The Safe House

15/07/2023

Today words absolutely fail me. I want to figure out how best to tell this story but there is a cavern in the center of my body. My heart isn’t just in my stomach, because that has also given way. I’m so tired and so sad. So I’m going to tell this plainly.

Today we rescued a mom and 8 babies that were set out on the side of a road, left to die. The babies are so new to this world, just barely two weeks old.

The biggest gut punch of all is this; their owner tried to give her to a shelter yesterday. The shelter was full. The shelter reached out to us. We were also full. BUT, we had many dogs and puppies leaving yesterday evening. We said if the owner could keep just two more days, we could send off our current animals, clean and disinfect our building and accept this family on Sunday. They just had to wait two days. And instead they set this family out in the hot sun, on the side of a road, with nothing. Then just drove away.

What must momma have felt watching her owner leave? I can only imagine the cold fear, the worry, the desperation she felt on the gravel at the side of a road with 8 babies not even old enough to walk yet. She is a good mom. She loves her babies. She moved them into the shrubs and tall grass and wrapped her body tightly around them. It was all she could do. Somehow one of her babies fell down a nearby storm drain. Momma could not get him out. He was crying, hungry and afraid. She was desperate. This is probably what saved her.

This story only has a chapter of hope because someone found this family. Someone saw momma standing in the clearing and then heard the puppy’s cries. The finders reached out for help. When we saw the photos, it was clear this was the family we were supposed to be accepting tomorrow. We went and got them, they are at our Safe House now. But I don’t know yet if they will be OK. We spent hours combing and picking maggots and fly eggs off the puppies. So. Many. Maggots. We consulted with our vet, we have given them Capstar and bathed them. We hope we got them in time. We will do everything we can for them. We hope it will be enough.

Mom is limping badly, more than one of her legs causing her much pain. Next week she will get x-rays. For now, she has good food and water, she has a soft blanket, four walls and a roof. She is so grateful to be safe, to have her babies safe. She is exhausted from her ordeal. She can rest now.

Momma doesn’t know where she is. She doesn’t know us. She has little reason to believe in the goodness of people. And yet when I just went to see her, she looked at me and wagged her tail. We don’t deserve dogs.

Including this family, we have taken in 33 puppies and 3 adult dogs that were abandoned, either on the side of a road or in a remote area, in just the last six weeks. What really gets me is how many of these were found by chance or luck. The right person in the right place at the right time – county workers, ATV riders or hikers. How many more are out there that just aren’t so lucky? It is hard to fathom and to ponder it too long hurts my heart.

Right now we will hold this family close. We will give them all that we can, all that they truly deserve. We will pray we got the babies in time. If it is within your heart and your means to help provide care for this family and others like them your gift will help save lives.

Finally, I have said it before and I am saying it again - for the love of all that is holy, please stop dumping dogs.

06/07/2023

I think I see hope in Leo’s eyes this morning. They are softer, he is starting to believe. To believe in goodness. To believe he is loved. To hope the bad times are over…forever. They are Leo. You can believe that.

This morning is the first time he played with his toy too! Check comments for a video also.

04/07/2023

Little boy had a good night. He loves his soft bed. He is so excited to have food and water. Sometimes he checks his bowl just to be sure it’s still there and still full - then his little tail just wags. He eats, drinks and sleeps with just a little snuggle time in between. He’s exhausted from his whole ordeal. I think his eyes are a little less sad this morning and I’ll take that.

03/07/2023

For the love of God and all that is holy, please stop dumping babies. This pup was left at a schoolyard, all alone, on a very hot and humid day. He had nowhere to turn, no place to hide, no food, no water, no safety. He arrived here overheated, dehydrated, hungry and feeling pretty crappy. His little nose is sunburned and he’s crawling with fleas and ticks.

But you know what gets me the most? His eyes. The lost and alone, the hollowness, the nothing left to believe in, look in his eyes. His eyes show absolute defeat. It just about broke me.

