Remember Clarence, the guardian angel who helps George Bailey in the 1946 Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life? He had to work awfully hard to get his wings, but if he was in Silver City this year, he’d find out that it’s easy to become a Guardian Angel for a homeless dog and it’s even tax deductible!
Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary in Arenas Valley, continues to be the first and only "No-Kill", No Cage Dog Rescue in southwest New Mexico, and serves Grant County and all communities throughout 100 miles. PDR rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes abused, abandoned, neglected, unwanted and "special needs" dogs.
Puppy Dog Ranch is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity, run by a small hand full of unpaid volunteers and funded entirely by your donations. Since August 2009, PDR has rescued nearly 300 dogs, through their adoption matching program, has found qualified FURever homes for more than 250 dogs and maintains a 99% adoption success rate.
Currently there are 25 dogs living at Puppy Dog Ranch, 10 of them patiently waiting for their "furever" homes. Sometimes it takes only weeks for the right family to come along; sometimes it takes months, even years....and while waiting, each dog is fed, housed, vaccinated, neutered/spayed, socialized with adults, children and other dogs, groomed, leash trained, exercised, and loved. Some of our rescued dogs have been trained to be Service Dogs for soldiers suffering from PTSD and Emotional Support Dogs! According to Laurie West, founder and president, and Kevin Rodriguez, vice president, loving them is the easy part.
Sasha
Not all people can foster a dog. Guardian Angels are people who sponsor a dog by making a financial donation either in the name of a specific dog or to all the dogs in general, to help the Rescue stay afloat. One dog pictured is Doodle, a 2 legged chiwienie (a chihuahua/dachshund mix) who Puppy Dog Ranch took in and has been taking care of for the past 3 years. Doodle's friend is Sasha, a dachshund/terrier mix brought in from California, who was hit by a car and has epilepsy. Sasha requires medications every 8 hours a day. Like more than half of the 25 dogs at the Ranch, both live inside West’s home and considered "special needs."
But loving and caring for the dogs is expensive and just like Clarence saved George Bailey’s life, Guardian Angels truly earn their wings because YOUR financial contribution is helping to save the lives of the dogs who find their way to Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue.
DoodleUsing Doodle, another "special needs dog" who is a young, healthy dog, and has lived at PDR for 3 years as an example, this is what a Guardian Angel’s contribution would cover:
- $50 – Doodle's veterinarian exams or to feed and care for him for one month and yearly thereafter;
- $75 – Doodle's de-worming and his yearly vaccines;
- $100 – The cost of having Doodle neutered (mandatory for all dogs rescued by PDR);
- $175 – The care and food for Doodle, one vet exam, de-worming, two of his necessary yearly vaccines, his yearly rabies vaccine and mandatory county license;
- $800 – For two custom made, fitted wheelchairs as he continues to grow and his rear legs become stronger.
Sasha's medications cost $80 per month, in addition to her food, yearly vaccines and license.
“Angel holding Dog” illustration was created by and is the property of Kelly Schneider, a long-term Board Member and Volunteer at Puppy Dog Ranch RescueDoodle and Sasha will live the rest of their lives at Puppy Dog Ranch.
Some people become ongoing Guardian Angels and contribute the same dollar amount every month, either for a specific dog, or for any of the dogs living at the Ranch temporarily or permanently, who are being housed, fed and is receiving medical care.
Guardian Angels can also make their donation in the name of a loved one or friend as a gift, and in this case, a special card goes out to that person letting them know of this tax-deductible donation.
This Christmas season, should you hear a bell ring, you will know that a dog lover has helped to save a dog’s life and just received their wings. That person could be you!
If you want to earn your wings this Christmas season, or would like more information, contact Laurie West at (575) 313-7232. Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue is open by appointment 10-5 Tuesday-Friday. The Rescue (their home ranch) is located at 27 Twin Sisters Creek Road, Arenas Valley, NM 88022. To see PDR's adoptable dogs or to make a donation through PayPal, visit their website at: www.puppydogranch.org. Guardian Angel sponsorships can be made via PayPal, Check, Cash or Money Order.
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Contact: Laurie West, Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary, (575) 313-7232