S.O.S. – Dogs in Need

By Lisa Dubé Forman

The majestic Irish Wolfhound breed is seeking immediate financial aid! Many readers may not be aware of the massive rescue that recently took place. The Houston SPCA raided a Texas property and over 140 animals, including over 70 Irish Wolfhounds, were rescued from hell. You can read more on this in The Canine Chronicle print magazine (and online) article Born to Die, or the digital edition found at http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/born-to-die/.

To date: legal custody of the 72 Irish Wolfhounds was transferred to local representatives of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America, and intensive care and rehabilitation has already begun. Approximately 27 wolfhounds are in foster homes reclaiming their soul, strength and animation. Another 33 wolfhounds are currently housed in a Houston area boarding kennel where they are receiving nourishment, veterinary care, kindness, rehabilitation and reintegration assistance.

The costs will be enormous, and the Irish Wolfhound community is shouldering the crisis aid with, to date, $17,700 in donations. However, expenses paid to date are $19,900 and are mounting rapidly. The aforementioned boarding kennel costs for the 33 wolfhounds will be over $23,000 per month or $5,800 per week. The first week’s boarding kennel invoice is paid, but the recovery rate for these wolfhounds will vary due in large part to the wolfhounds physical and mental strength. Many are unable to be spayed or neutered until they are fit or healthy enough to survive the surgery. De-sexing, of course, will lead to additional medical costs above and beyond the critical medical care costs that the wolfhounds have already received that I have not mentioned.

The 27 wolfhounds being fostered are awaiting finalized travel arrangements for their transport to other areas of the country. The issue of transit is complicated and expensive because these are giant hounds, and is not accomplished by any group of people getting a caravan together. The extent of the abuse and subsequently the wolfhound’s traumatization cannot be expressed in such limited space. Be it sufficient to say that their transportation can only be arranged by expensive professional horse transport with thick straw or cedar shavings being the only acceptable solution to move small groups of giant wolfhounds. Each time a small number of Wolfhounds are cleared for travel — so far ten Wolfhounds are scheduled for transport this week — the conveyance costs will range from $4,200 to $10,000 per trip depending on the distance. As each group is discharged for travel to specific regions of the country, they will incur additional transportation fees as indicated.

Any and all financial donations will be deeply appreciated. Although these incredible wolfhound survivors cannot speak for themselves, they will be forever in your debt. You will also have the gratitude of the extraordinary people who have responded to this crisis with their time and love, and who have undergone considerable joy and sorrow while doing so.

Donations are to be sent to The Irish Wolfhound Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public foundation, therefore, donations are tax-deductible. All donors will receive the appropriate thank-you letter from the Irish Wolfhound Foundation Treasurer, Mr. David Milne. To make a donation, use the Irish Wolfhound Gift Shop online found at www.iwfoundation.org/donations.html. Please click on the red Donate tab located on the right-hand side of the screen. If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make your check payable to: The Irish Wolfhound Foundation and mail directly to: IW Foundation, 150 Creek Road, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865. In either case, designate your donation to the Texas Rescue Hounds.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=62692

Posted by chesliepickett on Oct 17 2014. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.