But instead, we will put the life back in them. We will be strong when he is weak. We will give him delicious food to fill his belly and big love to fill his soul. He will have toys, soft blankets, a cool place to lay. We will give him medicine to heal. We will put back the light that was stolen.

One more time - please stop dumping babies. Look up rescues in your area. Post on FB looking for a home and make it public. Post on some of the many FB sites for animals needing new homes. It’s better than leaving them helpless, hopeless and alone.

25/06/2023

Eight little bear cubs safe and sound. They are alive today because somebody cared when they heard tiny cries. Somebody found them and brought them to safety.

These eight tiny babies are only about five weeks old. They are getting puppy food mixed with puppy milk replacer and they have nice full bellies now. They love their food, their bed, and each other. Such sweet little kids.

Thank you James for rescuing them and thank you to Kristen for helping facilitate their transfer to The Safe House. They will get a chance at a great life now thanks to you!

22/06/2023

This little dude definitely has it figured out this morning.

22/06/2023

Eight tiny babies thrown out at the rail yard. Eight tiny babies, none of them weighing even 3 lbs. Eight tiny babies who should still be nursing from their mom. Babies who absolutely cannot fend for themselves, or keep themselves safe and warm. Eight tiny babies set out to be a meal for coyotes.

So thankful for the kind workman who heard their bewildered cries, found them and scooped them all up. Thankful to the kind man who kept them warm, safe and fed overnight and brought them to us. No coyotes will feast on these babies. Not tonight, not ever.

Thankful for our Safe House which can provide safe haven for eight tiny, exhausted babies. Little ones, you are safe now, and from now on.

09/06/2023

Meet our tiny new addition!

02/06/2023

Please don't abandon pups in the middle of nowhere. This crate was off the side of the road with no houses for miles around. These pups got lucky because someone was on the way to pick up another litter of pups in need. They drove by and saw the orange crate. Being experienced rescuers they knew to check. Inside they found one single pup.

Being experienced rescuers they knew to call family members to search high and low for any other pups that jumped out that crate while the first little boy and the planned litter of pups made their way to The Safe House.

This little boy (an ewok we think) was pretty sad to be all alone that night. Those family members searched and searched. They found one more pup alive. He joined his brother the next morning and they were so happy to be together again.

They also found the body of one puppy that had been attacked and killed. It didn't have to be that way. Please reach out for help, there are rescues and rescue folks who will help you if they can and network to find help if they can't.

Wicket and Wumbley are doing great and these boys will find loving families now.

27/05/2023

This little litter of 12 joined us today, on the eve of Memorial Day weekend.

18/05/2023

Rocky is one of our Safe House kids. He deserves the best in life. Please help him out if you can!

07/05/2023

86 animals saved and safely into rescue this weekend! This included a visually impaired puppy, a senior dog, several hoarding case dogs, a momma nursing 6 pups, several momma cats nursing babies and more felines than we have ever been able to send at one time. It was a good weekend!

28/01/2023

How their day ended was far different than how their day started. Yesterday we got a call about five pups abandoned in a park near our Safe House. They were set out by the trash. The temperature was hovering around freezing with a mixture of rain and snow falling. They were cold, wet, hungry and scared. Someone propped the port-a-potty door open and that was all they had for shelter.

As we came up to the park we spotted two puppies running. Then another. They had been searching for any morsel of food. When they saw us, they took off, one pup so scared she let out a heart rending scream.


We made our way down the gravel road slowly and carefully, the other three pups soon also in view. As I crouched down with hot dogs in hand one brave little pup made a bee line over, head down, tail wagging. It hurt to look at all of her bones as they jutted out from her skin. I tossed hot dogs, she scurried around gobbling them up. Soon she was close enough that I scooped her right up. I looked over, Jackie had one too.


