#GivingTuesday is here!

#GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Each year, 3-4 million dogs are euthanized in shelters across the United States. Or goal at City Dogs Rescue is to lower that rate, even if it’s by a few hundred dogs a year. Since our inception in September 2011, we have saved and adopted out over 1,000 dogs. This is a huge feat because we are a volunteer-led organization that relies on fosters to house our dogs until they are adopted. So many people open their homes to these dogs, often giving them their first taste of love and security. We could not do all of this without the financial assistance of our generous donors.

Most dogs that CDR rescues costs the organization an excess of $600 from shelter to DC. These costs include basic vetting, vaccines, bloodwork, and spay/neuter.  What you may not realize is that a portion of our dogs need treatment above and beyond basic vetting. Some come to us with tumors or cancer, some are pregnant, some contract parvovirus or distemper, some need amputations, therapy, or extensive dental work. Once these dogs are City Dogs, the rescue does its best to treat them and many times the costs are astronomical.

Over 30% of our dogs come to us testing positive for heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs that is caused by worms that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. This causes severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.  A simple monthly pill can prevent this disease, but many of our dogs were not taken care of properly in their previous lives.  CDR has a program with the Humane Society of Charles County that allows us to treat these dogs at a reasonable cost.  We have made the commitment to get all our dogs, whether current fosters or alumni, the care and treatment they need and deserve, so they can live happy and healthy lives.

Many dogs are dropped off at the shelter for not being puppies anymore. Some older dogs are traded in for younger versions. When dogs get older and have housetraining accidents or need medicine or just can’t play or get around like they used to, they are dropped off at the kill shelter. CDR has a made a commitment to rescue a number of senior dogs each year. Sometimes they take a little longer to place and need more medical attention than the younger dogs, but we always find them the right home to live out their remaining years knowing love and kindness.

In order to continue to rescue dogs and get them the care they need, CDR needs your help. Our goal today is to raise $5,000. Won’t you help us help these dogs? Give today on Giving Tuesday.

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