I received a phone call today from West Park Animal Hospital. They had a women come into their office today looking for a place to board her dogs for a month. She has to go into a women's shelter TONIGHT and has no place for her dogs to go. She doesn't want anything to happen to her dogs and would like them back once she is out of the shelter but needs somewhere for them to go. She isn't broke, she can pay for boarding. HOWEVER, for a dog to be boarded it needs to have all it's vaccinations and she doesn't have that much money right now. For two dogs to have all their shots it would be around $200 PLUS then money up front for boarding. That is a lot of money right off the starting gate.
The women was running out of options and wasn't sure what to do. She called a few other rescues who will remain nameless for right now and was told "So sorry about your luck but we can't help."
UGH! That makes me so mad. RESCUE means HELP. Am I wrong in thinking this????
Anyway, I told her that I would be happy to pay for both dogs to have all their shots so they could be placed in boarding and I made arrangements at my vet office for her to have it all done there and have them boarded there. She said she would pay for the boarding and really really wanted her dogs back once she gets out of the shelter and everything figured out.
To me if someone wants to keep their dogs, a rescue should help them make it possible. For God sake this women is going into a women's shelter for abused and battered women and children, clearly this is NOT a normal situation and statistics show that people stay with their abuses BECAUSE they have no safe place for their pets. I sure the hell not going to let a person stay in a bad situation just because no one will help with the animals.
8 comments:
That is so sad :( I see so many dogs dropped off at shelters for lame excuses. This lady has more than an excuse yet she is the example of an ethical human being -- not only is she trying to do what is right for herself, but for her animals too. GOD BLESS HER and YOU TOO AMY! You did the right thing and one day, Karma will repay you.
Thank you for doing that and thank you to the lady for doing the right thing in trying to keep her dogs.
Awesome!! That's why I love being a part of this organization.
I've wondered about rescues that will only pay a vet's bill if the animal is surrendered to them. Is this some kind of punishment to add to a person's pain? Do they need more dogs to re-home? You did the right thing by the dogs and helped a woman in dire need.
You're a really great person. Thanks for doing this. Poor woman, glad she's taken the steps to get help and hope she'll be alright.
I have experienced similar situations with "rescues" here in Yakima, WA. Most of the rules are things like no strays (only owner surrenders), must have shots, must be spayed/neutered. It just seems like in the most desperate situations like the one you just told us about, many of this criteria can't be met in enough time. Desperation usually means lack of money. And I'm sorry...but no strays? It's so glad to know people like you exist. :)
Pet Paradise, a national chain boarding and daycare facility boards free of charge for those women fleeing to a shelter.
In addition to improving your physical health, dogs and other pets have been shown to be great for stress management and relief.
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