Meet Fetchin' Retrievers Rescue
How did the rescue get started?
Several months before Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue became a 501c3, a group of volunteers with many years of rescue experience met to discuss their goals to begin a rescue in Southern California. Their plan would be to rescue all varieties of Retrievers and Retriever mixes. Their dreams became a reality when Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue began their all- volunteer foster based Rescue organization in October 2019.
Can you tell us more about the mission behind Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue?
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home all Retrievers and Retriever Mixes. We operate in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County and San Diego County. We partner with other rescue organizations, shelters, veterinarians and dog trainers/behaviorists as a resource if they encounter dogs in need. Our applicants can foster with us or foster to adopt. Both foster programs allow us to save more Retrievers who will ultimately thrive in new loving homes and become the dogs they were meant to be. We are dedicated to supporting our adopters with added services such as behavior training to ensure success and permanent placements.
How do you define success as a nonprofit?
Rescue success is the result of finding that perfect home for a dog who has experienced a very difficult past, whether he/she was a stray, an owner surrender due to unforeseen circumstances, and/or a medically or behaviorally challenged dog.
What is the hardest part working at the rescue?
The most difficult part of rescue work is the heartfelt stories of all the abandoned dogs in our overcrowded shelters and the fact that we cannot save a higher numbers of dogs.
Do you have any favorite success stores you could share?
A story of Missy: Some dogs have major medical challenges that require multiple surgeries, long recovery and physical therapy and Missy was one of these. Missy endured four knee surgeries, treatment for heartworm, intolerance of pain medication and infections. In the beginning, Missy was isolating herself and seemed depressed, so we moved her to a new, experienced foster home who had another dog. She excelled in this new home and really blossomed with having a canine friend. This journey took well over a year when finally on the mend, her foster family adopted her and are committed to a lifetime of continued care.
And another about Murphy: Murphy was picked up while running on the Santa Monica freeway. The shelter classified him as “rescue only” status because during his capture, he bit his rescuer. No one knows how this senior dog ended up on the freeway but when we saw his white muzzle, we knew that we could not let him spend any more time in the shelter. Seniors tend to take a little longer than most to be adopted but the wait is worth it. Murphy found an amazing adopter who just wanted to be a home for the neediest. Murphy lived his last 2 1/2 years in a home with another canine, a couple of felines and a human Mom and Dad who cherished him while giving him love, the extra care he required and even rides in a wagon when his legs became weak on his walks.
Anything special you’d like to share?
We specifically rescue the neediest of dogs like those that have major medical and/or behavioral challenges. From puppies to seniors.
Meet Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue in person on April 29th & 30th at Jackalope Pasaadena.
Web: http://fetchinretrieversrescue.org/