Brandon Twp.- The details vary, but the stories share common themes– animals that are sick, mistreated, abandoned, surrendered.
Nola is a Great Dane who was most likely tied to a tree or left in a pen. She was emaciated, had an upper respiratory infection and was full of ticks.
Willow is another Great Dane, 3-years-old, who has never had a collar or leash, never left the kitchen and before today, had never been to a vet. She was surrendered by her owner, too ill to care for her.
Lucius is a Beagle/Bassett mix and was going to be euthanized by the Humane Society because of his age (5).
Holmes is a red Doberman, who was hit by a car and surrendered by his owner.
Dawn Meimar saved these animals and is working to find them homes as she has done for many others over the past three years as co-founder of ResQ 4 Paws with Michelle Japenga.
‘We wanted to have another group to save animals that were going to be put to sleep,? Meimar says. ‘There wasn’t one in the Ortonville area. The more rescue groups out there, the more dogs that can be saved.?
Meimar gets calls from the Oakland County Animal Control when they are full (they can house 150 animals). She also gets dogs from other county animal control shelters and from the Michigan Humane Society. She traveled to Ohio to get Nola after being called by a Great Dane rescue group (and also picked up Sidney, a deaf Great Dane who has since been adopted).
‘It’s sad how many people can’t keep their pets or take care of them,? Meimar, 40, said. ‘It’s like a throwaway society.?
ResQ 4 Paws uses foster homes to give animals temporary homes and a local vet takes care of medical issues. The organization currently has five foster families and can always use more.
‘The more foster homes we have, the more animals we can save,? says Meimar, who usually fosters two or three dogs herself at a time. ‘Some people can take one or two, depending on their situation… We take the dogs in and treat them as part of the family.?
Potential adoptive families fill out an application and Res Q 4 Paws does a reference check. The organization also screens foster families. There are no on-site adoptions, instead ‘meet and greets? are arranged. Potential owners are educated on the characteristics of particular breeds and Meimar only allows dogs to be adopted by people who plan to have the dog live in the home with them and not keep the animal outside.
A $200 adoption fee covers basic medical needs, such as a spay or neuter and up-to-date shots. ResQ 4 Paws is a non-profit organization that accepts charitable donations.
‘We want to make sure we have the right home,? says Meimar, who explains that some dogs have special needs, such as a home without other animals or children. ‘A lot of the dogs come from very bad situations. They need a lot of reassurance.?
For more information on adopting or fostering a dog through ResQ 4 Paws, visit their website at www.resq4paws.org or call (248) 627-5504.
Cats and kittens available for adoption are at Edith’s Pets and Supplies,1605 S. Ortonville Road. Adoption fees vary. Call (248) 627-3205.