Special Needs K9 Organization in the Press

Mike and Stacey Pravec, who are the heads of Special Needs K9,Org, were recently featured in The Leader Newspaper. The Pravecs, who are also NEBTR members, having been instrumental in the placement and care of Mr. Blue, a Boston Terrier, have founded Special Needs K9 to help with the medical bills for medically challenged pups, works on finding foster and permanent homes for them, and coordinates rescues.

You can read the complete article here.

From that initial dog, the organization grew. “Mr. Blue is the reason this all started,” Mike said.Special Needs K9 began when Stacey started volunteering at the Teterboro shelter. “It was the day before Thanksgiving and I said I had a lot of thanks to give in my life,” said Stacey, who has suspended her interior designing business to focus on Special Needs K9, Inc. “I have a love for animals, so I thought, ‘What can I do to give my thanks back?’ It’s not about me; it’s about giving. So, I went down to the shelter.”

Shortly afterward, Stacey began volunteering and Mike followed suit. At first, Mike said he was hesitant, because he knew he would become emotionally attached to these dogs in need. “When I started volunteering, I saw what these animals had to endure and go through and they don’t have a home,” said the retired police officer from Paramus. “What I was afraid of happening has turned into the best thing in my life. … It started as something on the side, but very quickly, within weeks, it spiraled to something full-time, full-blown, full-steam ahead.”

To help in their small way, the Pravecs are asking for help. “We need some people who are willing to open their homes to these animals, even if temporarily just to foster, not even adopt,” Mike said.

Stacey added that all the funds raised by Special Needs K9, Inc., which is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, have gone to the dogs. All over-head has been taken care of by the Pravecs. And although they have three special-needs dogs themselves, no funds are used on Stacey and Mike’s pets.

Their own dogs have similar stories to the animals they are trying to place in homes.

Tater Tot is a Boston terrier who was rescued after eight years of never visiting a veterinarian. Ruben is a shar pei who has had eye surgery, blood clots, stones, allergies and mange. Lily is a pit bull who has had mange, a urinary tract infection and hip problems.

NEBTR thanks Mike and Stacey for all their tireless work on behalf of these pups.

Special Needs K9 Organization

Mike Pravetz has started "Special Needs k9", a nonprofit organization dedicating to helping special needs dogs with medical bills.

Mike writes, "My inspiration for starting "Special Needs K9, Inc." (Mr. Blue) went to an eye specialist and was our first case yesterday. The non-profit organization is fully operational (big thanx to Ellen and her daughter Alex!). The web-site is up and running at http://www.specialneedsk9.org, and I hope to be helpful to the special needs doggies in NEBTR as well as all other special needs breeds.

The news about Mr. Blue great....as much as his remaining eye is scratched and the some vessels are permanently damaged, he can see and the doctor said if the drops are administered (which they are) he is in no danger of losing his vision (That made my year). He's got a great home and gets to run about 2 miles several days a week (they're fitness people, living in a condo)."

Special Needs K9, Inc. is comprised of members, officers and volunteers. Specializing in rescue and aid to special needs dogs and other animals, our purpose and goal does not stop there. They are advocates against mistreatment of any animals, for their well-being and survival. Special Needs K9 finances medical procedures, treatments and purchases equipment that provides aid to disabled or otherwise affected animals. They find foster and forever homes for the ones that are difficult to adopt due to their disabilities. They also hire professionals to train dogs in animal shelters to help with certain behavioral issues that might have developed by being “locked up” in an undesirable environment for long periods of time. You can make a donation to help Mike and his animals by going to the website and clicking on the "Donate" button through paypal.

Mike believes, "These wonderful creatures were put on this earth to give us unconditional love and companionship. Unfortunately, some humans are not as giving as their pets. Some the pets are tortured or neglected, some get sick or injured, and in many cases they are “thrown” away into shelters, or even worse, they are euthanized. This is where we step in and make a difference. They give us so much, and we should at the very least give them a chance."

Mr. Blue - Movie Star