, dog rescue) but quickly got in over her head because she wasn’t prepared, then didn’t know what to do and let it really escalate. A big WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINK?! goes out to her, especially in regards to the breeding part of it.
Officers Raid Operation
Also, in my previous comment, I didn’t say what I ultimately wanted – that a rescue org should most definitely NOT depend on donations. It doesn’t work like a credit card. Any donations that you do get should be regarded as a gift – because that’s what it is.
Not sure if this has been mentioned (probably has)… but have an emergency fund. Money that you don’t touch unless you absolutely need to – like when a horse has an accident in the paddock or there’s a plague of locusts or something.
Heck, I’m starting my own emergency fund, just in case my idiot roommate leaves the stove on and burns our apartment down.
It seems like we get more and more horror stories like this… *sigh*
Authorities Liken House To Dog Concentration Camp
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news
/14528243/detail.html
CENTERVILLE, Pa. — Police and humane officers raided a home in Centerville, Washington County, and said they found dozens of dead dogs on Tuesday evening.
Animal control officers said they found dogs in the house, outside in cages and even in a nearby incinerator.
They said the total number was 60 living dogs and 24 dead, but none of the living dogs had food or water.
Click here to find out more!
One officer described the home as a concentration camp for dogs.
“In the basement, there were approximately 38 dogs alive, we don’t have an exact count. And at least five dead dogs in the basement,” said Vickie Schmalzride, a humane officer.
Another officer said the look in the living dogs’ eyes seemed to be a plea to be rescued.
“It was a pretty bad situation. There was feces everywhere, too many animals in pens, and no water available. There was only one pen outside that had food available,” said humane officer Lorie Schooley.
The owner of the house, Lore Massey, voluntarily gave up the dogs to the humane society, where, if healthy, they’ll be put up for adoption.
Officers said Massey’s operation tried to rescue unwanted dogs, and breed others, but she got in way over her head and couldn’t care for them all.
They said this is the second time the owner of the illegal breeding operation has been cited. However, they were found not guilty in 2006.
They said the considering all the dead dogs, the outcome this year is likely to be different.
Oops Leah! I posted the text to her link!!!
Wanted to post this where everyone could see it. Those PMU/Amish Belgian/Haflinger foals/yearlings who were involved in the overturned double-decker accident are up fr adoption, according to Thehorse.com.
Excerpt from article:
The surviving 42 horses–which include Belgians, Percherons, and Haflinger/pony crosses–have been in the care of a Wadsworth, Ill. horse farm owner. Now, however, they might be moving to new, permanent homes.
According to insurance adjuster Mike Stack of Great West Insurance Co., which took possession of the horses from their Minnesota-based owner, the horses will be made available for adoption. The Barrington, Ill.-based Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society will serve as adoption agent for the insurance company.
Society President Donna Ewing said prospective owners must apply to adopt the horses, have previous horse experience, identify a veterinarian to provide care, and prove that they have access to stabling facilities. Approved owners will pay the insurance company between $50 and $100 per horse.
“We’ve already had more than 100 applications from people to adopt these horses,” Ewing said. “But priority will go to the volunteers who helped these horses at the accident scene.”
The prospective adoption of the Wadsworth horses highlights the need for quality homes for other rescue horses, said Barb Boublelik-Chmielewski, executive director of Lazy Maple Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Leland, Ill.
“There are thousands of horses in need of adoption,” she said, “All people need to do is do an internet search and find a reputable rescue organization.”
As in the case of the Wadsworth horses, Boublelik-Chmielewski said legitimate rescue organizations will require that prospective owners apply for adoptions and will follow up on horse care and condition after the adoption has taken place.
