Sacramento County’s
Bradshaw Animal Shelter intakes thousands of pets in the community each year. Most of these pets are reunited with their owners or are able to find loving forever homes to be adopted into. However, some shelter pets have a difficult time finding a normal adoptive home which is where the shelter’s
foster and rescue program steps in. The foster and rescue program works with local foster and rescue providers in the community to help shelter pets that need a little extra assistance on the way to their happy ending.
Foster care providers provide temporary care outside of the shelter to animals such as those too young for adoption, needing to recover from an illness or injury, for behavior modification, or just because they need a break from the stresses of shelter life. Rescue group partners are also a huge help as they pull shelter animals who otherwise have a difficult time being adopted due to age, medical condition or the need for behavioral modification that cannot be resolved in a foster home.
Recently, a shelter dog named Chapo was having a difficult time finding the perfect home to suit his mental and physical stimulation needs. After a month of no luck with potential adopters, shelter staff soon realized the Belgian Malinois would never be happy in a pet-only home due to his high energy, drive and intelligence. So, they reached out the
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF). NDSDF is an organization based in Santa Paula, California that strengthens disaster response across America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.
“Groups such as NDSDF give dogs that have no chance of placement in a normal pet home an opportunity for a great outcome and a chance to truly thrive in the world,” said Shasta Stratton-Quirk, the shelter animal care attendant who reached out to the rescue. “Because some dogs are not able to be adopted out through normal routes, it is the job of the foster and rescue team to find an outlet where they can reach their true potential. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for Chapo!”
After viewing videos of Chapo’s amazing agility skills, drive and personality, NDSDF quickly arranged for a flight to recruit him and he was on his way to Santa Paula. Thanks to the shelter’s rescue partners and the care and dedication of our shelter staff, Chapo is on the path to have a greater purpose to help save the lives of others. In the meantime, NDSDF is letting him settle into his new environment. They report that Chapo is working on obedience training and manners, learning fitness exercises, playing with and meeting his trainers, and will enjoy a trip to their “doggy day spa” where he will receive a well-deserved bath and nail trim.
