Rescue me

Taking a circuitous route, a scrapbook designed for dogs found its way to me. We haven’t been doing very many crafty things on Craft Night recently, but I have managed to get this project up to date. I decided the scrapbook could best be used to keep a photographic record of the dogs that Tim has helped through Scout’s Honor‘s rescue program. This does not include the dogs he’s helped transport to and from veterinarians or boarding locations. Most of the dogs pictured have been his fosters, even if only for a few days to relieve other fosters or on their way to forever homes. All have stayed at The Compound for at least a couple of nights–most much longer.

Of course, first up is the miracle dog who began it all: EZ, who still comes to visit and stay with Tim from time to time. After so many challenges and almost an entire year at The Compound, EZ was adopted into the perfect forever home, where she is loved unconditionally. Though I won’t share as much information under the rest of these photos, trust me that these Scout’s Honor dogs have all been placed with equal care in homes where they could thrive.

Bonus photo pages:

All photos taken by Timothy J. Lambert, me, and possibly in one case, Lindsey Smolensky.

If you’re unable to adopt a dog, almost every city has rescue organizations who need foster help or even occasional relief for their foster families, or transportation for dogs. Fosters can be challenging; I won’t lie. A dog who’s been abused or who’s been in a pound or on the streets for a long time needs socialization, attention, and training. They can do destructive things. They don’t always mesh with the other members of a household and need to move to a different foster environment. Fostering isn’t for everyone. But even going to your local shelters or to adoption days and enabling dogs to get out of their crates for little walks and bio breaks, or some hugs and ear rubs, can help. Depending on the type of rescue organization, you may be able to best help with donations of food, bedding, or money for crates and vet care. And if you’re not a dog lover, trust me, there are plenty of opportunities to help foster or assist programs with cats, ferrets, and other surrendered or rescued animals. For example, many years ago, my sister was part of a rescue effort that took Snowball from a situation of terrible neglect to a chance at a new and better life.

If you’re looking to add a permanent new member to your household, animals who have been fostered usually come to you fully vetted, at least partially trained, and with valuable information that only someone who’s lived with the animal can provide. It’s a great way to find an older companion animal, a younger animal, or an animal who was deemed unworthy of saving before a rescue organization stepped in, as is often true of disabled dogs. You will be repaid a million times over with the love and companionship of a forever friend.