Most Compelling Story Finalists - Rescue Bank Story Contest 2017
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Most Compelling Story
Finalists
Rescue Bank Story Contest 2017
For Rescue Bank use only – Do not distribute.
This document is confidential and may not be further disseminated or released without the prior written permission of Rescue Bank.
Livingston
Organization: K9 Kare, Houston, TX Before
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid
from Rescue Bank.
Livingston was saved from the streets of a small rural
community. He had one foot shot off and had all but
given up by the time we were asked to help. He was hurt
physically and emotionally. He was starving. His road to
recovery was long.
What is his/her life like today?
Livingston today is living his life with a very loving family.
He has his very own little boy whom he loves dearly. His
family says they are so very blessed to have him in their
lives
What is his/her life like today?
Livingston required a great deal of rehabilitation
physically and emotionally. It took time. The supplies
provided by the Rescue Bank help to supplement the
long term expenses of taking in a medical dog like
Livingston. Thank You.
After
Freight Train Felina Organization: Ghetto Rescue Foundation, Los Angeles, CA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. (20-200 words) We honestly have no idea what "Freight Train Felina's" life was like before she was found that day beside the railroad tracks. She had one front leg totally amputated, her back leg mutilated, and her tail was pretty unattached. She was obviously hit by a train. She was barely alive and full of infection, yet still so very loving. A good Samaritan took her to one of our vets. Her outcome was bleak without serious medical care and surgeries...but first they had to address the infection. She had to be in horrendous pain, but she was loving and gentle with all the vet staff. She gave kisses constantly. The initial recommendation was to put her down. Then, a vet staff member called our rescue saying she is trying. So we had to try. Her temperature went from 104°F to 101°F. The infection was subsiding. It was a good start. Things got better and she was strong enough for her surgery, which went well. The amputation of the leg was cleaned up and her poor tail was removed. The back leg was stitched and she is put on crate rest. What is his/her life like today? (20-200 words) As of now, Felina is standing, eating well, and giving kisses to all. She is resting well at our vet. Her prognosis is positive. Each day is better than the previous. We are totally confident our new tripod will find a loving home. She is a very new rescue for our organization, but we felt it was worth telling her story. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Dear Rescue Bank: We were able to send a driver to deliver a few bags of the dog food we recently received for Felina. We have found an appropriate foster home for her and your generous dog food donation will help tremendously. Thank you beyond words for your support to us and all of the rescues.
Before After Scarlet Organization: I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven, Warren, MI Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. A waste of resources. That's what Scarlet's former owners must have thought of her. After all, what good is a hunting' dog that won't hunt? Starved, overbred, body riddled with infection; this was Scarlet's condition when she was dumped off at a rural shelter, doomed to die. She had been sold time and time again, never knowing the comforts of a bed or a soft pat on the head. She was terrified and alone when we rescued her. What is his/her life like today? It didn't take much to bring this sweet hound dog out of her shell. A little extra attention goes a long way, and Scarlet has begun to understand what life will be like from here on out! She has developed a fondness for comfort that can't be matched; her dog bed is her throne and it takes a lot of coaxing to get her out of it in the morning! She wags her tail now, and dances. Her smile lights up the room. She has blossomed into the dog she was always meant to be! Even better -- our sweet Scarlet is on track to be adopted soon into a home where she will experience all of life's greatest comforts, and to earn her keep, all she has to do is be her sweet, goofy self! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The extra food provided by Rescue Bank has enabled our organization to assist those animals that need just a little extra attention. Dogs like Scarlet who need more frequent feedings benefit from the extra food coming in, and the funds cleared up by the reduction in food costs allows us to rescue more dogs from a life of neglect. Rescue Bank truly helps create happy endings!
The 27 Rescued Cats Organization: Animal Welfare Friends, Monticello, IA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. It is July in Iowa. We are thirsty, because there is no running water. We are hungry, because there is no food. We are hot because the air conditioner does not work. We itch and hurt and are covered with scabs from scratching, because of the flea infestation. We are sad because we want to be clean and there are no litterboxes and two feet of garbage and feces cover the floor. We want to breath fresh air, but cannot because the windows are only open two inches. We mourn our feline friends that have already passed away in the apartment. This is what life was like for 27 cats before their owner contacted local authorities and our animal shelter for help because he had to go to the hospital and did not know what to do. That phone called changed everything for these cats. What is his/her life like today? Our animal shelter quickly put together a plan of action, and one of the first things we did was call our local Rescue Bank Affiliate. The first words we heard from our Rescue Bank contact was “What do we need to do to help?” Immediately, we were provided with donated food and litter, which were priority items. We were also provided with cages to give us safe places to sleep and heal and blankets to keep us comfortable. The cats are slowly, but surely, on the way to recovery. Most of the 27 weighed under four pounds (a couple adult cats weighed 2.5 pounds), when they should have weighed closer to eight pounds. At this time, all have gained at least a pound. Having the food from Rescue Bank was key in making this happen. Half of the rescue cats have been cleared by the veterinarians and our shelter is now looking for homes for them. The remaining cats are in various stages of recovery, but hopefully within the next few months they can also be placed with forever families. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Our shelter is small, and while we have a dedicated volunteer base we were overwhelmed with an influx of 27 cats who needed a great deal of care. Because of the poor condition of the animals, we had to provide a great deal of veterinary care. Being able to get reduced cost food and litter through Rescue Bank has literally and figuratively been a lifesaver. In addition, Rescue Bank has provided cat scratchers to keep the cats happy in their cages as well as some donated medical supplies. The Rescue Bank community has been an ongoing source of advice, assistance, and support.
