Tuesday, February 11, 2014

a 12-step plan for Good Samaritans

People who pluck strays from the streets are unsung heroes in any community's efforts to prevent early deaths in crowded animal shelters. You may not know they're out there because they're working independently, without much of an internet presence and with little to no access to resources. But they make up some of the most motivated partners in the ongoing work to help homeless dogs move from danger back to safety.

We know how frustrating it can be to be a solo rescuer with no support and a dog that no one can absorb, including the original owner(s), so we built this little slideshow video with our favorite tips and techniques for attracting adopters to unowned dogs. (Needless to say, an unowned dog is one that was never able to be reunited with his original owner after all reasonable efforts have been made: INFO)

Please share this slideshow widely, so the strong hearted but bewildered Good Sams in your community can find a little encouragement and maybe even a suggestion that lands their foundling a new home. Thank you.

Video LINK

5 comments:

lisagk9x3 said...

Excellent video!

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Shauna Russ said...

Might it be helpful to remind the Good Samaritans to NEVER list a dog as "Free to good home"? Especially not our precious pitties and bullies! My friend & I used to monitor Craigslist and e-mail the "Free to good home" ads with explanations of why that was dangerous to the dogs and how to deal with that desire to not sell the dog, but just find a great home.

Steve I. said...

People who "street rescue" are the unsung heroes of the APBT.
Not meaning to toot my own horn, but that's how I got both my dogs. It was not "on purpose", but rather a matter of circumstance to save a life that was dropped in my lap. I never go out of my way to acquire an animal. When God wants me to have one, it "follows me home".
Both my pitbulls are "street rescues". My "baby girl", Snoep, had been so abused (bred by dog fighters in Brooklyn and thrown away because she has zero dog aggression) she hid under the bed for two months, but with enough love she eventually came around and is now very secure and independent and loves everyone she meets. She's also a great "ice-breaker" because she does not look like what most people think a pitbull looks like; she weighs 'only' 50 pounds and does not have a big, blocky head, so people are usually 10 minutes into petting her before asking what breed she is. With her I've given over a hundred people my "3-minute pitbull education speech", and nearly everyone is happily enlightened. Several have said they would now consider adopting one, and I always recommend a rescue rather than shelter so that they can be matched with a lifestyle-compatible dog rather than just taking home the first one they think is cute.
My big boy, Mr. Zeus I rescued from some white-trash wanna-be thug that had him as a fashion/tough-guy accessory, complete with heinously short ear crop and 20 lb. battleship-chain collar around his neck. The kid didn't know it's a bad idea to have two un-neutered males in the house and was taking him to the local shelter because once the puppy grew up he fought with the older dog for dominance. I was at the right gas station at the right time (thank God I was three hours late for work that day!), and my Queen Bee Snoep sniffed him and said "Yeah, he's kinda cool." Next day I had another dog.My dog food bill tripled. I can live on rice & beans though. It's a minor inconvenience compared to his potential fates in the local overcrowded shelter.
Myself, I don't care for any special recognition; my reward comes from the two happy faces hogging my bed every night, but other people who get 'em off the street "in the raw" do deserve a pat on the back and a prayer for them and their charges at the very least.
--Steve I.