'Rescue' makes me think of fire-fighters pulling babies from burning buildings, and lifeguards pulling injured swimmers out of rough seas, but in an animal and pet context its very different.   A few weeks back there was a chipmunk caught with its head stuck in a bottle and the camera man first filmed the little thing running around trying to get the bottle off its head and then he 'rescued' it prying the bottle loose.  Okay, now most of us would try to help that chipmunk, but what if the chipmunk were a skunk?  Yes, the same thing happened with a skunk only days ago and many people passed by and did not help but eventually animal control was called and the skunk was 'rescued' from the bottle.    Ask yourself, would you have helped the stinky freaked out skunk?  Both of these incidents point to how dangerous trash and recycling is for animals who lick it clean for food.  In fact the apple core you discard while driving while itself is fine for nature and the animals - it acts as a deathrap so close to traffi; Better to pitch that core well off the road and away from traffic when you stop instead of tossing it out as you zoom along.  You might think I'm digressing from rescue to garbage, but actually if you're thinking about places like Florida, garbage strangles and injures a huge amount of birds, fish, and land animals including pets. Rescue places are full of animals recovering from injuries caused by human garbage. 

Sometimes i hear the word 'rescue' held up like a banner when in fact what is going on is far from rescue. There was a rottweiler club that called itself rescue but was actually one bad dude training up nasty dogs to sell as guard dogs and taking fees to re-home other dogs which he either bred for fighting stock or dumped in the woods.  Another ran raffles for cocker rescue which were completely illegitimate; the prizes, the donations, all of it was bogus except the fact that she took money, gave out phony tickets and kept a very sick and old stud cocker and some overbred females none of which saw the Vet enough.  Then there are the hoarders.  People who often times started out with their hearts and heads in the right place but get stuck thinking that they must save every animal they meet and they take on far too many   so that all in their care suffer. 

And then other times, I meet dog owners who go so far beyond their own needs for a pet to reach out to some poor, pathetic, mistreated, no -more- stops -left -on -the -line animal.  I met Jenna the cocker spaniel with her very doting owners, two women who expalined Jenna was mostly blind (you could tell her eyes didn't work by looking at them - both clouded over, one which was irritated, raw, red, and protruding  made it hard even for me to look at Jenna); she was perhaps mostly deaf too and hated other dogs. She was a puppy mill mama for 11 years and had no good contact with other dogs.  They explained they just felt compelled to help her and then dumped all her potions, pills, eye drops and special needs care on me at camp good dog  along with hopes and prayers too.  Jenna was a high maintenance girl.... I say 'was' because she made huge progress with them on her illnesses and injuries.  In fact the genius Vets who treated her bypassed her saliva to irrigate her eye and now Jenna can see.  Jenna learned to walk and be nice and now after just one more training stay and a couple of short happy visits, Jenna has several friends including little and big dogs of both genders.  She is joyful and playful and affectionate with old dog MaxE a border collie cross who was her first true friend.  And all that in no time at all - a few months.  It amazes me how resiliant animals are when it comes to recovering from abuse and learning to trust new people. Jenna is very blessed with her new family but they are blessed with Jenna who will treat them like the sun  rises and sets on their heads.  She will show them gratititude every day and every moment that she can and will lay her life down for them without blinking should the need arise. Her loyalty is absolute. That is the payback from a rescue dog.

I will be featuring rescue topics on both of my shows ANIMAL PARTY at www.petliferadio.com

& the Animal Magnet at www.prncomm.net (progressive radio network).  YOu can find my shows at my own website www.campgooddog.com where you'll find free advice archived by dog and cat problem.  Its easy to get dogs and cats to accept our house rules and treat us politely, just click on your problem and you'll find your pet solution or listen to my shows and hear the best pet experts talking to you about animals and pets including pet rescue.