12/05/2024
So sad ! Another Ontario dog rescue closing its doors!
https://www.facebook.com/share/17uQWGqcZV/
Today is giving Tuesday and it seems appropriate in a strange way, to mark today as the day we announce that we are closing our doors. We will no longer be taking in and rehoming dogs in need. We are deeply saddened to have to come to this decision but the struggle to keep this running over the past years has become too much. We are proud of and thankful for the thousands of dogs we have saved through the decades, as both Labrador Retriever Rescue, and then as you have come to know us for the past decade...The Dog Rescuers Inc. My team and I have literally been to hell and back for these beautiful souls - standing in filth holding desperate dogs in puppy mills, to begging for justice in courtrooms, to documenting info on abused dogs to hopefully make a difference in those courtrooms, to late night calls from people with lost dogs or emergency situations. Being so passionate and seeing what a dire situation exists today for dogs in Canada, we will continue to be their voice, and though no longer hands on, Vanessa and I will continue the fight by advocating for some really important things. Affordable vet care has become a substantial issue for pet parents, and unfortunately is a large cause of people needing to surrender, or sadly, in some cases, euthanize their pets. We're also going to stay the course, and continue the fight against puppy mills. Both of these are major issues that are big contributors to overcrowded rescues and shelters. We hope that you will check with us and help in our battle for these precious lives. Our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to every adopter and foster who gave one of our dogs their second chance at love. You said "yes", when so many people said "no". Our appreciation and thanks to all our friends and supporters who made this all possible - each one of you has made a difference. This has really not been an easy decision, it's one we have been fighting for the past few years. We have met the worst of the worst - and seen things that will forever haunt us, but we have also met some incredible people with the hugest hearts. From the bottom of my heart to Dr Dev and his team at Fourth Line Animal Hospital no words can express our thanks- your surgical skills are brilliant, we have first hand watched you put lives back together that we thought may be beyond hope. Your care and compassion has been uplifting and the tears and laughter we have shared with you all through the years will be forever cherished. ..and to my team... all our volunteers from fosters to people who transported , picked up donations - whatever you did it all added up to saving these dear souls - I am thankful to you all everyday. Mano our co- founder, Vanessa , Melissa, Linda., Karah,Brian Sharon , Vince, Rick, Natalia, and so many more - you all made a huge difference and you should be so proud! Amanda deserves a special mention for being the backbone of the rescue - for her endless hours of work, her dedication and her love for dogs . We are saddened but know it is time - we still have a vet debt of $11,000 that we have been juggling since we took in 23 dogs from a puppy mill last year. We will be fundraising for the whole month of December to attempt to pay the debt down. We know it seems odd to announce that we are closing and yet are still hat in hand asking for your help, one final time. We hope that people will still continue to donate and we willl be continuing to issue charitable tax reciepts through our website, up until January 15, 2025, so that debt may be paid off. If we were to have donations surpassing that debt we will be giving them to our good friends at The Oakville & Milton Humane Society.
Any dogs we have adopted out, I will always stand by and would do my best to take in and to find a home for or stay with me - my door is always open to them if the situation arose.
Lola is our last dog in our program and we are hoping and praying that in conjunction with another dog rescue that she finds a home of her very own this Christmas . I want to take this moment to say that is has been an absolute pleasure and a privledge to have known and worked along so many wonderful people for all these years. I believe in miracles because I have seen them happen ❤️... we have made them happen . I hope that we will continue to make a difference in this new fight... And you can be sure that it will be a loud one.
On behalf of all the dogs, we thank you for all the miracles that together we made happen.❤️
Joan TDRI www.thedogrescuersinc.ca 🐾