Here’s my dilemma…
What can you do if you know of someone who has opened up their own rescue and it’s a complete scam? Most of the animals at their “rescue” are ones they own (hoarders/collectors) but tell people they have rescued them. They solicit donations for everything under the sun and claim that all proceeds go to the rescue but it’s not true. It’s a husband and wife team and the wife is a convicted felon who has changed her name. They have a spiffy website, decent home, brand new barn, etc. If I didn’t know their background, I would think this place was great. Their website indicates that all donations are tax deductible, but when asked if they are a 501(c)3, you get no response. There is no board of directors, no mission statement, nothing. She also states that she has “worked under 4 vets” and that she has been in rescue for the last 15 years. NOT TRUE! She’s only been “collecting” for the last 4 or 5 years, HAS NO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, and the last job she had was selling hot dogs out of a dump on the bad side of town. THe website indicates that she spent several weeks in New Orleans after Katrina and that she has “assisted in critical care surgeries both in the operating room and in the field”. It makes her sound like she’s got vet experience and she’s not even high school educated!!!!! When I met her a few years ago, she didn’t know the front end of the horse from the back end. Now she has roughly 25 horses (almost all of them hers). THey owe every vet and farrier in the area big $$ but just jump to the next one down the line when they’ve burned a bridge. A lot of people think they are just wonderful when they first meet them and donate $$. I just don’t want them scamming people anymore and don’t know what I can do, if anything. They have friends in the county sheriff’s office and with the local humane society so those avenues are useless. The animals they have now are taken care of, but I could tell you stories of what I’ve seen them do in the past that would make you vomit. Do I just hope and pray that God and/or Karma will catch up with them???
Yes, sarcastabitch, of *course* you’re special.
There are always going to be animals and situations that warrant an unconventional approach, but statistically, “outdoor dog” usually does indeed mean chained outside and ignored.
While we certainly do try to get a full picture of the situation (as much as that doesn’t seem to fit with your smug little assumptions), and are actually extremely flexible, there has to be a damned good case for placing an animal in a situation that we’ve seen time and time again to be bad news.
It’s sort of like the “green horse + green rider = black and blue” thing. Does it sometimes work out well? Sure. Is it *generally* a good plan? Hell no.
Yes, sarcastabitch, of *course* you’re special.
I didn’t say I was special, bitch, in fact, quite the opposite.
Many dogs live outside their entire lives. It is idiot city people (like “citydog”) who make up really stupid rules that we should keep our freakin’ farm dogs inside. My partner’s St. Bernards HATE being inside, they LOVE their outdoor yard, big insulated dog houses and room to play. No, they are not free to run across the countryside. They do not “get out”. Not ONCE.
I’m not in the least special, and my assumptions, smug though they be, have a lot to do with the fact that every humane society I have dealt with is the exact same.
And yes citydog, you have “touched a nerve”.
I love my pets, all of them. I do what is best for them…from moving to going without good food to…you name it, I’ve sacrificed it at one time for my pets.
IT is “smug” little SPCA members like you that drive me up the wall. You think that by answering five or six questions you know what kind of environment the pet is going into? You don’t. I know that I am a good dog/cat/horse owner. I just think it’s sad that the Humane Society won’t adopt to me (or accept my volunteer services). I will buy my dog from a breeder. Way to help the pet population SPCA.
Check out founder’s syndrome. We are not talking horses feet.
Very many of the rescues i am aquainted with suffer from this malady.
What the hell do you mean she needs more fibre in her diet?!
TB before and after thing:
In the second picture, the horse has a sock (back leg closest to picture taker). In the first, it didn’t. (you can see the hoof, but no sock above it!) Maybe it is just the snow, but I would have to way it is two different horses.
Meghan: I think its just mud, etc. Her legs look pretty filthy but that hoof is pale like the one in the lower pic.
It’s the same topline, too. That’s the one good thing when a horse becomes that emaciated. You can really pick out the ones with good structure and not get fooled by pretty, glossy coats.
Lynne, thanks for posting that great news!
Nice to hear they will have a second chance.
A little piece of good news and bit of hope is needed today! (:
Megan,
Honestly check out the friendsofferdinand.org and see all the pictures of Angel/Cookie…it is absolutely the same mare!
