The US Postal service is well known for a slogan that goes something like this....Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will stop the delivery of mail. Hospitals never close as people need round the clock care. It Takes A Village Canine Center (ITV) is a 24-hour operating center with set open hours. This allows the public to meet our dogs, make donations and volunteer. However, most of the work that needs completed is done outside these 27 hours. When needed, we do our best to schedule appointments for those of you who can't make it in during normal open hours.
Most Evansville and tristate rescues are foster based. We all work together. Every type of rescue is needed in our area. Here at ITV, our rescued dogs are not all in foster homes. Many live their transitional time in our teal painted building at 1417 N. Stockwell Road. Some for weeks, months and a few for years. 40+ canines....the number changes daily, sometimes hourly....are completely dependent on our staff and dog lovers. I am a rescue volunteer.
If I wanted a volunteer position with set breaks and lunch hour, I wouldn't choose this type of dog rescue. My seasoned and experienced fellow rescuers know that being a core ITV rescue volunteer has no set hours or a script to follow. I've spent a Thanksgiving evening cleaning and caring for sick puppies. I've awakened on a Christmas Day and delivered one of our rescue dogs to surprised and smiling children. I am not the only volunteer to give up holidays, vacations or other scheduled event for "the love of dogs."Some days are happy. Some days are sad. Every day is different.
I've only been in rescue for 3 1/2 years. It is the therapy that keeps me sane. Most of my extraordinary rescue friends have much more experience and many more interesting stories. Unfortunately, if it's an interesting story, it likely means a dog or dogs have been displaced and/or in a bad situation. Several of my ITV partners were contacted late one evening on a Friday night. They were summoned by a tristate animal control for help with an extraordinary situation. A hoarder was living in an ordinary looking but very small house out on a country road. Inside, there was feces and trash layered over a foot deep. Almost 100 dogs were living in squalor because an animal lover ended up hoarding. The odor and conditions were deplorable.
The ITV volunteers had already worked a full shift at their regular jobs. They would give up sleep to save dogs. This wasn't the first time. It wont be the last time. The majority of rescuers don't live by a set schedule. We live by the need of our canine companions' needs. A dog in need can come at any minute of any day. Our ITV rescuers stepped up and joined many local agencies to rescue these dogs who desperately needed help. They endured sickening odor and disturbing images that are still etched in their memories to rescue dogs in a life or death situation. The volunteers selflessly helped start the process of getting the dogs care. Sadly, this type of rescue is becoming more common in the rescue world.
Here at ITV, it is our goal to save dogs. On any given day, it is normal to get a dozen requests from people needing to surrender their dog. We want to say yes to every single call or email. Unfortunately, space, finances and circumstance cause us to say no to many. With every no, we give alternative suggestions. It breaks our hearts when we can't say yes.
Recently, we were able to say yes. With one yes, we were able to save a litter of 8 week-old puppies. There were 10 puppies born and living outside. We wanted to save these puppies a few days earlier. If these puppies could have arrived Friday or Saturday while we were open, it would have been much easier. Again, circumstances beyond our control delayed transport of these puppies. They were scheduled to arrive early Sunday afternoon. I didn't sleep well the Saturday night prior to our rescue. I know our other ITV volunteers were concerned as well.
We've had a very mild winter thus far. I personally believe this is the only reason our super cute litter was able to survive living outside without resources to keep them warm. Of course, on THIS Saturday before transport, Evansville's temperatures plummeted and we got our first significant snowfall. We all went to bed praying these puppies would survive the frigid conditions.
On Sunday, when most people were attending church, going to dinner or just enjoying a relaxing weekend, we geared up to save lives. There is protocol to follow with new and unvaccinated puppies. We must protect our regular rescues housed at our no-kill shelter. They are as much a priority as new rescues arriving. We hoped the roads would be clear enough for travel. We prayed that the surrendering person would still brave the weather and drive the 45 minutes so we could get the litter into safe conditions.
Fortunately, getting everything prepared for the future ITV rescues kept us busy and pushed back anxieties. The transport finally arrived. All ten puppies were alive and now ready to start a better life! The first puppy found the super soft blanket as he was placed in a clean crate. We laughed. We took a brief break to enjoy the present moment. The puppy was wallowing and snuggling in that blanket. He was tugging at it and biting on the tag. This puppy that weighed under five pounds was playing and enjoying himself like a normal puppy with something as simple as a blanket. A blanket was brand new to this puppy. Remember, for 8 weeks during winter, he had been living out in the elements- huddling with his siblings just to stay warm. If a blanket could bring such joy to this puppy, we could only imagine how much ITV and our supporters would improve his dismal beginning.
The puppies were finally warm and vaccinated. Now, they needed a true home setting to start an easier life that every puppy deserves. We strive to keep our shelter clean and comfortable, but a shelter is not the ideal place for such a young puppy. Sundays aren't easy days to find fosters. An open day when we have supporters and volunteers in and out of the rescue would have been better. We had limited staff, but we had our strong willed and social media followers on our side. Our supporters and our Villagers are good to us. This Sunday, several fosters came forward. Almost half of this young litter went into homes with loving people who are dedicated to giving the extra care required for a young puppy.
The sun was setting and this Sunday was almost over. In spite of the anxieties and unknown start, this Sunday was a good day in rescue. ITV was able to save a litter of ten and give them their first fighting chance at survival. Our villagers stepped up in a big way. The rest of the litter were each placed in foster homes the next day. We did more than just provide survival. We were able to give these sweeties a will to live and fighting chance to survive. These mixed breed rescues now have a chance of a higher quality of life. Quantity does not matter if we can't back it up with quality and a happily ever after. I always imagine the happy fairy tale ending of each of our rescues. Without this goal, there is really no reason to waste energy.
Mixed in with the good days, there is also stress, sadness and bad days in rescue. We always do our best. Every dog deserves my best, my fellow volunteers' best, and the best our Villagers can give. Here at ITV, I always reach for the moon. At the very least, I will land amongst the stars. And that's a pretty good place to be. It doesn't matter if its during open hours. It neither matters if its after hours or in the middle of the night. ITV will always be there for dogs in need however our resources and energies allow. We predict 2016 will be a great year. We hope to grow and build our volunteer numbers. There will always be a few bad and sad days. This is inevitable.
As long as we can squeeze out every ounce of positive energy, the good will outweigh the negative. As long as we provide our rescues with their chance to improve their circumstances, we've done what we've set out to do. We will rescue until all paws have a home no matter the day or time. That is always the goal. I hope you will follow us. Perhaps become a part of our team. I know you have a skill that will benefit ITV and our dog family. At the very least, attend our fundraising events and see what we are all about. Rocky, June, Cash, Leo and the 6 other rescued puppies from Sunday are only the first of many to come in this New Year. I'm looking forward to the ride and resolve to "live in" the positive moments more often and share it all with you!
Blessings,
Lori Martin, ITV Volunteer
