It has been an almost 2 year hiatus for There's No Place Like Home Animal Rescue. We had experienced many changes in our personal lives including the birth of a baby as well as the loss of primary veterinary care for our rescued animals. Those things combined caused us the need to pause majority of our efforts. Although rescuing is always needed and never has an opportunity for pause, we had no way of providing affordable medical care for our animals and could not accept any new creatures.
Although our lives have propelled forward during these 2 years, there has been an unavoidable tug at our hearts and we knew that something was missing. We always knew that this hiatus was not an end to There's No Place Like Home, but we didn't know when we would be able to resume our work.
We happened into our local animal shelter somewhat on a fluke a couple of days ago. One of our outdoor kitties who had been rescued three years ago, had recently passed away, and we felt that we have the room to welcome another into our family. So we went in search of one needy adult cat. The Pinole shelter, however had no cats available on the day we visited. And we absolutely couldn't leave without viewing the dogs.
Karen and I both probably knew but wouldn't say that we were thinking similar things. We wanted to rescue, we wanted to grab cage card after cage card from the kennels of so many lonely dogs and tell the front desk that we'd take them. Our veins were pulsing with the excitement of saving lives.
We also knew that we are in a fragile place, with no foster homes and only very expensive veterinary care available to us. But so many times in the past have we left the shelter with more animals than we knew where to put right away, and they all managed to have their medical needs met and then some, and all found homes.
We took one cage card to the front desk and explained that our website would soon be back up and running, that we would bring by business cards when we have them, that we were back, four paws at a time.
A few minutes later, Frances, the tan chihuahua puppy who would bring us out of our sabatacle, was brought up to us. A bit shy and in need of a bath, I had the familiar feeling of immense excitement mixed with apprehension. After all, we hadn't discussed any real plan for how we would get this puppy spayed, fostered, or advertised for adoption. But rarely do we discuss a plan, in matters of the heart, things just seem to work themselves out.
It has been four days since we met Frances and broke her out of shelter jail. She has had a bath, vaccinations, and now happily wears a collar around her neck. In these four days, she has found a foster home with a wonderful Marin county family while we await her spay appointment. With them, she will learn what it's like to be part of a family, walk on a leash, socialize with their own dogs, all in preparation of integrating into a family of her very own.
There's No Place Like Home Animal Rescue is back, saving and rehabiliting four paws at a time. We appreciate your visiting us online and your continued support of our organization.
Anyone interested in potentially adopting Frances, can see whether or not she is available by visiting our 'dogs & puppies' page under the ADOPT tab.