Dogs In Dangerous Times: How Hurricane Harvey and the Pandemic tested Redemption Paws Resilience

July 17, 2023 at 23:22 PM EDT

Redemption Paws, a rescue dog charity founded in 2017 has faced extraordinary challenges since its inception. Six years ago, founder Nicole Simone extended a helping hand to a friend in need, assisting in finding homes for dogs rescued from the waters of Hurricane Harvey. Little did she know what lay ahead.

"What unfolded next was beyond my wildest imagination," remarked Simone. Initially planning to help re-home ten dogs, the first trip from Houston to Toronto unexpectedly involved forty dogs. The response from eager fosters and adopters was overwhelming. Monthly rescue missions commenced, peaking at 120 dog adoptions per month before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the organization's rigorous screening process and high level of committed adopters.

When COVID-19 struck in March 2020, Simone had prepared for certain eventualities, but others caught her off guard. "I had been monitoring the actions of rescues already impacted by COVID and had preemptively adopted their protocols. However, there were unforeseen challenges," recalls Simone. One such obstacle was the closure of the US-Canada border, requiring Simone to petition the federal government for permission to continue Redemption Paws' cross-border operations. Fortunately, the government recognized the essential nature of rescue work and granted permission for Redemption Paws to persist.

"What we couldn't anticipate was both the increased demand for dogs and the subsequent backlash," Simone shared. "Transporting dogs became more difficult, there were fewer available, and we faced baseless suspicions from people questioning our dedication to the dogs. Online anti-rescue groups emerged, spreading falsehoods about our rescue dogs, practices, and ethics. This unnecessary division has become a regular challenge we confront." Simone lamented, "It was disheartening to witness in real-time and watch homeless dogs get online bullied. Everything from fake lawsuits to falsified documents were circulated. It was wild."

Today, the dogs face yet another hurdle - a decline in demand for rescue dogs during and after COVID-19. Adoptions have reached record lows, with donations dwindling accordingly amid the quiet recession.

"Starting a charity during a hurricane was one thing, then navigating through a global pandemic was another, but persevering through a recession is perhaps the toughest test due to diminished public interest," Simone explains. Looking ahead, she states, "These dogs aren't 'disaster dogs' or 'hurricane dogs but they are now 'recession dogs.' Sadly, even if people have the means, they are turning to breeders again because new puppies do well on social media, people want the attention. Many people overlook the emotional toll of the imminent deadlines that countless rescues face trying to save so many amazing dogs."

Redemption Paws is actively seeking foster homes, adopters, and donations to support their Ontario-based organization. While many face challenging times, the burden on dog rescues is particularly heavy. Nicole emphasizes, "Dog rescue is not a cute hobby; it is crisis management for dogs. We have to keep going, the dogs deserve it."

To learn more about Redemption Paws and how you can contribute, please visit RedemptionPaws.org.

Media Contact
Company Name: Redemptionpaws.org
Contact Person: Nicole Simone
Email: Send Email
Phone: 310 922-2358
Country: United States
Website: https://redemptionpaws.org/

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Dogs In Dangerous Times: How Hurricane Harvey and the Pandemic tested Redemption Paws Resilience

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