Website updated: 02-11-13

Would you like to become a supporter?

Please call: (615) 732-3425

 Or: jenflattosborn@onthefifthday.org

UPDATE:

New Mailing Address

P.O. Box 493

Bacliff, TX 77518

Mission Statement:

To protect, nurture, love, and spay/neuter:

Unwanted, abused, injured, and/or homeless animals.

• To educate the public on animal matters, inhumane practices, and how to help.
• To promote harmony amongst people by working side by side for the animals’ sake; in particular, the Deaf and hearing cultures, and the chemically imbalanced population.
• To find companion animals hand-picked homes and to provide a safe haven for those we don’t.
• To return any animal to their natural habitat when possible. 

In short:  To love animals and bring people together in doing so.

HAVE YOU FOUND A STRAY ANIMAL?

Here are ten steps you can take to find him or her a permanent home:

Anyone trying to help an animal deserves assistance. Even if a rescue organization is full, voice mails stating that fact are missing the rare opportunity to educate you, the public, on steps to take to find an animal a permanent home.

These steps work. IF you work them:

1. FIRST and foremost, look for the guardian. You would want the same treatment if your animal was lost. Post flyers - picture and story - at vets’ offices, pet stores, and at groomers’ and trainers’ facilities. But always ask first. Remember, a flyer need only consist of a photo, the word “Found”, and your contact phone number. A flyer that’s too busy is often overlooked. Also, no identifying details are necessary. This is information you want to get from any individual who contacts you.
2. Tell everyone you know, including the mailman. Use your e-mail and Facebook. If you get interest, check out the home first before ever moving the animal. You are now the rescuer. And don’t forget – NO “Free to good home” statements. This is exactly where the bad guys, i.e., fight facilitators, sellers for lab research, look. Plus, by now you have hopefully had the animal spayed or neutered, and the vet has given him or her proper health care, including vaccinations. Every good animal guardian knows they would have had to do this so if it came out of your pocket, there’s your price.
3. Contact your local spay/neuter clinic or humane society. Often, they have the low-down on people who are looking for a companion animal and are waiting for just who you have found (or has found you!).
4. Post a picture with the story – not cutesy or blunt – at your veterinarian’s office, AND talk to your vet and the employees at the front desk. Sometimes people looking for a companion animal will leave their name and contact information at the front desk. These are just good people to know anyway.
5. Post onwww.petfinder.com  This organization is trustworthy, reliable, and hugely successful.
6. Contact specific breed rescue groups. If the dog is a Shepherd mix, search “German Shepherd rescue group.” Do your homework here. Just as in any vocation, there are good and not-so-good organizations. ASK QUESTIONS. Staff should be friendly and open to answering anything regarding the care and treatment of their animals. We don't want the rescued animal going from a bad situation/homeless to a cage for 21-hour days. Then, nothing has been accomplished. Sniff it out! 
7. If the animal is capable of becoming a working dog (or cat!), take a trip with him or her to several assisted living facilities. Our elders need companionship just like the animal does and sometimes, if permission is granted, the perfect pair is introduced.
8. Visitwww.bestfriends.org and first just look around. They have a department of people who will help you with your search. And they’re in Utah! Wonderful people, and what good works they have accomplished.
9. Do a second swoop of telling everyone you know via phone and E-mail. Situations change constantly and as time goes by, something may have opened up but the person thought it would be too late to contact you.
10. While you’re fostering the feline or canine, take good care to be loving, play with the animal, and teach/train/socialize them if possible since this ensures better options for a permanent home. So don’t sit on your laurels. Give a better-than-posted animal to the new human companion. Then, everyone is happy.  

While these are in no way everything you can do, it’s a start. And if you want to save an animal’s life, there is some work involved. But oh, the rewards.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: You are never under obligation to turn over an animal to anyone for whom you have reservations. It’s either a gut feeling or an unacceptable living environment or both. Don’t be embarrassed to say you don’t think this partnering will work, thank them, and walk away.

Thank you for saving the life of an animal!

Rescuing homeless and abused animals since 2003.