A Better Life Animal Rescue

11/05/2024

Say hi to BEN FRANKLIN, a chocolate lab more affectionately known as Benny Boo Boo by his foster family. Ben was dumped at Lake James and for a week our team, along with 2 amazing ladies, tried to trap and secure him. He was confused, in rough shape and underweight, scared to death and only 9 months old. We discovered later he had been shot with a BB gun in the shoulder. It was getting close to the 4th of July and we were very worried the fireworks would drive him further away and deeper into the surrounding wooded areas.
And then a miracle the morning of the 4th of July...Ben decided he was tired of running in circles and wanted human companionship so he wandered down to one of the boat docks and started going up to people , tail wagging. Gina, one of those amazing ladies got the call and got over to the boat dock within minutes and he hopped right in her vehicle.

Benny is up to date on his vaccines and rabies; on monthly preventative; neutered and microchipped; and ready for his forever home. He is currently 1 year old and weighs 55 to 60 lbs. He loves other dog friendly dogs; has a goofy fun loving personality; needs an active family to match his energy; is house trained; walks on harness and leash ( still pulls a little);
loves toys; LOVES cuddles even more; and very loving and affectionate. (Because of his energy level and size we recommend children 12 and up. ) With a little training and lots of love & patience, Benny is the perfect family addition.
If you are interested in Benny, please go to our website to fill out our adoption application. We also require a home visit. You can contact 828-612-2951 if any questions about Ben. ❤

www.abetterlifeanimalrescue.com

11/02/2024

We stepped up for a little boy Oct 25th found in Asheville/ Candler area roaming the busy street, and almost got hit numerous times . A wonderful person named Jen posted for help after checking with all her neighbors and also checked for a microchip but no chip ; another wonderful family volunteered to transport him to us that day.
He was posted on several sites for missing pets in the Buncombe Co area. We continued to try and find his family. In the meantime we took him to AHOM to get him updated with his vaccines and rabies and scheduled a much needed bath and grooming for today.
After a week, we received news that his owner may have been located. Another wonderful person named Tammy worked with one of his family members and helped them look on the lost/ found sites. Tammy also helped serve as an interpreter because his family are from Ukraine and no one spoke English. His name is Vox but spelled like Box.
It was a very happy & sweet reunion this afternoon with his family. We met them in Marion. Thank you Allison for working Vox in for his grooming appt today. Vox lives inside the home with his family but while out in the fenced in yard, he dug out and decided to go on an adventure.
Thankfully we have a happy reunion and Vox's family plan to get him neutered and microchipped. We are very grateful to everyone who played a part in his rescue !!! HAPPY LIFE VOX !! 💖

11/01/2024

Precious 6 month old KAI is now in a foster- to- adopt home !!! We are so happy for this very sweet boy 💖

10/22/2024

***** WE STILL NEED FOSTER(S) FOR THESE 2 BROTHERS !!! JACK ON THE RIGHT IS NOT IN OUR POSSESSION YET !!! WE NEED TO GET HIM TO SAFETY ALSO !!!! OLIVER IS CURRENTLY AT THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF MARION BUT THANKFULLY GETS RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE CALL 828-612-2951 !!!!! *****

Update 10/22: Dr. John took a look at Oliver this morning. No fractures or internal bleeding but he is uncomfortable. He also saw a couple of rocks in his intestines. John thinks they are small enough for him to pass on his own but won't know for sure yet. He is keeping him in hospital, giving pain meds, fluids and something to see if he can pass the rocks. Poor baby. The other 2 pups probably have eaten rocks too. Estimated age around 9 months.

‼️ Another very URGENT situation‼️
CAN YOU HELP??

We were contacted about these two pups who were apparently dumped. One was hit by a car! He appears to be ok at the moment, but is headed to the vet in the morning to be checked out. We will keep a close eye on him tonight. One of his good samaritans decided to call him Oliver Twist 💕

His brother, who we are calling Jack Dawkins, is still with the Good Samaritan who took them in temporarily to keep them safe. Right now he is in a kennel outside, but he is extremely upset that his brother is not with him. He is a very friendly pup.

There was a third pup with these two, but it has not been seen. We are hoping someone has caught it and given it a home.

