Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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Thank you so much, Meredith,
for joining me today.
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I'm glad that you wanted to come
on to talk about the crisis that
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we have going on in animal rescue.
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Before we start can you share a bit about
yourself and the rescue that you are with?
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Meredith: I am 50 Woo.
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I have been doing animal rescue in some
sort of capacity since I was really young.
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Actually when I was a kid we were
still allowed to work if your parents
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signed off on it with working papers.
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And I volunteered and had a
small part-time job at IDE week.
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'cause I grew up in Levittown.
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That was in UA on Long Island.
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And I did that a couple of hours a week.
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And then again, when I was going for my
confirmation, I needed to do community
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service and I did that as well.
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When I did that, I actually
worked in the training department
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with the rehabilitation cases.
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They actually taught me at a very
young age how to help socialize.
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Scared cats and dogs, nothing dangerous.
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Obviously I was a child, but
times were different then.
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And then through college I worked at
Northshore League and then , after
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college I started to work in banking, but
I still always had a foot in the animal
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welfare world, be it fostering dogs or
cats for other rescues, volunteering
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at other rescues, things like that.
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In 2013, we started Paws Unite People
because I noticed there was a big gap
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within the animal welfare community.
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You foster homes and then you
had animal shelters, but there
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was nowhere for cats and dogs.
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To go that sort of didn't
fit in either bucket.
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Not ready for a home, but too scared
or traumatized to be at a shelter.
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So that was the goal, was to
try to create that middle.
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We started it out doing it with myself
and a couple of other core volunteers who
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were experienced, who would take those
animals into our home until we could
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save enough money to get a facility.
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We did an animal abuse case in
2014 where it was a hoarding case.
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It was over 80 cats.
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It was Turkish Angora breeder.
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Some of them didn't make it.
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Some of them survived, but the town
shelter refused to take though.
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So we rented a building.
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And it started there small.
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We started in a 900 square foot facility.
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Now we're in an almost , 5,000
square foot facility.
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So we've definitely got more space
and we are definitely doing a
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little bit more , in the community.
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We hope not just animals from
abuse, cruelty, neglect, but
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we also train service animals.
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We train therapy dogs.
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We have special needs adults and kids
come work with the animals that we have
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that are cleared for that so that they
can learn a skillset or they can have
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positive interactions with animals.
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Sometimes special needs child can't
have a cat or a dog at home, but they
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can come to this shelter a couple
of days a week and play with them.
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And we also take in animals temporarily
for people suffering from temporary
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shift in housing, temporary homelessness
or domestic violence cases where
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people are fleeing domestic violence
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right now we have a dog at the
shelter from someone who is fleeing
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domestic violence and two cats from
someone who's currently homeless.
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But we don't put them up for adoption.
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If that makes sense.
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Is that enough about me?
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Dixie: It does make sense.
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It's very interesting
too with the background.
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'cause I can just imagine, 'cause I do
cat rescue, having that many cats in a
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900 square foot building and then building
up to go to a 5,000 square foot building.
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That's pretty impressive.
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Meredith: It started so small, like it
was 86 cats, but they didn't survive
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about 40, made it out of the vet.
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It was one of the worst
things I've ever seen.
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It was like Auschwitz for cats.
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But yeah, we started super small
and then now we're just big.
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It's crazy.
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We do international stuff
too, like we back up.
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All the international rescues, several
of them in Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Korea
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Taiwan in the event they and Afghanistan,
we used to, not now because well,
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but in the event animals are shipped
to the United States and run into an
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issue at that moment we would step in.
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So we do have some dogs and cats in
the building that came from overseas.
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We didn't bring them here, but they
went to other rescue groups or straight
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to adopters that it didn't work out
because I also don't think animals
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should be brought to this country and fly
thousands of miles just to be euthanized.
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That really ground to my gears,
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Dixie: exactly.
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Meredith: Yeah.
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Dixie: Can you explain when you're
taking in like these pets that are on
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a temporary basis for the homelessness
or the domestic violence, how you
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end up reuniting them, how long you
usually have to house 'em before the
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people are able to take 'em back.
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Meredith: We try to,
each case is different.
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You never can put, even with
rehabilitation, each case is different.
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Each cat you take in each dog, you
take in each family, we assist.
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It's different.
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So it's never a one size fits all.
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So the most recent case, a girl was
fleeing a domestic violence situation.
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She needed to put her dogs somewhere safe.
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She's very young.
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Very young, and she has to get
her proverbial, what together so
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that she can start her life over.
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So I didn't give her a time limit.
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I told her to take what she needs
time-wise, and she comes and she
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volunteers and helps out take care of
the animals, and she gets to see her dog.
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And I've noticed, especially with
domestic violence, women and sometimes
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men, we've had men stay in these
situations that they shouldn't stay
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in because they love their pets.
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The last cat case we took
in from domestic violence.
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I had the cat for six months.
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I've had some longer, we've only had one
instance in the years we've been helping
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out where we did not return the animal.
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It is a dog.
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That dog is a permanent
resident at our shelter.
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He suffers from permanent PTSD from
witnessing a very horrific event.
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She ended up going back to her husband.
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I couldn't give the dog back.
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But normally I would say it takes
people on an average one to three
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months to get themselves back in order.
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We had a house fire,
it was like eight cats.
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We had them for nine months 'cause
they had to rebuild the whole house.
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So when I say each case is
different, it really is.
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Dixie: Sure
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Meredith: depends.
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You have to really talk to people.
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You have to figure out if they're
telling you the truth too, which is
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something we've gotten very good at.
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We've had instances, oh shoot,
yeah, we had a dog that came in.
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The gentleman temporarily lost his home.
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His mother passed away.
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It was sold out underneath
him by the family.
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By the time he found an apartment,
his dog was diagnosed with cancer.
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So what we ended up doing was he got
a key to the building and he would
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just come and visit with the dog.
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At the facility.
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I hate calling it a shelter
'cause we're not a shelter.
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Like all the animals are not in cages,
they're in rooms with TVs and couches.
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It's like a rehab center.
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But he was able to come
visit with his dog.
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His dog was at a big pit bull.
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His name was muscles.
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He lived in the cat room.
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So he would come, when he had time.
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I didn't care because , by that
time we had known him very well.
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We trusted him.
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He would come, hang out, go
home, take care of his dog leave.
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But because moving the dog mid, in that
hospice situation into a tiny apartment
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where he had to be carried up and down
the stairs just wasn't gonna work.
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So like I said,, you have to
look at each case differently.
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We just took in.
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10 dogs out of a hoarding case.
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We actually had 17, but seven
went to other rescues finally.
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Thank you.
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And we have 10 left.
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And each one of them is different.
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They all suffer from different issues.
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Some of them are further
along than others.
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You can't one size fits all
rehabilitation work for sure.
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And you can't one size fits all
people that are experiencing
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an uproot in their life.
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Dixie: How many animals
can your facility house?
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Meredith: Right now we have
32 dogs and we have 46 cats.
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We could technically taken up to 50
cats and I can house, depending on
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the dog sizes 'cause it's all modular.
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I could move walls and things.
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We could probably house
eight or nine more dogs.
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But fiscally, no.
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We are over capacity from a financial
standpoint, which seems to be the problem
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across the board in animal rescue lately.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So we can start getting into that too.
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And another thing too that I
would like to mention, because.
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I love that you're helping out
people with their pets for temporary
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situations rather than have them
surrender their animals to a shelter.
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And I think that's what rescue should be.
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Or if somebody does need to surrender
an animal, it should be a situation
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like that, like something that
is really beyond their control.
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Meredith: Yeah, I don't want your dog.
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I said this, the girl was so nice and
she's just I don't know what to do.
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I said, you need to get outta there.
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Keep yourself safe.
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I don't want your dog, but I'll keep
your dog safe while you figure it out.
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, That's why we started this.
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, It was part of our mission statement from
inception was to do community outreach
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to try to stop the cycle of abuse.
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What and the other side of that was
also to try to help good owners keep
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their pets as much as we possibly could.
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There's so many animals that need help
that don't have good owners, right?
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So if someone is a good person and
it's a good owner and it's a temporary
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setback, we shouldn't be taking their
cats and dogs, especially with cats.
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I don't want your 18-year-old cat.
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I don't want your 12-year-old cat,
because it's going to end up living
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in my facility for a very long
time if it gets adopted at all.
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But.
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I feel like it's so important.
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If you looked at it that way, if rescue
groups tried to be a temporary bandaid in
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situations like that, it would alleviate
the amount of dogs getting surrendered
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to municipal town county run shelters
because people are stuck temporarily.
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But it would also keep us from having
to long-term house older animals that
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may not be as easy to get adopted.
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I hope that made sense.
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Dixie: It does.
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Exactly.
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And I agree with that too.
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Now I see in my area a lot, I find people
are what I'm gonna say is abusing rescues,
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because all the calls that we get, it's
constantly, oh, I'm moving tomorrow.
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I need a place for my animal to go.
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And that's not what rescue is for.
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Rescue is not for like your
lack of planning or your lack of
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responsibility, it's for animals that
are actually in need or in crisis.
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Meredith: Yeah.
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We never help people like that.
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Unless it's domestic violence, that's
a completely different situation,
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Dixie: right?
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Yes.
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Meredith: But if people call
me, I'm like, I'm moving.
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I need to rehome my dog.
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I'm like you should have
called us three weeks ago.
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'cause I'm pretty sure you
knew you were moving then.
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I feel bad when I do it,
we have to have limits.
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I've had a lady call me once
at three in the morning.
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She got my phone number from an emergency
vet and she was just like, I just left
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my boyfriend, my one cat's at the er.
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She's my other cat's in the car.
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I can't afford the pet fee at the hotel.
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And I'm like, listen, I'll meet you.
