Cotton, a lovable 20-pound poodle cross, was lucky to be chosen to make the trip from California to Pawsitive Animal Rescue in Squamish.
His chances of being euthanized were high while he lived at an overcrowded shelter in a state plagued by thousands upon thousands of stray dogs.
The white, non-shed pup is feeling much better after receiving full dental work, and now enjoys car rides, playing with other dogs and would love to follow his future owner around the house.
Since Cotton is eight years old, he qualifies for the rescue’s new “senior for a senior” program where the adoption fee is waved for anyone 70 years and older who adopts a dog eight years and up.
“We want to get more senior dogs out of shelters and into loving homes,” said Erica Egyed, who founded Squamish-based Pawsitive Animal Rescue with her daughters. “A lot of seniors can’t afford the adoption fee, so we want to make it easier for them to adopt.”
Senior dogs tend to be less active than their younger counterparts, often making them ideal pets for older people.
Bella, a tiny eight-year-old chihuahua, for instance, doesn’t need long walks and would likely make an ideal companion for someone with a less active lifestyle. She also came from a kill shelter in California and was lucky to be taken off the “e-list” for dogs who are in line to be euthanized.
Only in its second year, Pawsitive Animal Rescue has already re-homed 130 four-legged friends, who all made the long trip up from shelters in California. Fifteen dogs were rescued in June alone.
The dogs are on a road to a much better life as soon as they arrive in Squamish. Each rescue is spayed or neutered and given vaccinations, a microchip and checked over by a veterinarian.
“There are millions of dogs that need homes from there. There isn’t nearly as much compassion as there is here,” said Egyed, adding that stray dogs are often dumped on the street, tossed onto the side of the highway or abandoned at a congested shelter. She recently rescued one with a broken leg.
“I used to watch those commercials on TV [about organizations that help abandoned dogs] and it would break my heart. I started to foster dogs and then started my own rescue.”
Adoptees come from all over, including here in Squamish, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and as far away as Alberta. Egyed said out-of-province adoptions are allowed as long as the new owners pick up their dogs from Squamish, send in photos and video of their home and yard and provide the standard references.
For more information about Pawsitive Animal Rescue, go to www.facebook.com/pawsitiveanimalrescue.