Grandpa Organization: Special Needs Rescue Services, Inc., Grantville, GA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Grandpa was born in 2008 to a stray mother. He was part of a litter that grew up under the porch of an abandoned house. No one wanted him. He received no socialization and distrusted people. Even at a young age, he was a fear biter. He also became aggressive to the other dogs in the neighborhood. There were many fights. In 2013 he was stabbed in the back by a hunter who wasn't happy to share his kill with a starving dog. The wound was serious, long and deep. He still bears the scar. Then he was captured by dogfighters and used as a bait dog. When he escaped and returned to his old neighborhood three years later, his face was badly scarred, both ears were shredded, and there were wounds over his entire body. Now he was no longer aggressive...just fearful. His spirit was broken. In early 2017 Grandpa fell into a deep hole. He was starving and looking for food and water. He was there for several days before someone noticed and hauled him out. But no one could touch him after that. A local rescue posted his story online and when I read it, I wanted to help. When they brought him to me, he was starving, sick, and very afraid, I was worried that I could never get him to be responsive in a positive way. What is his/her life like today? Today Grandpa is 10 years old. He came to me suffering from PTSD, starvation, heartworms, other parasites and entropy in both eyes. He also had serious skin issues and lesions over his entire body. It was hard to treat him or even approach him because he was so withdrawn and fearful. Happily now, months later, most of this is behind him. He is learning to trust and even seek out affection. He has his own bed in the house, his own food bowl, and toys to comfort him. He is starting to interact with the other dogs and tries to be protective of his home and property. He has put on weight and can now see without pain. The scarring on his corneas has disappeared and because he can see again, his confidence is back. Grandpa is also smart and very grateful. He KNOWS we saved him and tries to show his appreciation every day with some affectionate gesture. All he needed was a chance. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. If the generosity of Rescue Bank were not available, it would be difficult for us to continue to provide the care and support to animals in the utmost need. We operate by referral only, and only take those animals rejected by other rescues. Ours is often last chance for many of these dogs and cats. The reasonable cost of Rescue Bank food is wonderful. It enables us to provide the very best food and also pay our other contingent expenses, most notably, our vet costs. Our mission is always to restore the animals in our care to health and to find them wonderful, permanent homes. So thank you Rescue Bank for helping us to help the most needy.
Monsoon Organization: Kitty Cat Connection, Kansas City, MO What is his/her life like today? When we found Monsoon, he was crawling through a downpour to escape a semi-feral colony. We were unsure whether he was looking for his mother — with whom he would be most likely to survive — or whether she had met with tragedy or rejected him. It wasn’t even 50 degrees outside, and the torrential rain was endangering him more. Further aggravating his condition were the other animals around him. Poor Monsoon was barely six inches long and less than eight ounces. The heavy rains had driven the earthworms out of the ground, and a forefinger-thick nightcrawler that was fully a foot long was writhing about on the sidewalk near the kitten. It somehow caught up with poor Monsoon and wrapped around him like a boa constrictor. And though it probably couldn’t hurt him, it was scaring him. Not to mention us. Complicating matters were the adult ferals, who were fascinated by both the nightcrawler and the sodden, mewling kitten. They were batting at them and dragging them along the sidewalk and through mud puddles. For 15 minutes, with the kitten calling all along, a mother never came, and the temperature continued to drop. The decision was made. We had to rescue. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Monsoon was only half a pound when we saved him. He needed nursing, medicine, and intensive care. Because we rely on food from Rescue Bank, we can afford to save some of the most precious and fragile kitties like Monsoon as well as healthy ones. Hillary Clinton famously wrote that it takes a village to raise a child. It may not take a village to save a cat, but it does take a colony, and Rescue Bank is a crucial member of ours. The money we saved by using Rescue Bank also let us microchip Monsoon. And that saved his life when his first adopters dumped him in the city streets. A good Samaritan turned him into a vet, who scanned his chip and called us. And just this week we found him his real forever home. Poor Monsoon lost his first colony 18 months ago, only to gain a new colony that was dedicated to his well-being and happiness. And so many people came together, each contributing a little bit in different ways, to save this kitty. Food provided by Rescue Bank helped make the miracle of Monsoon possible.
Rizzo and Her Family
Organization: Safe Now Animal Rescue and Foster, Manhattan, IL
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank.
Dolly was a very pregnant stray. She was brought to a high intake shelter in
Kentucky. She had her 7 puppies in the shelter and was then rescued by Safe
Now Rescue. It was soon obvious something was very wrong with Dolly. Many
tests and procedures were done to help save Dolly but sadly, she did not
survive. Dolly’s puppy, Rizzo, was also very sick and needed extensive
care. For a couple of weeks, Rizzo struggled, but she always received the care
she needed. She and five of her siblings survived, but it wasn't easy or
inexpensive. The food donated through Rescue Bank helped in two
ways; once they were old enough Rizzo and her litter mates ate the puppy
food donated through Rescue Bank and they grew strong and healthy, AND
with the money we saved we were able to get proper care for this entire
family, without hesitation or worry. Thank you for making it possible to save
her and 5 of her siblings.
What is his/her life like today?
Rizzo has been adopted and is loved very much. She is smart and quickly
learned a few tricks. She is healthy and happy and brings joy and love, along
with emotional support to her owner. You see, little Rizzo, now known as
Lulu, is going to be an emotional support dog for new owner. And it is very
easy to see the comfort and joy Lulu brings to her.
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization.
Knowing the dogs are receiving quality food for just a small shipping fee has
been a blessing. This allows us to spend the money that would have gone to
food on other things the dogs need.