The rest of the pups dove into the port-a-potty to hide. We quickly closed the door and one by one carried them to the warm car. We drove back to The Safe House in total silence, they did not make a peep. I cannot begin to fathom the depth of their anguish and the terror they felt when they were left in a strange place with nothing and no one, defenseless, just babies.

Now we begin to undo the damage done with good food to fill out their bodies, medicine to make them healthy and love and care to heal their little spirits. They started their day panicked, starving, trembling from cold and fear. Their day ended will full bellies, safe and warm. It gets better from here.

Stories like these are the reason for our Safe House. Thanks to everyone who made it possible and continues to be part of this lifesaving with us. I know five puppies who are very grateful.

21/01/2023

When someone reached out to us about two puppies abandoned and living beside the road for the last week, we knew we had to go find them. The weather was turning colder and it was dangerous with them running in and out of traffic. When we go out looking for animals, chasing dots on a map, you never know what you are going to roll up on. As we got near, I saw her little 8 lb body in the middle of the two lane first. I’m sure she was looking for scraps someone might have tossed out the window to fill her empty, aching belly. We pulled up and she started to retreat. The other pup was not in sight, or so I thought. Then I spotted him lying amongst the empty beer cans and liquor bottles beside a tossed out, old, torn up old leather chair sitting in a small, empty lot.

We hopped off the van and began to happy talk to the puppies from a distance so we wouldn’t scare them. We popped open some cans of food and over they came. Their bodies were weak and frail, and as they began to move we quickly saw one puppy held up a front foot, limping badly. We tossed food to them and then closer and closer to us so they would approach. As they ate their tails wagged furiously. We just knew they were so grateful. Some people had occasionally tossed food their way but their boney bodies told us it was not nearly enough. They never got close enough to let anyone touch them.

I got a crate from the van and made a trail of food leading up and into it. I put a full can at the back of the crate. Then we sat still and waited. It didn’t take long for the little girl to make her way to the crate and the full force of her hunger overtook her fear as she went in and I quickly closed the gate. She surrendered to her fate, gobbled the can of food and sat quietly.

Her brother was a whole other ball game. He was injured and unsure, not ready to trust us humans. We got another crate and set it nearby. After coaxing and trying to get him in the kennel with the lure of tasty treats, he finally gathered his courage to go in part way. We tried to close the gate but it was a failed attempt and pushed him to retreat further away from us. He went over an embankment that was almost at a 90 degree angle with the bottom about 20’ below. He found a little hiding space in a thicket to wait for us to leave. Little did he know we made up our mind long ago not to leave without him. His dedication to stay met our determination that he would go. He needed so much and there was no way we were leaving without him.

I climbed down the embankment so steep I had to hold onto trees or branches to not fall. I made my way through briars and between two trees where I almost got stuck and then found myself tangled up in some barbed wire. The pup had gotten himself trapped between a bushy thicket and an odd bit of fence that ran the top of the embankment for a way. As I approached him the pup started moving the opposite direction so Lynne made her way down to block his exit. He couldn’t leave without going past one of us. He tried to dart past Lynne and she grabbed his leg and did not let go. She didn’t have a leash and I tossed her mine but she could not get it over his head with one hand. I made my way up the embankment to get to her side and as I did I heard her whispering to this scared boy, “it is OK, we are going to help, it only gets better from here.”

I made my way back down and we finally got the leash over his head. A kind woman from the neighborhood came up with a blanket and we were able to wrap him in it and pick him up. We carefully and gently carried him out. As we reached the top I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and looked to see Lynne’s were the same. We knew he was finally safe.

We loaded them up in our van and went to The Safe House. Laura had a room ready for them and we carried their crates in and opened the doors. It didn’t take long for them to come out and eat and drink. They were so happy with the feast before them (just puppy kibble!) and all the water they could drink; their tails did not stop wagging.

