Paws for Parker Refuge and Rescue, INC. stands up for our furry pets with paws who do not have a voice. My name is Crystal Neal-Little and I am the President and Founder of PFPRR. Each year millions of abandoned pets die needlessly in shelters simply because space is limited. It affects all of us in rescue to watch all those animals that we love so much die for no reason. Puppies, all sizes and breeds, seniors, pregnant mothers and so many more. In the United States alone roughly 7 million to 11 million die yearly and this, sadly to say, is just the dogs. The cat's rates can be close or exceed the dogs' numbers every year. This is why fosters are important. This over population is why it is so important for responsible pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. Otherwise this constant death rises and continues.
I once expressed to another rescuer that rescue is like trying to empty the ocean with a spoon. You can take some out but there's a whole ocean that will still be there. Unfortunate, but true.
At times Rescue seems endless and sad because let's face it we feel like we are deciding the fate of the dogs that live their day to day behind chained bars and concrete walls. These dogs and cats can smell fear and death. They are not sure what they did to be brought here. After an owner surrenders their dog, or cat, to the shelter that animal waits patiently for their loved one to return, but only to be heartbroken day in and day out when they do not come back. For this reason, imagine having to choose one dog to be pulled and think about its kennel mate who is left there. The kennel mate probably with sad eyes saying tomorrow I die why couldn't you have saved me too!?
Unfortunately, the reason behind this is simply that rescues and rescue fosters are full. Rescues need fosters in order to continue to help all the animals we can. We need a foster group to ensure that we thrive and survive. As a foster parent, the foster gives love and daily needs are met. However, as a foster that pup/dog is still considered the rescue's responsibility to find the forever home for that dog. A Solid Foster Group allows the rescues to rotate the dogs and keep them safe. In my next post, I will elaborate what makes a foster great and the basis of foster-rescue communications.