Tag: animal rescue

Puppies are small and helpless creatures who need our love and care. Now imagine a puppy that has never had human interaction and lives its days in a cramped cage with inadequate care. On top of that, this small dog has a birth defect. This is the scene in many puppy mills across the nation. Inhumane and cruel, puppy mill breeders often euthanize small dogs with birth defects, but that’s where Safehaven Small Breed Rescue steps in. This Pennsylvania rescue rescues and rehabilitates dogs that otherwise wouldn’t make it to a pet store from a puppy mill. We spoke to the rescue’s chair Teri Walters about the struggles and success of Safehaven Small Breed Rescue. Read more below in BestBullySticks Rescue Spotlight.

When & Why did you start?

Safehaven Small Breed Rescue was founded in 2006 when a little senior Shih Tzu breeder named Pooh came into our care. She had many illnesses due to her previous neglect and other rescues and shelters had suggested euthanasia. We saw something in her eyes that said she was not ready to leave this world, so we gave her a chance. With proper veterinary care and a lot of love, Pooh healed and went on to live another 6 years, happy and content with her life. She made us realize that many of the dogs deemed “unadoptable” and euthanized by other rescues just needed the time and care to heal. Many of these dogs have never been kindly touched, or showed gentle affection, cowering at any hand coming towards them. They needed to learn that people could be kind. This we could provide, thus, Safehaven was born. Read more

April is ASPCA Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and the team here at BestBullySticks thought we should not only highlight the importance of this holiday, but also share a few ways you can lend a hand.

Acts of animal cruelty often go unnoticed by observers and owners alike. President of the American Animal Hospital Association (AHAA) DVM Gregg Takashima notes that in his twenty-five years as a veterinarian, most abuse cases he’s seen are the result of owners who have inadvertently neglected their pets simply because they don’t know any better.

Education and Activism

While animal cruelty strikes in variety of ways, they can all prevented through education. The first step to education is setting a good example as a pet owner. As a model caretaker, your actions will influence others. Community role models for pet care not only help curb instances of abuse among current owners, but future ones as well. Teaching children about responsible pet ownership at an early age will make them lifelong advocates in the fight against animal abuse.

Grassroots forms of activism like community education is of tremendous help to the cause. Consider looking into local volunteer opportunities as well. From raising awareness to caring for the abused, these opportunities are    widely available across the country. Contact your local SPCA to find about volunteering in your community. Read more

haven |ˈhāvən|, noun: a place of safety or refuge : a haven for wildlife.

Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary believes that safety for their favorite giant breed dogs is a personal dedication that requires your full self. That’s why this rescue began--to give refuge and solace the full dog; their mind, body and soul and the people of Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary commit themselves likewise. Read more about this Indiana rescue in BestBullySticks Rescue Spotlight on Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary. 

When & Why did you start?
We have worked in rescue in one way or another for a very long time. We officially created our own Non-Profit Mastiff Sanctuary in Jan 2011 when we were searching for a fawn Mastiff to adopt. I had subscribed to many rescues and shelter feeds and made many great contacts. But we were flooded daily by neglected and abused Mastiffs and realized there was no centrally located rescue in our area for these Gentle Giants and as most people in our area were looking for small dogs, the Giants waiting in shelters were very hard to place and there was no where for them to go. As we continued to get notifications, we soon began coving our entire Tri-State of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois and now network, rescue & place Mastiffs from Indiana and all surrounding states.

What's different about your rescue?
Our goals remain the same as any other rescue out there. Its all about saving innocent lives and finding wonderful loving homes for these big kids. People tell me that what makes us different is our personal bond and attachment to each one. We love them and mend their spirit and we stay involved for the rest of their lives. We have an open door policy that encourages new families to reach out for questions and assistance and we have been known to babysit when the family has to be out of town. We keep our numbers small enough so that we can give personalized attention to each unique Mastiff and we do not kennel here, so each one truly feels at home. It is always the Mastiff that sets the pace. They tell us when they are ready to adopt a forever family and we do not rush that. We are also very conscious of their sensitivity to change so we personally transport each of our babies and stay in that area to ensure their transition to the new home. Our last adoption took us to Louisiana which under normal circumstances would be too far, however when a Mastiff says that’s his or her perfect home, we listen. They haven’ t led us wrong yet!  Read more

When you love a dog, you’ll do anything for them. Now add hundreds more dogs stretched over many states. Nothing changes does it? That’s what the wonderful folks at Adopt A Boxer Rescue have tapped into. Their volunteers have a great passion for rescuing Boxers; they love them and will do anything for them. Read BestBullySticks.com’s Rescue Spotlight on Adopt A Boxer Rescue below to hear of AABR successes, needs and see some amazing before and after photos.

When & Why did you start?
Boxer lovers Dawn Karam, Jamie Meadow, and Sandy Trehy founded Adopt a Boxer Rescue in November 2004 after working for many years with other rescues, in order to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home unwanted and abandoned boxer dogs within the northeast United States. 

What's different about your rescue?
Adopt a Boxer Rescue is an all-volunteer rescue doing both hands-on rescue and education. Our volunteers and homes step up to help dogs no matter what medical issues or age. While AABR finds homes for many healthy, young dogs, we also are committed to being there for dogs like Rocky , Bobbi , Camacho, and the seniors who need someone to go the extra mile for them. Read more

BestBullySticks.com loves hearing a good dog rescue story and Rescuzilla out of NYC has a lot of good ones. We spoke to Katherine Good, one of the coordinators at this passionate animal rescue about the successes and needs of Rescuzilla.

When & Why did you start?  
Rescuzilla was founded in 2009 in the hopes of responsibly saving dogs and cats from being part of the millions of animals that are killed each year in the United States. After years of volunteering and caring for animals at the shelter we wanted to be able to make sure that animals we met got the chance to be wonderful family members. Starting a rescue was the next logical step in doing so.

What's different about your rescue? 
We are very much a grassroots and hand on rescue. As active volunteers at the Animal Care & Control of New York City and partners in their New Hope program, we are able to help animals from the beginning of their second life until their new forever home. Our program is small, with usually around 8 animals at a time, but every animal is in loving foster home and receives all the attention it needs whether it be medical or behavioral. 

What is the greatest success story or "win" that your rescue has had? 
This is a tough one! One of the few ways to measure it is by how far an animal has come since we first met him. One that always keeps us smiling is Benjamin Buttons. He was found with what we thought was a sweater that turned out to be a sweatpants leg that someone had fashioned into a shirt for him. A little, emaciated, chronically illsenior rat terrier.  He had to be saved but we knew it would take a one-of-a-kind family to see all his potential! He was fostered by an amazing family that embodies the definition of love. His mama fed him special meals, carried him all over the house in a pouch and let him sleep safely in bed, making sure he had his space right between her and her husband. It wasn't long before Benjamin started putting on weight and his ailments dissipated. The foster family saw how special he is and knew he was meant to be with them forever. He is like a whole new dog; truly a Benjamin (Belly) Buttons.   Read more