Additional Pictures of
Rizzo and Family
Penni Organization: Fur Friends in Need, Staten Island, NY Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Imagine that you are a pit bull living in a dark basement, never seeing the light of day. Imagine that you are not feeling well and being so afraid that you can’t even walk without the company of your dog housemates. You are ripped from the place you call home although it a miserable place, it is familiar. Imagine, you have to be carried everywhere because fear has paralyzed you. Now imagine you are in a kennel separated from your housemates in a strange loud place with other dogs you do not know. There are strange people around you trying to touch you. Seeing sights and hearing sounds you have never seen before and experiencing the smell of death. What is his/her life like today? Imagine hiking through the mountains of Nevada, Havasu Canyon, Lone Pine, rappelling ravines and swimming in the crystal blue waters the Grand Canyon offers. Imagine a life filled with nothing but love, fresh air, and exercise. Imagine owning the best hiking gear available and being cared for and loved to no end. Imagine not worrying about your food or water. Imagine a life filled with the most beautiful and serene sounds Mother Nature has to offer. Imagine taking in views you could never conceive existed and living a life without a care in the world. There is no need to imagine, because this is the life of our rescue dog Penni (formerly known as Jeena). She was rescued from SIACC Death Row along with two housemates, Gemma and James. The three dogs were pulled from Death Row as Fur Friends in Need’s rescue policy is that all littermates and housemates get pulled, no animal is left behind. Our foster based rescue always takes them all! Penni was the most terrified of the three dogs. She lived in a basement. While we do not know what she endured, we do know she was so afraid that she wouldn’t walk anywhere unless accompanied by one of her housemates. When alone, she needed to be carried everywhere she went, even to relieve herself. While she was in foster care, her foster noticed a growth on her. Fur Friends in Need took her to a local vet to have the growth assessed and eventually removed. This is when Penni’s life truly changed. There, she met her new owner. He knew she was special. Penni was adopted and it took months for her to trust anyone. She wouldn’t even make eye contact. Her owner did not give up on her even when he relocated to the west from NJ. He let us know he was moving and we wished them well. Her owner, being extremely athletic started taking Penni hiking with him and noticed that she loved this activity. It started to change her, for the better! Penni began to trust him more and more. It was gradual. Over the course of a few years, he and Penni have developed such a bond because of their shared love of adventure. Now, he carries Penni not because she is paralyzed with fear but because they are hiking together and sometimes he needs to carry her. Penni trusts him completely and even rappels. Their hikes through some of the most beautiful mountains in the west have transformed her. She has friends and was featured in a story done about her on The Dodo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAtKGdB450M) Penni even has her own Instagram page "Pennidog". She is still not free from all her demons, but she has become somewhat of a celebrity and is enjoying her life. While Fur Friends in Need rescued Penni from Death Row it is her owner that has truly given to Penni what she needed most, the opportunity to come out of her shell and become the dog she was meant to be. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. It is because of the generous food donations we receive from Rescue Bank that we can help dogs like Penni and her housemates. The donations we receive allow us to put our money towards medical care and other items that our death row dogs, owner surrenders and unwanted seniors require. Penni and her housemates have all found homes and although they did not remain together they are all living charmed lives free from abuse!
Boxer, Felix, and Bandit Organization: Nannys Fur Kids, Port St. Lucie, FL Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. These three were from a cat family that was inbred many, many times. They were found on a farm. We could never catch their mom to have her spayed. When they came to our rescue, they all had their own issues. Boxer had one ear that went out to the side and was smaller than the other. Felix had his front nails grow upwards and we had to have them removed due to the request of health issues. Bandit always had eye infections and always needed eye drops. Bandit and Felix were adopted in January 2017. We always tell our adopters that if they don't want them anymore, bring them back with no questions asked. Well, Bandit was brought back with his one eye hanging out. We rushed him right to the vet. They gave him all kinds of medicine to get the infection and swelling down. He had to have his eye removed. The staff at the vet stayed after hours to help our boy. What is his/her life like today? The vet kept Bandit for a few days to monitor him. He came back to our rescue with a patch on his eye. Over the next few weeks his eye healed and you would never know he had an issue, except for an eye missing. Bandit is so lovable and spoiled. As for his other brother, Felix, we got him back also and they're great. We are just looking for a fur ever home for them. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Without the help from the Rescue Bank, we could of not have afforded all these vet bills. The reduced cost of the food and litter gave us more funding to care for many medical vet bills. Each one of our feral cats have their own story. Without the help of the Rescue Bank, we wouldn't be able to take in any more ferals that deserve to be loved.
Marley Organization: Los Gatos Foster Animals, Grand Blanc, MI Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Marley was born in a garage to a free roaming Mom. She and her sisters were found at about three weeks old; they all had Bot-fly larvae burrowed into their skulls. What is his/her life like today? Marley is a spoiled girl living the great life with her forever family! She is recovered from the Bot-fly larvae with only a physical deformity in front of her left ear. She’s beautiful and a completely normal cat! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The Rescue Bank food and litter donations have been invaluable to Los Gatos. We can shelter more animals by providing food and litter support to our foster families. We have placed over 700 kitties in 2-1/2 years, because of our partnership with the Rescue Bank!
Merrily Organization: Charming Pet Rescue, Boerne, TX Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Once upon a time there was a very sad and lonely dog living in a drain pipe. Her eyes were full of puss, her feet were bleeding, and her body was scaly, cracked, and bleeding, full of mange. Her pointy ears hung low, painful with a double infection. Needless to say, she was the definition of miserable! One day, along came a rescuer who spotted her laying in the drain pipe she called home and called to her, she came immediately without hesitation. She was put into a crate and taken to the vet. On several meds and on a comfortable dog bed, after a nice warm bath, her story is looking up! We named her Merrily after the classic tune - “Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily, life is but a dream” - because that's what her life would be transforming into, a dream life for this sweet, neglected girl. What is his/her life like today? Weeks passed and Merrily's fur was growing in, her eye infection that seemed to never want to go away, started to heal, her ears were standing up straighter and she had a smile that would light up the room! All of the volunteers loved coming to see Merrily and the progress she made. She especially stole the heart of a volunteer named Wanda who would come weekly to give her a long luxurious bath and massage in coconut oil! We posted Merrily for adoption and very quickly, before she was even able to take a fully healed, pretty picture, a woman contacted me. She fell in love with Merrily and wanted to adopt her! She still had some time to recover and meds to be finished and she accepted full responsibility of the completion of her care. Angels do exist!!! And she lived happily ever after. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Rescue Bank made a huge impact on Merrily as the food we received gave Merrily the nutrients she needed to survive her rehabilitation and recovery.