It is hard to freakin’ believe but so so true. She also did nicely for her first ride not long ago…somewhere we have pics of her under saddle….Tracey???? Sarah???
cuttergal, post a link to the website. Report them to the IRS. If they are claiming to be a 501c3, the IRS would probably like to know about it.
Froth – here is the link to their website. If you contact them in any way, please do not indicate where you got this information. She is dangerous. She is a convicted felon (Assault with a Deadly Weapon in 1998) (interestingly enough, the same date she says they started their rescue, which is also a lie!!)and her husband is a nut case.
Settler’s Pond Hooved Animal Shelter – http://www.settlerspondshelter.net.
Holy shit, I just read the crap about keeping dogs outside. What a steaming load. My best friends have FIVE Great Danes, a Mastiff, a Boxer and a Jack Russell. They live outside with access to shelter, food, water and are allowed to come in in extreme weather. The dogs are all very well socialized, loved and cared for. There is no freaking way you could keep those huge dogs inside 24/7 not to mention it wouldn’t be healthy for them. Very large dogs should be kept outside where they can run and play.
I’m shocked that anyone would think all outside dogs are abused/neglected or that ALL dogs should be inside dogs. What a short-sighted, ridiculous view. *slapping forehead*
Cuttergal, All I did was look them up on the IRS’s website. They aren’t listed as a charitable organization with them. They are required, upon request, to show their letter from the IRS granting them tax exempt status.
Horsepoor wrote: Holy shit, I just read the crap about keeping dogs outside. What a steaming load. My best friends have FIVE Great Danes, a Mastiff, a Boxer and a Jack Russell. They live outside with access to shelter, food, water and are allowed to come in in extreme weather. The dogs are all very well socialized, loved and cared for. There is no freaking way you could keep those huge dogs inside 24/7 not to mention it wouldn’t be healthy for them. Very large dogs should be kept outside where they can run and play.
I’m shocked that anyone would think all outside dogs are abused/neglected or that ALL dogs should be inside dogs. What a short-sighted, ridiculous view. *slapping forehead*
Horsepoor, as someone who did a lot of dog rescue (and still does a little), a lot of what I do in placing dogs is playing the percentages. I spend 4-8 hours getting to know each adoptor and their situation. That’s a lot more time than most rescues or shelters can do.
But do you think I really know those people even after 8 hours? Consider that medium sized dogs often live 16+ years, that’s actually longer than half the marriages made in this country. I can’t think of anyone I have ever met who would think it was a good idea to marry someone they’d only known for 8 hours. And yet people often spend a lot less time than that picking out a dog.
So, I play the odds and I stack the deck in the dog’s favour. Outside dogs are far less likely to be adequately socialized, they are less likely to be trained. they are far less likely to get medical treatment beyond the legally mandated minimums and they have a shorter lifespan than dogs that are indoor dogs.
Sure, there are exceptions that run either way. There are inside homes who are horrible dog owners and outside homes who are sterling dog owners. But I don’t have the time or resources to do extensive checking to figure out which is which. I get references from each applicant, I have them sign a release of information drawn up by a lawyer and I talk to their vet.
But even after talking to these people for 8 hours, after talking to their references and their vet, I really don’t know them.
Your friends with the 8 outdoor dogs–are all their dogs aequately socialized? Do they walk on a loose lead, do they sit, down, stay, come when called, retrieve and do a drop on recall? Do those dogs have obedience titles? If one of the Great Danes is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, will these people treat it or just euthanize it? If one of the larger dogs bloats, will they even notice in time to save the dog’s life? The window for saving a dog with bloat is about 2-4 hours. If a dog bloats in the middle of the night, an indoor dog is far more likely to be discovered in distress than an outdoor dog.
I’ve never placed a dog that couldn’t earn a CGC or a CD. Probably not with the best scores because I don’t have time to put on the polish needed for top scores but they could do it with the equivalent of a good, solid 180-185.
How do I know? Several of my adoptors have done just that, taken the dog I trained and titled it (some insurance companies offer modest homeowner’s rebates for owners with obedience titled dogs).
