Finding homes for special needs dogs | Dogalize
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Some local animal rescue organizations are doing their best keep dogs out of the shelter.
Safe Haven Animal Rescue is at the Columbus Petsmart every weekend with dogs available for adoption. Cheryl Cantrell with the rescue organization said older and special needs dogs often get overlooked during adoptions.
“One of the things that I have a hard time passing up at the shelters are seniors and the special needs simply because they don’t get adopted like the younger dogs do,” Cantrell said.
Marissa is a special needs dog with only one eye. She was able to find a loving home earlier this year when her owner, Lainie Cartee, adopted her.
“With a special needs dog you just have to be a patient. They show you just must unconditional love as a regular dog and you know I get more from them than I could ever give them,” Cartee explained.
Cantrell keeps Safe Haven’s rescue animals at her house. She said she will typically have 40 to 50 dogs coming in and out of her house daily. She said seeing the progress of special needs dogs who lived in broken homes is the most wonderful thing in the world.
“I’m a retired school teacher and it was so neat to watch the children when that light bulb went off every time and they learned something and it’s the same thing with these animals. It gives you just about the same feeling,” Cantrell said.
Rescue organizations are at the Columbus Petsmart every weekend from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. with dogs and cats up for adoption.
Source: wrbl.com