Ok, I've completely failed in getting non-profit status for my work, and I need help.
I've been rescuing dogs for nearly four years, essentially since the first minute of arrival in Hoopa. I didn't know I'd be doing this on such a long-term, continuous basis, but here I am, some fifty dogs later, still at it. I say I'm not taking any more, but when I'm called, if there is room .... got three new pups the first week of July. I get calls regularly, at least three a week, sometimes more. I also say my limit is 9, but currently I have 11. ah well .... I say that some are going to have to live in the big pen...but they all sleep in the house and night and the pen is rarely occupied, because everyone likes to be wherever I am (it's a project to get anywhere around here with 44 extra feet helping me...lol)
I've given lip service to non-profit status and people are always telling me what money is out there via grants. I know that there is at least money for spay and neuters, and this community, with one vet 14 miles away who doesn't participate in any discount programs, and those that do being 65 miles away, needs at least that. I work with another woman to give vaccinations once a month, help with flea treatment, mange, and heartworm preventative. We can't give rabies vac because we are not vetrinarians. Stereotypes about the people here are very deeply instilled.
I know someone on DG has the experience and knowledge to get the non-profit status established for me. I would like to have some board members in other places as well as here, just to keep the local politics and bickering I've already experienced here out of the picture.
Members have offered to help in other areas, but the np status is essential before anything else happens. I'm treading water financially to keep everyone fed (160# per month, minimum) and physically, developmentally, and emotionally healthy. I need money to pay someone to do structural improvements, like fence repair (a tree fell over the winter and broke a rail on the big pen, and another came partway down and is hanging over another area of it, resting on a rail) and more fencing. I've had the materials and posts laid out for 300' straight run of fence which would give the dogs safe access to the river without interferring with neighbors for over a year, but no one has shown up for the money I can pay to have it done. I've done a lot on my own, but I'm limited in certain ways. Shoot, I can barely roll the 165' roll of 6' tall field fencing off the truck, let alone stretch it alone!
I've had some 50 dogs here since purchasing the property in 2004, with at least 30 solid placements into great homes. I stopped counting a while back... The adoptables are put on the Friends for Life website (dogrescuers.org) and I've had an ongoing thread about them http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/610819/, but the problem with working through them is my inability to update regularly or put all I would like about each dog.
I'm ready to spring for Hughesnet and their blog package, so that I can upload pictures and give regular updates about progress. This will help immensely in the adoption process, because my dogs are really fine critters and a paragraph and a single photo can't really show all that they are. I love them with all my heart.
My dogs are all housetrained, crate trained, have basic skills, are current on all health issues, and sterilized prior to going to their new homes (unless too young, then adopters make a deposit for the surgery). I've had to work through n-p on the coast for surgeries, and it's ok for me, but so far it's been a failure to work with other people to do the same. Many don't have phones, no money to pay for fuel to get to the coast, no money for co-pays, etc. but that doesn't mean they don't love their pets. I don't believe poor people shouldn't have pets. I would like to help them establish good routines and health care with them. I think folks without money to pay for the surgeries, etc. could contribute in "warm body" ways, and I know there is money out there to help with those initial expenses of having a pet.
I believe that the care of the animals will carry on through the community in a good way to caring for the land, themselves and others. I envision an agility training field here and getting kids involved in the sport in a competitive way with the "outside world." I'm known as the "dog lady" now for the most part, and some kids call me 4paws :-). In fact, I'm seriously considering officially changing my last name to Forpaws eventually, though it's an expense that takes a backseat to all others.
Comments? I can go on and on about this....
This is a photo of Pete meeting Buster. Pete was adopted after 6-7 months with me, and his owners needed a buddy for him, and Buster (I'd called him Bill originally) was the one. They live about a mile from me now and their owners have become friends; I visit with them when their humans go away (and other times).