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At the time we were in East Patchog,
I'm like, I'll meet you in East Patchog.
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I'm leaving my house now.
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I'll be there in 30 minutes.
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I got you cat.
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I got you back.
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Don't worry about it.
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Just don't worry about it.
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And we tried to raise money to
help her cover the vet bill for
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the cat that was in the ER because
that guy was a piece of crap.
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So those calls, you can't control that.
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It's, especially when they're struggling
to leave, like a lot of times we'll
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00:11:39,415 --> 00:11:42,956
talk to people trying to get outta
that situation and they're not sure.
237
00:11:43,676 --> 00:11:46,106
Those are always the only
last minute ones I take.
238
00:11:46,401 --> 00:11:47,571
From the general public.
239
00:11:48,336 --> 00:11:49,716
Because they're leaving.
240
00:11:49,816 --> 00:11:49,996
Yeah.
241
00:11:49,996 --> 00:11:50,506
It's a lot.
242
00:11:50,556 --> 00:11:51,876
Those people go through a lot.
243
00:11:53,016 --> 00:11:55,836
Dixie: It's good to take that
burden of their animals off
244
00:11:55,836 --> 00:11:58,176
of them, that's something that
they don't have to worry about.
245
00:11:59,466 --> 00:11:59,826
Meredith: Yeah.
246
00:11:59,876 --> 00:12:03,746
I've seen people keep themselves
in those situations because
247
00:12:03,746 --> 00:12:05,036
rescue goats won't help them.
248
00:12:05,316 --> 00:12:09,066
I've seen people stay in those
situations because they didn't think
249
00:12:09,066 --> 00:12:13,386
that they had options or they didn't
wanna give up their pets because they
250
00:12:13,386 --> 00:12:15,336
were sad or scared or they loved them.
251
00:12:15,816 --> 00:12:19,566
But, I've had people like
this girl, her dog's awesome.
252
00:12:19,716 --> 00:12:21,186
It's her emotional support dog.
253
00:12:21,186 --> 00:12:23,076
She had a traumatic event
when she was younger.
254
00:12:23,436 --> 00:12:25,596
This is her trained emotional support dog.
255
00:12:26,196 --> 00:12:29,676
She called multiple rescue groups and they
all offered to take her dog for adoption.
256
00:12:30,216 --> 00:12:33,130
I'm like, I don't want your
dog's I want you to be okay.
257
00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:35,950
And I didn't think that's right either.
258
00:12:35,950 --> 00:12:40,090
I don't think it's right to take
this girl's dog upfront right away.
259
00:12:40,150 --> 00:12:43,570
We set limits, but let's give this
kid some time to get back on her
260
00:12:43,570 --> 00:12:45,790
feet before you take her animal.
261
00:12:46,030 --> 00:12:48,940
I understand her dog is
very easy to put in home.
262
00:12:48,940 --> 00:12:52,720
It would be a nice, easy, quick adoption,
but are we really doing the right
263
00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,410
thing for that person or that dog?
264
00:12:54,730 --> 00:12:57,280
Dixie: What is the crisis
that you're facing right now?
265
00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:58,660
What is your biggest challenge?
266
00:12:59,630 --> 00:13:02,210
Meredith: Long Island has a very
big hoarding problem, so I've
267
00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:03,290
been dealing with that a lot.
268
00:13:03,470 --> 00:13:06,200
And then funding, there's just no funding.
269
00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:09,950
We've seen a lot where I talked
about this the other day just with
270
00:13:09,950 --> 00:13:13,880
someone where grants I normally
get or don't exist anymore.
271
00:13:14,070 --> 00:13:17,790
There were a lot of cuts made,
especially for my organization.
272
00:13:17,790 --> 00:13:21,240
So you have to figure a lot of the
funding that we were getting to help
273
00:13:21,330 --> 00:13:28,680
women fleeing domestic violence and,
or disabled or special needs adults and
274
00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:32,820
children was coming through programs that
were labeled DEI that have been canceled.
275
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,610
And sometimes I think people
don't understand how funding
276
00:13:35,610 --> 00:13:36,930
from the government works.
277
00:13:37,385 --> 00:13:39,365
So the government will issue large grants.
278
00:13:39,365 --> 00:13:42,965
Those large grants go to larger
foundations and organizations,
279
00:13:42,965 --> 00:13:44,915
and then that money trickles down.
280
00:13:45,515 --> 00:13:48,275
And as small guys, we
apply for those funds.
281
00:13:48,635 --> 00:13:53,375
So you know when you get a grant
for $6,000 from Red Rover to help
282
00:13:53,375 --> 00:13:58,775
people fleeing domestic violence,
they got that money from above, and
283
00:13:58,775 --> 00:14:00,575
then that money came from above.
284
00:14:00,575 --> 00:14:01,535
It trickles down.
285
00:14:02,135 --> 00:14:05,195
So unless you're a huge animal
welfare organization, you're
286
00:14:05,195 --> 00:14:07,055
not getting those big checks.
287
00:14:07,055 --> 00:14:10,835
You're getting the smaller pieces of
a pie that came from somewhere else.
288
00:14:11,895 --> 00:14:14,875
So the grants have
dissipated in that bucket.
289
00:14:14,875 --> 00:14:17,005
USDA had a lot of funding cuts.
290
00:14:17,035 --> 00:14:22,555
We lost $23,000 in grants that fell
under that bucket for the cats and dogs
291
00:14:22,555 --> 00:14:24,415
spay, neuter programs, stuff like that.
292
00:14:24,935 --> 00:14:27,905
And then states are losing their
funding or not getting their funding
293
00:14:27,905 --> 00:14:29,645
depending on what state you're in.
294
00:14:29,645 --> 00:14:31,505
So then those programs get cut.
295
00:14:32,165 --> 00:14:36,855
And then also two people have tightened
their wallets because the financial
296
00:14:36,855 --> 00:14:39,435
state of life has been a little unstable.
297
00:14:40,035 --> 00:14:43,635
So you have a lot of people
giving less, but asking for more.
298
00:14:44,385 --> 00:14:50,175
So I've had an uptick in people asking
us for assistance on multiple levels,
299
00:14:50,595 --> 00:14:53,565
because when people are struggling
financially, you get an uptick in
300
00:14:53,565 --> 00:14:55,235
domestic violence, that happens.
301
00:14:55,875 --> 00:14:57,645
Those situations become volatile.
302
00:14:57,645 --> 00:15:01,755
So we have more people asking us
for help that are in bad situations
303
00:15:01,755 --> 00:15:06,645
at home, we have more people asking
for help because they're homeless or
304
00:15:06,645 --> 00:15:09,105
they're losing their home, or they
can't afford their home anymore.
305
00:15:09,675 --> 00:15:11,775
We have more people asking
for help with vet bills.
306
00:15:12,105 --> 00:15:16,395
But then I'm also seeing an uptake
in neglect cases where people
307
00:15:16,635 --> 00:15:20,565
aren't asking and neglecting their
animals, and you're seeing an uptake
308
00:15:20,565 --> 00:15:25,065
in animals that are ending up in
shelters that are in poor state.
309
00:15:25,795 --> 00:15:28,675
We just did that hoarding case
and nobody wanted to do anything
310
00:15:28,675 --> 00:15:31,195
about it because there was no one
for nowhere for the dogs to go.
311
00:15:31,915 --> 00:15:32,995
The town shelter's full.
312
00:15:33,295 --> 00:15:34,645
There's nowhere for the animals to go.
313
00:15:35,305 --> 00:15:38,815
The woman is mentally ill,
she's not going to get charges.
314
00:15:39,145 --> 00:15:41,725
So why take the dogs outta the house?
315
00:15:42,265 --> 00:15:43,405
Because where are they gonna go?
316
00:15:43,985 --> 00:15:44,765
We'll just condemn her house.
317
00:15:44,765 --> 00:15:45,785
She can leave them outside.
318
00:15:45,785 --> 00:15:49,265
And I said, no, we're gonna take them out
of the house and we're gonna get rescue
319
00:15:49,265 --> 00:15:50,855
groups to step up and figure it out.
320
00:15:51,695 --> 00:15:55,145
But now you have rescue groups
besides myself, there's 25 dogs.
321
00:15:55,145 --> 00:15:55,805
I have 10.
322
00:15:55,805 --> 00:15:58,865
But me and the other rescues that
helped out, now we're stuck trying
323
00:15:58,865 --> 00:16:03,935
to find the money to pay these
bills in an environment where people
324
00:16:03,935 --> 00:16:06,755
aren't donating to help those dogs.
325
00:16:07,415 --> 00:16:08,525
So it's a struggle.
326
00:16:08,585 --> 00:16:11,715
But yeah, money, money's always
been a challenge for rescue groups,
327
00:16:11,715 --> 00:16:13,455
but it is really bad lately.
328
00:16:13,455 --> 00:16:14,325
I know where you are.
329
00:16:14,325 --> 00:16:15,405
It's been really bad too.
330
00:16:15,405 --> 00:16:16,305
I have some friends that way.
331
00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:17,320
Bad.
332
00:16:18,165 --> 00:16:18,585
Bad.
333
00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:21,615
Dixie: Are you seeing a lot of
rescues up by you having to close
334
00:16:21,615 --> 00:16:22,965
their doors because of this?
335
00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:23,940
Meredith: Yes.
336
00:16:23,940 --> 00:16:25,500
A lot of rescues are closing their doors.
337
00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:27,810
A lot of rescues are closing their doors.
338
00:16:28,275 --> 00:16:31,685
I just saw the other day I was like,
another rescue shutting down because
339
00:16:31,685 --> 00:16:32,795
they can't afford their bills.
340
00:16:33,095 --> 00:16:36,695
There was a horrible story I saw floating
around this woman that euthanized all
341
00:16:36,695 --> 00:16:38,165
the dogs, which I think is insane.
