Famous Fido Rescue stands for an all-encompassing mission to protect all animals and the planet we share. We believe that the responsibility belongs to all of us and that the power is in our hands to make the change we want to see.
Currently, there are 75 mammal, 335 bird, 41 reptile, and 65 amphibian species at high risk of extinction, with fewer than a thousand of each species left. Scientists are arguing that our planet is on the verge of the 6th extinction which is an occurrence when species go extinct in mass numbers. It can be due to things such as natural disasters, disease, or depletion of resources. This time around, the blame is being put on human interference.
For a long time, humans have damaged the planet, and have been harming its inhabitants. Our goal at Famous Fido is to increase awareness surrounding such issues, and initiate conversation and thought-provoking action.
We believe that animals are a gift to the planet. They are one of a kind, each with unique personalities and a purpose, and there is no greater responsibility than ensuring each other’s future.
Here, we will bring you the latest and most important information and explore options for you to get involved in protecting and improving animal and environmental welfare.
Keeping Seniors Strong: Bear’s Story of Resilience
AN UPDATE FROM FAMOUS FIDO RESCUE
Historically, older dogs have always been at an increased risk for euthanasia in kill shelters, and especially more so when they demonstrate age-related ailments, such as arthritis. Bear is a 16-year-old rottweiler and for a long time he was completely unable to walk, with total paralysis in his back legs, weakening all his muscles. In a kill shelter, it is highly likely that Bear would have been at the very top of the euthanasia list.
Bear was surrendered to Famous Fido Rescue when his guardian passed away. A friend of the family who was helping clear away Bear’s human’s belongings sent us this photo of him sitting by the door of his person’s room, staring at the wall. While everyone was busy cleaning, no one stopped to think about the grief Bear was going through. He had been with his person his whole life and now, he had no one. None of the family members wanted Bear. At this point, Bear was 15 years old, and while he was still able to walk, his joint health was already deteriorating rapidly.
Soon after his surrender, Bear became completely unable to walk. He was diagnosed as paraplegic, and we were told many times that he would never be able to walk again on his own. Nevertheless, we persisted. We sought advice from many veterinarians, and were consistently told to have him euthanized, and direct funds towards helping younger, more adoptable animals. Thankfully, Bear had a big support base at Famous Fido Rescue, helping with every step of his rescue journey. Bear finally found a vet that was able to help him with integrative medicine, and he began with getting weekly acupuncture treatments, and started a regime of arthritis meds, vitamins, and physical therapy.
When Bear sat up on his own for the very first time, we realized the potential of his therapy plan. He began trying to move his back legs and trying to lift his body up. Little by little, Bear was making progress and proving his strength and resilience. There were a lot of hard days, where we were lifting Bear to make him stand to use the bathroom, and where we carried him outside to take in the sunshine. But all the while, he maintained his cheeky spirit, and was often playing with his toys, by throwing them up into their air, and trying to catch them with his mouth.
Today, at 16-years-old, Bear is now running up and down the halls of Famous Fido Rescue. For a dog that was lying down, feeling frustrated and wanting to move, and needing a harness wrapped around his belly to be lifted just to stand for a few short moments, to now be frolicking in the garden, and rushing towards us to lick our hands, and have a ball thrown for him, has reminded us of a very important lesson; to never give up .
If you have been inspired by Bear’s rescue journey, and would like to help, please consider becoming a member of our monthly donor club. His care is still quite extensive, and ongoing. He needs his acupuncture sessions, medicines, and Nzymes to keep him on track. No amount is too small, and every bit makes a difference. Sign up here: https://famousfidorescue.org/donate
Learn more about the efforts of Crate Free Illinois and their work to remove the use of gestation crates for pigs in retail supply chains.
Cats And Dogs Abandoned As Pandemic Causes Panic
While the coronavirus is spreading throughout the world and having a devastating impact for many humans, the effects seem to be also be affecting the voiceless members of people’s families, their companion animals. As the pandemic continues to affect people’s financial situation, more animals are becoming victim to being left behind as people are forced to vacate their apartments.
Our concern, as an animal rescue is for the consequences of this type of abandonment. Sadly, many people are also just setting their animals loose to the streets to struggle to survive as well.
How many will starve?
How many will freeze?
How many will become victim to the human dangers in the outside environment?
While the exact numbers may never be known, the cases that come to us will be.
PJ & Nutter Butter are two cats that came to Famous Fido Rescue after being found left behind in an empty apartment just before Christmas. While we understand that the pandemic has made things increasingly more difficult for families and individuals this year, leaving behind an animal, or in this case two should never be a solution that people fall back on.
For PJ & Nutter Butter, they were extremely lucky to be found by the building’s landlord, and brought to a safe situation, because there are so many animals that are not found in time and are forced to face a harsher fate.
As a community, we need to reach out to one another when we need support, to save animals from experiencing this traumatic and sadly often fatal situation.
One of the important things we are doing to support people and their animals in this pandemic is through Famous Fido’s Intervention Program.
