Outrage or Solutions? The Choice Is Yours!
I worked for an animal shelter for many years, and during this time, I developed relationships with many responsible private rescue organizations. These are run by good people who eat, breathe and sleep animal rescue, literally.
Most private rescues are run out of private homes and depend entirely on small-scale donations, astonishing creative problem-solving skills and foster homes.
The homeless animal crisis is incredibly big, to the point of being nearly incomprehensible and responsible, private rescue organizations, big or small, play an integral part in ending this problem.
For more details, check out this information page from the ASPCA.
Some of my most rewarding experiences and treasured memories of my time in animal welfare took place on emergency sheltering deployments with the ASPCA. Whether it was a dog-fight bust involving over 350 pit bulls or a massive hoarding case involving over 700 cats, (Yes, you read that right. Over 700 cats!), those weeks on deployment were filled with non-stop sun up to sun down work. I worked hard, slept little and forged strong bonds and friendships with other crazy animal people who were wired wrong in the same exact way that I am. In short, I met my people, my tribe. We are still friends today.
Last week, during a coffee break at work, my emergency sheltering brain was triggered. My dear friend Carol Bryant with Fidose of Reality sent me an urgent message asking if I would share her posts and blog about it. My response was soemthing along the lines of, “Well duh, Dodo Bird!” Like Carol and so very many others that I know, helping animals is in our DNA. It’s both who we are and what we do.
As I read about the case, my blood boiled and my synapses fired.
Word had recently leaked that a registered 501c(3) animal rescue group in Virginia had 46 Cocker Spaniels living in a barn. Both food and water were limited, if available at all, and many of the dogs were in serious need of medical care. I Googled the temperature. It was in the very high ’80’s or low ’90’s OUTSIDE! Imagine the temperature inside that enclosed barn.
Enter the wiggle butt cockers of Oldies But Goodies Cocker Rescue and Dexter, Carol and Darlene Bryant of Fidose of Reality and WiggleButt Warriors.
OBG worked with the rescue and the local animal control agency to assume care and responsibility for these dogs. They took comprehensive photos, started the arduous and expensive task of getting all 46 Cocker Spaniels examined by veterinarians and medical care as needed. They called out to the local community, their roster of loving foster homes and to Carol. In the mean time, 3 more dogs were discovered. Collectively they are known as the #Freedom49 dogs.
Carol immediately started spreading the word on her blog and on social media. She wrote a fantastic blog post about the situation with a special emphasis on SOLVING the problem. In situations like this, we all need to acknowledge our outrage but then we need to harness that power into solutions.
OBG desperately needs financial donations as well as foster homes. They are posting frequent updates on the current status of the #Freedom49, including this recent statement from its President.
Fidose of Reality is also encouraging support. They are running a giveaway here in support of OBG.You don’t have to donate to enter, but donating a buck or two is a pain free way of helping these Cockers that desperately need our collective help. Remember, let’s focus on solutions!
You can connect with OBG here:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
To donate to the #Freedom49, GO HERE.
To get more information on fostering one of these wigglebutts, look here.
Feel free to share this far and wide! When you do, please tag @dogandhisboy, @FidoseOfRealty and @OBGCockerRescue in your shares. If you donate, please let them know that Dog & His Boy and Fidose of Reality sent you.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. The more who know, the more who can help. You are a fantastic human being. <3
On behalf of Oldies but Goodies Cocker Rescue and the precious dogs in our care, thank you so much for sharing the story of the Freedom49. Yes, it was originally the Freedom46, but earlier this week 4 more dogs were discovered at a local shelter that were removed from the barn before OBG got there. Happily we were able to take 3 of them into our group, thus the Freedom49. (One dog had already been adopted from the shelter before we learned these dogs were there.) Kudos to Dog & His Boy and Fidose of Reality for your love and support.