On Sunday, February 11th, Puppy Bowl XX will air on Animal Planet. This year, 131 puppies from 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states will be competing. Each one will be picture perfect, clean, happy and playing to win. What we won’t see are the horrible conditions that so many of these puppies came from.
We won’t hear about are the volunteers, many who sacrifice their time, money, and their own mental and physical health to save these animals.
Guardians of Rescue is one such organization, on the ground rescuing animals every day.
From large scale puppy mills with hundreds of dogs, to an injured cat of the side of the road. Guardians of Rescue has an active investigations team lead by former FBI agent Joaquín García.
Photo courtesy of Guardians of Rescue
The organization is currently working to not only shut down some horrific puppy mills, and breeders selling designer dogs in parking lots, but it works to see that perpetrators of these horrific crimes against helpless animals are brought to justice.
The demand for puppies during COVID made the puppy mill problem much worse, and as the demand for puppies has declined, older breeding dogs no longer needed are literally thrown in the trash, dumped on the side of the road or left to starve to death in their filthy kennels.
Recently, Guardians of Rescue worked with animal control officers in one such backyard breeding case. The conditions were deplorable and 14 dogs were rescued, all in need of medical care.
“These cases are heartbreaking to our team. The suffering experienced by these innocent dogs is evident in their eyes,” said Robert Misseri, founder of Guardians of Rescue.
“Knowing their owner’s sole motivation for breeding was financial gain, makes this neglect and cruelty even more devastating,” Misseri added. “Sadly, these cases are on the rise and we ask the public to contact us with leads to other unethical breeders.”
The devastating situation took place in Robertson County, Kentucky, where a backyard breeder was breeding “doodles,” which is a poodle mixed with other breeds. There were 14 dogs living in deplorable conditions, with dogs found inside the house and in secondary structures that were filled with dangerously high levels of ammonia. The homes lacked heat and the dogs were living in frigid temperatures.
The cold weather certainly makes matters worse and creates a sense of urgency to the rescues. Unfortunately the team has all too often arrived on a scene only to find dogs and cats frozen to death, or dead from dehydration as whatever little water they had was frozen.
Photo courtesy of Guardians of Rescue
“We have a dire situation on our hands with these dogs and we need help to provide them with the care they need,” added Misseri. “We need to get the word out about breeders like this. They need to be shut down and the dogs need to be rescued. We can’t do it without the help of the public.”
Guardians of Rescue provides various services to help save animals, reunite people and pets, investigate animal cruelty cases, and offer disaster response assistance, such as in the aftermath of hurricanes. Their work has impacted people and animals around the world. They can only continue their work through the generosity of those who donate to support the cause.
Cold weather is also an issue this time of year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Animal Welfare Act provides specific temperature requirements for dogs in various housing structures.
The problem is that the laws are often weak and not enforced. They recommend a dog not be under 45 degrees for more than four hours. If dogs are in the cold for extended periods, they should have a method for conserving body heat, including dry bedding, resting surfaces, heat lamps, etc.
Many dogs are still being left outdoors 24/7 in the bitter cold, with some on chains or being tethered.
They need more adequate housing and methods for keeping warm. Guardians of Rescue address these cases firsthand, starting with speaking with the pet owner. They try to educate them about the dangers and cruelty involved in leaving a pet outdoors in such brutal conditions. If the pet owner is not willing to change and bring them indoors, they then inquire if they would surrender the pet to them. Any pets offered to them by the owner are then matched with a loving home.
Guardians of Rescue provides various services to help save animals, reunite people and pets, investigate animal cruelty cases, and offer disaster response assistance, such as in the aftermath of hurricanes. Their work has impacted people and animals around the world. They can only continue their work through the generosity of those who donate to support the cause.
To get more information or make a donation, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org.
Headquartered in New York, Guardians of Rescue is an organization whose mission is to protect the well-being of all animals. It aids animals in distress, including rehabilitation, assisting other rescue groups, and supporting families, both military and not, who need assistance due to economic factors. To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org.
Editor’s Note: Guardians for Rescue’s charity score on Charity Navitator is 98%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
Photo courtesy of Guardians of Rescue
Photo courtesy of Guardians of Rescue
Photo courtesy of Guardians of Rescue