My time and my energy are limited, as are my resources. I don’t have enough of any of the foregoing to extensively investigate every single person who wants to adopt a dog from me.
So, if someone tells me right off the bat that they are looking for an outside dog, I politely tell them that I don’t have a dog that is right for them.
I just did an interview today with a lady that has eight rescued greyhounds, all living inside. The dogs are all well fed and well behaved and they think everyone who enters the house came to pet them. It would have been handy to be an octopus. I still have trouble believing that she can have that many big dogs in the house and still manage to keep order.
She also runs a dog grooming business, sells pet supplies and designs and makes coats for dogs, the subject of the news article I should be writing at this minute, instead of messing around here.
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k38/KayFellows/?action=view¤t=PC189241.jpg
Not a great picture but she didn’t want to stand still so it was the best I could do quickly.
She looks mortified to be wearing that doggie sweater. Perhaps a bomber jacket style would be more fitting?
I did have a little dog that was highly embarrassed everytime I put any kind of outfit on her.
I did get my two stories written and sent off to the newspaper so I am all caught up again.
Kay wrote: “I just did an interview today with a lady that has eight rescued greyhounds, all living inside. The dogs are all well fed and well behaved and they think everyone who enters the house came to pet them. It would have been handy to be an octopus. I still have trouble believing that she can have that many big dogs in the house and still manage to keep order.”
It’s easier to understand if you consider the nature of Greyhounds. They are sprint dogs, bred for 1000+ years to run very fast for very short distances. Give them the chance to run around the average suburban backyard, they’ll do 1-3 laps and then find places to lie down in the sun to bask.
Other than that? They are the couch potatoes of the dog world. They are very oriented towards warmth and comfort. Given a nice comfy bed to curl up on and they will take up less living space than the average small terrier that bounces here, there and everywhere in constant motion.
I can’t recall any breed of horse or pony that is quite as lazy as a Greyhound. Maybe really fat Shetlands? The sort of pony that thinks it is doing you a favor to walk from the barn to the pasture and back again.
Typically Greyhounds have no dog aggression and no human aggression in them. There are always exceptions, of course, just as there are TBs that aren’t hot and drafts that are!
Usually as long as everyone is well fed, warm and comfortable, they are happy to snooze 23 hours and 45 minutes a day. Odd as it seems when you look at their size, they are often ideal apartment dogs.
>>>>>Grainne Dhu said…
So, if someone tells me right off the bat that they are looking for an outside dog, I politely tell them that I don’t have a dog that is right for them.
November 8, 2007 4:02 PM< <<<<
Jesus, I wonder how many dogs didn’t get a good home. I don’t have the time or the energy to say any more than that.
My dogs live inside and have the run of 7 acres when they go out. The only time they are on a leash is to go to the vet or groomer. About all they can do is sit on command and my Boxer/Lab shakes and does a couple of other silly things my son taught her that amuse my grandson to no end. They’re happy, healthy, well behaved most of the time and very well loved which are the most important things as far as I’m concerned.
LOL…guess I did have more to say.
megan, I’m not exactly sure why you think we’d put out fake pictures of the mare (and yes, her feet were muddy in the first picture) if the website doesn’t show you enough, here’s another shot:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/?action=view¤t=AngelAug26.jpg
Well, try this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/AngelAug26.jpg
Tracy
Froth – thank you for the information on the IRS website. I appreciate it.
Grainne Dhu – excellent explanation of why rescuers end up making those hard and fast rules.
I will not adopt a cat to anyone who isn’t indoor-only, either. You might be the best home in the world, but I didn’t rehab it so that it could get eaten by a coyote or run over by a car. Now, my roommate has a barn cat, and we lock him in every night, and we are far from the road and he really is pretty safe. It’s a pretty good home for a plain black cat who would have had a very poor chance at surviving if he’d wound up in a shelter (he showed up as a stray). There are good outside homes for cats, but I can’t figure out if you’re one of them in the hour I might spend with you…therefore it minimizes my risk to only adopt to the inside-only home.