We named them Josie and Jackson. The first time I touched Josie my heart sunk, I could feel the outline of every bone in her little body. They are both extremely thin, their longer fur conceals the fact that they weigh at most 2/3 of what they should. They need time to decompress and just have some stability with good food, good people, warmth and comfort. Jackson will have his leg medically assessed and we will be sure he gets whatever care he needs. They are timid and achingly sweet. They want so much to love and be loved, and we will help them find their way. Their healing now begins.

**Videos in the comments!

13/01/2023

It was another long day. Went to a shelter to pick up two pups that had been attacked by an adult dog. Came back with five dogs.

Little Miss Paisley had a very swollen face. She went straight to the vet who sedated her to look at the injury inside her mouth. She had a piece of bone or tooth embedded in her cheek. She will be feeling so much better soon.

Poppy and Posey were cowering together on a blanket, so scared. Now they are with us and tomorrow will leave for a foster home.

Theo was also attacked by other dogs. His legs, neck and head are full of wounds. He also went straight to the vet and the wounds were clipped and cleaned. Tonight he is resting peacefully on antibiotics and pain medications. He has been the quietest, sweetest and most unassuming boy. He is just so grateful to have comfort and safety.

Tomorrow we send 48 canines and 28 felines on to Safe Hands Rescue and our other receiving rescue partners. And so it goes here at The Safe House.

12/01/2023

What do you do when you visit a partner shelter and find the saddest puppies ever? You take them with you. These puppies have the worst case of puppy lice we have ever seen. Not only are they miserable, misery is all they can ever remember. As bad as this is, they were born into it. Our vet looked at them and agreed, the only option was to shave them to get rid of the lice as quickly as possible.

Two and a half hours later we had five naked babies, fresh from a medicated bath. We put them in a crate with a warm dryer on them and then moved them to their new quarters. Their skin is red and raw from all their scratching and the resultant skin infection. But finally these babies fell asleep, if not comfortable, more so than they have likely ever been.

Puppy lice is not contagious to humans. All of our animals here are treated with preventatives so they are all ok too. And now, these five, are also safe. Their road to healing begins.

They will continue to receive medications and medicated baths to soothe and restore their skin. Their hair will grow back. Their bellies will be full. They are loved and will be cherished, now and always. And so we go here at The Safe House.

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Safe House and our little sleepy santa!

24/11/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from The Safe House where this little momma and her nine babies are safe and sound - living under a trailer no more. The wee little girl is just half the size of her siblings. She is thankful for a bottle so her belly can always be full.

We are sharing our holiday with sixty dogs and puppies and 6 cats and kittens. They are enjoying their holiday in warmth and comfort with good food, soft blankets and loving care.

Let it be here
that safety will rest.
Let it be here
that health will make its home.
Let it be here
that peace will show its face.
Let it be here
that love will find its way.
(from The Year As a House by Jan Richardson)

From all of us to all of you - may your holiday and all your days be blessed!

10/10/2022

This is Safe Hands Rescue’s birthday week. We just turned Sweet Sixteen! We have a generous matching gift from Tito's Handmade Vodka in honor of their 25th birthday! We still have about $1030 to go to meet the match. That means your gift right now is matched dollar for dollar. It will help provide care for dogs like momma Haven.

Haven arrived over the weekend with 7 nursing babies. She has given all she can to them and is no more than skin and bones. She can’t keep food down and was hospitalized today. We will provide milk replacer for her babies and do our best for them while the veterinarians do their best for momma Haven.

Your gift today will help provide their care and care for homeless animals just like them. And right now it’s matched by Tito's Handmade Vodka! Tito’s helps rescued animals and makes generous donations and animal rescue organizations as part of their mission!

07/10/2022

Safe Hands Rescue is 16 today!

07/09/2022

This coming Saturday starting at 9, Country Hills Veterinary Hospital will be at the Mine Made Adventure Park and Campground in the area where the FEMA trailers are. They will be doing FREE Vaccines for your animals and also have dog food and other pet items, as well as food for people too. This is a load of food The Safe House sent to help the cause!

