Why We Call It Rescue

I Am an Animal Rescuer

I AM AN ANIMAL RESCUER
by Casey Carter Tyree

I will never bring about world peace. I will not save the rain forest.
I'm not a brain surgeon and I'll never transplant an organ to save a life.
I don't have the ear of a powerful politician or world power.
I can't end world hunger.
I'm not a celebrity, and God knows I'm not glamorous!
I'm not looked up to by millions around the world. Very few people even recognize my name.
I'll never win the Nobel prize.
I'll never save the rain forest or end global warming.
There are a lot of things that I'll never do or become.

But today I placed a dog!
It was a small, scared, bundle of flesh and bones that was dropped off in a shelter by unfeeling people that didn't care what happened to it, but yet who were responsible for it even having existence in the first place.
I found it a home.
It now has contentment and an abundance of love. A warm place to sleep and plenty to eat. A child has a warm fuzzy new friend who will give them unquestioning devotion and teach them about responsibility and love.
A wife and mother has a new spirit to nurture and care for. A husband and a father has a companion to sit at his feet at the end of a hard day of work and help him relax and enjoy life. And a sense of security, that when he is gone all day at work, that there is a protector and a guardian in his home to keep watch over his family.
No, I'm not a rocket scientist but today I saved one of God's precious creatures. Today, I made a difference!

I Am An Animal Rescuer
My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the need to fulfill their needs
I take in new family members without plan, thought or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body
I have Animal Friends and friends who have Animal Friends
I don't often use the word "pet"
I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches
I will hand raise a field mouse
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time
I want to live forever if there aren't animals in Heaven
But I believe there are!
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind?
We may be master of the animals,
But the animals have mastered themselves
Something people still haven't learned
War and abuse make me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for humankind
We are a quiet but determined army
And making a difference every day

There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
Nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
who only days ago, was too weak to eat
I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done
My home is never quiet
My wallet is always empty
But my heart is always full
In the game of life, I have already won!

Rainbow Bridge for Rescuers

The Bridge - Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before.

But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often. He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other ani mals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge.

And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives,they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

The first animal said, "I think I love rescuers".

The second animal said, "God does too".


Author unknown

Rescue Poem... shared by Champ Waring

Rescue Poem... shared by Champ Waring


Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,

All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.

I'd like to open my baggage, Lest I forget,

There is so much to carry - So much to regret.

Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top. Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,

And there by my bowl hides Fear and Shame.

As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,

But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.

Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?

Or will you just look at my things and take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, to never repack?

I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see.

But I do come with baggage - So will you still want me?

Author Unknown

Another Miracle Save

Yesterday a Brooklyn couple found a blind, very old and disoriented BT roaming around Bayridge. 

 They brought him to a local vet and paid or him to be examined and re-hydrated. They couldn't keep the guy; they have a difficult German Shepard at home. The vet said their only option was Animal Care & Control and added that a dog that old would never get adopted, that the other choice would be to wait a few days and put him down.

The couple was despondent and it a difficult situation. They miraculously found NEBTR and Jerrilyn Walter and Sheryl Trent sprang into action (as they always do!). They contacted me (a NEBTR volunteer) and I took him in. Poor guy was bumping into walls, very confused.

I posted on Craigslist, ACC, FB and a couple of other local missing dog organizations and... Drum roll.... At 1 am I heard from "Edgar # 39's" owners. They were crying tears of joy when they got him. They'd had him since he was 6 Wks and he's now 14!!! They promised to microchip him TODAY (I will be following up with that!). I also told them about NEBTR so I hope they will express their thanks in toward our little group.

So many sad stories, its always nice to have a happy ending! Takes a lot of people to get a dog to the right home. Thanks NEBTR!

-- Rebecca Bazell

Many thanks to Rebecca Bazell, Sheryl Trent and Jerrilyn Walter: good karma earned for all of you, you made it happen. So awesome. Two amazing stories in one week!  Bless you Rebecca for taking him in.  So glad he his home with  his family.  Poor baby must have been scared to death!  And Sheryl and Jerrilyn, once again, thank you for all you do!

Who We Are

Why Adopt a Rescue Dog

Why Adopt a Rescue Dog?