🚨 These boys need a foster ASAP!!! 🚨

If you can help, please send us a message and/or fill out a foster application from the website, abetterlifeanimalrescue.com

10/20/2024

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AT Silver Fork Winery YESTERDAY !!! WAS
WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYONE !! THE PUPS HAD A BLAST AND WE RAISED $1653 TOWARD ZO'S UPCOMING HEART SURGERY !!
HUGE THANK YOU TO JEN & ED; and JOHN & ALL THE PICKLED PIG CREW !!! IT WAS A GORGEOUS DAY WITH GREAT FRIENDS, MUSIC & FOOD !!! Heartfelt thanks to our ABLAR TEAM & Foster families for helping with this event !!
Lori, Nikki, Andy, Savannah, Evan, Kristen & Gwen !!!!!
Here are some pics !! 💖💖💖💖💖

10/18/2024

HARVEST FEAST - Saturday - October 19th
CELEBRATE - TOAST - FEAST
This marks the close of another bountiful harvest and the start of the 2024 VINTAGE. It’s one of the most exciting times at the vineyard and winery!
The air will be full of the sweet scent of the ripe harvest - - a succulent pig roast by PICKLED PIGS BBQ that’s been roasting for hours and of course, our glasses overflowing with wine!! Double Header Day of music too - SYNCRO TONIC SWAG & ALMOST VINTAGE!
2024 has been an incredible growing year and this crop will be one of THE BEST - so please join us as we toast to the close of 2024 and a beautiful vintage!!

10/14/2024

Update 10/23.....Zo is headed to CARE in Charlotte tomorrow for diagnostics, tests and consultation with one of their heart surgeons. Zo's heart condition is very critical and a surgery is needed to save his young life. We ask for your prayers for Zo and his entire medical team as we head to this very crucial appointment tomorrow.
We will update asap !!!
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PRAYERS FOR ZO !!! This is sweet Zo who was rescued this past summer at 4 weeks old, along with his siblings and mama.
It was discovered that Zo has a very bad heart murmur and the Animal Hospital of Marion referred us to a cardiologist. Zo was the runt and thankfully the only one with a heart murmur. He is currently 19 weeks old and weighs 21 lbs.
Zo is a very happy, smart, loving, active puppy who has no idea he has a bad heart. His play is restricted and monitored and he takes it all in stride.
He loves to sit and fetch his toys, gives lots of kisses, and crate trained.
Zo's first appointment with a heart specialist is this Wednesday. We are hopeful for good news.
So we ask for your thoughts & prayers for this precious little boy ❤

10/14/2024

UPDATE !!!! 10/26....SCOOTER IS SECURED AND SAFE !!!! THANK YOU JEN & GINA ...THAT WAS A MIRACLE RESCUE !!!!!

UPDATE 10/ 23.....HE IS ON THE RUN AND COULD BE ANYWHERE IN OUR AREA !!! LAST SEEN NEAR JAMESTOWN/CONLEY RD !!! WE NEED HELP PUTTING UP FLIERS !!! THE FLIERS ARE WORKING AND HELPING WITH SIGHTINGS !!!! IF YOU CAN HELP WITH FLIERS PLEASE COMMENT BELOW !!!!!!
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UPDATE : HE IS COMING TO AN ESTABLISHED FOOD/WATER STATION IN THE AREA SET UP TODAY !!! HUMANE TRAP WILL BE SET TOMORROW ....PRAYERS WE GET HIM TO SAFETY !!! ( THANK YOU GINA & JEN !!! )

Please share !!! This boy is one of the 21 pups set out on Gwaltney/ and Oak Hill Dr in Burke Co 3 weeks ago. A team of people have been trying to trap him and get him to safety !! PLEASE DO NOT CHASE. IF YOU SEE HIM PLEASE CONTACT THE # ON THE FLIER WITH LOCATION SEEN. LAST SEEN IN OLD KMART PARKING LOT LAST NIGHT !!!

10/09/2024

My Mobile Bakery is collecting supplies for Burnsville. See post for details!

10/06/2024

10/06/2024

Please note that Oak Hill Fire is a DROP OFF location, not a distribution site.

List of current needs as is Sunday, 10/6

10/06/2024

10/06/2024

THANK YOU to Dr. Justin and everyone at Foothills Animal Hospital for stepping up to help those in need! If you are able, please donate to their Angel Fund, which they have linked on their page below.

10/04/2024

This is where we live. These are our people. Our homes. Our families. Our friends.

