Rescue a Dog Save Yourself

If you have a dog in your own family, you can attest to this well-known fact:  There is no better feeling than walking into your home and being greeted by a tail-wagging, rump-shaking pup.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been gone for two weeks or two hours, your dog will always greet you with that same intense energy.  And it is wonderful.  The Health Benefits of Owning a Pet | Harvard Magazine.

There are many ways to acquire a dog, but the sweetest way might be by adopting from a shelter.  Shelters are safe havens, staffed by incredibly caring people, doing mostly thankless work to save the life of a mostly unwanted dog or cat. For these animals, being brought to a shelter can be a traumatic blessing fraught with anxiety, sadness, and despair.  What most people don’t want to discuss is just how many pets are willingly given up by their owners.  The reasons are legitimate; change of housing, health issues, allergies, economics…but the outcome is always sad for the dog who has to leave his family and finds himself in a cold pen inside of a loud shelter with dozens of other howling dogs.  The Most Common Reasons People Surrender Their Pets—And How You Can Help · Kinship And on top of all of this, in many cases, dogs are housed in a shelter which must euthanize many animals just to make room for those to come.  It is an unending cycle of desperately trying to rehome these animals and this is why shelter workers really are angels on earth.

Locally, a number of amazing animal shelters exist doing this crucial work every day.  Their cages are full and needs plentiful.  If you find yourself with extra food and supplies for your pets, please consider reaching out to a local shelter.  Oftentimes, the items they need are similar to what we all have on hand.  And, if it is in your heart to truly add fulfillment to your life, to add value to your day, to feel completely loved and accepted then please contact your local shelter to find a pet.  We have compiled a list of a few great shelters in our area for your consideration. 

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue 4951 Lorraine Road, Bradenton

From their website Statistics & Impact – Nates Honor Animal Rescue Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Center operates as a no-kill rescue at our eight-acre shelter and adoption facility on Lorraine Road. A no-kill shelter is defined as a shelter that has a save rate of 90% or more, meaning at least 90% of the animals that enter a shelter leave alive. Year after year, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Center achieves a 99% save rate.  For more information about adopting a dog or cat please visit Adopt FAQ | Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue | Pet Adoption Questions Florida.

Rescue Garage 3133 Ulman Ave, North Port 

From their website Chez Malinois Rescue Garage – Rescue Rehabilitate Retrain RehomeThe mission of Rescue Garage is to rescue, rehabilitate, retrain and rehome vulnerable and at risk dogs and provide educational tools and support, community outreach programs, and advocate on behalf of stable pet ownership and animal welfare issues.

The adoption process through Rescue Garage is stringent, to the absolute benefit of the animal.  We learned this firsthand as we adopted our spicy little Choweenie, Tucker, from Rescue Garage. 

To find your furever furry friends, please visit So You Want To Adopt? – Chez Malinois Rescue Garage.

Satchel’s Last Resort 8101 Coash Road, Sarasota

From Who We Are – Satchels Last Resort

Satchel’s Last Resort is a no-kill animal shelter/sanctuary whose mission is to Rescue, Rehab and Rehome dogs and cats with nowhere else to go because of breed, behavior, or medical issues. We are housed on 12 acres – two large play yards in the front of the building and a large area behind our building where volunteers can walk the dogs.

Find your always “happy to see you” daily moment at Adopt – Satchels Last Resort.

Photos courtesy of Satchel’s Last Resort, Rescue Garage, and Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Facebook pages.