Tag: animal rescue

A person of character is someone who takes a negative situation and makes it a positive one. That action and effort behind it says so much about a person. BestBullySticks.com knows hard work, dedication and a lot of care and compassion can go into changing circumstances for the better. Such is true of Kim Kapes and the rescue she founded, In Harmony With Nature. Both through personal experiences and bettering the lives of animals, Kim has not only made the best of it, but along with the dedicated IHWN volunteers has made a definitive difference. Read on to learn more about IHWN.

When & Why did you start?
In Harmony With Nature Animal Haven started out as a bird and reptile refuge in 2004.  We saw the great need to help other animals so the mission was expanded and became a federally recognized 501(C)3 charity in 2006. Our President, Kim Kapes had left a career as a firefighter because of a back injury but had always been an animal advocate prior to and throughout that job. Kim was always the one saving the animals during the emergency situations as a firefighter. Kim relocated to Florida and found the perfect location to do work that she was passionate about. She was well aware of animals being in need of help and knew that her experiences in life led her to begin this new path.

What's different about your rescue?
Kim spent time in England to further her knowledge of canine behavior and in the study of wolves. She developed an affinity for working with challenging dogs and began to specialize in rehab cases that other rescues would not take. Soon, Kim was evaluating wolf-dogs (hybrids) for other wolf rescue groups and decided to open the doors to those most misunderstood canines. Our group will travel across the Southeast to assist in rescue situations and bring animals back to the safety of our sanctuary.  Our animals mostly get to live in small pack settings to help their mind relax and start the process of healing.

What is the greatest success story or "win" that your rescue has had?
In the early time frame of our organization we took in some puppies that unknowingly had distemper. The virus spread to another liter and we had to go all out to save these precious little ones. We used both Eastern and Western veterinary interventions and had a 75% success rate. As good as that is, losing any was a tough thing. Two of the pups who beat the virus were Patti and Kodi. They were left with a constant muscle twitch that hampered their walking and caused the back legs to deteriorate. They both worked at growing up normally and they were so loving and playful.  The challenge would be getting them adopted with such a disability. The pups were two years old when a wonderful woman found Kodi online. She came out to meet him and realized Kodi had a sister. She could not bear the thought of separating them so she adopted them both. They already had two cats and two kids, so two dogs sounds just fine. Her daughter had epilepsy so she understood the seizures that the pups had gone through. As it turned out they became a great addition to the family and it was discovered that Patti detects the daughter’s seizures. The two dogs had found a loving forever home against all odds and have given back to the family in ways they could never have imagined.

What's the most rewarding thing about working at your rescue?
Seeing the transformation of a shy, scared animal as they begin to bond to you and trust you. The day you get your first wolf kiss will be one to remember. These are lives that you are an integral part of making better.

What can people do to help your rescue?
Obviously donations are greatly needed. We are working to raise funds to purchase our currently leased land and to create a facility on a separate 30-acre property for a retreat center where you can meet real wolves and reconnect with nature. If you are in the Orlando area we always need volunteers for on-property or administrative help. We can always use fencing materials to expand the living areas of our long-term residents. Gift cards to Sam's Club, Costco, Publix grocery stores, etc can go a long way. Share our IHWN Facebook page and help us spread the word about our work. Purchase a copy of Kim's book "From Wags To Riches" as the proceeds Kim makes go back to the animals.

A HUGE “Thank You” to Kim and all the volunteers at In Harmony With Nature for seeing a need and meeting it; for helping animals and saving lives. 

If you have a desire to help, but no outlet to work through, you might feel a little helpless, but not if you have At Risk Intervention. BestBullySticks.com talked to Founder Cyn Mobley about how the organization was started and the astonishing impact they’re making all around the Mid-South and the nation. With a revolutionary outlook and mission and a ton of hardwork, At Risk Intervention is truly making a difference.

When & Why did you start?
At Risk Intervention, or ARI, was started in 2004 as a vehicle for supporting people who wanted to do good things in the world but didn't want the hassle of starting a charitable organization. We provide infrastructure and support and 501(c)3 partnerships for rescuers, child advocacy programs and just about anything that involves kids or animals. As our program grew, we sought out opportunities to be a force multiplier for other groups. We did a community survey and found that the one thing that rescues said they needed most was money. A bit more investigating and we found that the two major expenses were vet bills and kenneling.

