Welcome! Happy Tails Dog Rescue is a foster-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing, vetting, and rehoming dogs from kill shelters in Southern Florida. Please call to schedule an appointment to meet adoptable dogs!
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Video Clip: Inside Miami Dade Animal Services, one of the kill shelters Happy Tails rescues dogs from.
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Help Us Help Them
Stephanie Stanton, Co-founder: Rescuing Sophie from MDAS
"Hello and welcome to Happy Tails Dog Rescue. My passion for rescuing dogs from kill shelters started decades ago when we first rescued Sophie. See her story and the inspiration for our rescue below..." |
Saving Their Lives Is Everyone's ResponsibilityMost of the dogs we have rescued were saved out of Miami Dade Animal Services (MDAS) and Palm Beach Animal Control (PBAC); two of the largest kill shelters in South Florida. Once at these kill shelters, dogs have limited time (often just a few short weeks) before they are euthanized. In 2011, the euthanasia rate at MDAS was up around 36,000 dogs a year. Over the years, MDAS has worked hard to lower their euthanasia rates. Today, what was once estimated 150 animals euthanized per day is now down around 10 euthanized per day.
The unfortunate reality is that many of the dogs at these kill shelters get overlooked because they don't look desirable in the condition they are in at these shelters. For this reason, our intention is to rescue such dogs before they are euthanized and provide them with the necessary veterinary care, grooming, and love they need to be ready for adoption. We are a husband-and-wife team, together with an amazing network of volunteers and fosters, who rescue and rehome dogs in need. We believe that every dog deserves a loving home regardless of age, condition, or situation. Recently, Happy Tails has started a Rehoming Service to help families rehome their beloved pets when personal situations arise that make it challenging for them to continue caring for them. We believe by helping families rehome their dog(s) helps to prevent these dogs from ending up at these kill shelters. |
SOPHIE'S STORY: Inspiration for Happy Tails
Sophie "Before" at MDAS
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Sophie "After" at Home 1-Month Later
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The inspiration for Happy Tails Dog Rescue came to us after rescuing our dog, Sophie, from MDAS where she was just 24 hours from being euthanized (see the before photo above). At the shelter she was considered "undesirable" and was overlooked due to the fact she was an older dog in desperate need of grooming, costly dental work, and lots of care to heal from the traumas of being left abandoned on the streets. In as short as one month later, after being groomed, vetted, and loved, she blossomed into the most loving dog we have ever met; we called her our "angel dog" (see the after photo above). Sophie's story is a reminder to us that you can't judge a book by its cover. Sophie crossed the "rainbow bridge" in 2015; our hearts have been blessed with joy having had the opportunity to have her as part of our family.
| Just A Dog Poem |
Take a look at some more Happy "Tales"
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SPOTLIGHT : Karen Schwartzman, FosterHappy Tails recognizes Karen Schwartzman for her amazing service as a dog foster. She is truly one of a kind. Karen has fostered many of our dogs and is an example of the type of foster we look for. She is in one word a "superstar" when it comes to fostering. Karen even had a rescue dog she was fostering die in her arms due to a progressed heart murmur and she handled the situation with such grace and dignity it was beyond commendable. She fosters a lot of our special need rescues because she, and her pack of pups, know how to welcome and care for traumatized dogs coming out of these kill shelters. Karen recently fostered Freddy for us. We can't thank you enough for your amazing care and attention to detail when it comes to fostering. We love you!! And all the dogs you fostered in the past say "Thank you, ruff"!!!
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SPOTLIGHT: Lea Rifkin, FosterLea Rifkin was a first-time foster with Happy Tails Dog Rescue and volunteered to foster Bonita. Bonita, an adorable senior chihuahua, was on death row at PBAC where she had very little chance of being rescued or adopted. Lea was a very loving foster to this challenged Chi who had to undergo heartworm treatment and surgery on her injured femur. In addition to fostering, Lea also helped with sponsorship, fundraising, awareness building, and with many other rescue needs. Lea showered Bonita with love, new girly shirts, a healthy diet, and much more. Bonita also made friends with Lea's dog Bella, and the two of them enjoyed long naps in the sun together. What a life! Thank you, Lea, for your outstanding service.
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SPOTLIGHT: Maribel Hayden, FosterHappy Tails recognizes Maribel Hayden for her outstanding service as a volunteer Dog Foster. Maribel took on a special needs dog named Bailey who was on death row at MDAS. He had been hit by a car and was in need of rescue and immediate surgery. Maribel agreed to foster him, transported him to the vet office for surgery, and nursed him at home until he was adopted. She and her daughter made Bailey feel right at home by singing to him and caring for him throughout the night after his surgery. She was proactive and listened to instruction from both the rescue and the veterinarian. She implemented what needed to be done flawlessly, and we felt confident trusting Maribel with Bailey's post-surgical care. This allowed us to focus our attention on the next dog that needed rescue. Maribel represents the type of foster Happy Tails looks for, and we recognize her outstanding service. Thank you, Maribel!
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Promote the Cause Shop Happy Tails
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Lindsay Cruz, Happy Tails Contributor
High School Student Makes Candles to
Raise Money for Happy Tails
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Lindsay Cruz, of Delray Beach, Florida, is an inspiration to other young high school students. She discovered a way to combine her love of animals into a way to raise funds for Happy Tails Dog Rescue!
THIS IS HER STORY: "I was so inspired to donate the money I raised to Happy Tails Dog Rescue because I have an extreme love for animals, especially dogs. I had a cockapoo ever since I was in the first grade, and I can’t imagine my life without her. My dog means the world to me, and when I found out that other helpless dogs get horribly mistreated, I realized that I had to do something about it. I really became interested in helping dogs my freshman year of high school. When I began this project, I knew I wanted to donate the money to a dog shelter, but I wasn’t sure which one. After doing research I decided to go with Happy Tails Dog Rescue because I loved how it was a local foundation and was family built. I had a friend who often fostered dogs and I was always so interested in that as well. I think it’s so cool how there are so many people interested in finding families for these unfortunate dogs. In order to raise the money, I decided to make candles and sell them for a profit. The customers of my candles loved how I was donating the money to Happy Tails, and they adored that the rescue was locally run. From doing this project, I raised $120.00 in total and have donated all of it to Happy Tails Dog Rescue. Doing this project made me feel like I was really involved and helping the community. It is truly the best feeling in the world to know that the candles that I made helped save a dog’s life. I know dogs are really important to my family and I, and I hope everyone else can feel the same connection and inspire others to help save the dogs!" |
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