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, is the first and only "No-Kill", No Cage Dog Rescue in southwest New Mexico, and serves Grant County and all communities throughout 125 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 hand full of unpaid volunteers and funded entirely by your donations. Since August 2009, PDR has rescued over 200 dogs, found qualified FURever homes for more than 150 dogs and maintains a 99% adoption success rate. Currently there are 40 dogs living at Puppy Dog Ranch, 20 of them patiently waiting for their "furever" homes. Sometimes it takes only weeks for the right family to come along; but most times it takes months....even years....and while waiting, each dog is fed, housed, vaccinated, neutered/spayed, socialized with adults, children and other dogs, leash trained, exercised, house trained and loved. According to Laurie West, founder and president, loving them is the easy part.
Guardian Angels help with the harder parts.
Not all people want, or can bring a dog into their home. 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. The dog pictured is Trisco, a daschund mix who was abused, and who PDR has been rehabilitating caring for at Puppy Dog Ranch since 2012.
Loving and caring for 40 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 homeless dogs who find their way to Puppy Dog Ranch.
Using Trisco as an example, this is what a Guardian Angel's contribution would cover:
$30 – his first veterinarian exam or to feed and care for him for one month;
$40 – his de-worming and any necessary vaccines;
$75 – the cost of having him neutered (mandatory for all dogs rescued by PDR);
$100 – one exam, de-worming, two of his necessary vaccines, rabies vaccine and mandatory county license;
$150 – the care and food for him for one month, one vet exam, his de-worming, all of his necessary vaccines, tags and the cost of his neutered surgery.
And these prices only cover the costs of rescuing a healthy dog.
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, 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. Please keep Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue's dogs in your thoughts and hearts.
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 and 10-2 Saturdays. The Rescue 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 the website at: www.puppydogranch.org. or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/puppydogranch Guardian Angel sponsorships can be made via PayPal, Check, Cash or Money Order. Your donation is tax deductible.