Lightfoot

Poppy

Three pooped puppies

Wilson

Favorite sleep position

Itty

Squeaky

Dino

MISSION STATEMENT

To create an environment where domestic animals, including livestock, can be kept safely while we provide food, shelter, exercise and veterinary care. To provide education to the public with an emphasis on teaching children the responsibilities of animal welfare. To attempt to find forever homes for those animals that can be placed in their own homes and to offer sanctuary for life to those who cannot be so placed.

(6/18/98 - 10/22/05)   Kolia came into Ovcharka Rescue at the age of 18 months with the worst case of dysplasia most of our vets had ever seen.  He was a valiant and vocal defender of his territory as well as a wonderful ambassador for rescue dogs and we miss him terribly.

KOLIA IN April 2005

Zane in August, 2004	The joys of rescue:  to see a dog come into rescue looking like the picture on the left: poor boy was terrified of any human.... .....and several months later have him look like the two pictures below, loving every minute of the "pool" time and no longer afraid of us.
Ozzie & Zane in April, 2005	Zane in May, 2005

So many people have asked the reason for the adoption fees. Here are the reasons right off the top of my head.  I'll add more as I think of them. :-))  Rescue involves so much more than just making a few phone calls and having someone else pull a dog from a shelter or asking them to foster a dog from an owner who can no longer keep him.  Each dog must be checked by a veterinarian, and usually spayed or neutered, as well as being brought up to date on shots and tested for heartworm and other parasites.  The costs are high and can become prohibitive if any of the dogs have major health issues.  (The state of California has an awesome law that I wish all other states would also adopt:  shelters cannot release dogs to rescues or to adopters without the dogs being altered.  This does increase the shelter release fee, but makes things very simple as there can be no more "accidental litters".)

Then comes the time for evaluation, when each dog is introduced to the other dogs and we can determine if he may be allowed to run and play with any other dogs, or if he views them all as chew toys.......  And then we take him out in public to see how well socialized he is and what further work is needed.  Some dogs stay with us for years before finding the perfect home and some will be with us for their remaining years, because many people do not want or cannot afford to adopt a senior dog.  We also get the occasional pairs like Nino & Niki or Biff & Ivy who cannot be separated because they are so dependent upon one another. 

Then, if the perfect home does come along for a dog, the question of transport arises.  With my own large breeds, they will often not fit into the largest crates the airlines will accept and if they do, the cost of that form of transport is truly frightening!  There are numerous volunteer transport lists but getting dogs clear across the country can be a real adventure, while the smaller dogs can much more easily be transported.  There is also a much greater demand for the smaller breeds. 

And then there is the issue of food........we go through six to seven 40 pound bags of dog food per week:  and that's with only about two dozen dogs here at any one time.  And all the dogs get out to exercise for as long as they wish every day, so they must also be fed in order to keep up those energy levels :-))

Guardian Rescue & Animal Sanctuary is very pleased (and feeling very blessed!) to have been granted tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our immediate plans are to begin fundraising in order to relocate from our private property to a larger property where we can build a true domestic animal sanctuary.

We also will be listing donated items on ebay for charity auctions: come see us there!http://www.missionfish.org/NPMMF/nphomepage.jsp?NP_ID=10389

More to come.....as long as there are irresponsible breeders and owners......we shall have rescue dogs!

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.   Matthew 25:40

For more information, email Angie Wheat

or call 509.588.3368

cell: 509.521.7842

fax: 509.588.5728