The afternoon of April 24th, 2022 was a wonderful day for an adoption event at Garvies Point on the Glen Cove waterfront. Sponsored by Rescue Paw Foundation, London Jewelers and other supporters, the mission for the day was saving lives and finding loving families for homeless dogs. Securing homes for pets in need — and supporting the shelters and rescues that care for them in the meantime — is an important part of the work being done by Rescue Paw Foundation. We have been responsible for saving over 10,000 animals to date, locally and from the southern U.S. as well as internationally.
With many shelters and rescues from Long Island and New York City in attendance, there were plenty of beautiful pups, young dogs and senior dogs on-site, all eager to find their forever homes. There were vendors selling pet-related products, and of course the Our Cause for Paws jewelry line was represented. Proceeds from all of these items as well as from a bake sale, a pizza truck and an ice cream truck all went directly to aid our rescue efforts. The weather, the number of attendees and the lovable dogs helped to make this a most successful afternoon. So far, 33 dogs and counting have found their new families as a result!
We look forward to hosting more adoption events, but we can’t continue to save precious lives without caring people like you. Please consider making a donation to Rescue Paw Foundation to make more events like this possible, and to help secure veterinary care and transport dogs to safe shelters until they find their forever homes! We are a volunteer-based organization and every cent goes towards the animals.
People who leave their pets at shelters may think they’re doing the right thing. But here's a hard truth: in an average year in the U.S., about 10 million animals die in shelters. Once your pet is left at a kill shelter, it has around 72 hours to be adopted before it is destroyed. They are almost always at capacity, and there are many more animals being abandoned each day than there are homes that welcome pets in. Even the healthiest, most loving companion animals are susceptible to the harsh conditions at over-crowded shelters.
No-kill shelters are committed to never euthanizing healthy animals, or even animals with illnesses that are easily treatable. But this commitment to nursing animals back to health and caring for them for as long as it takes to find permanent homes requires lots of funding -- and lots of hard work by full-time staff and volunteers alike.
A big part of the solution is to reduce the number of pets making their way into the shelter system in the first place, especially by expanding access to spay and neuter services. Humane education in elementary and middle schools can also be a vital tool in increasing empathy, compassion and the critical thinking skills to make ethical decisions regarding the treatment of animals. Rescue Paw Foundation considers these critical missions, and we do whatever we can to provide support and funding to our partner organizations dedicated to keeping companion animals alive, happy and healthy.
Don't shop, adopt!
As the saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Introducing a new pet to your current one can be a bit nerve-racking, but if you follow these simple steps, your furry friends’ nerves are sure to be put at ease.
Dog & Dog Introduction
First and foremost, it’s important to take the introduction process slowly. Have your dogs meet in a neutral place and leave them on the leash so you can keep some distance between them. However, allow them a little freedom to maneuver. The idea is to acquaint the dogs with each other while avoiding any hostility or discomfort between the two.
Before going inside your house, it’s helpful to have the dogs spend some time in your yard. To start, keep them on their leashes until you notice more relaxed and positive movements from both dogs. Once they seem to be more at ease, drop the leashes so they can interact freely.
Bring both dogs into the house at the same time. Make sure you have created an environment where each has their own space and belongings: food and water bowls, beds and toys.
We recommend supervising play and not leaving dogs alone in the house until you’re sure they are comfortable with one another. Be patient and in due time, animals and humans alike will feel happy and content in your loving home.
Cat & Dog Introduction
To the surprise of many, it is possible for dogs and cats to get along – and in some cases, even become the best of friends! It all comes down to the steps you take to introduce the two. In this case, it’s important to ensure that your cat has an area and belongings to call their own, including a litter box, scratching area, toys, food and water.
Keep your current pet in a room while the new pet roams the house to get familiar with their surroundings. After this, set up short, controlled meetings with your dog on a loose leash and do not allow inappropriate behavior (barking, growling, hissing) from either pet. (However, do not punish, because each animal will then associate the other pet with punishment.) Bring each pet’s favorite treat and toys to this meeting and end the interaction before either pet gets aggressive or angry. Permit the cat to roam as he or she pleases and reward the dog for listening and being calm. Repeat these sessions until the animals appear to be getting along well. Then you can allow them to roam freely throughout the house. It is recommended to continue to separate the cat and dog whenever you are not present to monitor them.
By using a gentle, thoughtful introduction process, you can create an everlasting friendship between all your furry family members.
Welcoming a new pet into your house is much like preparing for a new baby or an elderly relative to move in. The more thought you put into making their environment safe and comfortable, the more potential accidents you can avoid. Follow these tips to help reduce the risks:
- Purchase pet-friendly furniture and opt for removable cushion covers that are machine-washable. Silk and velvet probably won't wear well in a home with pets!
- If you have carpeted floors, invest in a high-quality vacuum. Do not leave small items lying around your floors.
- Install window screens, baby gates and fences as needed, and make sure animals don't have enough room to crawl behind large appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator, etc.) where they may get stuck.
- Keep your toilet lids closed at all times.