342
00:16:38,195 --> 00:16:40,865
And she was sketchy to begin with.
343
00:16:40,865 --> 00:16:44,975
But that's what's happening is that
people, animal rescues and animal
344
00:16:44,975 --> 00:16:48,845
shelters are clothing shop because
they can't afford to pay their bills.
345
00:16:49,655 --> 00:16:53,965
And we are on the edge I have rent
to you in four days, and I still
346
00:16:53,965 --> 00:16:55,645
have to find $4,000 for that.
347
00:16:56,395 --> 00:16:57,985
But, I make phone calls.
348
00:16:57,985 --> 00:16:59,515
I'm pushing fundraising.
349
00:16:59,585 --> 00:17:01,715
On top of that, you have utility bills.
350
00:17:01,715 --> 00:17:05,615
Like people don't understand how much
it costs to run an actual facility.
351
00:17:06,145 --> 00:17:08,454
Foster based rescues
can be very expensive.
352
00:17:08,454 --> 00:17:12,595
But for a facility on Long
Island in New York, we are
353
00:17:12,595 --> 00:17:16,464
spending $9,000 a month in rent.
354
00:17:16,974 --> 00:17:18,645
And insurance fees.
355
00:17:19,365 --> 00:17:22,305
And then utilities are
about 1200 bucks a month.
356
00:17:23,055 --> 00:17:26,115
And that's just to keep the lights
on and the door open and you
357
00:17:26,115 --> 00:17:27,795
have to add a dog food, right?
358
00:17:27,825 --> 00:17:31,935
Veterinary care and all the
other things on top of that.
359
00:17:31,935 --> 00:17:36,285
So we are, our budget to run the
shelter every month is about $15,000.
360
00:17:36,285 --> 00:17:38,175
Barring no major medical event.
361
00:17:39,055 --> 00:17:44,215
And we were doing that, but now that
grants are gone and funding's gone,
362
00:17:44,215 --> 00:17:47,815
like I sit and I say we're not gonna
take anything else in the dogs.
363
00:17:47,815 --> 00:17:48,835
Were in emergency.
364
00:17:48,835 --> 00:17:50,600
I wasn't gonna put them
back in the backyard.
365
00:17:50,660 --> 00:17:54,350
There was just a way, and thank God
other rescue groups stepped up to help.
366
00:17:54,530 --> 00:17:58,655
'cause I don't know what I would do
with 25 of them, but it really comes
367
00:17:58,655 --> 00:18:03,455
down to we have to start deciding are
we going to try to keep going or are
368
00:18:03,455 --> 00:18:06,185
we gonna try to place what we have
and close our doors because they're
369
00:18:06,185 --> 00:18:08,015
just, donations are just not there.
370
00:18:08,565 --> 00:18:11,685
But I know three rescuers that are
done, they're not doing it anymore.
371
00:18:12,450 --> 00:18:13,800
They're just not going to do it anymore.
372
00:18:14,610 --> 00:18:15,780
They're just gonna close it up.
373
00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,630
They're gonna adopt out what
they have and close shop because
374
00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:20,530
they're killing themselves.
375
00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:25,900
And it breaks my heart because
as these smaller groups close,
376
00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:27,310
where did the animals go?
377
00:18:28,180 --> 00:18:29,590
Because the town shelters are full.
378
00:18:31,180 --> 00:18:33,075
, We've done a really good job.
379
00:18:33,795 --> 00:18:35,405
And and it's other problems.
380
00:18:35,405 --> 00:18:37,955
You, and I hate to say this,
like rescue groups get mad.
381
00:18:37,985 --> 00:18:42,545
I, we did a really good job at like
with the no kill movement, right?
382
00:18:42,545 --> 00:18:46,865
To reduce euthanasia rights,
to increase live release rates.
383
00:18:48,365 --> 00:18:56,195
A lot of that comes from town municipal
shelters not taking in pets . I'm
384
00:18:56,195 --> 00:19:02,475
seeing it where people will call me and
say, especially with cats, , I called
385
00:19:02,475 --> 00:19:07,315
the town shelter because I'm being
evicted and I have 30 days to leave.
386
00:19:07,405 --> 00:19:09,655
But they said they can't take
my cats, they have no room.
387
00:19:11,345 --> 00:19:15,635
I just saw, was it John, one of
the rescuers on Long Island posted
388
00:19:15,635 --> 00:19:17,105
that he picked up five cats today.
389
00:19:17,105 --> 00:19:20,435
The owner got evicted
because ACC didn't take them.
390
00:19:20,765 --> 00:19:25,445
So we're gonna start to see more,
I think more street abandonment.
391
00:19:26,495 --> 00:19:30,635
I'm noticing a lot more friendly
cats and dogs floating around the
392
00:19:30,635 --> 00:19:32,195
streets than I normally would see.
393
00:19:32,585 --> 00:19:33,935
Especially from where we are.
394
00:19:35,585 --> 00:19:37,475
It's indicative of a bigger problem right
395
00:19:39,075 --> 00:19:43,245
Dixie: do you think rescues may,
in a sense, have created the
396
00:19:43,245 --> 00:19:47,505
problem by giving people this
mentality that they can always.
397
00:19:48,225 --> 00:19:53,405
Go surrender their animal, so , if the
shelter's not gonna take it, there's
398
00:19:53,405 --> 00:19:56,825
this thought, then there's rescue,
but then of course rescues get full.
399
00:19:57,135 --> 00:19:59,595
Do you think that could have
anything to do with it as well?
400
00:19:59,595 --> 00:20:00,825
Or what are your thoughts on that?
401
00:20:00,975 --> 00:20:02,895
Meredith: I don't think
that we created it.
402
00:20:03,435 --> 00:20:04,995
I think it's really hard to say.
403
00:20:04,995 --> 00:20:10,635
I just got a call the other day, seven
month old pit puppy, perfectly dog social.
404
00:20:10,695 --> 00:20:14,595
And it was somebody who adopted a
dog from me, and it was an older dog.
405
00:20:14,715 --> 00:20:18,985
And she's listen, I'm trying, , my
kid's friend, they have this dog,
406
00:20:19,195 --> 00:20:20,755
their parents lost their house.
407
00:20:21,125 --> 00:20:22,235
They have nowhere to go.
408
00:20:22,775 --> 00:20:24,365
I said, I'd take the puppy in.
409
00:20:24,485 --> 00:20:26,075
It is torturing my dog.
410
00:20:26,510 --> 00:20:27,710
I said I'm sure it is.
411
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:31,510
Because the dog I gave them could
be a little tricky with other female
412
00:20:31,510 --> 00:20:32,920
dogs, especially younger ones.
413
00:20:33,460 --> 00:20:37,000
She goes, but I didn't want the
dog to end up getting euthanized.
414
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,990
And when they went to the town shelter
and asked if they could take it,
415
00:20:41,020 --> 00:20:44,920
they said that they had no space,
that the only owner surrenders they
416
00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,270
were taking were for euthanasia.
417
00:20:47,260 --> 00:20:49,240
Who wants to euthanize
a seven month old puppy?
418
00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:49,910
Nobody, right?
419
00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:51,820
So they just said, , we
can't take it right now.
420
00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:55,000
So there was nowhere for the dog to go.
421
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:58,900
I ended up calling a different
town shelter who I knew had space,
422
00:20:58,990 --> 00:21:01,450
and I was just like, listen, can
you please just take this puppy?
423
00:21:01,450 --> 00:21:02,680
There's nothing wrong with it.
424
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:03,760
It's just a puppy.
425
00:21:04,210 --> 00:21:06,400
I can't take it.
426
00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:09,370
Now, do I want that dog
sitting in a town shelter?
427
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:09,880
No.
428
00:21:09,940 --> 00:21:10,660
It's a puppy.
429
00:21:10,660 --> 00:21:15,260
It needs proper socialization and it needs
to be, in a foster home or an environment
430
00:21:15,260 --> 00:21:19,970
like mine that's close to a home that's
structured because this puppy's just
431
00:21:19,970 --> 00:21:24,530
going to end up being conditioned at
a critical development age to be in
432
00:21:24,530 --> 00:21:26,090
a shelter and you don't want that.
433
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:33,490
But I had to say no because I
can't afford it, and I think that.
434
00:21:34,165 --> 00:21:38,605
We didn't create the problem by always
being there, but we definitely put a
435
00:21:38,605 --> 00:21:43,135
bandaid on it for a while, for always
trying to find a way, because it really
436
00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:47,575
does come down to money because if the
rescue groups have the money to pay for
437
00:21:47,575 --> 00:21:53,215
the vet bills, to pay for the whatever,
the marketing the Facebook ad the
438
00:21:53,695 --> 00:21:59,425
management, the all of the things you need
to do to raise money, fundraising costs,
439
00:21:59,455 --> 00:22:04,375
all of that stuff, if they have the money
to get that all done, then the animals
440
00:22:04,375 --> 00:22:06,145
could get adopted, the vettings finished.
441
00:22:06,145 --> 00:22:10,405
But when you have to wait to raise
the money needed to do the thing so
442
00:22:10,405 --> 00:22:14,225
that you could put the cat or the dog
in a home, it starts to drag it out.
443
00:22:14,525 --> 00:22:16,895
And if you overload yourself,
you just can't afford it.
444
00:22:16,925 --> 00:22:22,925
I know four animal rescue groups in my
area alone that have, vet bills in upward
445
00:22:22,925 --> 00:22:25,445
outstanding balances of $40,000 each.
446
00:22:26,285 --> 00:22:29,975
Right now our outstanding vet bills are
on three K and I'm having a heart attack.
447
00:22:30,890 --> 00:22:32,450
I never let it get that bad.
