The first time I went to BARC to photograph dogs being loaded for their big ride to Colorado to be placed in forever homes, I met Gail. She offered to bring out and hold dogs so I could get good photos. One of the first of those was Preciousa who, the moment Gail picked her up, leaned into her and then held her head up in absolute bliss because she felt so safe and loved.
It was a reminder to me of an animal’s craving for kindness. I saw it again on the last transport I photographed, when Zane had the same reaction to Gail’s sheltering arms.
Gail has been rescuing and fostering animals since 1992. I think they’ve all known they were in the compassionate care of a heart of gold.
For the most part, dogs ask for very little other than a bit of love and affection. OK, so Mlle. Renee also comes up and asks me to rub some medicine on the itchy spot on her tummy. (It’s Gold Bond Itch Cream, and I think she likes the warming feel when I rub it on.)
Boy, Colorado is getting a great lot of dogs!
They sure are! It makes me so happy to know they’re moving from death row to loving homes.
Nothing’s too good for Renee.
they look so happy and content. Now I am tearing up and have to rub Dash’s pink little belly.
I do a lot of thanking Margot and Guinness–and Tim’s dogs, too!–for being at The Compound after I spend time at BARC. And I wish for all those dogs and cats that they find the best forever families.
Why do they go to Colorado? Are there more homes for them there?
Yes. Houston is estimated to have 1.2 to 1.4 MILLION homeless dogs and cats. Some days BARC, our city pound, takes in over a hundred dogs and cats–in ONE day. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the number of homeless animals taken in by Houston’s Humane Society and SPCA.
There are foster-based rescue groups (like Scout’s Honor, where Tim got Pixie and Penny, Twila’s Friends, where we got Margot, and Friends For Life, where Rhonda and Lindsey got Sugar) and no-kill shelters trying to help, and the goal of Rescued Pets Movement is to help turn BARC into a no-kill organization (and BARC would love this, too!). RPM partners with rescue groups and organizations out of state where there is an actual shortage of adoptable dogs and cats. Right now, they work with over fifty such groups in Colorado, so that’s where these dogs and cats are being moved.
In time, as RPM receives more donations that will help provide temporary fosters, vet care, and means of transportation, they can pull more dogs and cats from BARC and take them to other areas of the country offering great homes for these pets.
So basically, all the animals pictured of BARC dogs and cats on my blog were scheduled to be euthanized. And now, instead, they will go to homes.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
I wonder why Houston has so many homeless dogs? I like Battersea Dogs Home and The Dogs Trust over here, since they don’t put down healthy animals. I understand that they have the funds to hold that policy. I hope the rescue centres in Houston are soon able to do the same.
There are a multitude of reasons. In many areas of the country, there remains resistance to spaying and neutering dogs and cats, or even confining and leashing them.
People want to breed their pets, or breed dogs to make money.
We have a huge human population that is animal friendly–there are more people to buy pets, or take in strays, or adopt them, but then they later realize they’ve taken on a 10-15 year commitment that requires a lot of work and thought. People turn over their dogs and cats because they move, because they have a baby, because they don’t have time to correct their behavioral problems, because their financial situations change, because they’re not cute kittens and puppies anymore.
In those areas of the country where spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership has caused shortages of adoptable animals, there is fear people will start breeding them again, or buying from “puppy mills.” Meanwhile, in places like Houston and Atlanta, for example, there are millions of pets available. So organizations are starting to focus on raising funds to transport these already living beautiful dogs and cats to those places where there are homes for them. I hope we start to see a lot more of this.
Did you have the flash on? 😉
They look like they don’t wanna go.
Ha–no flash.
They’ve been kenneled at BARC (the city of Houston’s pound) and would almost certainly be euthanized because there are too many animals and not enough adoptions. They may be a little surprised by the attention or a little anxious about boarding, but I’m sure they know the volunteers are offering them love and hope.
The looks on those faces makes me feel a little weepy. But in a good way. I think.
I know. They have so much love to give; all they need is a chance.