The Dog Rescuers

If you had asked me a year ago, I would have been clueless about things like puppy mills, backyard breeders, animal abuse and neglect. I had never heard of Petfinder. I didn’t really spend too much time thinking about where people went to find new furry additions to their family or where those animals came from.

In the fall of 2010, my kids brought up the idea of a family pet, specifically a dog. While we told them “absolutely not,” I began to research breeds that might work with my allergies. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I had hit the three year mark of receiving weekly allergy shots and wondered if a dog could be in our near future. 

It was around that time that I took notice of a woman who regularly dropped off several of my daughter’s classmates at school. Every once in a while, she would arrive with a bundle of fur tucked under her arm. I noticed the logo on her shirt:  A Forever Home. I Googled it later on that day and found out that she (Maribel Taylor-Mattox) is one of the founding members of the organization. I cruised around the website for a while—it was a real eye-opener. I knew I wanted to help.

A Forever Home is not an animal shelter—it does not have a physical address. It is essentially a network of volunteers, all with a common goal:  to find these animals a safe and loving permanent home.

In addition to placing owner re-homes, they make great efforts to rescue animals that would otherwise be euthanized, as well as puppy mill survivors. Many of these dogs have never known human affection, or the concept of a gentle hand. All animals are placed in foster care until they can be matched with a permanent home. The volunteers take great lengths to place the animals in the best possible environment. It’s really all about the welfare of the pets.

I attended a two-day adoption event and was so impressed with the dedication shown by the officers and volunteers at AFH and the effort that goes into finding better lives for an overwhelming number of needy pets.

If you are like me and are not quite ready for your forever friend, there are many ways you can help out. Volunteer opportunities include becoming a foster, assisting with animal transport, helping out at adoption events, organizing fund-raisers or even making a donation.

A Forever Home holds a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Greenbriar Town Center every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.  Stop by and meet the pets and volunteers! Check out their website here—you just might find your new best friend.