There is a dog....
Welcome to the St. Louis Senior Dog Project blog. See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org .
The picture is a first birthday picture of two "surprise" puppies born at my home/to Trina, a dog rescued from the City Pound. Trina was suffering from pneumonia and receiving treatment, but nobody noticed her special condition until she suprised us with five puppies. Mother and babies all survived and found good homes. These two were adopted together to the Guyre family. After admiring the picture, read another guest column by Kati Bishop.
Those of us in rescue receive numerous calls and emails from people wanting us to rescue a dog at risk. Trouble is, we can only take a few. Read on:
by Kati Bishop
One of my (many) favorite dog people, Randy Grim, the founder of St. Louis Stray Rescue, once said, “It is no longer enough to stand in the street, pointing and exclaiming, ‘there’s a dog’ (that is starving/bleeding/beaten/homeless/needs help RIGHT NOW!). For the dog to receive help, you need to do your part, step up, and help us help the dog.”
In order for rescue organizations to do their job, it is imperative that for every dog taken in, there is a volunteer to help care for the dog, and money must be found to pay the vet bills. And that is only the start. And yet every day, Ellen gets calls and emails from many people who say to us “there’s a dog..”And sure enough there in the email will be a link to a dog in a pound three states away, scheduled for euthanasia if you don’t do something! Sometimes the dog is one we can easily help, and of a type that is not all that common. If they are in a local shelter chances are good that they are scheduled for euthanasia.
Of course, the St. Louis Senior Dog Project has several volunteers who specialize in hard to place dogs. We have volunteers, for example who really only want to foster puppymill dogs, and one home where there is a preference for the ubiquitous hound. But the hounds stay for a year –(don’t know why – I used to be the hound person and I love ‘em!), and the mill dogs can take weeks or months to get ready for adoption. Most often a call from somebody wanting us to help a dog will be asked to foster that dog until it is placed. If the dog is elderly and we can foresee huge vet bills, a donation will be in order, and even a condition of accepting the dog. Occasionally other rescuers will get on the bandwagon and really pressure us to take a senior dog who seems placeable enough, then turns out to be heart worm positive ( read: an automatic vet bill that will alone be twice the adoption fee.) Unfortunately these same rescuers are in no position to help with the vet bills.
So, the next time you see a dog that needs help by all means, give us a call right after you step up to the plate, take a stance and open your heart and home to a dog needing help.
Thank again, Katie, and thanks to all who may decide to take up the challenge.
Ellen Ellick
President
St. Louis Senior Dog Project
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