448
00:22:32,450 --> 00:22:33,290
You can't get it.
449
00:22:33,290 --> 00:22:34,220
Let that bad.
450
00:22:34,490 --> 00:22:36,020
But I have to say no.
451
00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:41,300
And I think, again, I don't think we
created a problem with the general public.
452
00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:47,930
I think that we bandaided it by not saying
no, because we were getting donations and
453
00:22:47,930 --> 00:22:53,180
now that we're not, and things are cut,
and funding's cut and people tightened
454
00:22:53,180 --> 00:22:59,300
their wallets and things are unstable,
we're starting to see the effects of that.
455
00:23:00,170 --> 00:23:01,310
I hope if that made sense.
456
00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:01,690
Dixie: It does.
457
00:23:01,690 --> 00:23:07,610
It makes a lot of sense with you having
bills of 15,000 a month, that's a lot.
458
00:23:07,660 --> 00:23:07,880
Yes.
459
00:23:08,070 --> 00:23:10,585
It's very difficult to get that amount in.
460
00:23:10,585 --> 00:23:11,905
I can only imagine.
461
00:23:12,185 --> 00:23:12,330
Meredith: I'm going to
462
00:23:12,330 --> 00:23:12,750
cry.
463
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:17,580
We were getting grants, so
I never, and this is truth.
464
00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:21,300
I never would've signed the lease
for this building where we are.
465
00:23:21,750 --> 00:23:26,160
If I thought for an iota of a
moment that I was gonna lose
466
00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,250
$50,000 in grant funding overnight.
467
00:23:30,390 --> 00:23:30,750
Never.
468
00:23:32,290 --> 00:23:35,080
I never imagined that I
was gonna get an email.
469
00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,090
'cause that was consistent for years.
470
00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:44,350
$69,700 is the total loss for
2025 in grant funding alone.
471
00:23:45,710 --> 00:23:48,290
That's pretty much
almost the shelter bills.
472
00:23:48,390 --> 00:23:49,050
A lot of money.
473
00:23:49,710 --> 00:23:52,880
And it was a lot of emails
saying, listen, we're sorry.
474
00:23:52,970 --> 00:23:57,110
We know we approved you for a
grant for first quarter 2025, but
475
00:23:57,140 --> 00:24:02,150
due to cuts and funding, we are
unable to do that and we apologize.
476
00:24:02,300 --> 00:24:03,440
You're just like, oh, great.
477
00:24:03,470 --> 00:24:03,890
Shoot me.
478
00:24:04,825 --> 00:24:07,149
Dixie: Have you tried to come
up with some other kind of.
479
00:24:07,239 --> 00:24:09,320
Fundraising ideas or things to do
480
00:24:09,370 --> 00:24:11,470
? Meredith: Anybody wanna
buy a kidney didn't work.
481
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,580
I tend to be really sarcastic.
482
00:24:15,580 --> 00:24:20,320
The biggest thing everybody says to me
is I always act like it's gonna be fine.
483
00:24:20,350 --> 00:24:23,835
They're like, Meredith, everybody thinks
you're just gonna figure it out, out.
484
00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:25,060
I'm like, I know it's bad.
485
00:24:25,670 --> 00:24:26,530
I don't know.
486
00:24:26,590 --> 00:24:29,500
We're pushing fundraising as hard
as we can on social media, but the
487
00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,750
general public, I'm not the big org.
488
00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:34,970
We had a big bump in finances.
489
00:24:35,020 --> 00:24:38,230
, We did help overseas and I mentioned
that, and we worked with animal
490
00:24:38,230 --> 00:24:42,640
rescuers in Afghanistan when the
fall of Afghanistan happened.
491
00:24:43,170 --> 00:24:46,730
Activision Blizzard, the video
game company gave us a large grant
492
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:53,060
$600,000, but that was specifically
to get those women out of Afghanistan
493
00:24:53,390 --> 00:24:54,590
and their families, right?
494
00:24:55,130 --> 00:24:56,750
So that was donor directed funds.
495
00:24:56,780 --> 00:25:01,310
We got that money, we got everybody that
was helping our US troops and our go US
496
00:25:01,310 --> 00:25:05,390
government employees over the years with
the cats and dogs out of Afghanistan.
497
00:25:05,780 --> 00:25:08,930
And then that money was gone,
never to come back again.
498
00:25:09,260 --> 00:25:11,150
I couldn't give you for anything else.
499
00:25:11,150 --> 00:25:15,080
So sometimes people look at our finances
and they see that big bump, and I'm like,
500
00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,390
yeah, that was a COVID loan and, A grant
for a specific purpose and then nothing.
501
00:25:20,510 --> 00:25:21,500
And then we're back to normal.
502
00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:22,430
It's oh look at Meredith.
503
00:25:22,430 --> 00:25:27,710
She's 150, 190, 150, 200,000, 800,000.
504
00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:32,410
And then it goes 200,001, 200,000, one 50.
505
00:25:32,410 --> 00:25:34,000
'cause we, it was just that one peak.
506
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,950
'cause sometimes you
have that one big thing.
507
00:25:36,730 --> 00:25:40,450
But that one big thing didn't
give us like public notoriety.
508
00:25:40,450 --> 00:25:41,620
No one knows who we are.
509
00:25:41,980 --> 00:25:44,890
That was just someone who knew that
we worked with that shelter and
510
00:25:44,890 --> 00:25:46,900
wanted to help those specific people.
511
00:25:47,590 --> 00:25:52,300
We are not a big org that gets in
thousands of donations that has
512
00:25:52,300 --> 00:25:53,950
hundreds of thousands of followers.
513
00:25:53,950 --> 00:25:58,780
We have 33,000 on Facebook's,
3000 I think on Instagram, and
514
00:25:58,780 --> 00:26:00,730
two, almost 2000 on TikTok.
515
00:26:00,730 --> 00:26:02,110
Like we're not big.
516
00:26:02,950 --> 00:26:07,090
So relying on your social media
base is just not, we don't have
517
00:26:07,090 --> 00:26:08,290
a hundred percent followers.
518
00:26:08,290 --> 00:26:09,580
It's just that doesn't work.
519
00:26:09,940 --> 00:26:13,420
So I've been trying to think outside of
box with grants, and not just for myself,
520
00:26:13,420 --> 00:26:15,660
but some of the dog sanctuary rescuers.
521
00:26:16,450 --> 00:26:20,570
It breaks my heart, these people have
committed their lives to helping dogs
522
00:26:20,570 --> 00:26:22,520
that are just not adoptable at all.
523
00:26:23,070 --> 00:26:26,550
And they put this, they dumped their whole
life savings and their whole life into it.
524
00:26:26,580 --> 00:26:30,420
And now no one's giving grants to
people who aren't doing adoptions.
525
00:26:30,420 --> 00:26:34,260
And then even still, it needs to
be a certain amount of adoptions.
526
00:26:35,060 --> 00:26:35,570
And that's hurt.
527
00:26:35,570 --> 00:26:39,000
And I was like, even with me with
rehab to give a good example, we were
528
00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,820
getting $40,000 a year from a very big.
529
00:26:42,885 --> 00:26:44,355
Store organization.
530
00:26:44,445 --> 00:26:45,015
We'll just say that.
531
00:26:46,145 --> 00:26:48,525
And that they shifted gears.
532
00:26:48,525 --> 00:26:50,805
Now we do abuse, cruelty,
and neglect cases.
533
00:26:51,045 --> 00:26:55,395
So you and I both know these, the
dogs I took from a hoarding case,
534
00:26:55,455 --> 00:26:58,265
they're not gonna get adopted
quickly, i'll have to heal them.
535
00:26:58,300 --> 00:26:59,645
I have to take them to the vet.
536
00:26:59,675 --> 00:27:00,935
We need to get their skin better
537
00:27:00,985 --> 00:27:03,235
. They have behavior issues
that I'm gonna work on.
538
00:27:03,625 --> 00:27:07,465
So we may be six months before those
10 dogs are ready to leave my facility.
539
00:27:08,005 --> 00:27:11,155
Now, during those six months, I'm
not doing puppies and kittens.
540
00:27:11,155 --> 00:27:13,615
I'm not taking in those kinds of animals.
541
00:27:14,005 --> 00:27:17,095
So my adoption numbers for the
next six months are gonna be low.
542
00:27:17,995 --> 00:27:20,845
So when they shifted gears to
how many cats or dogs you got
543
00:27:20,845 --> 00:27:23,425
adopted a year, I lost that money.
544
00:27:25,780 --> 00:27:29,620
So you're starting to see the people
that do what I do or the sanctuary
545
00:27:29,620 --> 00:27:33,760
work, lose out on opportunities from
larger foundations and grants that
546
00:27:33,820 --> 00:27:40,060
still are out there because they're
strictly basing it on numbers, which is
547
00:27:40,060 --> 00:27:44,020
where I think encourages the problem.
548
00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:49,030
So if a shelter or a rescue is
getting money based on the amount
549
00:27:49,030 --> 00:27:53,470
of adoptions that they do, are
they doing ethical adoptions?
550
00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:58,480
Are they really making sure that these
animals are going to the right home?
551
00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,290
How many of those animals are
returned or dumped in local shelters?
552
00:28:03,250 --> 00:28:04,120
There's a big one here.
553
00:28:04,810 --> 00:28:06,850
They do hundreds of adoptions a month.
554
00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,660
I have three of their dogs and
eight of their cats in my building.
555
00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:13,330
Dixie: I can understand that
because I do more, sanctuary.
556
00:28:13,330 --> 00:28:14,620
I do more.
557
00:28:15,250 --> 00:28:16,510
Like adult cats.
558
00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:17,880
Of course I'll take in kittens.
559
00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:18,990
I help kittens Oh, have.
