Pulling a dog from a situation where it is in danger, and getting it to a foster home and then finding a forever home takes a lot of people. My friend Shannon reminded me of this when she wrote to me about all the things she was having to organize to get Henry ready to leave for his new forever family.
First you have the shelter workers/volunteers. They put the dog up on petfinder, post the dog all over facebook, and send emails out to rescues begging someone to take the dog because it's time is up. These are the people in the trenches, so to speak.
Once a rescue sees a dog they want to pull, then they in turn have to beg for fosters, contact everyone they know who might be willing to take a dog in, and plead the dogs case in order to find it a place to stay. If a foster home is found, then the transport person has to get involved to set up transportation from the shelter to wherever the dog is headed. When you are dealing with shelters out in very rural areas, this is easier said than done. This too involves contacting tons of people and spreading the word that a dog needs a ride, and someone to go and spring him from the shelter or wherever. Setting up a transport can involve several drivers. A typical one for us from shelter to Columbus is usually 3. We are now at 7 people involved in saving this dog.
Now the dog arrives. He goes to our vet to get examined and cared for. The vet techs, front desk people, and the vets themselves all have a part in caring for this dog. Then we pay the vet. This is possible because of the people who donated money to the rescue. Often we take the dog to the groomers as well if they are really a mess. Many times different volunteers will offer to taxi the dog to the vet or the groomer, if the foster is working and unable to do so. We are now at around 14 people minimum, who made a choice to help out a dog.
The dog stays at his foster home and learns how to trust and be a happy carefree dog again. Now we get an application. An application means that a volunteer has to call and talk to the person applying, check their references, and then discuss it with several other people in the rescue. If all goes well, we set up a home visit, which another volunteer does, which means finding someone in whatever area of the country they are in to take time out of their day and go to a complete strangers house to see if everything is as it should be. We are now at around 18 people who have had a hand in helping this dog. This is all assuming everything goes right. It usually doesn't. A foster home will call and say the dog isn't working and we have to move it when we have no room. A dog comes from the shelter and has cancer, or heartworm. Adopters get angry when they get turned down, because they thought it would be like walking into Petland, and that we would be grateful for anyone to take a dog. Fosters have issues and things that need addressed with their dogs, emotions run high, feelings get hurt, we have to try and find preventative meds for all the dogs without breaking the bank, people bail out at the last minute on plans. This all requires time, energy and manpower to deal with.
If the dog is approved to adopt, another transport must be set up to get the dog to his new home. Lets say it's an easy transport and only 3 more people offer to drive. Including the adopter, lets say there is only one, and not a family, we are now over 20 people.
20 people making an effort to help one dog on his journey to a better life. Each person just doing what they can, and giving what they are able to do. It does take a village, and many hands make the work light. This doesn't include the administrative things that have to get done. Maintaining the website and petfinder pages, taking calls from people regarding fostering and adopting, paying the bills, filing the contracts, and organizing educational seminars, and trying to find time for our own dogs. Every job is important, and every piece is crucial to the process. Do not ever think that because what you have to offer is small that it is unimportant. We need all the help we can get. Even if it just comes in the form of an encouraging word.
He is an incredible dog and I personally assisted in his transport. My small piece of the puzzle of finding him his forever home. Pass the word along about him, won't you?