We are exhausted. Can’t begin to know what to say or what to ask for. We’ve just been surviving this past week. Checking in with all of our people and all of our fosters. Making sure our own families have what they need to survive. Making sure everyone has drinkable water. Checking on folks in the community. Delivering pet food and other supplies where it can be transported to communities who can’t get out. Trying to get updates on strays who have been seen and worried how/if they survived the storm. And as always, taking care of the furbabies. So far, everyone is ok and we have been able to get what we need.

Cell and internet reception has been spotty or non existent. So for anyone trying to reach us, we apologize if we are even slower than normal in response.
Adoptions have been on hold and the fundraiser at Silver Fork postponed.

Our region will take a long time to recover. We are so devastated by the stories we have seen. We are so grateful to be ok, although it’s been stressful trying to care for everyone and get what we need. So many folks are so much worse off than we are. Lives have been lost. husbands and wives, children and pets, mothers, fathers.

At the same time we feel this devastation, our hearts are also full to see communities and neighbors rallying and working along side each other. We are the heart of Appalachia. We take care of our own, but we also (sometimes) know when we need help! We are heartened by the help from our brothers and sisters from eastern NC and neighboring states. People taking care of people. There is so much heartache, and also so much goodness.

While we work to find supplies where we can, catch up on chores, laundry, the basic necessities as our water and power returns, we cannot help but feel for those who have it much worse than we do. People have lost their homes.

One of the needs that we are seeing is the need for housing. People who have applied for housing assistance sort of have to get in line. And it’s tough for families and their pets to find temporary housing. Hotels don’t allow multiple pets, and bookings being offered are Greensboro, or in Tennesee.

Can anyone offer local housing assistance? People are having to pay mortgages on houses they can’t live in. Assistance only goes so far. This will be an ongoing need after everyone forgets that WNC exists. If you have any resources, please share.

Side note: Ignore the pins. They aren’t relevant to this post. I just wasn’t removing my Gaia pins for a quick photo of our region. 😁

10/02/2024

ALL OUR FURBABIES ARE DOING WELL & WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ALL OUR FOSTER FAMILIES !!!
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF PET FOOD WE WILL TRY TO HELP OR DIRECT YOU TO LOCATIONS WHO ARE HELPING WITH PET FOOD.
IF YOU SEE A STRANDED OR LOST ANIMAL PLEASE POST AND IF YOU CAN PLEASE GET THAT ANIMAL TO SAFETY !!!!
THIS SENIOR MAMA DOG AND 11 PUPPIES WERE DUMPED THURSDAY NIGHT, RIGHT BEFORE THE STORM HIT !! AN AWESOME PASTOR AND HIS CHURCH FAMILY ARE CARING FOR THEM . WE HOPE TO GET THEM TO A VET SOON.
( MORGANTON NC)

09/26/2024

URGENT !!!!! This gorgeous puppy needs to get to safety !!!! Estimated around 10 weeks old !!! WE NEED A FOSTER !!!
WE PROVIDE FOOD , MONTHLY PREVENTATIVE & ALL VET CARE until adopted !!!!!
PLEASE IF YOU CAN FOSTER THIS BABY FOR US CONTACT 828-612-2951 !!!
( Morganton NC )

09/25/2024

*****This is a courtesy posting ******
ATTENTION COONHOUND LOVERS !!!!

Lady is needing a new home. She was rescued by good samaritans but they unfortunately cannot keep her.
She is a black & tan coonhound; VERY sweet and loving; gets along with other
dogs; and has a bit of a goofy fun loving personality !! Lady soaks up love and attention like a sponge 💕
Lady is estimated to be 3 or 4 years old;
she is spayed and up to date on all vaccines !!
Please contact 828-612-2951 if you are interested in adding to your family & giving this beautiful precious girl a loving safe home ❤

09/21/2024

Attention chihuahua lovers....This is tiny Itsy !! We are needing a quiet home for this little girl, preferably no other furbabies !! She wants ALL the love and attention !! ❤
She is crate trained, harness and leash trained but will also use puppy pads, and she is spayed. Itsy is 7 or 8 years old; precious and only 4 lbs.
This ADORABLE little girl deserves someone who can spoil her and will give her a forever home.
We require a home visit & adoption application filled out.
(Morganton NC)

09/17/2024

This is and URGENT situation!! Please contact Burke County Animal Services if you can help!!