Some problems are too big to tackle alone. Pet overpopulation is like that. It starts out small–a dog left unspayed, intact dogs abandoned to fend for themselves–and before you know it, dozens of unwanted dogs are needing rescue. Our latest rescue venture requires cooperation between Rescue Ranch and our partner network. None of us can do it alone. We need your help to continue providing sanctuary for our latest dogs in need.
29 unwanted dogs living in a barn
There’s never a good time to get a call about 29 unvaccinated, un-neutered, unwanted dogs needing rescue. Especially after dealing with an endless stream of stray dogs and puppies all winter long. We can imagine the dismay when Siskiyou County Animal Control received a call for help from a community member in the Lake Shastina area.
It’s a case of a well-intentioned person trying to do the right thing but getting in over their head. Last fall, strays began appearing on a property east of Lake Shastina. The property owner took them in, but more kept coming. Did they wander out of illegal grows? Were they dumped? We’ll never know. They range in age from several months to about a year, and they appear related.
Though the case doesn’t follow the pattern of a typical hoarding situation, from a rescue standpoint it fits under the hoarding umbrella. The property owner did his best to give the dogs shelter and kept the males and females separated. However, they were living on concrete in small pens with no outdoor access. With no drainage or means to clean the premises, things soon got out of hand. One of the females whelped four puppies. None of the dogs were given vaccines or other medical care.
County shelter space is limited and always overflowing. They didn’t have room for the dogs, so they turned to Rescue Ranch for help.
Making room for 29 hoarded dogs
On Friday March 14th, Ranch staff met Animal Control at the property to load the first fifteen dogs. Thankfully, they appear well-fed and reasonably healthy. Though shy, they’re not nippy or completely feral.
It’s not clear what the breed mix is. They’re compact and short haired, with blunt faces, almond-shaped eyes, and small ears. They’re certainly not the shepherd mixes typically bred in the Vistas.
These hoarding dogs arrive at a challenging time for Rescue Ranch. Due to unexpectedly narrowed funding, we can’t take on full responsibility for such a large number of unwanted dogs. For now, they legally remain in the custody of the county. We’re acting as a stop-gap to keep the dogs safe while we network with rescue partners to find them permanent placement.
Donate today to help provide sanctuary for hoarded dogs
For now, these inherently lovable dogs are clean and safe at the Rescue Ranch Sanctuary. They’re learning to trust humans and receiving much-needed socialization. We’re also providing vaccinations, deworming, and rabies shots so they can travel north.
So far this year, we’ve accepted 56 dogs in transfer from the county shelter. Emergency medical cases keep coming and purse strings are tight. We need your help to continue providing sanctuary for these innocent souls. We estimate the cost of care for these hoarding dogs at $15 per day, for each dog. Rabies shots are another $25 per dog. That’s in addition to the other 270 dogs and puppies in our care!
Donate today to help us meet our $10,000 goal towards the costs of these unwanted dogs. It takes a village, but together we can turn the tide of pet overpopulation.
