By Cathy Baier
Safety Net: Something that provides security against misfortune or difficulty. Raffy’s story is all about safety nets!
When Raffy’s owner was injured and temporarily unable to care for Raffy, she reached out to us for help. Our Safe Haven program provides a safety net for those in our community who find themselves in a short-term but unavoidable situation during which they need temporary help caring for their animal. The goal of Safe Haven is to prevent people from having to give up their animals, and it has saved many animals from losing their homes. Typically, the length of stay for animals in the program is a week or two. Unfortunately for Raffy, her person found herself in a situation that became more permanent. She ultimately had to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender Raffy, who had been her best friend for 11 years!
We did our best to reassure her that Raffy would be cared for until a good home was found. However, senior animals typically don’t fly out the door with adopters. And even at its best as a safety net, a shelter environment is tough on animals. For an older and more sensitive dog like Raffy, it can be even harder. Therefore, we searched for another kind of safety net—a foster home—to prevent Raffy from experiencing an extended stay in a kennel. A dog-oriented couple, who had adopted from us before, stepped up and offered their home to Raffy. Raffy had the companionship of another compatible dog and two very generous people, but she still needed her own home.
Weeks before we started the search for Raffy’s permanent home, we had introduced a dog to a lovely couple looking for a second dog after one of theirs passed. We were impressed by Carol’s and Jerry’s kindness and good dog-sense; we had our fingers crossed they would adopt. When they decided the dog was bigger than they had in mind, we were disappointed but understood. Yet, we didn’t forget them.
So when Raffy, a smaller dog, was ready for a home, we thought of them and hoped for a permanent safety net. It turned out that not only were Carol and Jerry missing the dog they lost, but their senior dog Recon was missing his friend as well. When we called about Raffy, there was immediate interest. They met Raffy at her foster home and fell in love. To help ease the transition and ensure the initial introduction between the dogs went well, safety net Sara Houben, our volunteer and dog trainer, offered to be present when Raffy first arrived at her new home. All went well. In no time, Raffy, who landed gently in her permanent safety net, became part of a new family. Since Raffy’s adoption, we have received reports from friends in their neighborhood about how well-loved and well-behaved these two dogs are. Recon, who would often tremble when left alone, now remains comfortable and relaxed, knowing Raffy (now known as Taffy) is close by.
We have remained in touch with Raffy’s original owner, who followed her friend’s journey from one safe place to another. Knowing her much-loved companion is now happy provides some peace of mind.
This story reveals how our wonderful community is full of safety nets for animals. Our shelter is a safety net for animals of all kinds, but it’s only possible because the community serves as a safety net in so many ways for the shelter. We are grateful to everyone who allows us, through all types of community support, to give animals like Raffy the stepping stones needed to settle into a wonderful life!
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