Hello From the Other Side
It
was 2012 when I first heard about Homeward Bound Rescue. I had been
volunteering to help network the animals at a nearby animal shelter
and felt the strong need to do more. So, when I first heard about
this “amazing” rescue that was doing “wonderful” things for
animals in our area I immediately wanted to know more about it...I
immediately thought it was God's calling. He had opened a door for
me....so I stepped through.
The
openness that I was first greeted with seemed so genuine and heart
felt. There, in front of me...in my own town were individuals that
seemed just like me. Their hearts had a mission, God had also made
animals a priority in their lives, and it didn't take long before I
was completely submerged in animal rescue. And I LOVED it. Yes, I
cried. I laughed. I networked, volunteered, fostered, did transports,
helped with fundraisers...I lived and breathed animal rescue.
Specifically, Homeward Bound Rescue.
The director was thorough in the
conversations I had with her about what the mission of Homeward Bound
was – saving local dogs from death row. I heard about the amazing
“hospice program” where senior dogs lived out their lives in her
care. I heard about and met the amazing fosters that also worked
endlessly to make Homeward Bound grow. I was completely and utterly
amazed, excited, and overwhelmed all at the same time. So, there
began my journey with Homeward Bound, a rescue that I honestly
thought would move mountains for animals.
My
name has been drug through the mud over this...my picture is floating
around on social media of me in my purple Homeward Bound shirt that I
once wore proudly.
 | |
| Just in case you missed it! Here is the entire photo. This is one of the last adoption events I went to. Never have I denied being a part of Homeward Bound at one time. And at one time I considered every person in this photo to be a friend. But we live and we learn..we make mistakes and then we learn from them...hopefully.... |
So now, here I am, from the other side, and I am
going to say that no, Homeward Bound wasn't what I thought it was.
Now, I will tell my side openly...not hidden behind a friend's name
on a Facebook post or behind a fake account used to gather and then
spread false information. Here is the truth...
The 2 dogs that I supposedly “abandoned”
Gavin
 |
| Gavin - April 2013 |
In
2013 my husband was on his way to work in the pouring rain. He
literally watched a car hit a dog and then keep driving as though
nothing had happened. My husband and one other stopped to help. The
dog was taken to the vet as I frantically called the rescue that I
committed endless hours to, Homeward Bound, and they stepped in
immediately to help. Am I grateful for that? Absolutely and always
will be. Gavin, who I was allowed to name, was a very large dog. He
had a fractured pelvis that would require at least 6-8 weeks of
activity restriction to heal. Living in a very small home at the time
with no fenced in yard, we had no where to put him. The director
gladly accepted him into the rescue and assured that he would get all
he needed on her “farm”. My husband and I donated two large bags
of dog food and a comfy bed for Gavin and continued to get updates on
his progress after.
A
very short time later a small dog came into the rescue with two
broken front legs. My husband and I gladly took that dog into our
home as we had the room to care for a smaller animal at the time. We
rehabilitated that dog for 4 months while she healed before
officially adopting her ourselves. And I am ever grateful for each of
my rescue dogs and the people that helped them when they needed it.
I
never saw Gavin brought to an adoption event.
Now
that Gavin is in rescue I have been continuously updated on his
condition. He is heartworm positive, has multiple leg issues, his
pelvis is still an issue. Learning that he only grew worse in the
care of HB has been devastating. But he is on to much bigger and BETTER things and I am forever grateful to the people that have given him that chance!
 | |
| Gavin's transport to the new part of his journey. 2016 |
Champ
 |
| The day Champ was finally caught! I took him straight to the vet where he was found heart worm positive. His leg injury was an old one that had already healed incorrectly due to lack of vet care previously. 2014 |
Ah,
Champ! Found running a busy road around my place of employment,
injured and starving. It took a week to finally catch him and I was
not the Homeward Bound member that went out to try. In fact, I met
the rescue director in the parking lot one weekend and sat for a good
hour while we tried to earn his trust. It was a bit of luck and good
fortune from a fellow employee that we finally caught him. He wasn't
taken to the “farm” right away but a temporary holding facility
that I will not get into on this post...but I am sure many of you
already know. I, myself, along with other volunteers worked to clean
this temporary facility for hours every single week. Champ was
there.. I gave him extra treats and head rubs. Was this my hope and
final destination for him? Of course not.
 |
| 2016 - Champ is still heart worm positive. |
I
never saw either dog brought to an adoption event. However, I did
share their stories and even posted feature photos and stories about
them when I volunteered as one of the Homeward Bound Facebook
administrators. I did a feature story usually weekly about the dogs
in HWB that had been there for a long time. Was this the best I could
do? I'm still not sure. I did however, know that the chance of them
ever being transferred to another rescue was also completely out of
the question as the director also made her feelings on that very
clear.
So....I
ask this...is asking the “rescue” that you volunteer for, foster
for, transport for, work adoption events for...to help with an
injured dog...is that abandonment?
Did
I let these dogs down? Yes. Not because I asked a rescue for help. I
let these dogs down and all of the dogs in the care of Homeward Bound
because when I began to get frustrated with issues going on in this
rescue I tried to speak up...but it is VERY clear to me now that I
didn't do any justice for these dogs. I should have done more; I
should have asked more questions, I should have been more adamant
about getting answers, ...I should NOT have quietly walked away. I
should have spoken louder for every single animal in their care and I
didn't.
When
I decided to walk away from Homeward Bound for good I was still
battling with myself. Yes, there were things and issues I disagreed
with...but I worried that if I walked away who would be there for the
dogs? Not just the two dogs that the rescue had helped me with but
all of them. All of the dogs I had seen pulled from the shelter, the
ones I had cleaned after at the “temporary boarding facility”,
the ones I had held, petted, loved. Then, I got a big slap in the
face by the truth....staying and continuing with the organization
without seeing a change was only supporting the things that I
disagreed with. I knew then that I had no other choice but to go.
Everything
about this whole situation is devastating and I am sad that this was
my first experience with rescue. However, if there is anything to
learn from this situation....I have come out with this...
- Do your homework. If you choose to dedicate your time and life to something you're passionate about then take the time to know who you are volunteering for. Do VISITS to the facility, the foster home, the vet. Look for red flags....trust me...they will pop up quickly if there are issues.
- Yes, rescue is a messy, dramatic, and heartbreaking business but once you are in, you are in. No, I am no longer with Homeward Bound and haven't been for some time now. But that doesn't mean that I won't still stand and speak for animals..they have a big part of me and always will.
- This has been a true test, I feel, of what I claim to be – an “animal advocate”. Are you willing to speak for the animals when you see wrong being done? No matter who is doing the wrong? No matter what? Yes, I have those against me saying that I am on the “wrong side”. How dare I look at the evidence and not feel sympathy or empathy for the “person” involved in this. Well...because she is a person. She can and will speak for herself. Those dogs? They need a voice....and I will join those that are speaking up for them.
If
we go through tough situations and nothing good comes of it then yes,
it is a waste. But-I have seen so many dogs get much needed medical
care through this. I have seen photos of dogs I have known for so
long sleeping soundly in their foster home or adopted home. That my
friends is worth every tiny bit of drama that has surrounded this.
That my friends is what true rescue is really about. So hello, from
the other side, the dogs' side—the place I will always be.
I have debated for months about posting this...but in the end I hope if nothing else, it at least shares the story of Champ & Gavin.
Don't give up
Don't give in
Speak for them no matter what....
-CC
**This is a personal blog posted by WPEL President. All rights reserved.**
