News
From Wrestler to Rescuer, This Vermonter Loves Animals
January 24, 2008, 4:34PM MT
By Sheryl Rapee-Adams
Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue Ambassador Spotlight: Taking a Fighting Chance in Huntington, Vermont
Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue Ambassador Spotlight: Taking a Fighting Chance in Huntington, Vermont
According to Mark Twain, "If you pick up a starving animal and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." Lisa Haynes, founder of Save Our Strays (SOS) in Huntington, Vt., liked Twain's saying so much that she adopted it as the motto for her rescue organization.
A former professional wrestler known as "The Adjuster," Haynes' life changed when she spotted a stray dog on the way to a wrestling match in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The unsightly German Shepherd Dog had lost much of his coat and carried a scant 40 pounds on his large frame. Though she had three rescue dogs of her own at home, Haynes stopped and coaxed the dog into her car.
Later, she called dozens of animal welfare agencies, yet no one offered to help. She took "Shep" to her veterinarian who determined the scrappy dog was malnourished and ridden with fleas, tapeworms, and sarcoptic mange. The veterinarian recommended euthanasia, but Haynes couldn't let Shep go without a fight. She took the dog home, giving him home-cooked food, flea dips, and medication. Eventually, Haynes brought the dog back to health and found him a permanent home.
"It was truly a rags-to-riches story," Haynes says of the dog now named "Alf." The experience motivated Haynes and her husband, Roy, to move from Florida to rural Vermont and start a rescue operation so they could provide care to homeless animals.
Providing a Safe Haven
Haynes founded SOS in 1996 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) operation. Along with her husband and several volunteers, Haynes rescues both dogs and cats. The organization takes animals from shelters as well as pets that owners surrender. Veterinary care is provided and animals stay at the Hayneses' house until the right adopter is found.
Despite other commitments such as volunteering at the local Agency for the Aging, Haynes' main focus is the shelter. Her husband is self-employed. "We need a flexible schedule to keep up with the animals' needs," Haynes says.
Roy Haynes with Lucky, the three legged dog. Lucky was sitting in a shelter with a bad leg injury, waiting for someone to step forward to assist. Lucky's injury required leg amputation. Photo by Ron Mercer
Funded strictly from donations, SOS depends on contributions from local businesses and adopters. The Hayneses make up the difference if SOS runs short on funds. Contributions come in from fundraisers and people who receive SOS's free quarterly newsletter, The Pet Gazette. Adoption events at pet stores also spur donations.
Fundraisers help to encourage adoptions. Additionally, SOS promotes animals available for adoption through a "Pet of the Week" feature on local TV station WCAX. Available dogs and cats are posted on both the station's Web site and the SOS Web site. "Those outlets have been great advertisement for us," Haynes says.
Since its beginning, SOS has saved nearly 2,000 animals, rescuing about 125 dogs and cats a year. The SOS animal shelter sits on one and a half acres at the Hayneses' house. The dogs are housedogs, although kennels and crates can be found indoors and outdoors. A fenced backyard is divided into sections enabling dogs to be grouped according to size for exercise. A 16-by-30-foot addition with a screened outdoor area and access to the indoors was build onto the garage for the cats.
Lisa in the cat room with some good friends. Photo by Ron Mercer
"We want the animals to live as they would with a family and to become socialized if they are not already," Haynes says. "Then we are better able to assess their personalities." Animals are matched iwth adopters according to their energy levels and health needs.
SOS screens potential adopters through background checks and veterinary references. The organization finds out if adopters have spayed and neutered their pets in the past and live in a pet-friendly home.
No matter the distance, SOS refuses to ship animals. "Everyone has to actually come and visit the dog or cat they are interested in," Haynes says. "Plus, we require our animals to meet all family members or other animals in the household before an adoption can take place."
A pack of St. Bernards awaiting adoption enjoy Lisa's company. Photo by Ron Mercer
A Woman on a Mission
Haynes is always seeking opportunities to rescue animals and find homes for them, which prompted her to apply to become a Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue Ambassador. "I thought the Rally to Rescue program would be a good way to draw attention to our cause," she says. "The Rally to Rescue tent and the collar and wristband sets that came in the event kit have helped to get more people interested. They have been a valuable asset to a small group like ours."
Haynes' goal is not only to find homes for rescued animals but also to show people the importance of caring for animals. An orange longhaired cat named "Mo" was the is a good example of the need for animal education. A stray living at a local culinary school, Mo was the victim of animal abuse when students poured scalding molasses on his back and down his throat. It took five grueling months before Haynes nursed Mo back to health.
"Through all of his pain, Mo was still patient and kind," Haynes says.
However, when people came to adopt Moe, he would run and hide. When Haynes decided that Mo should live permanently at her home, he lost his fear of visitors and became the "resident cat director." Mo, who recently died at age 12 of congestive heart failure, would greet visitors at the door and help new arrivals adapt, playing with them until they got used to him and other animals.
Among her goals, Haynes aims to educate Vermont residents about the importance of spaying and neutering pets. She works to promote the Vermont Spay-Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP), a state service that provides $10 spays or neuters for low-income residents. "Many people have the misconception that animals should have their first litter before doing so," she says.
In recognition of her work in pet rescue, particularly to educate the public about responsible pet care, the United Way of Chittenden County (Vermont) honored Haynes last spring with hits Hometown Hero Volunteer of the Month Award.
"We get so much back from the animals, Haynes says. "They appreciate what we do for them. It's so great to see how happy they become and how much they can change with just a little help."
How You Can Help
To learn more about SOS, please click here to visit their Website. You may also call (802) 434-5076 or send an email to lovethosepets@aol.com for information.
Posted by Sheryl Rapee-Adams, Best Friends Network
Story used with permission from Rally to Rescue, Nestle Purina PetCare Company
Photos by Ron Mercer courtesy of SOS