Lincoln Organization: CatVando TNR, Maywood, IL Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Lincoln came to us emaciated, with rotten teeth, about as close to death as a cat can be. A young boy found him on his lawn, on a hot day, unable to move, barely breathing. His mom called the Franklin Park Police, which led him to us. This poor baby had been abandoned by his owners. We suspect he’d been trapped in a house, with no access to food until someone opened the door and let him out. A volunteer took him to our vet. He only weighed 4 pounds, 8 ounces. He was so weak, he couldn’t get his back legs into the litter box. His eyes were sunken and overshadowed by the bones of his skull. He was starving for love as much as food. He had to be petted, cuddled, and talked to before he would begin his meal. He was given a good canned food, mixed with supplements and immune boosters. What is his/her life like today? After a few months of good food, vetting, care and lots of love, he grew both in body and spirit. Everyone that met him, loved him. Then one day, a young woman saw him on petfinder.com and fell in love. Knowing he was a senior, his background, the fact that he requires special care, she took him into her home and heart. She continued what we started for Lincoln, who became a very lucky cat. We couldn't have been happier with this outcome. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. CatVando sponsors over 400 cat colonies, across 24 zip codes, in W. Suburban Illinois. Many of our feeders are financially disadvantaged. The assistance we receive from Rescue Bank can't be measured, because it expands our resources. We help about 11 caregivers with Rescue Bank food. Like Ms. Ernestine, who is 80 and called to ask if we could take her cats. She could no longer afford to feed them. She loves her cats. She traverses down 6 stairs, with a knee at right angles and crawls back up just to feed them. Without the food provided by Rescue Bank, the cats of another registered caregiver would be eating milk and rice. It's not just the cats that benefit, it's the people that feed them too. They'd be heartbroken if they couldn't feed their cats. We are truly grateful to Rescue Bank donors and volunteers who make this happen.
Demi
Organization: Special Pals, Houston, TX
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank.
We had to wait an extra day to see her. The plea went out on Facebook from volunteers at a high-kill shelter begging for help in
getting this girl out of there before her three-day stray hold was up. The Special Pals employee scrolled past the photos, not wanting
to look at yet another dog in need, but an hour later, sleep still eluded her and she found herself going back to the volunteer page to
find the photos of the female American Staffordshire Terrier with the sad eyes.
There were the pictures! The employee e-mailed her boss the photos asking if she knew of a rescue that could take her and help her.
Her boss e-mailed back saying, “Yes! If they can bring her to us, we will take her!”
The other shelter was e-mailed immediately saying that Special Pals would take the stray if they could transport and they said they
would have someone bring her to us the next day! When the “next day” arrived, so did the e-mail telling us that “no one is willing to
put her in their vehicle to bring her to you so it will be tomorrow before animal control can bring her in the truck.”
We wondered why “the truck” because, in the photos, the dog looked “crusty” but not that bad from the obvious (confirmed)
mange, but it was a short-lived thought as we opened to the public and had an extremely busy afternoon.
What is his/her life like today?
The next afternoon we received a text saying that the animal control officer would be at Special Pals within 30 minutes. We had
decided to put the dog with mange in one of our doggie retreats for seclusion until our vet could take a look at her so it was already
set up. When the animal control vehicle pulled in, we were still not open for the day so we all met the truck. When he opened a
compartment on the truck, all we could see was a big, naked head with two of the saddest eyes looking back at us.
We carried this girl to the doggie retreat since she wouldn't walk, thanked the officer, and went into the retreat with her. She needed
a name right away and someone said “Demi, after Demi Moore from the movie where she shaves her head bald!” and Demi it was.
Demi WAS crusty all over. . .until she moved. Then scabs and skin would flake off and her sheets would be bloody within hours and
have to be changed. It took Demi 2 weeks before she would even look out the door we left open each time we came to check on her
and change the puppy pads we put on the floor. She arrived painfully thin and we knew that she would need proper nutrition, GOOD
nutrition, in order to help her heal from the inside, but we knew Special Pals had that covered from the grain-free, limited
ingredients food we had just gotten from the Rescue Bank! The best part was that there was enough of the food to see her through
treatment, and then be able to continue to keep her on, the same food!
Demi's emotional well-being has been slower to progress than her physical healing. The first time she ventured out, on her own, from
the doggie retreat and stood with all four paws on the ground, a trunk slamming down had her running, as if for her life, right back to
the safety of the retreat! We all had to laugh for she looked just like a baby hippopotamus!! Her fur, however, has grown in a rich,
glossy black color and we know that had her diet been a poor one, we wouldn't behold the beauty we see before us today! Demi
continues to make progress emotionally and entertain us all with her antics as if she knows that laughter is good for the soul!!
Demi is now available for adoption!
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization.
Special Pals no longer worries about receiving "good food". The "too thin" or "scrawny" puppies and dogs, kittens and cats are all
gaining weight, keeping it on and their fur shows the difference!