We started by negotiating some great discount packages for rescues at a few vets. Then we built the Waystation.  We also hold seminars on ways to save money and help rescue groups work through legal issues, complete 501(c)3 paperwork (we have an online audio course and plenty of examples) and a host of other things that help existing groups work more effectively. Like I said: force multiplier. Much of the concept and practices are born from my time in the Navy and my experiences at the Naval War College. I know how important logistics and support are in any war, and that's what rescue is—a war to preserve life rather than destroy it. Read more

Yesterday was International Homeless Animal's Day, but it's an important message for every day. We want to talk to  you about this day not because Best Bully Sticks thinks you don’t care, or that you won’t remember. Being a broken record about events like International Homeless Animal’s Day is about state of mind—active change; and state of heart—compassion. This day of observance is very much like other awareness or recognition days, but the importance of the message shouldn’t be discounted or lessened with each repetition.

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in the United States. “Serious” is a passive word by itself, so to make that more tangible: 10,000 pets are euthanized every day. Only about 20% of shelter animals are spayed or neutered. The International Society of Animal Rights began raising awareness for this particular issue in 1992 with events like candlelight vigils, adoption events, rallies and more.

Pet overpopulation and euthanization are going to be problems until enough concerned citizens get involved and raise awareness to a greater population. Here are a few ways you can get involved and start making a change.

Participate in a Candlelight Vigil
Vigils are held on different days throughout the country and are meant as quiet moments to reflect on the scores of animals who have been euthanized in the past. Check here to see if an event is being held in your area. If not, you can also participate in the virtual candlelight vigil.

Volunteer at an Animal Rescue
Many rescues are understaffed and always in need of help. It’s very likely you’ll never be turned down at a rescue as a volunteer. They’ll put you to work bathing, walking, feeding or even answering phones all for the sake of the animals in that rescue.

Foster a Shelter Pet
Fostering can be a big commitment, and isn’t right for every one. However, temporarily providing a loving home for a pet is a great way to help out not only the pet, but the shelter responsible for the pet’s care. If you already have one easy-going pet, it may be very easy for you to add one more into the mix. Talk about this option with those in your home and, of course, with your local rescue.

Call, Write & Talk
Call your senator. Write your congressman. Talk to your neighbor. Or, any combination of these! Talking about spaying and neutering animals and why that’s important is the first step in awareness. It may seem like a no-brainer, but if no one else is talking about this subject, it’s up to you to start the conversation.

Donate
We’ve already talked about donating your time as a volunteer for your local shelter, but donating pet food and supplies could relive a great burden off of your favored organization. If you have the means, talk to your local shelter to see what items they need.

Best Bully Sticks hopes you are the spark of change in your community this year to support the well-being of homeless animals in your area, in your state and the world. 

It's that time again! TODAY ONLY Best Bully Sticks is holding a 1-Day Animal Shelter / Rescue Giveaway! These giveaways are open to those shelters that haven't won a donation from BBS in the last six months, and have actively participated in giveaways. Visit the OfferPop App on our Facebook Page to find out if your shelter made this list! The rescue with the most votes by 5pm est on August 21st (today) will win $500 of BBS product! 

If your rescue doesn't appear on the list, please leave a comment below nominating your favorite Animal Rescue or Shelter. We will add your favored organization in our next giveaway. 

Simply put, Best Bully Sticks loves dogs. That is why BBS hold fun and engaging giveaways not only to giveaway our products to needy animals but to educate our fans on local shelters and their missions. 

Best Bully Sticks has the opportunity to highlight a very special animal rescue who’s main goal is to save “Death Row” dogs. Eleventh Hour Rescue starts many days like this:

Our day begins with logging onto our computer, only to find we have a mere 161 emails to read before finishing our morning cup of coffee. Some of the subject titles read, “Senior Hound, last day is today,” “Overflowing with Puppies,” “13 more left, please help,” “Shy girl, and 3 legged beagle due to be gassed Tuesday.” Imagine having such a death sentence being held over your head, opening email after email, seeing the faces of fluffy, highly adoptable puppies, a scared little Shepherd curled up in the corner of a dirty kennel, a Labrador with just a blur behind him where the camera couldn't capture how fast his tail was wagging.

Sometimes, well... no, most times, our eyes are welled up with tears, and the thoughts of: Where are we going to put them?  How will we pay for the transport?  What if one is heartworm positive, how will we pay for the treatment?  This is when we take a deep breath, email our volunteers, start brainstorming about fund raising ideas, rebalance the checkbook, and just end the morning with an emailed response of 'We'll take them all', backed only with one thought...

'We'll figure it out'.

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We talked with Elyse Langsett, EHR's Fundraising Director, after they won BBS’s most recent 1-Day Animal Shelter/Rescue Giveaway on Facebook. She elaborated on how this New Jersey rescue was started, their struggles and their successes. Read more