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Carly Jackson

Shannon Freestone

English 12

7 October 2016

For the Rescuers from the Dogs

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home.
I had no place to go, no one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets, in rain in heat and snow.
I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet,
and arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet.
No one again will hurt you, was whispered in my ear.
Youll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear.

No fear! Thats quite a remarkable claim for a homeless animal. Yet I wrote it into my poem

because that is what animal shelters in our country strive to provide. An animal shelter, by the

definition in dictionary.com, is: an establishment, especially one supported by charitable

contributions, that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are then offered

for adoption. An establishment that temporarily provides a home until the animal is adoptable.

Sounds good, right?

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However, this definition is more in line with No kill animal shelters. These shelters will

either keep animals as long as possible, or give them to some other organization that can attempt to

adopt them out. Theyll do all in their power to find a good new home for animals that may have been

homeless, or abused. This way, animals are given a second chance at life, love, and happiness.

Not only do the animals benefit, but those who adopt them do as well. They can receive some

of the best animals and friends from places such as these, (as I know from experience.) While animals

may arrive in any condition, once they are healthy, and good with people, even if it is a result of many

months or years of training, theyll get another chance to be happy and loved.

These programs really help to successfully connect people and animals. Those involved with

No Kill Shelters strive to get all animals adopted. In the meantime, they try to always offer kindness,

compassion, safety, and above all, freedom from fear.

You will be dry, you will be warm, youll have enough to eat.
And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet.
I was afraid I must admit, Ive lived so long in fear.
I cant remember when I let a human come so near.

And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,

She told me about the rescue group and what it meant to her.
She said, We are a circle, a line that never ends.
And in the center there is you, protected by new friends.

Protection. This is the true value of No Kill Animal Shelters where the goal is guarding them

and giving them a happy new home. Although other shelters take in animals from the streets, and give

them what they need, it is usually only for a little while depending upon their policies. Some shelters

will let an animal stay for two weeks before euthanizing it. Others give only 3 days, while still others

give the animals a few months, a few weeks, a few days, or even just an hour. The sad fact, according
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to the ASPCA is that every year, 2.7 MILLION animals are euthanized. That is about 1.2 million dogs

and 1.4 million cats.

This is an enormous numbers so of course most shelters who euthanize animals have excuses,

such as we dont have enough room, we dont have enough money to keep them alive, or they arent

young or cute enough and nobody will want to adopt them. While it may be true that there is no

room for the animal or not enough money, giving the animals to a No Kill shelter is the best way to

protect them for the long term.

There are multiple different rescue agencies for animals, for example Ruff Patch Rescue.

Their mission statement is We are a non-profit organization focused on finding forever homes for

dogs in need. Their animals come from animal shelters or are directly surrendered by their

owners. They try to put the dogs into a foster home so they can get love and attention until they are

adopted. It is the only solution that works to house the many needy animals.

For five months, I have been part of Ruff Patch Rescue. During my time with them, Ive

fostered two dogs, Violet, who is a Labrador Retriever mix, and Chloe, who is a Border Collie mix.

Ive learned that fostering a dog is a truly rewarding experience that enables rescue groups to save

hundreds of animal lives in need. The more committed foster caregivers are involved in the network,

the more lives are saved. And believe me, from the point of view of the animals, they desperately

need to be saved!

And all around you are the ones that check the pounds,
and those that share their home after youve been found.
And all the other folk are searching near and far
to find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star.

She said, There is a family, thats waiting patiently,

and pretty soon well find them, just you wait and see.
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And then theyll join our circle theyll help to make it grow,
so therell be room for more like you, who have no place to go.

This circle of people who choose to help foster an animal is in urgent need of expansion. There are so

many dogs that just need a place to live and be loved until they get their permanent new home. Id

like to encourage everyone to consider fostering an animal. Its simple -- just follow these easy steps:

1. Fill out a foster application

2. Let the facility know the type of dog that fits your family and lifestyle.
3. When a dog in need is matched for your family, they will contact you to discuss bringing the

dog into your home.

4. While the dog is living in your home, youll be expected to provide for the dog as if they

were your own. This includes providing food, shelter, establishing boundaries, and addressing

any training the dog may need.

5. After any medical or training issues have been identified and resolved, the dog will be eligible

for adoption and begin attending adoption events each weekend.

Now that is the hard part: going faithfully to adoption events every Saturday, even knowing

that your foster dog could be adopted. They expect each foster caregiver to be reliable and committed

to their foster dog until their forever home is found. Its so important to love the animals enough to

remember that what they want and need is a permanent home with a loving family. If the dogs could

tell you themselves, this would surely help convince each of your of their desire for a family to love

them:

I waited very patiently, the days they came and went.

Todays the day I thought, my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think it wasnt meant to be,
there were people standing there just gazing down at me.

I knew them in a heartbeat, I could tell they felt it too.

They said, We have been waiting for a special dog like you.
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Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be.
hank you for the life I live and all youve given me.

But most of all protect the dogs in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person to lift them off their feet.

Now I realize that the dogs may not be able to thank you with words or confer on you the

blessings a foster caregiver deserves. But should you choose to join those who kindly open their

hearts and homes to the unwanted and unloved animals, I promise you its a very rewarding

experience. I believe that all animals, no matter what age, as long as they are healthy and gentle, are

adoptable.

Unlike in my poem, the animals cant actually speak for themselves; its up to you and me to

do that. Wont you please consider joining those who loan their hearts for just a little while to an

animal who desperately needs their help? Their fates depend on us to be their voice and their

sanctuary. Are you up for the challenge? I know I am.

Works Cited
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Callahan, Jocelyn. "Foster Program." Ruff Patch Rescue. Stacie Marie Ward, 05 July 2014. Web. 10

Oct. 2016. <https://ruffpatchrescue.com/foster-program/>.

Callahan, Jocelyn. "Ruff Patch Rescue." Ruff Patch Rescue. Stacie Marie Ward, 2016. Web. 10 Oct.

2016. <https://ruffpatchrescue.com/>.

Gray, By Allison. "3 Big Reasons Why Animal Shelters Euthanize Pets." Petful. David Deleon

Baker, 07 July 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2016. <http://www.petful.com/animal-welfare/why-do-

animal-shelters-have-to-euthanize-pets/>.

"Pet Statistics." ASPCA. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016. <http://www.aspca.org/animal-

homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics>.

"The Definition of Animal Shelter." Dictionary.com. LLC, 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.

<http://www.dictionary.com/browse/animal-shelter?s=t>.

Ward, Stacie Marie. Personal interview. 1 Oct. 2016.