OUR EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE HOMELESS DOG AND OVERFLOWING SHELTER CRISIS

As you may know, there are a number of states severely struggling with pet overpopulation and perfectly healthy and adoptable dogs (and cats) being euthanized at shelters due to lack of space, resources, or moving concern by those in charge. This year, California overtook Texas as the state with the highest shelter kill rates, after sitting in 2nd place for quite some time - as well as similar issues in areas of surrounding Western states. This year, it became common place for 8 week old puppies to be killed in the shelters, as well as spay-aborts on mother dogs in shelters, who are then also put up for euthanasia days or weeks after such a heartbreak - it wrenches our stomachs even writing that, but it’s the unavoidable and grim truth. As shelters have reached numbers into the HUNDREDS of dogs scheduled to be euthanized at a time some shelters even resort to giving dogs away for free, turning away dogs attempted to be surrendered, or informing people turning over that if a dog isn’t euthanized immediately on its intake another dog in the back will be to vacate a kennel for the incoming dog.

Another predicament believed to be a cause of the drastic increase in homeless/euthanized dogs and increasingly PUPPIES, is the cost and difficulty finding/accessing affordable spay and neuter options, resulting in more and more homeless puppies.

Unsurprisingly, it has also gotten even harder for rescues to find fosters or adoptive homes - again, even for desirable breed/mix puppies.

With things getting more and more difficult in a fight that already demanded all one could give and more, it has become painfully obvious that to combat this grim downwards spiral of homelessness and death, creative and new ideas and programs must be developed and explored PASSIONATELY!

It is our deepest wish to be able to contribute substantially to the beginning of a brighter future, and to positively impact and bring together our community - because to tackle a problem this big, it will take a phenomenal amount of work, planning, teamwork, and more. <3 Please read on to see some of the ideas we believe would create a huge opportunity for change and lifesaving!

TRAINING FOR SUCCESS!

One of our biggest goals that we hope will have a GIANT positive snowball effect, is teaching volunteers and staff as much about dog training as each individual is interested in.

Repurpose Shelter Dogs
-Provide dogs with solid basic obedience foundation up to advanced obedience, and evaluating (/and) training dogs for service/work/etc to increase appeal of often passed over/at increased risk breeds.
-By being able to repurpose shelter/rescue dogs to service dogs, would also allow those with disabilities a chance to have an AFFORDABLE service dog (and most likely trainer to assist), which is often a problem for those with disabilities to obtain financially due to regular costs of such.

Volunteer Time at Shelters
Provide Affordable Training to:
-Rescues/Shelters (Increase Adoptability/Shorten Stays in Rescue|Shelter/Survival Likeliness)
-Private Owners (Avoid Relinquishment)

Increase Number of Ethical Trainers (decrease incident of dogs abused during B&Ts ETC)

WIDER EXPOSURE/ADOPTION OPTIONS for HIGH RISK/SATURATED AREAS

It is our goal to continue making friends and connections in neighboring states - be they fosters, adopters, other rescues, or those willing to help network to those states or with transport, etc.

We have often been known to drive long distances for a really fabulous adoption opportunity for one of our dogs (and we always like to see firsthand in person where our rescues will live <3 ), and would be happy to help other rescues when scheduling permits by helping transport dogs to adopters or fosters who have been screened to that rescue’s standards, or to help transport dogs from shelters to rescues or adopters in other areas.