Giving Help to Those Who Can’t Ask for It

During the workday, Cara Gillespie is the Marketing Coordinator for BRAVO! Group Services. But on the weekends, she’s a rescue dog’s greatest ally. Cara volunteers for Rawhide Rescue, an organization that takes in dogs from overcrowded shelters and works to find them loving new homes.

In 2000, Cara rescued her dog, Alex, from a New York State animal shelter. But in September 2011, Alex was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Cara felt a calling to volunteer, both to honor Alex and to help other dogs like him who are in shelters waiting for their forever home.

“You can meet some terrific dogs in shelters,” she says. Rescues, like Rawhide, take dogs into their network to alleviate space issues in shelters, saving the lives of many animals every year.

Cara helps manage the dogs at Rawhide’s bi-weekly Adoption Days, held at a local PetSmart store. She also serves as doggy photographer and assists with the organization’s Facebook page and Petfinder listings.

How does she fit her volunteer work into her schedule? She says, “Adoption Days are every other Saturday so that is easy — that is time I commit to the rescue. I love spending time with the dogs at adoption days, but seeing a dog find its forever home and knowing that we are making a positive impact and saving lives — that’s especially rewarding.”

And Cara’s work with Rawhide Rescue doesn’t just help the local community. “We also partner with rescues in Texas and Arkansas. So it’s not just our local community that benefits, it’s the entire shelter and rescue system. Rawhide finds homes for hundreds of dogs and puppies each year and each and every one is considered a life saved.”

Want to know how you can you make a difference for shelters and rescue organizations in your community? Cara shares her insights on how you, too, can be a rescue dog warrior!

1. Spay and neuter your pets!
   I cannot stress enough the importance of spaying and neutering. Preventing overpopulation is the best way to reduce, and eventually eliminate, pet homelessness. It’s a simple procedure that makes a huge difference.
2. Adopt, don’t shop!
   A very large percentage of pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills (regardless of what they might tell their customers). Puppy mills keep dogs in awful, inhumane conditions just to breed them for profit. Shelters and rescues are full of wonderful, loving pets of all ages who are looking for their forever homes. And, most dogs adopted from rescues are already spayed or neutered and up to date on shots — it’s all included in the adoption fee, which is a fraction of the cost of a puppy store dog.
3. Foster!
   Becoming a foster parent is easy, fun and one of the most rewarding things you can do for homeless pets. And when you foster, you are not only changing the future for that one animal, but also creating shelter space for another pet in need.
4. Get involved!
   Many communities have shelters or rescues that may need volunteers for a variety of tasks from administrative to animal care. I suggest contacting your local organization to learn more about their needs. And of course, donations of supplies or even monetary donations always help.

[cta]How are you making an impact in your community? BRAVO! would love to hear your stories! Contact Cara Gillespie to share how you are making a difference.[/cta]