Additional
Pictures of DemiClyde Organization: Nana's PIT Stop & Bully Breed Rescue, Denton, TX Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. (20-200 words) Clyde was rescued from a high kill AC death row. He was listed as an unadoptable Pit mix, unaltered, with skin issues and eruptions. He was due to die the next morning. A foster stepped up so I agreed to pull him. I met the foster at the shelter, completed the paperwork, and this poor, sad, huge, skinny, Pit-Mastiff mix was brought out from the back. He had no hair except for a tiny bit on the top of his head and he had open lesions all over his body. His toenails were so long he could hardly walk. I immediately took him to a veterinarian to find out what I could about his skin condition. Turns out he was also heartworm positive. Long story short, the "foster" fell through as she had failed to tell me she had cats and Clyde did not like cats, other than for an afternoon snack. We had no room at the rescue for this guy and had no money to pay for the heartworm treatment. I was totally overwhelmed and not being in rescue very long I didn't know what to do. I had only applied to the Rescue Bank at that time and was awaiting an answer. My only thought was that I had to take this very big, very sick dog back to the shelter. I put that on Facebook. People started responding and I was able to secure funding for the heartworm treatment. That didn't solve my problems however, of a place to keep him or all the other vetting and daily care, food, and Rx costs I was about to be up against. I took him in anyway and decided I'd figure something out. I couldn't let this helpless boy die after I'd witnessed how he was with a two year old child. He LOVED children. He would put his head down so they could pat him on the top of his head. It was the only place Clyde didn't hurt. He was too big to fit into any of the XXL crates that I had. I took Clyde home, set up a portable kennel inside an air conditioned garage and got to the job of getting him well. Two weeks later, I got word that I had been accepted into Rescue Bank. Woo Hoo! Now that I was able to get all of the dogs food at such a low cost, I had the money to spend on all the veterinarian costs to get Clyde back to an acceptable level of health. Over the next year, Clyde grew to be one of our favorites at the rescue. He had the personality of a clown. After his skin healed, it had the appearance of elephant skin. His lesions were healed, but he still didn't have a full body of hair. A sparse sprinkling at best might describe his hair. He responded well to the HW treatment and after six months tested negative. We still wondered if anyone would ever take a chance on this big sweet mutt. Then one day I got an application to adopt Clyde. What is his/her life like today? (20-200 words) The day we took Clyde for his home check I was so nervous. I was partly afraid the family would change their mind, or that something would not allow me to let them adopt him. Clyde's body still had huge spots of baldness. He certainly wasn't the most beautiful dog we'd ever rescued. But they were ready for Clyde to be a part of their family. Clyde knew this was going to be his new home. He trotted around the back yard with his head up, his nose sniffing the new unfamiliar smells in the air, then walking back to his new family to get some loving. In the house, Clyde found the child size sofa and promptly laid down on it and went to sleep. It was pretty obvious that Clyde was happy about the situation. We left after about an hour and I cried all the way home. I guess I'd grown to love that big ole dog. As we do with every dog we adopt out, I checked on Clyde the next day, the next week, and then I got an email with several photos attached. Clyde is now living the life of Riley! He has a little boy that adores him and takes him for walks. His family includes a mom, a dad, and a little girl that uses him to pull up on so she can stand up. Clyde's hair has mostly grown back thanks to getting a weekly bath in some special shampoo. He is fat, happy, and loved. Clyde still likes the kid's sofa over his own bed. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. In short, if we did not have the Rescue Bank, we would have had to shut the doors. What we were spending on dog food before, allows us to use that money to pay vet bills that otherwise we could never even consider. Thus, we can save more dogs. We could not survive without the food Rescue Bank provides.
Jack, Jill, and Rocky Before Organization: Rockin Pets Foundation, Torrance, CA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid After from Rescue Bank. These three kittens came from a colony in Norwalk that we were notified of. Forgotten and neglected, along with the rest of the colony of cats dumpster diving just trying to survive and get a meal. These three were feral and very sick with upper respiratory infections, eye infections, dehydration, fleas, and anemia. They lived in an apartment parking lot and had to dodge cars all day and run back and forth in the summer on hot asphalt. Luckily, these three made it out. What is his/her life like today? After much TLC and medical intervention, these three are thriving! They are healthy and have come out of their shells and have shown their purrsonalities :) They all love to play with their feather wands and catnip toy mice. Their coats are shiny and they have gained weight. They never have to worry again about being fed or if they have to scatter away because a car is coming. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. I can proudly say that this colony is now 100% contained! :) All of the cats there have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated #TNR. With Rescue Bank and their donor partners providing food for this colony and their caretakers, we can allocate our funds to ensure that every cat there gets fixed, vaccinated, and receives any medical care that they may need. We are so thankful for this blessing.
Noelle
Organization: Route 66 Rescue, Inc., Springfield, MO
Before
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid
from Rescue Bank. (20-200 words)
Noelle is a black Pitbull girl, who, one icy morning, appeared
in a yard covered with abscesses and lacerations. One hind
leg tucked tightly to her stomach, she appeared almost
skeletal. Was she a bait dog, a fighter, or a hapless stray who
had been attacked by other dogs? There's no way to know,
but she obviously needed help. The resident could not take
this injured dog inside, but did feed her and called for help.
She put a crate inside her storm shelter and gave Noelle a
blanket, food, and water. The next day, Noelle went to our
vet where she was treated for infection and evaluated. Until
she healed and had been eating for a while, it was difficult
to know which direction to go for her rehabilitation.
Altogether, she was in such severe pain that first vet visit,
that we did not untuck the leg for radiographs at that time.
When she was improved enough to sedate her and take
pictures of the injured leg, it was obvious her hock (bend in
the back leg) was destroyed. There was no repairing the leg.
