01/24/2025
This is the Rescue that deals with the local puppy mills, and coordinates moving the dogs being culled to other Rescues (like Speaking of Dogs) when they have available foster homes. They are a lifeline for those dogs, getting them out of some pretty grim situations. Until our Provincial Government does their job, until they enact legislation requiring better transparency and oversight, or even enforce what laws we do have for Animal Welfare, this is the only chance these dogs have. Yes, overwhelmed volunteer-run rescue organizations are being tasked with a job that should be done by Provincial Animal Welfare Services!
Observer by Andrea Eymann
Foster families willing to take in rescued dogs is the biggest bottleneck for a St. Jacobs organization that ends up turning away animals due to a lack of resources.
“It’s a really, really huge part of rescue because we do not have a facility, so we entirely depend on having suitable fosters in place before we accept a dog,” said Chris Schaefer, the operator of Hobo Haven Rescue.
The organization can’t take in a dog unless they have a family lined up for it.
“We are asked to take dogs multiple times every week, but I turn away far more than we can help,” she said.
However, they were able to save 230 canines from commercial breeders last year, and a lot of the animals were retired breeding dogs that were being culled or discarded because they were no longer profitable or too unwell.
Schaefer added that in 2023, they saved 335 canines when the numbers started climbing during the pandemic.
“There was a lot of people buying dogs, which is a huge difference from adopting during Covid,” she explained.
“So many people irresponsibly purchased animals for whatever reason, and the breeders were pumping them out as hard they could because they were getting an entire litter sold in two days,” Schaefer said.
“And now some of the breeders are still grasping at the fact that these puppies aren’t selling anymore,” she added, noting that people are becoming more aware and doing their homework about where they buy their dogs.
Additionally, when it comes to owners wanting to surrender their pets, Hobo Haven has to turn most away because they don’t have enough suitable fosters.
Along with finding foster homes, the organization faces costs associated with the medical needs of the dogs.
Schaefer points to the case of Dheera, a two-year-old Bernese Mountain dog, who was an unclaimed stray dog found January 5. She was very thin with severe ear damage, likely due to frostbite.
“She is a sweetheart, but she is in rough shape,” said Schaefer, adding that Dheera has been at her temporary home since January 9 and is currently not available for adoption.
“She is coming along; she did some pacing and panting, adapting to being in a new home, being indoors,” she explained.
Schaefer said she would love to have as many foster families as possible, as there is no limit to having people on standby.
As with the number of foster families, the rescue organization is also limited by funding, as it has no source of income and relies entirely on volunteers.
“I couldn’t have 1,000 fosters, as there is no way I could raise enough funds to cover the vetting,” she said, pointing out that the organization supplies everything for the fosters, the likes of food and medical care.
Foster families repeatedly take in man’s best friend to help save a life.
Hobo Haven have some foster families who have been with them for a while, who repeatedly bring in new four-legged friends, help socialize them, attend vet appointments, and then get adopted, part of a continuous cycle.
“They do this perpetually because they have huge hearts, and they want to help us and help these dogs,” Schaefer noted.
The newest dog they were able to save was Paddy, a little Yorkie puppy surrendered January 10 by a commercial breeder due to a damaged right eye and possible respiratory infection. Paddy is currently being treated and is not yet available for adoption.
The pup is with a foster family whose previous charge, Alfie, was adopted, allowing them to take in Paddy.
“It is a revolving door,” she noted, adding that it’s a year-round effort.
“There is no one season that has more rescues than another, because we take a lot from commercial breeders after big holidays, like Christmas, when they have a bunch of puppies they bred to try and sell,” Schaefer notes.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said when she had to save a dog from a breeder.
“But I have to focus on the dog that I am saving from that environment, and that is one of the most rewarding parts of rescue – to save a life, literally.
“That’s a good day when I can pick one up and bring it into safety,” Schaefer said.
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