| MOTTO: No dog should be punished for behaving like one. |
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| Being Unselfish to Discarded Dogs In order to create Everlasting Solutions |
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All
Breed Rescue, Rehab, Sanctuary & Adoption Center
(Saving
Lives Since 1998)
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In
1998, I founded Big Buddy's Rottweiler Rescue. As a breeder
since
1991, it was my way of contributing something back to the breed I love.
It's like I
took a silent oath, or abide by an unspoken vow to do everythig in my
power to live up to the title of "Rescuer".
In
2000, I decided I could do more, and expanded
the
rescue to "All Breed" and quickly went from a dozen dogs to more than
sixty. I was a full time rescuer, and also worked full time
in
road construction.
My average turnover was two weeks, and I was rehoming over 1,000 dogs per year. I launched a few out-reach programs designed to keep dogs in their current homes due to capacity and demand issues.
In 2004, my career suffered two major blows, Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Jean. This set the stage for a financial tailspin from which I would not recover.
My average turnover was two weeks, and I was rehoming over 1,000 dogs per year. I launched a few out-reach programs designed to keep dogs in their current homes due to capacity and demand issues.
In 2004, my career suffered two major blows, Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Jean. This set the stage for a financial tailspin from which I would not recover.
After
depleting my savings and retirement funds, I
eventually lost my job. The icing on the cake was when the
property I leased was sold to be developed.
Despite the advice I got to euthanize the 33 dogs in my care, I declined. I managed to place 13 of these, and ended up living in a patch of woods 25 miles out of the city with 20 dogs for over a year.
On very cold nights we huddled together by a small fire. When we were hungry, I caught fish and cooked rice. We ate like this for days at a time.
While working odd jobs for ranches and local home owners to get us by, I suffered serious bouts of depression and even had suicidal thoughts. But, the dogs' welfare and my silent oath as a rescuer kept me going.
Over the course of that year I cultivated that little patch of woods into a beautiful tropical habitat. I now lease that same patch of woods, and I am struggling to reopen the rescue. I'm scraping and scrounging literally a dollar at a time, building kennels, still taking in and adopting out just a few dogs.
Despite the advice I got to euthanize the 33 dogs in my care, I declined. I managed to place 13 of these, and ended up living in a patch of woods 25 miles out of the city with 20 dogs for over a year.
On very cold nights we huddled together by a small fire. When we were hungry, I caught fish and cooked rice. We ate like this for days at a time.
While working odd jobs for ranches and local home owners to get us by, I suffered serious bouts of depression and even had suicidal thoughts. But, the dogs' welfare and my silent oath as a rescuer kept me going.
Over the course of that year I cultivated that little patch of woods into a beautiful tropical habitat. I now lease that same patch of woods, and I am struggling to reopen the rescue. I'm scraping and scrounging literally a dollar at a time, building kennels, still taking in and adopting out just a few dogs.
Over
the course of ten years more than 7,000 dogs never met the
horrible fate that millions of others do every year. Some
might
say that the twenty I took with me on my homeless trek suffered at my
hands, going hungry, and bearing harsh elements, but I was right there
with them, hungry and cold, and today, they're still alive because of
it. How many other people, rescuers, organizations, etc. can
say
they would have done the same in the name of saving the life of any animal?
Keith Wandell