What is his/her life like today? (20-200 words)
With her long-term foster, although Noelle was still in poor
condition, the antibiotics were doing their job, and she was
picking up a little weight. It was a slow process, but she
knew she was being cared for and that she was loved. That
was powerful medicine. When she was able to undergo
surgery, Noelle's injured leg was removed, and it wasn't long
After
before her foster became her forever mom.
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your
organization.
Like Noelle's injury, long-term medical treatment and
rehabilitation is expensive. Money is always scarce in a
rescue, and with food available through a food bank, funds
are more available for treatment.Wendell Organization: St. Louis Pet Rescue, Fenton, MO Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Industrial parks are very dangerous places for kittens as we all know. This summer alone St. Louis Pet Rescue rescued two kittens from a local industrial park, both kittens with horrific injuries. The second of these kittens we named Wendell. Wendell was very small, emaciated, dehydrated and had part of his left front leg missing with bone exposed, and he was walking on the bone! This caused a severe infection with tissue necrosis and the need for the rest of the leg to be removed. After spending a couple days at our veterinarian's office receiving antibiotics, IV fluids, pain medication, and all the necessary care to make him stable for surgery, Wendell’s left leg, or what was left of it, was amputated. Weighing in at only 1lb 3oz, we almost lost him during the surgery. What is his/her life like today? Wendell spent two weeks at the veterinarian's office recuperating from his surgery. A large part of this recovery involved receiving a steady diet of nutritional food to build up his small body. Since Wendell required extensive medical care, purchasing his food through the food bank allowed us to direct much needed funds towards his medical care. Two weeks following his surgery, Wendell was released into a loving foster home where he made a full recovery. He has no restrictions in the home as he gets around as well as any of the four-legged kitties that reside there. Six weeks following his rescue, Wendell is weighing in at 2lb 12 oz., an increase of 1lb 9oz over a six week period of time which is a good healthy weight gain for any kitten. He will be going to his loving adoptive family at the end of the week, where he will enjoy the company of a sister who is missing the same leg he is! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The Rescue Bank continues to make a huge impact on our rescue group. Every non-profit organization has to scramble to receive funding from individuals and businesses in the community to cover their many expenses. When we can purchase food at drastically reduced prices, this allows us to direct more of our donated funds towards our escalating vet bills.
Before
Orion
Organization: Even Chance Pit Bull Rescue, Des Peres, MO
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from
Rescue Bank.
We don't know Orion's back story, except that he was found as
a stray and desperately needed our help. The amazing staff at
St. Louis County Animal Care & Control introduced us to this
sweet boy. As soon as we met him, we knew we needed to
help. He was completely blind and was in quite a bit of pain. He
was scared, confused, and unfortunately, being in a loud shelter
intensified his anxieties. He had hair loss and skin infections.
What is his/her life like today? (20-200 words)
We are committed to Orion. We immediately got him into a
comfortable and quiet home so that he can rest and begin to
heal. We put him on the food, Nutro Clean Venison. Thanks to
the Rescue Banks generous supply of such a quality high-end
food, Orion's skin infections and stomach upset cleared up right
away! Getting his general health back so quickly allowed him to
be in good shape for us to focus on his eye issues and begin to
treat them. Though we are unsure of his eyesight prognosis at
this time, we know he is healthy and happy! We are so lucky to
have access to such quality foods that allow our dogs to be their
After
best!
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your
organization.
Because of Rescue Bank's food supply, we are able to focus our
small budget on healthcare and training for our dogs. This is
imperative in order for a small rescue like our own to survive.Deacon
Organization: St. Louis Pet Rescue, Fenton, MO
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank.
Deacon and his family were rescued from a “buy, sell, trade” Facebook page stating
that the owner needed help with “twisted leg kittens”. On the night of their arrival in
St. Louis from Cape Girardeau, all kittens received medical exams which showed all to
have upper respiratory infections, all were deemed underweight, probably due to the
stress on the mom of feeding such a large litter and the fact that she was a little
malnourished herself, and two were missing radial bones and joints in their forearms
causing them to “army crawl”. The worst of these two was Deacon. The medical term
for this condition is called Radial Agenesis. There is no therapy or treatment,
however, the missing bones do not cause any pain. Deacon would just need to adapt
and do things a little differently. For example, while sitting upright, Deacon sits on his
hind legs almost as if in a bunny stance.
Deacon
What is his/her life like today?
While in rescue, the family quickly became known as Mollee’s Miracle Babies, and
during their stay in rescue the Rescue Bank provided a miracle of its own for this little
family. With the extra medical attention and cost that was needed to get them
medically cleared for adoption, the money saved by purchasing food through the
Rescue Bank allowed us to provide them with proper nutrition and direct additional
funding towards their medical care.
Not all stories in rescue have happy endings, but Deacon’s story does. With extra
tender loving care and proper nutrition, he and his four siblings grew healthy enough
for spay/neuter, and all five were adopted along with their mother Mollee. One
kitten was paired with another kitten in rescue, and the remaining four siblings were
adopted in pairs. Deacon and Enid, the two kittens with the missing radial
bones/joints, were adopted together. His adoptive family loves him to pieces and are
now thinking of taking on another special needs kitten whom I am sure Deacon will
welcome to the family albeit in his little unique kangaroo style.
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization.
Without the Rescue Bank supplying food at a reduced cost, St. Louis Pet Rescue would
not be able to take on many of these special needs cases.Trinity Organization: Rescuing Unwanted Furever Friends, Casey, MO Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Trinity came from a hoarding situation. Her owner loved her and the other dog, but passed away suddenly at the age of 41. Trinity sat quietly in an outdoor kennel while rescues came and got the dogs. She had a stomach full of tumors and we knew she would require a lot of funds to care for her. We choose to take her and make sure she received the love and care she needed to live a happy healthy life. What is his/her life like today? Trinity is doing very well in her furever home and had many, many months of vet care with numerous surgeries. She is very happy and healthy in her furever home Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. We can't say enough about the Rescue Bank and what their help means to our rescue. As a small foster based rescue help of this kind offers us the funds to spend on our rescues. The extreme neglect cases that requires lots of dollars for medical. And we can offer them good quality food to help with their recovery.
