A family affair helps the animals of Pets Alive – and then there were puppies!
by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff
The numbers of dogs that have come from a closed puppy breeding kennel in Virginia to the Pets Alive animal sanctuary in upstate New York are climbing! Of the 179 dogs initially rescued from the defunct facility, there are many pregnant females that are about to give birth or have already had their litters. The original rescue, involving the securing of the animals and the subsequent transport under the veil of nigh,t is just the beginning of this rescue journey.
The people that make this journey possible are the volunteers, and one such volunteer, Louise Paciotti, embodies what these caring, dedicated folks are made of. Louise has been volunteering with Pets Alive since April, when this faltering sanctuary needed help for their population of animals. She and her daughter, Chris, who is also a volunteer, live more than an hour and a half away. She has expressed that she has been there as often as possible, and if she lived closer, she would be there every waking moment! Louise was there from the beginning for these deserving dogs!
“It was amazing – I have never experienced anything like it in my life. It was absolutely extraordinary, seeing the truck roll up. It was awesome to see everybody working together. There was a lot of camaraderie and team work, including all the volunteers and Best Friends staff. It was very emotional and exciting,” reflects Louise about that monumental day, when these dogs tasted compassion and freedom for the first time.
Because the negotiation of the actual transfer of ownership of the dogs was very delicate and precarious in the beginning, the volunteers of Pets Alive had to be kept in the dark until the very last moments. “We found out that afternoon that we would be needed to help in the evening. We weren’t sure what we would be helping with. We didn’t expect to see over a hundred dogs – we were just told if people could be available it would be great.”
It’s been such a wonderful experience for Louise, she plans on continuing to volunteer for a long time. She’s also put her application in for a special Dachshund momma dog, Madeleine, she has fallen in love with! “For Matline it was so easy for her to warm up to me. When you go by her area, she puts her head up and wants to be petted. I’m surprised most of these dogs are so friendly. They really want attention and affection. When you walk into their room, they all start barking. Many want to go out for their walks!”
Madeleine and her pups“Some of the dogs are walking on lead so easily, but some of them are unsure about being on the ground. There was one Pom that was great – loved to be held and cuddled. But she couldn’t be put down, she got very afraid,” Louise’s voice conveys the concern over what these dogs have been through clearly.
“We’re prepared to do what it takes to have Madeleine transition as easily as possible into our home,” she continues, letting me know that she doesn’t expect it all to be a cake walk. These are dogs that have not had normal experiences; they’ve had limited socialization and who knows what types of abuses, beyond neglect, that they have endured at the hands of their human “caregivers”!
Asked to sum up what it’s like to be volunteering at Pets Alive and now for the dogs freed from the puppy mill taking up residence there, this is what she had to say: “It’s been a wonderful experience. It makes you feel so good. You know you’re helping these animals. And fostering or adopting an animal in need is the greatest feeling. You know that you’re helping an animal feel normal and loved, you know that you’re making a difference!”
How You Can HelpVolunteerPets Alive will need volunteers as the months grow colder, and the hectic holiday season has many dedicated volunteers traveling. If you would like to volunteer, please get on the schedule for the next month and beyond. There are still many volunteers that show up on a daily basis, but it will start to peter out, and your help will be invaluable then! If you’re interested please call the main number at Pets Alive 845-386-9738 and ask for a Volunteer Coordinator!
DONATE Now that these dogs and puppies are in our care, we want to give them the best life we can. They deserve nothing less. Your donations are deeply appreciated.
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