Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Blackman.
Hi Kathy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2008 I went into a local animal shelter with no intention of adopting a dog, After meeting a beautiful husky who was scheduled to be euthanized that very day, I adopted her and we left together. I was shocked that an animal so beautiful and good was going to die simply because there were so many animals in the shelter. It was my personal call to action. I named her Sophie and she became my inspiration to get involved in the rescue community and do my part to help as many animals as possible.
In the beginning, to get started, I opened a pet food pantry in an effort to keep as many dogs and cats as possible from losing their homes. One thing led to another and people started asking for my help rehoming dogs. Since then, I have rescued and re homed over 4500 dogs and I have given out thousands of pounds of dogs and cat food to needy families.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been far from a smooth road. The struggles are daily. We are frustrated by the fact that the spay/neuter laws are not enforced and that back yard breeders are not held accountable. The area is absolutely slammed with unwanted dogs and cats and keeping up with the need is impossible. Money is an issue currently. Donations are down for charitable organizations with the cost of other things doing up. Finding foster homes is a struggle. As a foster based organization with no kennels, we rely on the kindness of people to open their homes to our rescues while we find them good homes. Animal abuse is largely overlooked in our community and it’s heartbreaking to see the condition of so many animals.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am retired but was a baker before retiring.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Have a plan in place. When I started down this road, almost 20 years ago, things were very different. Vet costs have risen and many vets no longer want to work with rescues. I cherish my relationships with the vets who work with our organization, and do all I can to make sure we never take advantage of their kindness. If you don’t have a solid financial plan in place before accepting your first dog into the rescue, you will frustrate yourself and not be able to continue. Dogs are way too unpredictable. You could accept one into the rescue without realizing he is heart
worm positive or he may have other costly health issues. You have to have cash reserves for the unexpected. Build your network of volunteers before jumping in because you are going to need them. There are a lot of moving parts to rescue work and it’s not something you can do alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sophiescircle.org
- Facebook: sophiescircledogrescue
