Gone To The Dogs Rescue

Grant Narrative

Mar 07, 2024

Gone to the Dogs Rescue, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Redondo Beach, California. Over the last decade, we have rescued more than 1,800 dogs from euthanasia.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome the most endangered shelter and homeless pets, the broken, the sick, the injured, and the old.

Organization History

Gone to the Dogs Rescue, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2011 by Marcella Janes RN MSN CCM, specializes in rehabilitating and rehoming the abandoned and abused pets in Southern and Central California. Our volunteer-based organization was formed after discovering that the highest public kill shelter is within 10 minutes of many affluent neighborhoods. We have rescued and helped over 1,800 abandoned, neglected, and abused companion pets find their forever homes. We are well established in our community and our efficacy is proven.

We foster rescue dogs in our homes, hands on, teaching them everything they need to secure a trusted adoptive family. We do this 100% voluntarily and work without a salary. We know they require specialized veterinary care. We also know these are the dogs who do not get adopted in the shelters. We make a positive impact on easing the overburdened animal shelters and the euthanasia rate due to our efforts to rescue animals in the greatest of need. We are doing our part to ensure CA becomes “no kill” state.

We successfully survived the pandemic years, unlike many other similar organizations in our community. We've continued to rescue animals through the pandemic. Our adoption rate is 95% as we continue to care for any pets who are not adopted as long as they need care. We use social media to recruit additional pet foster care homes to nurture the rescued until a permanent home has been found. We also use social media to secure additional volunteers to help manage daily operations and to help prepare dogs for adoption.

Problem

According to The Los Angeles Times, nearly 50% of the 72,000 animals brought to six of the Los Angeles County Shelters were euthanized in 2014. Since partnering with our organization and other rescue groups, the killings have been reduced. The statistics for Los Angeles County in 2021-2022 showed a total of 6,899 euthanized animals out of 24,856 that came into the shelters. That is a significant improvement and we are so proud to be a part of that change. However, the current reality for the shelters in Los Angeles County is that many are severely understaffed and staff are turning away those who wish to surrender their animals. This creates an undocumented urgency for animals who may be left abandoned by their owners to the streets.

The law in California states that shelters will hold a dog a maximum of six business days before they can be euthanized or placed for adoption. It is imperative that our pet foster care family network grows. On average, it takes between one to six months to secure a permanent family for healthy adoptable dogs. Additionally, it can take a year or more to secure a permanent family for power breeds as well as aging and medically needy dogs.

Programs

We believe our impact reaches far deeper than saving a life, we know and understand the human-animal connection is an integral part of a well-rounded and healthy community. We believe all abandoned pets deserve a second chance. We strive to not just rescue them but to provide them with the highest quality medical care, rehabilitative services including: training; behavioral modification; feeding them high quality food; and providing loving volunteer foster homes as they await adoption through our onsite adoption events.

Due to age, veterinary care needed, behavioral, or chronic medical issues, we understand they will be with us a long time after rescue and we continue to work for their care, place them in foster homes, and house them for the rest of their lives, if need be. Over 50% of the dogs in our care are over the age of nine, most have chronic medical issues and have cost us thousands in veterinary expenses, this leaves our organization in immediate and continued need. Every dog we adopt to families is spayed/neutered, microchipped, healthy, flea/tick free, and has undergone veterinary evaluation.

Our programs include the following:

Pet behavioral training.
Pet adoption (pre-screened homes from adoption events, home visits to check fences, gates, etc., The adoption process runs around $1,000/per dog and veterinary costs are up 25% this year).
Pet parenting education.
Pet geriatric and medical care (vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchip, dental care, surgeries, etc.).
Pet owner financial hardship program for urgent and routine veterinarian care.
Rescue from high kill shelters.
Transportation from shelters, to veterinary care, and foster/adoption homes.

The total costs of rescuing one dog from the shelter all the way to the completed adoption can vary from $1,000 - $10,000 per dog depending on veterinary care needed, health, prescription diets, medications, supplements, supplies, training, and boarding. We had one dog that cost $25,000 due to genetic disorder issues. I am personally fostering a long-term dog with a biting history who was rescued off the euthenasia table at Carson Animal Shelter. To date, his costs have run up to $15,000 for vet care, professional training for behavior management, and routine care.