560
00:28:19,590 --> 00:28:25,870
But the whole thing with an adult cat
is an adult cat is, they're overlooked.
561
00:28:25,930 --> 00:28:27,160
They take a long time Yes.
562
00:28:27,340 --> 00:28:28,330
To get adopted.
563
00:28:28,550 --> 00:28:31,820
It does make a lot of sense because
you might see these groups that
564
00:28:31,820 --> 00:28:35,210
are taken in puppies adopting
out all these puppies right away.
565
00:28:35,260 --> 00:28:39,220
But meanwhile, the people that have
the adult animals, they're with those
566
00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:43,030
animals for several months before you
find a home, because everybody wants
567
00:28:43,210 --> 00:28:45,010
the cute little puppies and kittens,
568
00:28:45,060 --> 00:28:46,410
Meredith: not just months.
569
00:28:46,510 --> 00:28:51,970
Eight years ago I was left 50
cats and $50 in a will, and all
570
00:28:51,970 --> 00:28:53,860
those cats were 10 years old.
571
00:28:54,805 --> 00:28:58,555
Can I tell you, I still have
problems with my building.
572
00:29:00,125 --> 00:29:02,165
I have a cat that just
turned 24 years old.
573
00:29:02,165 --> 00:29:05,315
Lisa's been with us for nine years now.
574
00:29:06,125 --> 00:29:07,385
She's 24 years old.
575
00:29:07,445 --> 00:29:10,295
Nobody wanted her nine years ago
when she was not 24 years old
576
00:29:11,255 --> 00:29:12,335
because she was a senior then.
577
00:29:12,365 --> 00:29:13,925
She's like ancient now.
578
00:29:14,415 --> 00:29:17,265
And then you also have rescues
like mine that may take dogs.
579
00:29:17,325 --> 00:29:19,665
Like I have a beautiful dog.
580
00:29:19,695 --> 00:29:20,685
She's seven years old.
581
00:29:20,685 --> 00:29:21,415
Her name is Pebbles.
582
00:29:21,435 --> 00:29:23,445
She's been with us for almost five years.
583
00:29:23,565 --> 00:29:24,705
She's mint.
584
00:29:25,155 --> 00:29:26,565
She does not like other dogs.
585
00:29:27,045 --> 00:29:28,485
I would put her with a newborn baby.
586
00:29:29,115 --> 00:29:30,375
I would put her with an newborn baby.
587
00:29:30,375 --> 00:29:32,685
She works with nonverbal autistic kids.
588
00:29:32,745 --> 00:29:33,825
She is amazing.
589
00:29:34,155 --> 00:29:36,195
She cannot go to a home with other dogs.
590
00:29:36,645 --> 00:29:39,825
She cannot go to a home with a
house, with a chain link fence.
591
00:29:40,215 --> 00:29:41,025
Come on Long Island.
592
00:29:41,175 --> 00:29:42,075
That's pretty common.
593
00:29:42,825 --> 00:29:46,605
So she's been with me a long time
because I refuse to set her up to fail.
594
00:29:47,010 --> 00:29:49,910
So what we've done with
dogs is they're part of our
595
00:29:49,910 --> 00:29:51,170
outreach program with the kids.
596
00:29:51,170 --> 00:29:56,040
So like when people call and say, we can't
have a pet, my son really loves dogs.
597
00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,030
I'm like, great, I'll throw 'em
in the backyard with Pebbles.
598
00:29:58,050 --> 00:29:59,040
He can wash her, go swimming.
599
00:29:59,070 --> 00:29:59,490
I don't care.
600
00:29:59,490 --> 00:30:00,990
You can sit there for three
hours, doesn't matter.
601
00:30:00,990 --> 00:30:01,710
It makes her happy.
602
00:30:01,710 --> 00:30:03,000
You wanna take a dog for day trip?
603
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,110
Go ahead, take PEs go.
604
00:30:04,650 --> 00:30:07,440
She just doesn't like how the dogs
don't let her interact with another dog.
605
00:30:08,460 --> 00:30:10,380
You see a baby in a carriage,
she'll lick its face.
606
00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:13,920
But like you have a lot of that, like
I'm sure you have cats that have been
607
00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:15,570
with you way longer than a couple months.
608
00:30:16,410 --> 00:30:16,710
Oh dear.
609
00:30:16,710 --> 00:30:18,000
We all have those.
610
00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:18,510
Yeah.
611
00:30:19,020 --> 00:30:21,780
But right now we have, like I
said, the amount of cats we have.
612
00:30:21,830 --> 00:30:25,250
I have 16 cats over the age of 19.
613
00:30:27,890 --> 00:30:28,280
Dixie: Wow.
614
00:30:28,310 --> 00:30:29,300
Meredith: No one's adopting those.
615
00:30:29,390 --> 00:30:30,135
Yeah, they're not leaving.
616
00:30:30,595 --> 00:30:33,760
They're leaving, but just not that
way, which is why I don't cage.
617
00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:37,030
That's why we have the furniture and
the couches and the television sets
618
00:30:37,030 --> 00:30:40,120
and the waterfalls and they make it
look like a house and people come and
619
00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,490
sit and pet the cats and watch tv.
620
00:30:42,940 --> 00:30:44,320
And our cats are dog socials.
621
00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,610
So I use the cats that have been with me
for eight years that were supposed to die
622
00:30:48,610 --> 00:30:51,880
eight years ago because they were supposed
to be hospice cases and still live.
623
00:30:52,510 --> 00:30:53,800
They're great with dogs.
624
00:30:54,130 --> 00:30:58,540
So when we get dogs in, like we just
took we just took three chihuahuas from
625
00:30:58,540 --> 00:31:03,190
another rescue who got those chihuahuas
from a hoarding case with 63 dogs.
626
00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:05,620
They got the chihuahuas in February.
627
00:31:05,710 --> 00:31:07,930
The dogs were not doing well,
they weren't moving forward.
628
00:31:08,020 --> 00:31:10,090
I'm like, ah, we'll throw
'em in the cat room.
629
00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:11,620
And everyone thought I was crazy.
630
00:31:11,620 --> 00:31:12,490
I'm like, you just wait.
631
00:31:12,670 --> 00:31:13,630
The cats will sort it up.
632
00:31:14,410 --> 00:31:16,330
Cats became friends with chihuahuas.
633
00:31:16,630 --> 00:31:20,320
Now Chihuahuas are approaching people
because their cat friends are right.
634
00:31:21,190 --> 00:31:23,260
So at least the cats have a purpose.
635
00:31:23,710 --> 00:31:26,980
The cats get to help other
animals move forward.
636
00:31:27,010 --> 00:31:28,120
They have a purpose.
637
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:28,930
They're happy.
638
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,560
They have a chihuahua to bother.
639
00:31:30,860 --> 00:31:31,730
They can clean it.
640
00:31:31,850 --> 00:31:34,780
They play with it, but they are
hoping as well, so they have a
641
00:31:34,780 --> 00:31:36,430
purpose, which was that middle.
642
00:31:36,430 --> 00:31:38,470
I tried to, I told you I
tried to fill a middle.
643
00:31:39,220 --> 00:31:41,020
So are our cat sanctuary camps.
644
00:31:41,380 --> 00:31:41,890
Yeah.
645
00:31:41,890 --> 00:31:42,490
I don't know.
646
00:31:42,490 --> 00:31:45,010
If somebody came to me tomorrow
and said, I'd love to adopt
647
00:31:45,010 --> 00:31:46,060
Lisa, I'd be like, really?
648
00:31:46,700 --> 00:31:47,660
If Lisa likes you, sure.
649
00:31:47,660 --> 00:31:49,130
Take her home, let her go home.
650
00:31:49,370 --> 00:31:51,470
But nobody's adopting a 24-year-old cat.
651
00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:52,320
With a tilted head.
652
00:31:52,350 --> 00:31:52,980
No one.
653
00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:58,680
But Lisa loves those chihuahuas, so
it, Lisa, those chihuahuas are learning
654
00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,540
how to live with a multi pet home.
655
00:32:00,590 --> 00:32:03,320
'Cause there's a dog in there
that's a permanent resident as well.
656
00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:04,190
And he loves dogs.
657
00:32:04,190 --> 00:32:05,090
He just hates people.
658
00:32:05,870 --> 00:32:08,330
So when people visit, I have
to take him out of the room.
659
00:32:08,330 --> 00:32:09,620
But he loves dogs.
660
00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,290
So they're learning how
to live with other dogs.
661
00:32:12,290 --> 00:32:13,730
They're learning how to live with cats.
662
00:32:13,730 --> 00:32:14,390
They're learning.
663
00:32:15,110 --> 00:32:17,480
It's funny, 'cause hoarder dogs
go to the bathroom everywhere
664
00:32:17,510 --> 00:32:20,680
and one of the chihuahuas pooped
on the cat's like ottoman.
665
00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:22,150
And the cat just smacked it.
666
00:32:22,750 --> 00:32:24,640
And that dog has not pooped
on the ottoman since.
667
00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,140
So they're helping with housebreaking.
668
00:32:28,630 --> 00:32:31,240
And if you look at our videos, I
have a video of Barry who is our
669
00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:32,830
handicap dog, she has no hind legs.
670
00:32:32,830 --> 00:32:35,650
She's been with us for
almost five years now.
671
00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:38,350
She's actually got a potential adopter.
672
00:32:38,350 --> 00:32:39,820
We have to do a meet next week.
673
00:32:39,970 --> 00:32:44,080
But it took me that long to find a dog
with no hind and legs, a home where
674
00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:45,970
someone was willing to take on that.
675
00:32:46,555 --> 00:32:49,825
But Barry has helped us socialize
so many dogs, and I was like,
676
00:32:49,825 --> 00:32:52,105
here, 10 schnauzers go play.
