Rescuers around the world use the Internet to save abandoned dogs

When we think of dog rescue, it is very common to think of animal rescue as a local phenomenon. It is not. There are animal rescues all over the world and many do a better job of caring for abandoned and stray dogs than we do, considering their circumstances. Their job is often much more difficult because homes are harder to find and the dogs they rescue can be in worse physical and emotional condition. In many places around the world, there isn’t a dog-loving population that spends thousands of dollars on their own pets to fall back on when exhaustion is eminent. It takes a dedicated person to rescue hundreds, maybe thousands of dogs a year in a country where dogs are not particularly valued.

I received a very sincere plea for help recently from a rescuer in Romania. She volunteers at a dog shelter near Bucharest that is committed to finding homes for stray dogs. Many of these dogs have been injured in accidents, beaten, or ignored. If you think we corner the market with sympathy and care, or with cruelty and wickedness, you’re wrong. This wonderful rescuer cared for a dog whose back legs were nearly destroyed and she paid for 2 spinal surgeries with her meager funds. She hoped to find this wonderful dog a new home, but how to do it? The dog walks with difficulty and has urinary problems. It’s hard enough to find a home for a healthy dog ​​in some places, but a dog with disabilities? That is a difficult task, but he is hopeful that a good home can be found. Her request was for ideas on how to advertise available dogs in a culture where compassion and sacrifice for animals were not well understood. Frankly, no one but a handful of people seemed to care. The shelter was packed with more than 70 dogs, with few potential homes available.

To answer your question, I sought out a good friend who helps with the rescue in China. There are many similar problems, mainly the difficulty of finding quality and permanent housing. There is also a lack of understanding about proper dog care and respect for animals in general. The creativity of the rescuers never ceases to amaze me. In China, the Internet has enabled rescues to find good homes for many abused and abandoned stray dogs. They have even been able to expand their rescue facilities with donations. Before the internet, it was mostly word of mouth and personal connections that brought like-minded animal lovers together. Today, China has three Twitters and a Chinese version of eBay that are well used to find adoptive homes. Foster care and sponsorships are found through online chat forums, and online fundraising helps pay for shelters and individual dog needs.

Whether the shelter system is organized or ad-hoc, rescuers have found a way to come together on behalf of the animals. Another friend in Mexico is doing the same without the support of an organized group: rescuing one dog at a time and placing them in good homes when she can. She has also found support and friendship from like-minded people on Facebook. Australian rescues are also using Facebook, for lists of individual dogs and just to spread the word that they exist and need help.

So you could say that in many ways, dogs all over the world are bringing humans together. A genuine love for animals has enabled caring people from Romania to Australia to get involved and care for the world’s sick and injured animals. Chinese shelters are even blogging to spread the word about dogs in need of forever homes.

Perhaps there is hope for humanity after all when we come together in our love of animals to care for those in need. Perhaps, in the end, we will discover that the dog really is man’s BEST friend. One day we will discover that he has united the world cross-culturally into a single cohesive package.