State of the Rescue – April 2019

Four and a half years ago, CalWEAR was founded because Southern CA was INUNDATED with Weimaraners who needed to be rescued, and we wanted to help.

It was tough in the beginning, and we almost quit. (The nastiness from animal rights activists and people who “think” they’re the expert on dogs is one of the worst nightmares we never could have predicted.)

But fast forward to 2019, and I’m glad we’re still here.

2018-138.

That’s Ty’s file number. That means he came onto our radar in 2018 (November 5th, to be exact), and tagged as the 138th dog we were working on.

As I lay in bed this morning with this dog cuddled up on my side, I can’t help to think where he might have been if we hadn’t picked him up. He was going blind from crud in his eyes and his owner didn’t know what to do. The word “euthanasia” was mentioned in her email if we couldn’t help.

It took awhile, but Ty was eventually turned over to us.

How anyone could give up a dog like this is beyond me. This guy embodies RESCUE because I can’t imagine where he’d be if we hadn’t interceded for him.

He’s been to our vet; his vision is restored. Yeah, he’s totally deaf, but that just makes him sweeter. And since he can’t hear himself bark, he doesn’t bark! We communicate with touch and sight. He gets along with everyone in my house, young or old, big or small.

On Sunday morning, we are picking up “2019-164.” [He’s a 16 month old youngster from a shelter in Santa Barbara whose family turned in because he was having “behavioral problems” that they couldn’t overcome. ($10 says no one ever invested time and energy in training him, but that’s another story.)]

That means that between November 5th and April 7th (5 months), we will have taken in TWENTY SIX DOGS.

Let me say that again. TWENTY SIX DOGS IN FIVE MONTHS.

For an organization that takes in about 30 a YEAR, it’s not hard to see that we’re well above normal.

We don’t like to ask for help. But I’m feeling a little overwhelmed this morning, so we’re gonna do it anyway.

TRANSPORT – We pick-up dogs all over the place. And we move them all over the place as well. If you can help us with transport, please shoot me an email or send me a text to let me know where you live and about how many miles from your home you’re willing to drive.

FOSTER – We don’t have a facility; we are 100% foster based. While this cuts down our overhead, we really operate this way because Weimaraners do better when they’re part of a family, and we learn more about them when they’re in our homes. DISCLOSURE – We DO board dogs when we have more intakes than we do foster homes. We don’t like it, but it’s better than turning dogs away. If you can foster, even if it’s just a few days, this would help keep our dogs out of boarding (which can run us up to $35/day depending on who is available).

DONATE – We went through all the hoops in 2014 to become a 501c3 public charity. We can give you a receipt for anything you send us. Have $10 to spare?! That will feed a dog for a week. Have $20? Buy us half a bag of dog food. $50 gets us one wellness check with our veterinarian. $75 buys us a tank of gas to pull dogs and move them into foster homes. $100 gets one of our guys spayed or neutered (as long as we can get them into the low cost clinic). We’re also happy to accept crates, igloos, dog beds, blankets, toys, food, treats, bowls, collars, leashes, and anything else a dog might need to feel at home.

NETWORK – In lieu of cash or material donations, we’d just be glad if you spread the word about the work we do. Share on social media about the dogs who need transport, foster care, etc. #CalWEAR

SERVICE – Computer savvy? Have engaging writing skills? Dabble in portrait photography? Have time to keep up with social media?! We could use you in the virtual office to keep our mission going.

ADOPT – If you’re looking for a companion, please consider rescue. None of them are perfect, but all of them are deserving.

Website: www.CalWEAR.org

Email: hello@CalWEAR.org

Phone: 949-278-2981

Donations: PayPal to “donate@CalWEAR.org”

Mailbox address: 3024 E. Chapman Avenue # 248, Orange, CA 92869

ONE MILLION thank yous to our existing network. For those of you who have donated your time and dollars, and opened up your home so one of ours has a place to crash, taken time off of work to meet with a prospective adopter, plowed through Petsmart for bags of dog food, fostered and then failed , our hearts go out to you. THANK YOU for your part in our mission.

With eternal gratitude,

– Kim Burnell, President and Co-Founder, California Weimaraner Education and Rescue, Inc.

Status: 501c3 Nonprofit Public CharityEIN: 47-1725629