677
00:32:52,765 --> 00:32:54,775
And she's teaching them to trust people.
678
00:32:54,775 --> 00:32:58,255
And if it wasn't for Barry and
the cats, those dogs would not be
679
00:32:58,255 --> 00:33:01,765
as far along as they are because
they're making friends with Barry.
680
00:33:01,765 --> 00:33:05,095
They're making friends with the cats, then
they're watching Barry and the cats and
681
00:33:05,095 --> 00:33:09,835
baby sharks, the other dog interact with
people and go, oh, hey, I can do that too.
682
00:33:09,885 --> 00:33:14,265
So it's, but like we don't have
those adoption numbers that are crazy
683
00:33:14,295 --> 00:33:15,675
because sometimes that's not just one.
684
00:33:15,675 --> 00:33:17,325
Sometimes it actually is years.
685
00:33:17,775 --> 00:33:21,795
And those on the animals that other places
could say you should have euthanized them.
686
00:33:22,635 --> 00:33:24,795
And again, I'm gonna go back
to some of these animals,
687
00:33:24,795 --> 00:33:26,865
did not fly 3000 miles to die
688
00:33:27,845 --> 00:33:29,765
39 cats were left at JFK airport.
689
00:33:29,765 --> 00:33:30,875
What was I supposed to do?
690
00:33:30,875 --> 00:33:31,895
Let them get euthanized?
691
00:33:31,895 --> 00:33:32,345
Hell no.
692
00:33:33,695 --> 00:33:34,685
Some of them were older.
693
00:33:34,685 --> 00:33:35,435
I still have them.
694
00:33:35,435 --> 00:33:36,125
It's okay.
695
00:33:36,890 --> 00:33:40,100
They're at least doing something
to help other animals find a home.
696
00:33:40,460 --> 00:33:43,430
It's just now that things have
gotten numbered base, it's just hard.
697
00:33:44,060 --> 00:33:44,570
Dixie: I understand.
698
00:33:44,570 --> 00:33:45,080
Meredith: I babble.
699
00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:45,260
I'm a
700
00:33:45,260 --> 00:33:45,950
New Yorker.
701
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:46,900
Dixie: That's okay.
702
00:33:47,260 --> 00:33:50,860
What do you think needs to
be done to change things?
703
00:33:50,860 --> 00:33:55,660
Or how do you forecast things
in the future in animal rescue?
704
00:33:55,660 --> 00:33:56,080
Meredith: I think
705
00:33:56,890 --> 00:34:00,520
in general, first, everybody
needs to stop arguing.
706
00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:02,440
Animal rescuers argue all the time.
707
00:34:02,590 --> 00:34:03,700
It's not a competition.
708
00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:07,690
We all have to come to some sort
of middle level because animal
709
00:34:07,690 --> 00:34:11,440
cruelty laws in this country, in the
United States are not consistent.
710
00:34:11,784 --> 00:34:13,585
In most cases they're not enforced.
711
00:34:14,545 --> 00:34:18,534
But the reason, and working with
politicians as much as we do,
712
00:34:18,745 --> 00:34:22,195
especially with helping Afghans and
then other things we're doing with
713
00:34:22,195 --> 00:34:26,094
law enforcement and hoarding cases,
I can tell you most politicians
714
00:34:26,094 --> 00:34:27,534
think animal rescuers are nuts.
715
00:34:28,135 --> 00:34:30,534
'cause we're always arguing and
we're always fighting and we're
716
00:34:30,534 --> 00:34:31,915
always badmouthing each other.
717
00:34:31,975 --> 00:34:33,264
And you and I both know that's true.
718
00:34:34,284 --> 00:34:38,395
So we need to try to stop, take a
step back and try to work together
719
00:34:38,395 --> 00:34:42,205
for like comprehensive animal
welfare reform that's consistent.,
720
00:34:43,195 --> 00:34:49,014
I think also you need to look at the
hoarding issue that occurs across
721
00:34:49,014 --> 00:34:50,425
this country with animal hoarding.
722
00:34:51,205 --> 00:34:55,645
And really start looking at it like
this is a mental illness problem.
723
00:34:55,885 --> 00:34:57,295
So when we do a hoarding case.
724
00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,950
Typically when I'm mitigating it, and
it's not law enforcement, and I've
725
00:35:01,950 --> 00:35:06,750
done that before, I haven't done one
in two years, but we have helped orders
726
00:35:07,470 --> 00:35:10,500
get their numbers down, clean their
house up without getting arrested.
727
00:35:11,190 --> 00:35:14,370
And we work with social workers and
mental health professionals and you
728
00:35:14,370 --> 00:35:18,750
need to make sure they're getting the
aftercare and then that's dissipated.
729
00:35:18,750 --> 00:35:22,080
So now it's arrest them, press
charges, take all their animals away,
730
00:35:22,110 --> 00:35:23,970
no follow up, no follow through.
731
00:35:24,450 --> 00:35:26,700
They get convicted five years, no dogs.
732
00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:28,110
Guess what happens in five years?
733
00:35:28,170 --> 00:35:29,220
They go get more dogs
734
00:35:31,590 --> 00:35:34,260
or they're convicted and they're
told that they can't have pets and
735
00:35:34,260 --> 00:35:36,720
they get them anyway and nobody
follows up to make sure they don't.
736
00:35:37,305 --> 00:35:40,965
So I think we need to do a better
job addressing the hoarding problem
737
00:35:40,965 --> 00:35:42,225
that's happening across this country.
738
00:35:42,225 --> 00:35:43,065
'cause it's everywhere.
739
00:35:43,825 --> 00:35:47,845
I think we need to, as rescue groups,
create partnerships with law enforcement,
740
00:35:47,845 --> 00:35:53,335
district attorneys, people in positions
of legal authority to try to figure out
741
00:35:53,335 --> 00:35:55,555
a plan to what to do in these situations.
742
00:35:55,555 --> 00:35:57,475
To try to stop gabit from going forward.
743
00:35:58,175 --> 00:35:59,765
Wellness checks, things like that.
744
00:36:00,455 --> 00:36:06,155
I also think that maybe we need to
try to get better partnerships with
745
00:36:06,155 --> 00:36:10,245
the townships and the counties and
the states that we're in to try to
746
00:36:10,245 --> 00:36:15,045
help, especially when we're stepping
up to take animals that were abused,
747
00:36:15,045 --> 00:36:17,025
that were part of an investigation.
748
00:36:17,745 --> 00:36:21,345
Because if we are gonna step up and
take 10 dogs out of a case that was
749
00:36:21,345 --> 00:36:25,185
where a person was arrested, the
animals are also a victim of a crime.
750
00:36:25,785 --> 00:36:30,655
So the county or the state or
the township could, in theory.
751
00:36:31,045 --> 00:36:34,855
Help the animal rescues that help
those animals with some of the expenses
752
00:36:35,335 --> 00:36:36,595
because they do that with people.
753
00:36:36,785 --> 00:36:38,165
Those are just my random thoughts.
754
00:36:38,165 --> 00:36:44,225
And I also think we need to try to come
to some sort of way to get a consistent
755
00:36:44,885 --> 00:36:52,025
across the board, maybe a coalition
where we could try to help people pay
756
00:36:52,025 --> 00:36:55,085
their medical bills more on a national
level so that they don't surrender
757
00:36:55,085 --> 00:36:56,495
because they can't afford something.
758
00:36:56,985 --> 00:37:00,585
A network of organizations that
are willing to offer up foster
759
00:37:00,585 --> 00:37:04,875
homes to temporarily house pets
like we do would also be fantastic.
760
00:37:05,475 --> 00:37:06,705
I could go all day on this.
761
00:37:06,705 --> 00:37:07,095
Sorry.
762
00:37:07,635 --> 00:37:08,655
There's lots of ideas.
763
00:37:09,645 --> 00:37:09,795
Dixie: Yeah.
764
00:37:09,795 --> 00:37:11,205
Those are all great ideas.
765
00:37:11,205 --> 00:37:14,995
And what you said too about the
rescue groups working together, that
766
00:37:14,995 --> 00:37:19,585
was one point of this whole podcast
when I first started it, is because
767
00:37:19,585 --> 00:37:23,095
I did see a lot of rescue groups,
like they fight with each other.
768
00:37:24,220 --> 00:37:24,520
Meredith: Yes.
769
00:37:24,730 --> 00:37:25,370
And yes.
770
00:37:25,545 --> 00:37:29,565
Dixie: Rather than fight with each other,
work together, we all have the same goal.
771
00:37:30,205 --> 00:37:30,325
Meredith: Yeah
772
00:37:30,325 --> 00:37:34,165
Like I'm not competition, so
generally speaking, I try to
773
00:37:34,165 --> 00:37:36,385
get along with everybody, but
I'm that weird bucket, right?
774
00:37:36,385 --> 00:37:37,615
I'm not competing with you.
775
00:37:37,615 --> 00:37:39,355
If you're doing kitten adoptions, you win.
776
00:37:39,405 --> 00:37:42,735
I had five kittens this whole
year, and they're just getting
777
00:37:42,735 --> 00:37:45,795
adopted now because they were so
malnourished I couldn't fix them
778
00:37:45,795 --> 00:37:47,205
until they were six months old, right?
779
00:37:47,755 --> 00:37:50,065
And then I have a bunch
of old cats and old dogs.
780
00:37:50,125 --> 00:37:51,175
I have cats and dogs.
781
00:37:51,205 --> 00:37:55,135
I can't bring new adoption events
at Petco or Pet Smart because they
782
00:37:55,135 --> 00:37:56,485
don't like other cats and dogs.
783
00:37:56,485 --> 00:37:58,615
So I'm not anyone's competition.