Tiana Organization: Lucky K9 Rescue, St. Charles, MO Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Tiana came to us from an extreme hording situation. She went from being surrendered by her owner at CACC only to be "rescued" by a hoarder where 46 dogs were found neglected on the property. Her sister, Athena, was never found and we can only hope that Athena is safe somewhere. Sadly, along with many of the other dogs on the property she had been over-bred and was skin and bones. She had developed severe anxiety during her time with the hoarder which has made it difficult to get her adopted. She has been with us for 3yrs, she is impeccably trained and very loving, but will need a family who can provide structure and security for her to keep her anxiety levels down. What is his/her life like today? Tiana has a wonderful, dedicated enrichment buddy who takes her hiking, jogging, and on outings each week. She is an amazing dog and while she has not yet found her forever home we know her perfect family is out there. Without the food from the Rescue Bank, the cost to feed her over the years would have taken funds away from our ability to save other dogs!! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The Rescue Bank has allowed us to focus our efforts on saving other dogs in need without having to worry about the high cost of food for feeding our pups. Without the volunteers running the Rescue Bank and the manufactures donating this food our small rescue would NOT be able to do as much as we do today.
"The Lucky 13“ - Maiden, Beso, Claire, Piper, Layla, Falcon, Jersey,
Angel, Pebbles, Morkie, Ellie, Bug, Swagger
Organization: Lucky K9 Rescue, St. Charles, MO
Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from
Rescue Bank.
Before After
On August 6th, 2016 Lucky K9 Volunteers went to a liquidation
auction in Milan, MO. Lucky K9 Rescue took in 13 dogs among
the 450 that a New Jersey Pet Store, Just Pups’ owner Vincent
LoSacco auctioned off. Dogs were hoarded by the pet shop
owner; crate upon crate they were stored in a van overnight
outside his shop, because there was no room for them inside.
What is his/her life like today?
We are happy to say that all 13 pets have found their forever
homes, either through adoption or permanent fostering. Some
of the dogs are more emotionally scarred than others, but they
are all doing beautifully compared to the mill life they knew
before, or were about to know. One of the dogs, an adult
female Rottweiler, age 3, had never known grass. She was afraid
of it when she first saw it. She is now running and playing with
her human sister and best friend.
Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your
organization.
Each of these dogs came with significant emotional and physical
scars. Thanks to the Rescue Bank, Lucky K9 was able to focus on
getting each dog the medical care he/she needed with more
ease.
Additional Pictures
of “The Lucky 13”Logan Organization: Top Dog Rescue Group, Troy, MI Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Logan's life before reaching the rescue was not filled with much affection. He was reportedly in more than one home with his bonded mate, Lilly, and used more than once to breed. Most of his time was spent in a pen. Then, for no reason, Logan and Lilly were turned into local animal control. Despite the lack of love and affection in their lives, Logan and Lilly have the sweetest dispositions and love attention. Top Dog Rescue worked very hard to obtain these two from the shelter to ensure they would no longer be used for breeding and to give them a chance to find a loving home together. What is his/her life like today? Logan's life still has some challenges, but is looking up. After the rescue took him in, they noticed a blistered growth at the top of one of his front paws. No one had ever bothered to treat or diagnose what was wrong. After extensive and expensive tests, it was revealed that he had a form of cancer in his foot. After multiple consultations, it was determined that Logan's best hope for long term survival was amputation. As hard of a decision that is was, we wanted to give Logan every chance at long term survival. Logan has had his surgery, and after spending a week recovering at the veterinary clinic, is back at the rescue and is doing remarkably well. Despite losing a leg, his attitude and personality are so resilient and awesome. After some follow-up doctor visits, the rescue will resume looking for a home for Logan and his partner Lilly. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The Rescue Bank makes a significant impact to our rescue. Cases like Logan's are very expensive, and while we can sometimes find donations to help pay for part of the treatment, it can still be a big expense to the rescue. And many of the rescues with medical issues do not bring in the donations to begin to cover the cost. The Rescue Bank allows us to obtain nutritious food for our rescue animals, and to use the money we save on food to pay for a variety of medical bills the rescue pets need. Thanks so much!!!
George Organization: Top Dog Rescue Group, Troy, MI Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. George was living in a narrow strip of woods in between subdivisions. He was completed scared of people, and would only be seen late at night before garbage day, or looking for food in some backyards. After months living this way and avoiding live traps, Top Dog Rescue finally received a call to help. George was live trapped by Top Dog using warm fried chicken. He was skinny, and completely afraid of humans, and had been foraging for food, avoiding coyotes, and avoiding humans for a long time. What is his/her life like today? George's life is completely changed. He spent several weeks in the rescue being allowed to calm down and become more socialized. Eventually, the rescue had confidence that George was ready to be put up for adoption into the right home. Fortunately, a great home was found where George has a fully privacy fenced yard to romp in with his "cousin", an owner who owns their own pet- related business and takes George with her everywhere. Reports back from the adopter indicate George is doing fantastic! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. The Rescue Bank has made a tremendous impact on our organization. It's always a struggle to find the funds necessary for all of the medical treatments the animals need, and the need to give them high quality nutrition. Since we often get animals that have been neglected, we house those animals longer to ensure they are healthy and happy before we look for homes. The food costs associated with maintaining so many animals for longer periods of time can be very high. The Rescue Bank has been a big help to us as we manage through that challenge.
