Welcome to Dusty Paws Rescue’s very first blog spot. We are very excited to start blogging for the Castro Valley Patch, but before we do, we would like to introduce ourselves and tell you what it is we do.
Dusty Paws Rescue, Inc., was established in June of 2007 and is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization. We consist of 5 board members, about 80 volunteers and about 15 fosters; none of which receive any type of compensation for their contribution to the organization.
Dusty Paws Rescue’s purpose is to save abandoned, neglected, and/or abused animals. The majority of our animals come from shelters where they are deemed ‘unadoptable’ for medical or behavioral reasons or sometimes simply because the shelter is too full. The rest of the animals find their way to us in miscellaneous ways, such as an owner surrendering their animal to us or someone asking us for help in finding a new home for their animal.
We have a wonderful group of about 15 fosters who place these animals temporarily into their homes where they are cared for while they await their new permanent homes. For some animals, this is their first experience being loved and cared for. Our fosters care for the animal through adoption, and many fosters often have multiple animals at one time.
While in our foster program, the animals receive spay/neuter surgery, all vaccinations, micro-chipping and any additional medical care they require, no matter what the issue. We make the commitment to these fosters for their entire life, we never give up on them, no issue is too big or too small. All supplies are paid for by Dusty Paws Rescue, such as food, crates, blankets and/or warm clothing, as well as all vet bills.
We have a very unique adoption process to ensure to good fit for the animal and the adoptive family; as our goal is to ensure a forever home for the animal. Our potential adopters must complete an application, participate in a telephone or personal interview, have a meet and greet with the entire family and if that goes well; we do a home visit to ensure the home is safe.
If it seems like it would be a good fit, we will leave the foster animal on a “sleepover” for a period of 10-14 days to make sure that everything works out for the family and most importantly, the foster animal. If that goes well then we will go ahead with the adoption. During the sleepover period, at any time it is decided it will not work out, we will pick up the foster immediately, no questions asked.
Our adoption fee is $250 for adult dogs, $300 for puppies, of which $50 is refunded when the puppy receives a Certificate of Completion for a puppy class, $100 for cats/kittens and $70 for rabbits.
These fees apply regardless of how much we have invested in vet care prior to placement. An example would be an animal who had any type of surgery, treatment for an illness or disease, skin condition, etc. Adoption fees are not based on what we have invested to get the animal happy and healthy.
To offset the expenses we have several annual fundraisers though out the year including Dog Washes, Bake Sales, Yard Sales, Fashion Show, Sporting Clay Shoot, Golf Tournament and added to our annual fundraisers will be a Crab Feed in 2013.
This is where our volunteers play a vital role in the organization by donating their time to assist with the fundraisers, helping to keep our website up to date, managing our Facebook page, coordinating events, providing transportation for animals, writing for this blog even! The list goes on and on. Our wonderful group of volunteers allows us the opportunity to work like a well oiled machine.
Speaking of a well oiled machine, allow me to introduce you to our Board of Directors: Diane Meranda, President, Wayne Meranda, Vice-President, Dan Etzel, Treasurer, Julie Etzel, Secretary and Susan Daley, Director. This team has 60+ cumulative years of experience rescuing and fostering animals and related areas of rescuing animals, including administrative duties. If there’s a will, this team of board members will certainly find a way.
This blog will provide valuable information such as ‘what to look for in heat stroke’ ‘what do the effects of an obese dog have on its body and life span’ ‘the heath benefits of spaying/neutering’ and so on. Of course we will feature a foster animal of the week and we will sprinkle in a feel good story here and there. If there is a specific topic you would like to hear about – let us know!
If you are interested in volunteering, fostering, adopting or making a donation, please visit our website at www.dustypawsrescue.org
Please look for us on Facebook where we post our fosters, tips, missing pets and found pets, etc.
- Dusty Paws Rescue