04/09/2022

Two days ago Heather Jackson told us about a little dog in need of dire medical care. This pup (just a baby at 6 mos old) had a chain collar embedded in her neck. (I did blur the photo but it is still graphic) The wound was gruesome. Heather had been trying to catch her but needed a rescue that could take her in and get her urgent medical needs met. Of course we said yes!

Edited to add: Her owner had many dogs and unfortunately died two months ago. There is much to the story I don't know. What I do know is the dogs were running around outside. Rescuers were feeding and trying to catch them. As of yesterday all the dogs are caught and safe now.

Yesterday Heather and a friend were able to catch little Miss Lulabelle and she was rushed to the vet on emergency. She had surgery to remove the chain and is getting what she needs now. Due to the holiday weekend we will only get an update if it's bad news until Tuesday. Feeling hopeful she can join us at The Safe House next week.

If you can help with her vet bill, any amount is appreciated!

26/08/2022

Eleanor update! Our sweet old girl appeared to have a bladder infection but when antibiotics weren’t clearing it up further diagnostics revealed she had bladder stones. Poor kid was so uncomfortable, she had surgery today. Photo in the comments of the biggest stone - it is a doozy!

23/08/2022

Look who's out of the vet hospital! Thea's bloodwork showed she is anemic and fighting infection (which we knew from her UTI) but otherwise her organ function is good. She has significant arthritis in her spine and she moves about slowly like the old gal she is. But look at that smile!!

Thea will be managed with pain meds and we will continue antibiotics for her UTI. She has a fospice (hospice foster home) waiting for her and will head there this weekend. Thea will have good food, soft beds and lots of love for all of the time she has left. When she lets us know her pain becomes too much she will leave this world surrounded by people who love her.

I'm so grateful to everyone who makes The Safe House possible. You made it possible for Thea to have this beautiful final chapter. Thank you!

23/08/2022

We got an urgent message Sunday about a beagle in bad shape. She was dehydrated, much too thin and had a bad wound on her leg. She had been wandering around near one of our partner shelters and a staff member picked her up. Her leg had been bandaged much too tightly and her foot was swollen. After removing the bandage they flushed the wound, applied Blue Kote, contacted us and brought her straight over.

Turns out our old gal has a broken elbow. We don't know how old the injury is but it has started healing. She will be on confinement/rest for the next six weeks and is receiving antibiotics for her wound and pain meds.

Welcome Eleanor! It gets better from here.

21/08/2022

How their day started vs how their day ended.

We made a run to Manchester to deliver more donations for flood victims today and saw these pups nearby needed a safe place to land. Their owner tried to take them to a shelter but the shelter was full and she was turned away. She didn’t want to care for them any longer. A relative intervened and was looking for help. We thank him for trusting us to care for them and find them good homes!

19/08/2022

We found her laying with her eyes closed, quivering, wanting to just disappear. She had been found laying in a ball on the side of the road. Her back end was matted and urine soaked. She smelled terrible. I didn’t know if she could stand or walk. Truth be told I didn’t even know if she was a girl or a boy. I gently stroked her head, she lifted her weathered face and her eyes spoke so much sadness. We carried her to the van and went straight to the vet.

She is an old girl. She has a severe UTI and significant arthritis. She is anemic, dehydrated and much too thin. She remains at the vet receiving antibiotics, fluids and good nutrition. She had been cleaned, her mats have been clipped and she had medication to ease her pain.

I wasn’t sure I should post about her. I don’t yet know what her outcome will be. We are giving her time to assess whether she can have some comfort and quality of life still to live. If she can one way or another she will have that. If she will only know pain and suffering ahead we will relieve her of that burden and let her go surrounded by love.

I decided to share her story because she matters. And whatever the outcome will be, for now she is ours. Meet Thea.

This is what we do at The Safe House.

15/08/2022

Doing what we can to help people and animals during this time of crisis.

31/07/2022