Top Foundations for Animal Rescue Groups

This is an old list/not as good as my Top 100 report, but is a place to start.

http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/statistics/pdf/04_fund_sub/2006/50_found_sub/f_sub_d_06.pdf

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I've just finished developing an online course for folks who need to get their tax exempt nonprofit status, i.e. fill out the forms for 501(c)3 certification. WHEW! We're doing a live course in Knoxville TN next week and the online course is live NOW.

Community -- a good thing

When's the last time you got together with a bunch of other rescue people? Not at a meeting and greet or other dog event, but just the two-legged components? To talk over area rescue issues, share resources, brainstorm solutions?

Knoxville area rescue groups started doing this a few months ago and it's been a great thing. We have the occasional guest speaker but even when those don't show up, we find plenty to talk about. Big snaps to Pattye Elliott of East TN Bloodhound Rescue for getting all this started!

If you don't have area rescue meetings, consider starting one. I know, I know -- Rescue Groups are legendary for fragmenting. But if everyone can just remember why we're all into this, it can work. I has to work. Unless you really like wasting time and money -- and dog lives -- over human ego issues. Not good. Very not good.

Be as good as your dog. Play nice with others. Don't be a special needs case and don't make me get the muzzle out.

Cyn

I find it very hard not to hate some times....

With great sadness, I must report that Mitzi, the Saint Bernard pictured below, underwent an emergency C section on Saturday, resulting in ten healthy pups. Tragically, Mitzi herself, weakened by the neglect and strain of carrying her pups, did not survive. They were unable to stop the bleeding and lost her on the table.

Some may call it sentimental foolishness or unwarranted anthropormorphism, but I want to believe that on some level, she cared about her pups and knew they would be safe.

During her last week, which might have been her first week as an inside dog, Mitzi began to relax in her safety. Her foster mom reported that Mitzi often came over and just looked up at her, sighed happily and tentatively asked for a pat. She was just beginning to trust and become the Saint she was meant to be when we lost her.

Mitzi was willing to give people another chance. I'm not so sure I'm that good of a being. I look at a case like Mitzi's -- and let's face it, we've all seen more horrible ACTIVE abuse than the simple gross neglect Mitzi suffered -- but I look at a big, gentle dog like Mitzi and I know that there is evil in the world. What kind of miserable human being allows so many litters to be produced and does not provide basic medical care? To be pregnant and covered with filthy and fleas? To be so thin and weak? And then to be turned in at a kill shelter, left outside in an uncovered cement run while a week away from giving birth?

How do I wrap my mind around the concept of a person who could do that? It is so far from what I think of as being a human being that I just don't get it. I understand desperate circumstances, I understand poverty -- but was there no other way? Nothing else at any point in time that this sorry excuse for a human being could have done?

I don't know, people. I just don't know. I. Don't. Know.

Such sadness.

Thanks be to doG we were able to help.

A few days back, Smokey Mountain Saint Bernard Rescue got a call from a shelter -- a pregnant SB had been owner-surrendered -- could SMSBR take her?

Of course they could. They never turn away a dog if they can help it.

They went to the shelter. THis sweetie was in an outside run living on concrete, no dog house. VERY pregnant. VERY.

But the new momma was going to need medical care. And the county shelter had a $100 pull fee unless the rescue has 501(c)3 status, which SMSBR doesn't have.

Enter ARI. I got the call and after talking it over with SMSBR, we decided to accept this gorgeous petite (125lbs!) girl as an ARI teaming project. We provide the 501(c)3 coverage and some case supervision, as well as help fundraising, and the group gets to spend that money on medical care.

Of course, she's had no vet care that we know of. She was examined last week and is carrying 12-14 puppies. In the vet's opinion, she's around six years old and has born lots of litters. Lots.

Well, no more. She will never have to worry about medical care, warm blankies or food again. She is getting used to being a house dog. She is finally starting to seek out human attention instead of cowering. At 125 pounds, probably 22-25 pounds of that is PUPPIES. She is a very small Saint and is underweight even for a small one. After the puppies are weaned, she'll probably be available, unless her foster family decides to keep her!

She's due any day. I'll keep you posted.

With your help, ARI is able to be there for groups like SMSBR, to help them do the frontline rescue work. Thank you.

And one last thing....

I seem to have this magnet stuck on my forehead that attracts borderline personality disorder folks. If you are one such individual -- diagnosed or simply constantly convinced that the world should orbit about you -- I would seriously encourage you to leave me alone for the rest of the week.

Seriously.

Because I personally am done wasting time over things that accomplish nothing and that would include dealing with borderlines. There are people who are trained to deal with borderlines. Go talk to them. You'll get further. Trust me on this.

Molly update

Well, as it turns out -- Molly's name is actually Mandy. And now, almost two week post-surgery, she's doing very very well. The bones remain perfectly aligned and we are waiting for an Xray tomorrow to confirmed that a callous is forming between them. (At least I think that's what it's called. Will ask Dr. Andrew tomorrow to confirm that.)

I want to give serious props to Governor John Sevier Animal Clinic for taking her in and fixing her up. Dr. Andrew in particular. This gorgeous young girl has a chance for a wonderful life thanks to Dr. Andrew and his boss, Dr. Deny Ryan. If you run into either of them, tell 'em thanks.

It's easy to get discouraged. I guess it's been that kind of day for me, and maybe it's just a reflection of a tough world out there. Today, I heard a lot of folks saying, "We just don't have funding," or "We're redeploying resources," or "We can't commit to it."

For instance -- I can't understand why every animal welfare agency in this region isn't just insanely rabid about getting a Maddie's Fund grant. Why are we not all putting aside personal crap to work toward eliminating euthanasia in our region in the next ten years? Are we really that much more petty than the dogs and cats we protect? Would we rather kill them and stew over past grievances instead of doing everything in our power to make sure that this STOPS? Is that really who we are?

I'm past being annoyed, folks. I simply cannot understand why anyone in this rescue world is willing to tolerate putting down so many animals. Now, let's give major snaps where they're due -- the Spay Shuttle, Animal Works, Fix-A-Pet -- all doing great work with low/no cost spay and neuter. And to the generous folks who fund those programs. That's righteous stuff.

But as for the rest of us -- I tell you, some days I simply do not have the strength left to fight the insanely petty and human-centered controversies that surround rescue. No. I don't. Not at the moment. It's like yelling that the Emperor has no clothes on. Seriously. Does the rest of the world simply put on blinders and walk past this?

But tomorrow will be another day. I'll get up, make it to the Knoxville Geek Breakfast, leash walk my recently-neutered Greypup, and start in on it again.

I havea new project in the works, by the way. Something to accompany the Model Medical Clinic. It's an Animal Advocacy Clinic, to provide legal advice and counsel to rescue groups, and to perhaps work on some legislation. We need this. We need battle-harded legal talent to take this war to the streets of the courtroom (to really mash up a few metaphors.) We need people in there swinging for the fences, maybe even getting held in contempt occasionally. Because isn't that part of the reason most of us went to law school? To protect the helpless? To even the playing field? To do justice and good? To make a difference?

Yes. It is. For far more people than will admit it. I come from a generation that was going to change the world. And we can still do it.

So -- be on the lookout for funding opportunities for us. Stand up with us and be counted. Let's make a difference. We can do it. We can.