Animals Rule Rescue
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2009-2010 Community Outreach Programs
Animals Rule Rescue has 4 working community outreach programs: Our statistics have changed during the 2009-2010 year. Prior to this financial year, our average intake was a stray dog displaced due to a baby in the family, allergies, job relocations etc. Our intakes are now 65% - 70% financial crisis intakes. Families are loosing their homes due to foreclosures and evictions. People are having to relocate into a pet unfriendly rental market and now the animals are loosing their homes and families. The rising cost of Veterinary care has made it hard for families to keep their pets, vaccinate them and spay/neuter them when they can't even afford to pay the rent or the mortgage. Desperate times have created the need for community outreach and networking programs to keep pets in their homes.
Pet Food Distribution to low income families: Animals Rule will provide dog/cat food for low income families (who meet certain criteria) that can not afford to feed their dogs or cats. Free food to families allows animals to keep their homes and not be relinquished to city or county shelters where they will be euthanized. Animals Rule Rescue has also collaborated with Basic Needs Foundation, Inc. to help assist local low income residents with pet food and human food resources. We both work with a Pet Food Bank as an additional source of pet food for families in financial crisis during this deep recession. Animals Rule currently feeds the animals in 15 different households.
Spay/Neuter for the homeless or low income families: Animals Rule assists low income families (who meet certain criteria) in spaying/neutering their pets. Animals Rule Rescue also hosts the Amanda Foundations mobile spay and neuter truck the last Sunday of every month. The Amanda Foundation also serves low income families, who meet certain criteria, the opportunity to get their pet spayed/neutered for free. They have the capacity to spay/neuter up to 60 dogs in one day with 2 Vets working out of 2 surgical suites.
Military Assistance Program: A soldier pledges his honor to protect our Country. What happens when a soldier is deployed over seas and no family member can take care of their beloved pets? With the Fort MacArthur Naval Base down the street, Animals Rule Rescue assists deployed military personal in either providing food for or finding a new home for their pet. Should funds become low while family is away serving in the military, Animals Rule Rescue steps in to provide food for family pets until the military family can get back on their feet again. If a dog needs to be rehomed because the owner has been deployed, Animals Rule Rescue steps in to take the dog into our rescue to re-home it or find long term foster care until our soldiers return from deployment. We try to help all the military dogs from Fort McArthur so none are relinquished to city or county shelters where they will die if they are not adopted.
Community Youth Program: Animals Rule Rescue helps probationary youth find an outlet for their troubled lives through volunteering with animals, thus avoiding juvinal hall, home arrest, or expulsion from school. All are in an approved city or county probation program. Offences range from ditching school to drug possession to stealing. Animals Rule Rescue allows community service hours to be attained at our rescue facility to show kids what the positive effects of helping homeless animals can have on their lives. We promote kindness and compassion to all animals. It gives youth a sence of accomplishment to teach a dog to sit, or walk good on a leash or recieve unconditional love through a lick to the face from an animal. They are also able to interact and be inspired by our honor students who also participate in this program. Animals have the power to heal emotionally. Animals love you no matter what your offence is. These kids are all aware of our mission statement and represent our rescue well in the public eye.
Animals Rule Rescue also allows honor students from various local high schools a junior volunteer position at our rescue organization. They educate the public on the importance of spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and help to identify those in need of help with food distribution. Some accumulate volunteer hours needed for graduation and 90% stay on to continue to volunteer even after their hours are met. Our honor students are taught basic animal handling, animal introductions and leash walking skills. They are also able to improve on their communication skills while educating potential adopters on each animal. Most accompany us to our off site adoption events in various surrounding cities.