Tails of Rescue
PAWS is very proactive in placing animals into purebred rescues. Choosing to place a pet in rescue is often the result of the animal needing extensive veterinary care or for behavioral issues. The rescue groups for breed specific dogs have expertise with their chosen breed and usually have members to provide foster care and training and member vets that provide discounted care. The rescue groups also have access to a network of potential adopters or approved applicants waiting specifically for the breed.
Purebreds and mixed breeds that enter our shelter are adopted routinely and only a few of our total intakes have gone into rescue. For the ones we have placed in rescue all over the country we pride ourselves that these groups have found our pets permanent loving, homes. You might wonder how we get the animals there. There is a nationwide CUR (Canine Underground Railroad) where volunteers all over the country drive and meet to transport the animal to the final destination. In other cases they go by plane!
Some special pet rescues have taken place at PAWS and although there have been many we have some special stories to share. Here are a few in our “PAWS OF FAME”…
“Litta”, (right) short for “Litta bit O Luck” was rescued by PAWS as a stray in Paragould with a broken leg and broken pelvis. A Border Collie Rescue in Wisconsin has provided her veterinary care including an orthopedic surgeon who repaired both her leg and pelvis. She will be placed into a loving home when fully healed.
Honey Pie (below) was confiscated for neglect in Paragould, was severely malnourished, had staff infection, heartworm and required entropian surgery on her eyes. Used as a breeding machine, she was taken by a Shar Pei Rescue in Canada that has “made her new again”. The rescue couple kept her!
Honey Pie - Confiscated by PAWS Neglect Investigator
Honey Pie one year later in her forever home - Canada.
Found as a stray, “Nervous Nelson” (right) was not nervous at all, he was deaf! Boston Terrier Rescue in Nashville has taken him in and will teach him “signing” before being placed into his forever home.
PAWS volunteers assisted with the rescue relief effort in Marmaduke in 2006, several hundred pounds of pet food was distributed and many pets were reunited with their owners.