784
00:37:59,650 --> 00:38:02,410
The people who know who I am are
usually within the rescue community
785
00:38:02,410 --> 00:38:05,260
because again, I'm the person that you
call, like I have three chihuahuas.
786
00:38:05,260 --> 00:38:06,730
I can't do anything with the Merediths.
787
00:38:06,730 --> 00:38:07,330
Do you have room?
788
00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:08,350
I'm that person.
789
00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:13,030
But I think we all need to work
together because I picked up the phone
790
00:38:13,030 --> 00:38:16,240
and I called all the people that I've
helped before, and I'm like, Hey, she
791
00:38:16,270 --> 00:38:20,830
want a schnauzer because some of the
dogs in this house didn't need me.
792
00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:25,660
Some of the dogs outta these 25 dogs
didn't need to be at my facility.
793
00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:30,490
Yes, they needed medical care, but they
did not need as much socialization.
794
00:38:30,490 --> 00:38:33,130
They were not as traumatized
as some of the others.
795
00:38:33,470 --> 00:38:37,130
I think if we all worked together
instead of competing for the high
796
00:38:37,130 --> 00:38:39,620
profile cases, that would be way better.
797
00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,165
Dixie: Yeah I agree with that.
798
00:38:41,165 --> 00:38:44,165
I had somebody come look at two
kittens that I had the other
799
00:38:44,165 --> 00:38:45,545
day to adopt 'em together.
800
00:38:45,935 --> 00:38:49,775
They looked at 'em and I told 'em, I'm
like, look, before you make this decision
801
00:38:49,775 --> 00:38:53,285
on my two kittens, I'm like, they have two
other groups that have adoption events.
802
00:38:53,285 --> 00:38:54,305
Go check them out too.
803
00:38:55,850 --> 00:38:56,150
Meredith: yep.
804
00:38:56,330 --> 00:38:58,910
People come to me and they're like,
Meredith, I saw you have a dog.
805
00:38:58,910 --> 00:38:59,480
It's worm.
806
00:38:59,690 --> 00:39:01,760
Worm is a , seven pound Maltese.
807
00:39:01,820 --> 00:39:06,770
He's been with me for almost four
years now because worm's fence,
808
00:39:06,770 --> 00:39:10,550
his criminal offense that ended him
up in a town shelter was hopping
809
00:39:10,550 --> 00:39:13,730
a neighbor's fence and ripping a
German shepherd's ears off again.
810
00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:14,510
I'm gonna repeat.
811
00:39:14,660 --> 00:39:16,510
It's a seven pound Maltese.
812
00:39:17,260 --> 00:39:21,640
He's extremely large dog aggressive and
he flies like a squirrel flying squirrel.
813
00:39:22,090 --> 00:39:25,690
So I worked with Worm on not
hopping five foot fences.
814
00:39:25,780 --> 00:39:26,830
He doesn't do that anymore.
815
00:39:27,130 --> 00:39:30,280
Initially when we had him for adoption,
I said he needed a DPS collar.
816
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:31,570
He doesn't run away anymore.
817
00:39:31,570 --> 00:39:32,500
He doesn't bolt anymore.
818
00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:36,520
He is got a lot of training,
but he is still a jerk.
819
00:39:37,090 --> 00:39:38,140
He's just a jerk.
820
00:39:38,350 --> 00:39:39,520
He's not an abused dog.
821
00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:43,330
He was a spoiled brat that never got
taught rules, structure, or boundaries.
822
00:39:43,330 --> 00:39:47,260
They bought him in a pet store, they
had him for a year, and then he did
823
00:39:47,260 --> 00:39:48,730
that because they never told him no.
824
00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:50,500
'cause he was cute and they
carried him everywhere.
825
00:39:50,980 --> 00:39:53,245
And they, and that goes back to
what could we do differently?
826
00:39:53,245 --> 00:39:58,405
Education, educating people on how
to train your dog, how to train
827
00:39:58,405 --> 00:39:59,515
your cat to use a litter box.
828
00:39:59,515 --> 00:40:00,505
All of that stuff.
829
00:40:00,505 --> 00:40:05,585
Going out into the world and putting
out podcasts and, advice like you
830
00:40:05,585 --> 00:40:09,455
see, if you follow us on social
media, I try to tell people what we're
831
00:40:09,455 --> 00:40:12,755
doing to rehabilitate dogs or how
to train a dog or how to help a cat.
832
00:40:12,755 --> 00:40:17,045
Because I think it's important to share
that knowledge, not only within the rescue
833
00:40:17,045 --> 00:40:18,545
community, but with the general public.
834
00:40:18,790 --> 00:40:19,150
As well.
835
00:40:19,750 --> 00:40:23,950
Because if that had been done, if somebody
told people it doesn't matter that he's
836
00:40:23,950 --> 00:40:29,110
only seven pounds, you need to train him
that it's not okay to eat your neighbor's
837
00:40:29,110 --> 00:40:34,210
German Shepherd because on the day that
you let him go in your backyard because
838
00:40:34,210 --> 00:40:38,350
you didn't realize Cujo was next door
outside, he's gonna fly over the fence.
839
00:40:38,350 --> 00:40:40,990
And you would think that Worm
would've lost that fight.
840
00:40:40,990 --> 00:40:41,530
He did not.
841
00:40:42,730 --> 00:40:45,370
We have 148 pound Amberly.
842
00:40:45,380 --> 00:40:46,490
He's a good boy.
843
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,820
And I know Worm got over a fence
and nipped at him and he just looked
844
00:40:49,820 --> 00:40:51,170
at me and he's little dog Matt.
845
00:40:51,350 --> 00:40:53,900
Now I'm very lucky 'cause
Hugo's good with little dogs.
846
00:40:53,900 --> 00:40:55,070
He tolerated that.
847
00:40:55,550 --> 00:40:57,710
But somebody's dog next door may not.
848
00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:01,000
We need to educate people like
how to train the dogs, but we also
849
00:41:01,180 --> 00:41:04,210
like need to make sure that we
are not setting dogs up to fail.
850
00:41:04,210 --> 00:41:06,970
I'm not gonna put Worm in a house
with someone with a four foot fence.
851
00:41:06,970 --> 00:41:07,540
That'd be crazy.
852
00:41:07,540 --> 00:41:07,960
Dixie: Yeah.
853
00:41:08,020 --> 00:41:08,710
Makes sense.
854
00:41:08,770 --> 00:41:09,790
Makes total sense.
855
00:41:09,820 --> 00:41:10,030
Meredith: Yeah.
856
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:11,110
Yeah.
857
00:41:11,110 --> 00:41:13,990
So when people call me and
say, how high is your fence?
858
00:41:13,990 --> 00:41:16,060
And they'll go, oh, I have
a four foot chain link.
859
00:41:16,090 --> 00:41:18,580
I'm like, yeah, does
your neighbor have a dog?
860
00:41:18,940 --> 00:41:21,280
And they're like, yeah, my
neighbor has this golden retriever.
861
00:41:21,310 --> 00:41:23,760
I'm like, I know that this
shelter have Malteses available.
862
00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:26,700
You need to go there because Worm
is not the right dog for you.
863
00:41:26,910 --> 00:41:31,830
I refer them to other groups that I
know have dogs, similar body type to
864
00:41:31,830 --> 00:41:33,270
the little one that they inquired about.
865
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,610
Dixie: Because it makes a
better fit for everybody.
866
00:41:37,795 --> 00:41:38,005
Meredith: Yep.
867
00:41:38,065 --> 00:41:40,665
And we have the worst
schnauzers from this case.
868
00:41:40,815 --> 00:41:44,055
So when people call me and say,
Hey Meredith, I was calling
869
00:41:44,055 --> 00:41:45,435
about the Bayshore hoarding case.
870
00:41:45,435 --> 00:41:46,455
I'm like, oh, you know what?
871
00:41:47,265 --> 00:41:50,445
Most of mine are not ready yet,
but I know that Valerie's are.
872
00:41:50,445 --> 00:41:53,685
So you can call them at the adoption
center, or I know that Virginia's are, you
873
00:41:53,685 --> 00:41:55,485
can call Attack North for country kids.
874
00:41:55,490 --> 00:41:58,245
Or, I know Yorkie 9 1 1 took four from me.
875
00:41:58,665 --> 00:41:59,655
They have younger ones.
876
00:41:59,655 --> 00:42:00,585
They had no issues.
877
00:42:00,585 --> 00:42:01,425
They're just babies.
878
00:42:01,425 --> 00:42:05,835
You can call them because if
you don't do that, a no one's
879
00:42:05,835 --> 00:42:07,155
gonna ever wanna help you again.
880
00:42:07,155 --> 00:42:11,595
And B, like the goal is to get
animals adopted so that you can
881
00:42:11,595 --> 00:42:14,175
free it up so that there is space.
882
00:42:14,655 --> 00:42:15,495
I don't know.
883
00:42:15,565 --> 00:42:19,095
It's not a competition , if you
don't have the right animal and your
884
00:42:19,095 --> 00:42:23,185
rescue for someone, it shouldn't be
just, we don't have that right now.
885
00:42:23,185 --> 00:42:26,035
I'll keep you on the list in case we get
something in that matches your needs.
886
00:42:26,395 --> 00:42:29,215
It takes three seconds and
we all know who has what.
887
00:42:29,245 --> 00:42:31,315
It takes three seconds for us
to go, you know what, gimme
888
00:42:31,315 --> 00:42:33,265
a second look for a Maltese.
889
00:42:33,265 --> 00:42:35,395
Let's see who has malteses in the area.
890
00:42:35,495 --> 00:42:35,675
Dixie: Yeah.
891
00:42:35,675 --> 00:42:37,025
I love that you do that.
892
00:42:38,465 --> 00:42:40,865
Meredith: You gotta, I dunno.