- Make sure all your trash cans, including the ones in bathrooms and bedrooms, are the lidded variety and always keep them shut. Pets can become ill from ingesting many of the items commonly found in our trash.
- Along the same lines, move all foods, medications, cleaning supplies and chemicals to an area that your pet cannot access.
During the adoption process, be sure to get all the information you can about your new furry friend. Ask about your pet's specific history, allergies and propensity for getting into mischief! The more you do to prepare, the happier they (and you) will be in their new forever home.
If you or a member of your family has developed an allergy to your beloved pet, you're probably feeling devastated at the thought of parting ways. But before you take the drastic step of dropping your pet off at a shelter, we urge you to consider the myriad alternative options!
According to the Mayo Clinic, pet allergies are typically a reaction to dander, the dead flakes of skin shed by cats and dogs. Symptoms can present as similar to hay fever (sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes), asthma (wheezing, difficulty breathing) or skin ailments (itching, rashes). Try cleaning more frequently to avoid the buildup of dander, using air purifiers with HEPA filters throughout your home, and keeping pets out of the bedroom of the allergic family member.
Fortunately, mild symptoms may be treatable with over-the-counter remedies. If those are ineffective, prescription medications and allergy shots are also available. Meet with your doctor to discuss which medical treatments, if any, are appropriate options for you.
If none of these suggestions work to alleviate your allergies and it becomes necessary to find your pet a new home, check first with trusted friends and family members to see if anyone may be able to take in your furry friend. Bring your pet to a shelter only as a last resort, and only after carefully researching to make sure that the facility you're considering is a humane no-kill shelter that will provide a clean, safe and loving environment for your pet until his or her forever family can be found.
At a kill shelter, your pet has only about 72 hours to be adopted before it is destroyed, and even the most beautiful and loving pets are susceptible to the harsh emotional and physical conditions at overcrowded shelters.
So many loving families homes are waiting for a pet to come into there lives.
The process of adopting a pet isn’t always easy and many people become discouraged causing them to shop rather than
adopt.
This is a brief overview of what rescues and shelters look for when adopting.
Fencing..
if you live in a home with a yard the shelter wants to make sure that your new pet will have a safe place to run
around and not get out to get lost. Make sure that your yard is protected. You can also get a pet collar with a
virtual fence that will help to keep your dog safe within your backyard.
Family...
Bring the entire family to meet the new pet..
the shelter or rescue will want to meet the family so they can assess if this adoption seems like a good fit.
Other pets in the home..
A shelter or rescue will want you to bring your other dog along with you to come to meet your new pet on neutral
territory.
This will help them to see if there is synergy between the new pet with other pets in your home.
Home alone..
A shelter or rescue will also ask the pattern and schedule of the house.
They will want to know how many hours a day the pet will be left alone ,
how many time’s a day the dog will be walked and who will watch them if you go away on vacation.
They may require a virtual tour of your house and yard now that they can’t visit in person during covid .
Please keep in mind that these questions and regulations are in place to help the let and you adjust to a wonderful
life together.
Everyone wants to make sure that the pet will have a safe , loving home for its whole life. If you show them that
you can be a responsible pet owner they will be thrilled to have you adopt with them!
Tough times for some make it difficult to keep pets in their Loving homes. This is a time when pet owners need information on how to be able to keep their pets safe and at home instead of turning them out on the streets or leaving them in a shelter. There are many pet care assistance programs that are there to help save your pet ... If your pet is ill.. there are different organizations and grants to help . There are foundations that specialize in supporting pets that are ill and will help to pay for the veterinary bills. Please google it to see which organizations and how to apply for a grant.
You can also ask the local vet to see what they recommend. If you are having difficulty because there isn’t enough food to feed your pet .. There are many local food banks and food pantries that supply pet food along with food for you and your family. Many local shelters also have food pantries to assist with this. Please google or call your local shelter and food bank to see the one closest to where you live. If your pet needs vaccinations or spay-neuter there are also many shelters and organizations to help with this too.
Many times there are low cost spay-neuter vans that travel and will come to your area to help with this. Please look it up as well or call your local shelter or SPCA to inquire. Some shelters have specific Days set aside for vaccination days and spay-neuter days. All it takes is some effort and curiosity to make the calls and google to see how you can be aided. Keeping our pets healthy and happy and safe in their homes Is possible! It Just takes love , effort and care.
There are so many homeless unwanted animals all over the world. In the USA there are too many homeless animals in the
South. In the North there are many shelters with empty cages.
We are happy to say that most shelters were picked clean and fosters and adoptions were at an all time high.
Unfortunately the overflow of unwanted animals still creates a large homeless population that needs help.
Rescue Paw Foundation helps these animals. We work with boots on the ground partners funding them to go into the
streets and the high kill shelters in Texas. Texas is the number one kill state in the USA. After we pull these
animals on the kill list we vet them and transport them to our partner shelters and rescues up North to find their
forever loving homes. Over time we have rescued approximately 6,000 dogs , some cats and a coupe of donkeys from
places that are over populated or from disaster areas . These puppies were recently rescued from Texas and are
waiting for their forever homes.
