Buffalo Humane
   
Helping one animal at a time
 

This is Kasey today — a 2-year-old Cocker Spaniel that just arrived in Buffalo on Saturday, April 19th from a shelter in South Carolina. We received a plea in early April from our shelter contacts in Gaffney, SC to help this poor dog. They had desperately been trying to find a rescue that would take him in. Just like every other rescue, our rescue group gets calls or emails about dogs in need all the time: dogs that have been abandoned by their owners, dogs that haven't known basic human compassion, dogs that have been starved, dogs that have been injured, dogs that have been abused, and dogs that have been thrown away. In rescue, you sometimes have to harden your heart to these pleas, as difficult as it is, because taking in all of them would be a financial and caregiving nightmare. With a heavy heart and tears in our eyes, we've learned how to sometimes say no. But every once in a while, the case of a dog comes to us that we just can't ignore, and this time it was Kasey. We are unsure what it was about him that captured our hearts. It wasn't his breed — none of us are Cocker Spaniel enthusiasts. It wasn't his smaller size — most of us are big-dog fans. And it wasn't even the extent of his injuries — we've seen far worse. Maybe it was his eyes that touched our souls.

This is Kasey a few short weeks ago - dirty, matted, and with a gaping wound on his belly:

Having found Kasey as a stray, shelter volunteers believe that he was attacked by another animal, which is what caused the big gash in his side and hidequarters. Shelter volunteers immediately rushed him to the vet, where he has spent the last couple of weeks getting treated. However, treatment was not cheap. The volunteer group in South Carolina can only help facilitate transferring dogs from their small rural county shelter to rescue groups in other states; they don't have the adopter base there in the area to find homes for all the animals that land in the shelter. They also do not have the funds to treat special cases, but they were able to a few wonderful donors to start him on the road to recovery, and Buffalo Humane kicked in the rest. He was treated, cleaned up, groomed, and spent time resting in a boarding facility before he started his journey to the northeast and ultimately Buffalo. Kasey is due to arrive to our rescue here in Buffalo on Saturday, April 19, to start a new wonderful life as a pampered pooch.

Funds for Kasey's care, and other companion animals in need just like him, come from Buffalo Humane's special "Angus Fund". The Angus Fund was a fund started by friends and family of John and Judy of Sterling Place Tavern, Hertel Ave, Buffalo, to commerate the couple's wonderful pet Akita named Angus, who passed away at the age of 18. This fund is set up specifically to help with the care of animals that need more than routine shots and neutering. In the past, the fund has covered medical expenses for a litter of unweaned kittens, the bladder stone surgery of a dog orphaned when its owner went into assisted living, liver disease in a kitty found stray on the streets, and emergency treatment for a pup with parvo virus.

We still have not covered all of Kevin's medical expenses, and we anticipate he may need a bit more followup care. Please consider donating even a small amount to our Angus Fund to cover the remainder of Kevin's expenses. Any funds raised inexcess of those needed by Kasey's case will allow us to make commitments to other animals with more extensive medical needs.

Calling all dog and cat lovers. Do you want to get involved with animal rescue, but never knew how? Maybe you thought that the only way to help is by fostering animals and you have that dog at home that doesn't like other dogs, or you have that "queen bee" cat who doesn't want to share your lap. Perhaps you are going to college and live somewhere you can't have animals but you miss being involved. Perhaps you have children and cannot afford to spend the time away from home walking dogs or volunteering for adoption events. Perhaps you have some free time, but it has to be more flexible or during odd hours. Perhaps you have some skills that you never realized could benefit animals in the area.

We are looking for all types of people with all types of skills and a willingness to help make a difference. Below are just a few volunteer positions available

• Event Planner(s) — This individual would be responsible for booking adoption events in the area. If you are an organized person who enjoys talking to people and planning events, then we could really use you. We are NY State incorporated and 501c3, so event planning would entail calling pet stores, malls, fairs, etc. to arrange adoption events, submitting necessary paperwork and coordinating other volunteers to work the events.
• Fundraising Specialist(s) — Do you have a great idea for a fundraiser and want to work to put it into action. This individual would be responsible for planning and executing fundraising events. Small or large, every dollar raised counts. Maybe you know a Girl Scout or Boy Scout troup that would like to hold a bake sale. Maybe you know of a business that wants to sponsor a Friday "dress down" day. Maybe you have connections at a grocery store that would be willing to hold a "chili cook-off." Whatever the idea, if it raises money we would love to do it!!!