My parents always advised me never to buy a used car, because I would just be buying “somebody else’s problems.” Unfortunately, that’s how some people view rescue dogs-as dogs that weren’t wanted because they had problems and didn’t make good pets.

In the vast majority of cases, that’s just not true! Most dogs who come into rescue were not given up because they were “bad dogs” or had behavioral problems. Unfortunately, many people buy dogs without thinking about the time, effort, and expense involved in keeping a dog. These dogs end up in shelters, or along the side of the road, or, if they’re lucky, in rescue. In fact, the most common reasons a dog ends up with a rescue organization include the following:

The owners don’t have time for the dog.

The owners find that they can’t afford either basic vet care or the expense involved in treating an illness or injury.

The owner dies or goes into a nursing home.

The owners divorce and neither party can keep the dog. (You would be amazed at how many dogs we get as a result of divorces!)

A young couple has a child and no longer has time for the dog, or the dog no longer fits into their “lifestyle.”

The owner is moving to an apartment building that doesn’t allow dogs.

We also get dogs from kill shelters, where they have ended up because they were lost, and from puppy mills, where uncaring owners have used the dogs as breeding machines and don’t need them any more. Some dogs who have been prisoners of puppy mills turn out to be the most loving and affectionate dogs we see; it’s as if they know they have left their miserable pasts behind forever.

This is not to say that all of our rescue dogs come to you with perfect manners and are perfectly socialized and housebroken. Dogs who have been neglected and abandoned need training and gentle discipline to become good canine citizens. But so do the puppies people buy! And a rescue dog usually needs much less training than a pup. Almost Home dachshunds always spend time in a foster home, with an experienced dachshund owner, before they are placed in an adoptive home. During that time, they are evaluated (in terms of their personalities-how well they deal with other dogs, with children, and so on) and trained (housebroken, socialized) if necessary.

Another myth is that rescue dogs are, by definition, inferior to dogs bought from a breeder or pet store. Dogs who are rescued came originally from show breeders, pet stores, and hobby breeders-they run the gamut when it comes to origin. They are a cross-section of the dog population, and, as such, are no more or less likely to have genetic problems than any other dog.



Reasons to Choose a Rescue Dog

Those of us who volunteer in rescue all have at least one rescue dog, and we know what terrific pets they can be! Here are some reasons to consider a rescue dog, rather than buying a puppy, if you are ready to add a dog to your family.

You’re not starting from scratch. When you buy a puppy, you’re essentially bringing an infant into your home…a completely untrained, unsocialized little critter who thinks the crate you bought for him is a jail (and who cries to get out…at 3 AM!), the newspaper you put down for him to squat on is a wonderful toy to be shredded, your new shoes are much tastier than rawhide, and your best carpet is an excellent substitute for grass when nature calls! Because rescue dogs spend time in foster homes before they are adopted, they come to you with at least some social skills and some degree of housebreaking!

Training is easier. Whatever additional training needs to be done with a rescue dog will be much easier than training a puppy. It’s like the difference between training a one-year-old child and an eight-year-old. Dogs who have been around for a while just “get it” faster than puppies-especially housebreaking!

The bond is strong. Dogs who have not gotten off to the best possible start in life-who have been neglected or even abused-tend to be very loyal and affectionate. Remember that dogs are pack animals, and they take their treatment by the “pack”-their owners and families-very much to heart. A dog that has been neglected or abandoned once is usually eager to become part of a loving pack, where she feels safe and secure, and is likely to act accordingly. We find that rescue dogs are generally eager to please their new owners. Puppy mill rescues often want to be in your lap at all times and will follow you from room to room, just to be near you.

Fewer vet fees. Rescue dogs have had physical examinations, have been spayed or neutered, have been tested for heartworm, and are up to date on shots. When you buy a puppy, you pay for the dog AND for puppy shots, spaying or neutering, and any other basic medical expenses.

What you see is what you get. When you buy a puppy, you can never really be sure what type of dog you’re going to get. All puppies are cute and playful, but their adult personalities aren’t visible until they’re about two years old. So you don’t know whether you’re getting a dog who wants to play all the time (ALL the time!) or a couch potato. When you rescue a dog, you know what the dog’s personality is like and whether it fits with what you want in a dog companion. You also know, in advance, about any problem areas the new owner will have to address.