Horsepoor wrote: “Jesus, I wonder how many dogs didn’t get a good home. I don’t have the time or the energy to say any more than that.”
I have no way of knowing how many didn’t get a good home. All I know is that there were 87 dogs (I looked up my records) that did get good homes due to my efforts.
Only three of the dogs I rescued are still alive; the rest have died or been euthanized. None of them were hit by car, none of them disappeared, none of them were euthanized after confiscation for biting humans or killing other animals, none of them were neglected or starved to death. Mostly they died of old age and/or cancer.
I didn’t have access to a shelter and now I feel that is probably just as well. I had a small network of foster homes plus a couple boarding kennels that would let us board one or two dogs for free.
This means that the dogs were mostly in actual homes, where they were taught to live with humans. I took on all the ones with injuries since I was the only one with much animal nursing experience. I did most of the formal training.
I’m lazy and don’t like to have to re-do something because I didn’t do it right the first time. I don’t think it’s fair to dogs to boomerang in and out of homes; it’s confusing and upsetting to them. When I placed a dog, I wanted it to have the best possible chance of staying in that home forever.
In 84 cases, I succeeded. In one case, I’m still wondering why I didn’t pick up any signs that the couple were going to end up divorced. The two dogs that came back due to death of owner, well, I don’t think there’s really any reliable way of predicting which 55 year old woman will die of a heart attack, so I don’t feel guilty about that one.
I always had as many dogs in the program as my network had room for. I always had to turn away dogs because we didn’t have enough room; I would have needed many more spaces than I ever had in order to accept even a quarter of the dogs I was approached about.
I had to stop thinking about the ones I couldn’t help. I knew what happened to them; in some cases, I held them for that last injection myself as a volunteer at the municipal shelter.
All I know is that there were 87 dogs who left me in much better condition, physically and/or mentally, than when they came to me. Eighty one of those homes were forever homes (when the last three age out and die, I’ll be able to say 84).
If you feel the need to guilt trip someone who really worked to make a difference, you can try guilt tripping me because I’m pretty darn immune. I know I did the best I could with the resources I had available.
grainne dhu, don’t think I don’t get where you’re coming from. I would want to protect myself too…but there is a line where “careful” ends and “unrealistic” begins.
I think that a lot of rescues tend more toward the unrealistic end. IF you’re a private rescue, you have every right to make up whatever rules you like. I won’t tell you what to do, I will never be in your position.
IT is entirely different IMO when you are a publicly funded animal shelter that doubles as the local pound. When you turn away so many adoptive homes, you are removing an important community service.
In my case, a big, outdoor dog would have had an excellent forever home…and that dog continues to take up a spot in the only animal shelter in town.
What is happening to the rest of the confiscated dogs at that no-kill shelter? Well, a huge pack of 40 are roaming the back lot getting wilder and wilder, and the indoor cages are just staying full.
I think that as a public shelter, you need to look long and hard at the community to figure out what “acceptable” and “normal” are for homes.
But, we live in an incredibly rich community, so the no-kill shelter gets to continually expand. Which, I guess, is better for the dogs ultimately. They like living in the cages and having lots of other dogs around…I just fail to see how that is really BETTER than what I was offering. Clearly, it looked different to the rescue officer.
Ok, time to bang your head against the keyboard again. http://greatexpectationsmn.tripod.com/
Click on the “Rescues” link.
I don’t know where cuttergal gets her info, but I have met the owners of Settlers Pond. Does the word “SLANDER” bring up any emotions in you? The owners are good, hard working people who have devoted their lives to any animal in need that comes into their path. There was no arrest in assault and her husband is the sweetest guy you’ll ever meet. My suggestion, Cuttergal, get on your horse and ride until you get a life of your own. Why would anyone listen to this person when she actually says “please do not indicate where you got this information.” I heard about this and felt the need to respond, but I have too much else to do with my life to spend any more time with a bunch of losers tearing up good people. I have a life.