Location, location, location. If you're a shelter dog, it can make the difference between life and death. Especially in overcrowded, underfunded shelters in remote areas, conditions are often poor (like no protection from the elements) and your prospects of getting out safely even worse, because would-be adopters never go there.
Enter Waggin' Trails Rescue Foundation and its volunteers dedicated to getting these dogs out of danger and into loving families. Each month WTRF's van visits shelters throughout the state of California, including inland rural shelters, pulling dogs to safety—with an emphasis, says WTRF's Gisela Campagne, on "the ones in danger of euthanasia or in poor living conditions." For about 50 dogs each month, it's the miraculous beginning of a great new life, as they receive necessary vaccinations and veterinary attention, as well as spay-neuter surgery, and recuperate in foster homes till they're ready to be adopted. Then WTRF transports them to rescue partners in areas where adopters are many and dogs are few, e.g. the Pacific Northwest and Calgary, Canada, where they wait in foster homes for their new families to find them. Like Snoop here, whose adopter reports, "We are still both trying to figure out who rescued who!"
Waggin' Trails is an all-volunteer operation and relies entirely on the kindness of donors and supporters. They also know how to have fun in the process, and you can join in June 26 as Wags-N-Wine comes to Huntington Beach. People and dogs welcome for an afternoon of tasty food, fine wine, dancing and live music. Also: auctions. It's all to raise funds in support of WTRF's mission: "Providing the way from hopeless to home."
Photo: Snoop – Waggin' Trails Rescue Foundation