It teaches your children good values. Face it-we live in an extremely materialistic society, in which TV teaches kids that everything can be bought, that they should get their parents to buy them everything, and that anything worth having costs a lot of money. Adopting a rescue dog for your family presents a wonderful opportunity to teach your children basic values of compassion and caring, and also about the value of second chances.



Why Aren’t Rescue Dogs Free?

We are asked this question frequently. Some people think that, since they are willing to take a homeless dog off our hands, we should give them the dog without an adoption fee.

Well, that would be nice, and in a perfect world, it would be possible. But vet care for our rescue dogs costs money, which we must recover, at least in part, in order to go on rescuing. Each dog must have a physical examination, receive any required vaccinations (for rabies, parvo virus, etc.) and other medical care, be tested for heartworms, and be spayed or neutered. The rescuers pays for these procedures from the fees and donations received or out of the rescuers own pockets.

(Thanks to Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society for this excellent write-up about adoption)

Interpreting Rescue

Humane Society Ad Features a Boston Terrier

The Humane Society ad  featuring a Boston Terrier.  Click the link to play.

-- Contributed by Natalie

Alfi Has Been Busted Out and Is Safe!

This boy was at the Edison NJ shelter and was saved by Help Save One, with assistance from Friends of Homeless Animals and NEBTR. Here's what Help Save One has to say:

"OK so here is the update....

The shelter was horrible to deal with. HORRIBLE. My transporter called them on his way back from Ohio and told him he was taking the exit to the shelter and would be there at 4:55. They got there after driving 13 hours and calling 2 minutes before and they refused to answer the door. When they peeked in the door the shelter clock said 4:56.

Chris drove another 6 hours back the next day and no one would even touch Alfie. They said to him "Well I do not know who is going to get the dog for you because no one wants to touch him". Chris went over to his kennel and Alfie was way in the back sitting in the corner. Chris walked in and Alfie ROLLED ON HIS BACK and Chris gave him bell rubs. Chris then picked him up and Alfie kissed his face ALL OVER. He did not even crate him at all and he sat in the front seat with him on the car ride back.

Chris said the shelter removed the piercings. We need more details on that.

All in all a terrible experience and the attitude at the shelter was deplorable in my humble opinion. I was actually told "You rescues could not get your act together and we will be leaving at 5PM on the dot - no one is staying here for even a minute later on a Friday night".

Sorry, I am sure lovely people work at that shelter but Chris drove an extra 12 hours because of them wanting to prove a point - but it is well worth it because Alfie will never see the inside of a shelter again.

Anyway, what is important is that Alfie is SAFE and he is going to stay with Chris and Kim who help out Help Save One quite a bit. He is in good hands and will go through temp testing and obedience training. He will also get lots of attention.

Chris is a pretty tough guy but he said he almost cried when he seen Alfie. It was clear from taking one look at him that he was scared and feeling very much alone. Said he is smaller in person but overweight. Alfie's just a fat little bean who needs some love (and training).

Pictures to follow shortly......there *may* be some photos of Chris and Alfie sticking their tongues out in front of the shelter."


Comment from NEBTR member Isabella Marcotrigiano:

"Friends, Have you ever seen such a sad face on a Boston? My heart was breaking as I looked at Alfi's photo. How cruel and inhumane to pierce a dog's nose and then send him to a shelter as though he was valueless. I am so grateful that Cris and Kim have this poor little Boston who obviously needs lots of love and attention. Thank goodness for rescue volunteers.
Wish we could find out who had the piercing done and who did it. These folks should be prosecuted for cruelty to animals. God help our defenseless creatures.
Thank you to all who helped to save Alfi, and Cris and Kim who will foster him."

Update on Jazzy

Say hello to a wonderful older BT Ms. Jazzy. Jazzy was rescued in March of '05 and was in terrible shape. She had spent most of her 14 years in a crate for long periods of time. Her teeth and gums were so infected she had a strong odor about her and she could not eat very well and was very thin. Jazzy had to have 12 teeth removed - BUT we are happy to report that Jazzy was adopted by Bug's parents Rich and Marcia and despite a small setback which caused her recently to lose an eye she is a 22lb old timer who loves nothing more than to snuggle in bed with her family!