Paws on Your Heart success stories
This fall ITAVARR took in four pups diagnosed with parvovirus, a deadly disease that is expensive and time-consuming to treat. Through around-the-clock care at their foster home, and a dedicated veterinarian, all four pups were treated and survived. (Photo submitted)
Meet Ryder, right, a Treeing Walker Coonhound — sweet old soul overlooked by adopters for nearly a year. Then he found his perfect home with a dad who loves him and another coonhound for a sister. (Photo submitted)
By Caroline Rosacker
Pet rescue services, of which there are few, operate with never-enough funding from a limited number of sources. Adoption fees cover only a small fraction of rescue expenses. Donations and other funding are needed to cover the rest.
Paws on Your Heart Pet Rescue Support
Animal advocates, responsible land stewards and compassionate education activists Susi Nehls and Roy Blair of Guttenberg were inspired to create their endowment, Paws on Your Heart Pet Rescue Support Fund, after being introduced to M.J. Smith Senior Affiliate Advisor for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, who at the time was the Director of Affiliate Foundations for the non-profit organization.
"We were first introduced to M.J. during our financial commitment to provide the seed money that would later become The Osborne Partners for Nature Education Endowment," explained Nehls. "Annual distributions from that endowment now support special projects for nature education at the Osborne Nature Center in Elkader."
The couple's Paws on Your Heart Pet Rescue Support Fund, established through the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, is set up to make donations, in the form of annual grants, to support the good work of deserving pet rescue services in Iowa. "Most such services are devoted to rescuing pets. These pets may be strays, owner surrenders, rescues during natural disasters, retired breeders, or rescues involving hoarded, abandoned, or maltreated pets," commented Nehls. "In many cases, they may also be transfers from other animal shelters. This happens if the other shelter is overcrowded, if the pet is approaching its euthanasia date, or if the pet is sick or injured and the shelter lacks the space, time, experience, and/or funds to take care of them."
Medical care is also a common need. "At a minimum, funds are needed for spaying or neutering – an important effort to help to control overpopulation and to prevent more litters of unwanted pets," she pointed out. "In addition, funds may be needed for veterinary expenses to pay for such things as orthopedic repairs; tumor removal; control of infections or allergies; treatment of pneumonia, parvovirus, and chronic diseases; and more."
She went on to say, "In addition, some rescues provide considerable services to their communities. Some examples include free vaccination clinics for community-owned pets, and donations of pet supplies following natural disasters."
The Paws on Your Heart Pet Rescue Support Fund is supplemented by generous donors. "With our grants, we hope to reach deserving small rescues for whom our grants will have a big impact on the pets they care for," she noted. "By making a donation to our fund, you can join us in supporting great rescue groups that are helping neglected pets and are saving their lives, here in Iowa, one pet at a time."
2022 Grant recipients in action
Traditionally, Susi and Roy send out a letter to their benefactors that include success stories and photos of the great work that grant recipients have accomplished throughout the year. The following information was included in this year's letter.
Our first 2022 grantee was It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources (ITAVARR). Here are some of their successes:
When Pocket came into her foster home, she learned with only one demo how to unlatch her crate door to get a treat inside. Special fetch games followed and revealed a relentless drive and determination. Her foster mom then contacted a K9 trainer to assess Pocket’s fit as a working dog. Pocket not only passed but she was adopted and is currently being trained as a narcotics detection K9! It is a perfect future for Pocket! Her high energy and obsessive nature would have left her undesirable – maybe un-adoptable – into a traditional home. But now, she will not only get to be a narcotics sniffer, but will also be an ambassador for rescue dogs that could become working dogs.
"Come when called!" is not just a motto; it’s what ITAVARR did in October following Hurricane Ian. They mobilized their rescue van for transport, loaded up supplies, and headed south to help where needed.
Taking 14 pups back to Iowa freed up valuable shelter space in Florida for the inevitable surge of found or surrendered dogs. Another hurricane rescue, Pinky, came with special needs. He had serious sores in his mouth and under his chin, requiring surgery to fix.
Sometimes when it rains, it pours. That happened this fall when four pups taken in were diagnosed with parvovirus, a deadly disease that is expensive and time-consuming to treat. Not only did the pups benefit from initial around-the-clock care at their foster homes, they were also seen by a gifted local veterinarian who constantly researches and learns, so she can stay current with what’s best for her patients. A win-win for these four pups, all of whom were treated and survived.
Our second 2022 grantee was Dogs Forever of Iowa. Here are two stories from them this year:
Meet Ryder, a Treeing Walker Coonhound, a sweet old soul overlooked by adopters for nearly a year. Even cute adopt-me photos were not enough. Then he found his perfect home with a dad who loves him and another coonhound for a sister! Ryder is a perfect example of Dogs Forever’s commitment: when dogs come into their care, the rescue doesn’t know how long they will be with them, but the dogs are loved and cared for until their forever home is found. No matter how long it takes.
Unsolicited community gifts and support are earned by rescue organizations by their good work in the community. This year, after a young couple got married, instead of gifts for themselves or their home, they asked for donations for Dogs Forever’s pups at their shelter! The newlyweds and their daughters dropped off all the donations they received, and got to snuggle with a shelter pup as a bonus. Kindness in the world in action.
For additional information, or if you would like to made a contribution to Paws on Your Heart Rescue Support Fund go to https://dbqfoundation.org, and click on “Give Now” in the upper right. At the option to “Search by fund name,” entering Paws will take you to the Paws on Your Heart Pet Rescue Support Fund. Molly Moser is the current Foundation contact for this Fund; she can be reached at (563) 588-2700.