There will be plenty more to come but we can’t do it unless we sell the Our Cause for Paws jewelry.. every piece sold
saves a life! Generous proceeds from the sale of this beautiful collection helps to save innocent , precious lives.
We can’t continue to save them without caring people like you.
Please see our work on Our Cause for Paws Instagram and Facebook
Fostering a pet from a rescue or shelter is a win- win situation for all!
Many animals don’t do well in cages in shelters. It can be a fearful experience leaving an animal to have anxiety or depression. Individual attention and love is what these animals need desperately. The benefits of fostering a pet are many!The biggest advantage is to give a dog or a cat an opportunity to find their forever home ! The pet will be out of the shelter environment and a cage often letting their true personalities shine. People who are thinking of adopting but don’t want to commit will find this a way to see what it’s like to bring a new pet into their home.
For the shelter or rescue this is great as it makes room for another rescued animal to take the cage space so more lives can be saved. Each shelter or rescue has different requirements when fostering a pet in your home. They will ask for the foster to fill out a form letting them know your personal statistics..
such as do you have children..
do they like animals ?
Ages ?
Is your household active ?
Do you have other pets in the house?
Will they get along with a new pet coming into your home?
There are many questions to be asked so the shelter can find the best fit for you.
Many shelters want to know if there is a fenced or gated yard . What are the hours that the pet will be alone in the house. The working schedule.. what do you plan to do with them if you go on vacation? What do you do if the pet makes in the house ? Or chews your favorite shoe? How would you handle that situation? As we all know things can be unpredictable and they want to know what to expect should a situation arise while the pet is in your home. The requirements can be simple from committing to spending time to socialize them and taking them to the vet for check ups if needed.
As for the fosters information to know..Ask questions ... make a list and have the shelter representative answer them. You must ask what food to feed so as to keep the animal stable .. a change of food suddenly can lead to an upset stomach. The amount of food given is based on size and needs. Daily routines for a pet is needed. Feeding and walking should always be the same time. Positive Socializing is Also a vital part of fostering. It’s important to play and socialize your pet with people and other animals if tolerated. If it’s a puppy it’s important to dog proof your home taking away valuable and dangerous objects that can be chewed on or broken. Exercise is vital according to their energy levels as this is what all dogs need. Positive stimulation is what makes dog healthy and happy. Recommendation is 2 hours a day if time allows. Know that it’s important to take the pet to the vet for a checkup if needed so you must find a good vet. And bring the previous vet records with you to make sure all vaccinations are updated. Since this is a foster pet you will have to check in with the shelter or rescue regularly to see if there are any applicants applying for your pet. They will let you know how that goes but as a foster if you decide to adopt you will have first priority.
See if the shelter or rescue has a training program to help if you feel you need the assistance. There are many tools offered to help make the adjustments easier for all. As all rescues and shelters hope that the foster stay will be successful ... hoping that the foster will be a foster failure .. which means that you now have a new member of your family!
After Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) in Southampton, NY made the difficult decision to suspend normal operations a few weeks ago, they needed to get creative about accommodating the many animals still in their charge.
The goal is to keep staff safe so they can continue caring for cats and dogs in the shelter, while also keeping adoptive and foster families healthy enough to continue caring for the animals at home.
The solution came in the form of a new program, SASF Roadside Adoptions & Fosters, designed to get pets into foster and forever homes in a sanitary, social-distancing-friendly way. “We have been doing great getting fosters out,” shares Kate McEntee, SASF's director of adoptions. “Our community really stepped up. In the first two days alone, eight animals were placed into homes!”
McEntee shares the details of their process and strongly encourages other animal shelters to give this type of program a try during these unprecedented times:
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To take part in the Roadside Adoptions & Fosters program, you must fill out an online application and be approved. SASF kindly asks that anyone feeling ill not attempt a foster or adoption at this time. Please use your best judgment.
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SASF is following regular guidelines for matching up pets and potential families, to ensure a good fit on both sides.
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An adoption coordinator will contact you for a phone interview and discuss possible matches. Please do not show up to the shelter unannounced, as all adoptions and fosters will be done by appointment only.
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When you arrive for your appointment, SASF staff will meet you curbside to introduce you to the pets. Fostering is free and includes all the supplies you will need, so you can take your foster pet directly home!
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SASF will remain in close contact, supporting families with anything you may need during open hours. For after-hours emergencies, you will be provided with a cell number so someone can always be reached.
McEntee also notes that the SASF wellness center and mobile clinic are considered essential businesses, still available to anyone in the region. Most needs can be handled outside in a large area with limited physical interactions.
We at Rescue Paw Foundation applaud SASF for their quick and adaptive thinking, and for continuing to provide this critical service! To start your fostering or adopting journey with them, visit southamptonanimalshelter.com/adopt/.
Bear, Darwin and Lettie head off to loving foster homes thanks to the SASF Roadside Adoptions & Fosters program
