| Logo |
Melanie had a pretty good idea of what she wanted in a logo and I am so very glad that I got to help her out by designing it! Shortly after finalizing the logo and business cards I started this blog and one of the first post ideas I thought of was featuring Paws without Borders! So I emailed Melanie with some questions about the dogs she rescues, how things work and how YOU can foster or adopt a dog...
Where do you rescue the dogs from?
How do you decide which dogs come here?
It depends on where they are. There are places that are almost impossible for us to get them moved to the island from due to geography or finances. If there is a means to get them here, then we will do our best to help them out. We do not have a shelter facility so all of our dogs are in loving family foster homes and that can also be a factor in deciding on bringing in dogs. When it comes to behaviour cases, it will mean we need a foster family someone capable of handling them. We try to help out dogs that are going to be euthanized. I also take medical surrenders from my work at the vet clinic when people do not have the finances to pay for an accident or injury, as well as dogs whose time is up at a shelter/pound and therefore going to be euthanized due to space at the shelter. We always try to take last chance dogs. I get routine emails, facebook posts etc with the dogs that are going to die soon and then try to arrange transport and foster homes for them if I am able to.
How do you get the dogs here? Once they get here what happens?
We work with transport groups! There is a group of west jet employees that use their employee benefits to escort dogs across Canada from one rescue to another. The West Jet Air Angels! We also work with a group called Pilots n' Paws, where small individual pilots donate their time, gas and air time to transport dogs from one area to another. They help with a lot of the remote areas and reservation dogs. For the dogs from the USA there are transportation networks that we use who will gather the dogs from the shelters and drive for several days from one location to rescue groups and then I meet them on the south side of the border and collect my dogs and bring them back into Canada. These have a lot of costs involved with them, air fares, crate fees on the airlines, crate/transport fees for each dog brought up, ferry costs, gas costs etc. They are unloaded, we get to know them a bit and then they go into their foster homes that are waiting for them. Medical care is provided if needed, flea treatment, deworming etc happens right away.
How do you go about fostering?
Foster homes are there to provide a temporary home for these dogs until their forever home can be found. They are volunteers who open up their home to these dogs and without them we could not help the dogs that we do! People interested in fostering can fill out a foster application form from the website www.pawswithoutborders.weebly.com or they can email me pawswithoutborders@yahoo.ca and I can provide them with the application form and also a foster handout that will educate foster homes in what to expect from shelter dogs, health concerns etc.
How do you go about adopting?
Available dogs can be viewed on the website, petfinder and facebook. There is an adoption application form on the website and downloaded and filled out and emailed back to me. If you have questions or want to have an adoption application form emailed to you, you can send a request to the rescue email and I can forward an application to perspective adopters.
How can people donate to this fabulous cause?
1. E - Transfer
2. PayPal to pawswithoutborders@yahoo.ca
3. Send me an email and I can give an address
What made you decide to start doing this?
I have been working in rescue for over 10 years. I started in Winnipeg Humane Society with temperament testing, behaviour, adoptions and receiving. I was a foster home for many dogs there. Then worked with some private rescues that took in dogs from the USA. When I moved to Nanaimo I fostered for the several dogs for the Nanaimo SPCA. I have always wanted to help dogs from death row, and I rescued one myself who was in the USA and she now has been with me 8 years! I started small and just took in a few dogs. It took me months to make connections with other rescues, transporters etc and make the relationships with them to bring in the dogs. I feel that as long as I am able to help these dogs I will continue doing do. I am a veterinary technician full time so helping animals is literally a full time job.
A note from Melanie...
I run the rescue, website, petfinder and facebook page myself. I work full time at the vet clinic. I do all the emails, applications, interviews, home checks etc. I do all the picking of dogs, transports, pick ups etc. As well as foster homes, foster applications. I just want people to know that I do my best to answer emails and phone calls, but I do get behind and have to work around my own schedule and the schedule of foster homes. Please have patience with me and know that I do my very best! I also fund the rescue 100% myself. The adoption fees help to continue supporting the costs of the rescue and the rest I cover myself. Last year's vet bills were $12,500 and that doesn't include food, or gas, ferry fees, transport fees etc. So any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Also that without foster homes we cannot keep helping the dogs that we do and foster homes literally save lives.
Here are only a few of the many dogs Melanie has up for adoption right now. For more please visit Paws Without Borders on their website or facebook page
| Photo by Hayley |
Red is a 6-8yr old male chi (looks purebred) he is only about 5lbs and is sweet as can be. He is good with other dogs, people and kids and loves to be close to you. He has lots of energy and spunk and certainly will make a great addition to any family. He will be neutered before being adopted out but is vaccinated, dewormed and flea treated.
| Photo by Hayley |
Gizmo - male 1yr old mixed breed. Weighs about 15lbs. He is a good boy who gets along great with other dogs. He is very shy and doesn't seem to have had a lot of human interaction. His foster home is working on getting him to trust people. He has no aggression just shy to approach. He also hasn't been on a leash and needs work learning what it is. He would benefit from basic obedience classes to help him gain confidence. He is neutered, vaccinated, dewormed and flea treated.
| Photo by Hayley |
Harley the wonder pug! Harley is probably a pug x chi, he is a bundle of energy and love. He loves the world, dogs, children, people and will follow you around everywhere. He weighs 10lbs and is about 6-8months old. He is neutered, vaccinated, dewormed and flea treated. He will make a great addition to any home!! (If I could, I would take this cutie home in a second!!)
| My cousin Hayley, and her rescue Millie!!! Millie is a pitbull x and THE sweetest girl ever! |
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