893
00:42:40,985 --> 00:42:41,945
People say I'm too nice.
894
00:42:43,335 --> 00:42:47,115
Dixie: Before we end the call,
what final message would you
895
00:42:47,115 --> 00:42:48,525
like to share with our listeners?
896
00:42:49,415 --> 00:42:51,905
Meredith: I just wish everybody
would do one kind thing every
897
00:42:51,905 --> 00:42:55,995
day 'cause if we all do that, we
can make a world a better place.
898
00:42:56,685 --> 00:43:02,055
And I also to always remember
before you judge, think.
899
00:43:02,475 --> 00:43:04,965
Put yourself in that person's shoes.
900
00:43:04,965 --> 00:43:09,465
If you grew up like that person
grew up, you might do the same
901
00:43:09,465 --> 00:43:11,445
thing or make the same choices.
902
00:43:11,445 --> 00:43:16,305
If you were in that person's situation,
those things could have happened to you.
903
00:43:16,755 --> 00:43:18,075
Goes back to kindness.
904
00:43:18,405 --> 00:43:21,945
So when you're dealing with people,
especially animal rescuers, when people
905
00:43:21,945 --> 00:43:25,395
call you and ask for help and they really
do need help or they can't afford the
906
00:43:25,395 --> 00:43:29,775
vet bill, instead of going online and
it's oh my God, I got this dog from
907
00:43:29,775 --> 00:43:33,345
these people and they couldn't afford
the vet bill and he's really sick.
908
00:43:33,435 --> 00:43:35,785
Maybe say , Hey, somebody
fell in hard times.
909
00:43:35,785 --> 00:43:36,955
They couldn't care for their dog.
910
00:43:37,585 --> 00:43:39,565
They had the wherewithal
to call and ask for help.
911
00:43:39,865 --> 00:43:40,795
We took the dog in.
912
00:43:41,155 --> 00:43:44,545
We're gonna get it the help it
need, or we wanna try to help these
913
00:43:44,545 --> 00:43:47,425
people 'cause they're a good owner
because if we did that, we can
914
00:43:47,425 --> 00:43:52,315
actually, if we kept dogs with good
people and cats with good people.
915
00:43:53,335 --> 00:43:58,135
We literally could go to the town and the
county shelters, the high kill shelters
916
00:43:58,165 --> 00:44:02,575
and help the animals that nobody wants
because we would have the space and the th
917
00:44:02,995 --> 00:44:05,305
instead of just flipping adoptable pets.
918
00:44:05,875 --> 00:44:06,985
I hate to use the word flipping.
919
00:44:07,045 --> 00:44:09,945
I'm not calling people flippers,
but we can't just do kittens and
920
00:44:09,945 --> 00:44:12,135
poppies, but I get that it's easy.
921
00:44:12,465 --> 00:44:14,055
I don't do kittens and puppies.
922
00:44:14,055 --> 00:44:14,715
Do you know why?
923
00:44:15,305 --> 00:44:15,965
Could you guess?
924
00:44:17,405 --> 00:44:18,755
I didn't wanna be one of those people.
925
00:44:19,985 --> 00:44:22,865
I didn't wanna be adoption fee driven.
926
00:44:23,675 --> 00:44:25,715
I didn't wanna fall into the trap.
927
00:44:25,745 --> 00:44:27,185
I gotta go pull a bunch of puppies.
928
00:44:27,215 --> 00:44:29,015
'cause we need money to pay for things.
929
00:44:29,585 --> 00:44:31,415
I wanted to figure out a different way.
930
00:44:32,580 --> 00:44:34,560
We've been at, since 2013.
931
00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:36,480
This is the first time I'm
having a major problem.
932
00:44:36,480 --> 00:44:39,180
I could not have predicted
this life situation at all.
933
00:44:39,180 --> 00:44:40,530
Like this one's for the books,
934
00:44:40,530 --> 00:44:40,865
Dixie: but yeah.
935
00:44:40,915 --> 00:44:41,790
Yeah, nobody could predict.
936
00:44:41,790 --> 00:44:42,265
Yeah, I tried.
937
00:44:43,405 --> 00:44:44,575
Meredith: I was like, what the heck?
938
00:44:44,685 --> 00:44:48,765
Wow, I've never had someone offer
us a grant, get approved and go,
939
00:44:48,795 --> 00:44:50,655
oops, sorry, our funding got cut.
940
00:44:50,655 --> 00:44:51,735
That has never happened.
941
00:44:51,735 --> 00:44:53,545
And you can't even get mad.
942
00:44:53,545 --> 00:44:54,175
You just laugh.
943
00:44:54,235 --> 00:44:54,895
I gotta laugh.
944
00:44:55,375 --> 00:45:00,745
. So other final thought is to please
again, be kind, but also be conscious
945
00:45:00,745 --> 00:45:02,485
and aware and take responsibility.
946
00:45:02,485 --> 00:45:05,305
If you're going to take
on a case, see it through.
947
00:45:05,575 --> 00:45:07,855
If you can see it through, ask for help.
948
00:45:07,885 --> 00:45:09,835
Don't dump it on someone else.
949
00:45:09,865 --> 00:45:11,875
When someone else does actually help you.
950
00:45:12,115 --> 00:45:14,905
Make sure that you don't abandon
them with that situation.
951
00:45:16,015 --> 00:45:16,885
I guess that's it, right?
952
00:45:16,885 --> 00:45:17,755
That was a good end.
953
00:45:18,415 --> 00:45:21,975
Dixie: Thank you so much for taking
the time to speak with me and I
954
00:45:21,975 --> 00:45:24,405
think things will end up getting
better, so just hang in there.
955
00:45:25,705 --> 00:45:26,105
Meredith: Trying.
956
00:45:26,450 --> 00:45:27,320
We'll see what happens.
957
00:45:28,460 --> 00:45:29,060
Whatcha gonna do.
958
00:45:29,970 --> 00:45:31,140
You're not gonna pack it up.
959
00:45:31,260 --> 00:45:32,400
You're gonna keep fighting.
960
00:45:32,850 --> 00:45:36,050
I have my quote of the day has
been, let's just go down swinging.
961
00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:40,160
You are gonna go down, swinging,
go down trying, go down swinging.
962
00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:44,390
At the end of the day, even if you
fail, if you tried your best and you
963
00:45:44,390 --> 00:45:47,420
did everything you could, then you're
gonna be able to sleep at night.
964
00:45:47,900 --> 00:45:51,470
But if you just give up and
walk, then you didn't try.
965
00:45:51,470 --> 00:45:53,210
There's always that what if in the back.
966
00:45:53,510 --> 00:45:53,750
Dixie: Yeah.
967
00:45:53,750 --> 00:45:56,420
And it sounds like you've done
a lot of good, that's for sure.
968
00:45:57,600 --> 00:46:00,330
Thank you for listening and
we hope you join us next week.
969
00:46:00,720 --> 00:46:04,350
If you know somebody that loves animals
as much as I do, please send 'em our way.
970
00:46:04,350 --> 00:46:05,550
We would love to talk to 'em.
971
00:46:05,979 --> 00:46:09,699
If you are enjoying our show, please
consider leaving us a donation.
972
00:46:10,029 --> 00:46:12,859
A hundred percent goes to our animals.
973
00:46:15,559 --> 00:46:17,979
Paws in
974
00:46:20,809 --> 00:46:29,349
the night Claws in the
fight Whiskers twitch and
975
00:46:31,369 --> 00:46:32,139
tails
976
00:46:34,599 --> 00:46:35,269
take flight
977
00:46:35,324 --> 00:46:41,674
They’re calling in Stories to spin
From the wild to the heart within
978
00:46:42,694 --> 00:46:48,244
Broken wings and hopeful springs
We’re the voices for these things
979
00:46:48,709 --> 00:46:52,349
animal posse hear the call.
980
00:46:54,009 --> 00:46:55,389
We stand together.
981
00:46:56,609 --> 00:47:08,469
Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
got it all Animal posse Saving
982
00:47:10,549 --> 00:47:10,969
them
983
00:47:16,839 --> 00:47:16,959
all
984
00:47:17,249 --> 00:47:23,909
The vet’s got tips The rescuer’s
grit The foster homes where love
985
00:47:23,909 --> 00:47:36,019
won’t quit From a pup in the rain to
a bird in pain , Every soul’s worth
986
00:47:38,294 --> 00:47:38,494
the
987
00:47:40,854 --> 00:47:42,674
strain
988
00:47:42,939 --> 00:47:45,849
Animal posse
989
00:47:50,819 --> 00:47:55,129
Hear the call
990
00:47:57,889 --> 00:48:01,779
We stand together Big
991
00:48:03,819 --> 00:48:12,199
and small Rescue tales We’ve got
it all Animal posse Saving them all
992
00:48:12,509 --> 00:48:18,619
Every caller tells a tale, every
howl a whispered wail, we rise up.
993
00:48:19,079 --> 00:48:19,739
We never
994
00:48:24,159 --> 00:48:24,319
fail.
995
00:48:27,109 --> 00:48:27,199
This
996
00:48:29,259 --> 00:48:29,319
is
997
00:48:31,739 --> 00:48:31,799
the
998
00:48:38,119 --> 00:48:40,259
bond
999
00:48:43,039 --> 00:48:44,769
The holy grail
1000
00:48:44,799 --> 00:49:00,145
Animal posse Hear the call We stand
together Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
1001
00:49:00,145 --> 00:49:08,914
got it all Animal posse Saving them all
1002
00:49:08,964 --> 00:49:16,229
Every caller tells a tale Every howl
a whispered wail We rise up We never
1003
00:49:16,229 --> 00:49:20,099
fail This is the bond The holy grail.
1004
00:49:20,769 --> 00:49:23,849
Song by Suno.ai