Jackson Organization: Lucky K9 Rescue, St. Charles, MO Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. In August 2016, we received a call begging for help for a dog that had been dumped on the side of the road. He had stayed in the same place waiting for his people to come back for him for three weeks. He wasn't tied up. He just sat there waiting. People had been feeding him take-out, but he wouldn't let anyone close to him. Finally, a woman patiently waited him out as she offered him a burger. He came home with her and slept in her bed that first night, happy to be indoors for the first time in weeks. He was covered in bug bites, underweight, and anxious when he came into rescue. What is his/her life like today? Jackson now knows nothing but love! He is still waiting for his forever home, but while he waits, he enjoys weekly outings with his enrichment family. They go to the park, out for ice cream, on walks, shopping, and he even delivered Girl Scout cookies. He picked out his own toy at the pet store for when he goes over to their house. His enrichment grandma even has toys at her house for him. He brings a smile to everyone's face with his big goofy smile and outgoing personality. He loves everyone he meets and is proud to help people better understand his breed. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. If we didn't have support from the Rescue Bank, we wouldn't be able to take dogs like Jackson in and provide them with the medical care they need upon intake. Our financial resources would be depleted quickly paying for food for each dog at full cost. We have senior dogs who require monthly medicines that are quite costly as well, and the food bank helps free up those extra funds to provide what each and every dog needs.
Finn, Brown Sugar, Puppies Organization: Happy Paws (Checotah Shelter), Checotah, OK Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. Finn was taken in as a stray by a family. He had been running the neighborhood for months. One of the teenage sons of the home owner admitted to his mother that he had been torturing the dog, including drowning him and hanging him. Not to kill him, just to torture him. The son was placed in a facility for evaluation and we took the dog. Brown Sugar was dumped at a rural house that was for sale, but empty. The homeowner went to check on his place and found her, all alone with no food, water, or shelter. We receive hundreds of puppies a month. Some dumped, most just unwanted. What is his/her life like today? Finn and Brown Sugar have both been accepted in a prison training program where they will spend 12 weeks getting AKC certified. After their certification, they will be adopted to veterans as service animals. The puppies are going to Paws Chicago and Anderson Animal Shelter in Illinois to be adopted. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. We have taken in, vetted, and transported over 600 puppies this year alone along with 250 adult dogs. All dogs are vetted prior to leaving so the food donation allows us the opportunity to use money allocated for food in other areas. We also are able to help many more dogs. And the dogs love the food!
Monet and Her Four New Babies Organization: FluffyButts Rescue, Urbandale, IA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. When I got a tip about a "bunch of Chihuahuas" living together that needed help, I said yes without knowing where they all would go. FluffyButts Rescue often takes on dogs that need a little extra help, but little did I know that in not much time at all the four dogs I took in to rescue would turn into 10! That's right... two of the little females were pregnant! What is his/her life like today? We sent all the dogs to separate foster homes, and little Miss Mama Monet ended up in mine. After a few weeks she gave birth, with only a little help from me, to four beautiful puppies. She was the best mama I have ever seen. I am so thankful she was somewhere warm and safe to have those babies. Two boys and two girls. Now, that's a lot of tiny mouths to feed (and a lot of poop to pick up). Rescue is never a cheap adventure, and suddenly feeding five extra mouths could have been a huge burden. But thank dog, it wasn't. Our little rescue was lucky enough to receive a fantastic food donation of high-quality puppy and mama dog food made especially for chihuahuas - Royal Canin Chihuahua Mother and Baby, and Adult, and Puppy! How fantastic is that!? Without the Animal Rescue Foundation, the Pet Food Bank, and Greater Good organization, providing quality food for these dogs would have been difficult. Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. Endless thanks to these organizations whose hard work made the new lives of some special little dogs that much better. The money we save on the food goes toward the surgeries we need to pay for, such as getting Monet spayed, and all four of the babies spayed and neutered before they went to their new homes, dentals, and all the vaccinations they need. We're able to save so much money that it's hard to explain how appreciative we are for this program.
Robert Organization: Panora P.E.T.S., Panora, IA Briefly describe the dog/cat's life prior to receiving aid from Rescue Bank. A sickly thin stray tom cat showed up dragging along an unusable mangled front leg. He was rushed to the vet for emergency surgery to remove the leg and treat the infection. The vet told us his injury was from a gunshot wound and he had been dragging around that leg for some time. Robert was sick and frightened and with his sparse, faded, mangy fur, his cloudy eyes, and his skinny frame, he was an absolutely heartbreaking sight. After surgery he went to a foster home and for months he never left his cage – he just ate and slept…ate and slept…ate and slept. As Robert started putting on weight and feeling better, he spent a lot of time watching the foster kittens that shared his room and it wasn’t long before he began attempting to play with them whenever they poked their little paws in his cage. Soon, the kittens were jumping into his cage and he happily shared his food and began grooming them. Before long, Robert jumped out of his cage to play with the kittens and never looked back! What is his/her life like today? Robert continued to gain weight, heal, and acclimate to an indoor life with humans and kept up his “foster” dad duties until all the kittens had been adopted. We listed him as available for adoption and waited for the perfect home that would understand his need for kindness and patience as he was still a little leery of humans. A wonderful family that had previously adopted another three legged kitty from us fell in love with his on-line profile and knew Robert was the next member of their family when they actually met him in person. They recently shared pictures of him looking as healthy and happy as can be…and even seeking out their love and attention! Please describe the impact Rescue Bank has made in your organization. We are a small non-profit shelter located in a rural community and receive no government funding of any kind. We struggle to make ends meet every month while trying to help so many stray, feral, and abandoned kitties and stray dogs in our county and surrounding areas. By being able to purchase food (and litter at times) from the Rescue Bank at such a greatly reduced price allows us to feed all the animals with good quality food and use the money we save to continue helping more animals in need.
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