4Knines Blog Home Page
February 2022 Charity Spotlight: Paws and Stripes
February 2022 Charity Spotlight: Paws and Stripes Helping dogs, helping heroes. The mission of Paws and Stripes is to provide animal assisted therapy to military veterans with PTSD, MST, and TBI using rescue dogs; saving lives, two at a time. Their vision is to see veterans and their dogs living without isolation. Paws and Stripes was founded in Rio Rancho, NM in 2010. Lindsey Kay was motivated by her passion for dogs and the love of her country and those who have sacrificed so much to protect it. A family member of Lindsey’s suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury researched multiple organizations but was unable to pay for service dogs due to the high cost. Lindsey decided to start an organization dedicated to providing service dogs at no cost to veterans in order to fill this critical unmet need for veterans. In 2010, Paws and Stripes graduated with their first team, Jim and Sarge. In 2012, Paws and Stripes first officially integrated a mental health component to our training programs. The Paws and Stripes team provides equal access to all qualified veteran applicants through a variety of services and support programs. The Companion Animal Program is for individuals who are looking for a well-trained pet, as well as access to other resources. The Service Dog Program is for individuals who need support regarding their disability on a day-to-day basis. The Pawsitive life group is a veteran support group for survivors of suicide and suicide loss. Since inception almost 10 years ago, Paws and Stripes has served veterans, rescued and rehabilitated shelter dogs as service dogs, and refined their mental health programming offering bond-based training to veterans for free. Their program has drawn veterans from New Mexico and around the country. Unfortunately, the cost of service dogs for veterans is not typically covered by insurance companies. Privately, the cost of a dog and its training ranges from $10,000 to $60,000. Paws and Stripes provides these services for free, at no cost to the veteran to enroll. Please join 4Knines in supporting the mission and vision of Paws and Stripes. There are SO many ways to help including making a financial contribution, celebrating the life of a beloved person or pet with a memorial gift, donating your time and skills, or shopping the Paws and Stripes online store.
Learn more
January 2022 Charity Spotlight: H & P Animal Alliance
January 2022 Charity Spotlight At the end of every month, we donate a percentage of every sale to an animal advocacy group. This month, we chose to donate to H & P Animal Alliance! This month’s 4Knines spotlight charity is H & P Animal Alliance, a foster-based nonprofit working to better the lives of animals through education and action. H & P Animal Alliance works alongside other rescues to pull dogs from overcrowded shelters in south Arkansas, giving them another chance at life by finding the loving homes they deserve. H & P Animal Alliance also transports shelter dogs to their northern rescue partners where they are matched up with forever homes. Volunteers recently completed their first big transport in their new van, saving 44 pups from Ouachita and Columbia County shelters! The dogs on this transport had been in shelters or pounds for months - some for years. H & P Animal Alliance is a small organization that operates with the help of caring volunteers and foster homes. They rely solely on donations to help with vet bills and transportation costs. The adoption process includes an application, home check, vet check, and reference check, and their adoptable dogs are completely vetted, including being spayed/neutered and microchipped. Through their low cost spay and neuter program, SNIP (Spay and Neuter Initiative Program), H & P Animal Alliance has helped over 1000 families in their community with the cost of this important procedure. They also bring a low cost clinic to their area and supplement costs - helping even more people and pets! To raise funds for their mission, H & P Animal Alliance is offering Valentine’s Day Puppy Grams on February 13th and 14th. For a donation of $25, special Valentines in the local area will receive a small bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, and ten minutes of snuggles from an adorable foster pup. 4Knines is proud to support a variety of animal advocacy groups through our monthly spotlights. We hope you will consider joining 4Knines in supporting H & P Animal Alliance with a donation or through volunteer service. Donations can be made on the H & P Animal Alliance Facebook page via PayPal or credit card.
Learn more
December 2021 Charity Spotlight: Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue
December 2021 Charity Spotlight At the end of every month, we donate a percentage of every sale to an animal advocacy group. This month, we chose to donate to Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue! Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue’s mission is dedicated to the rescue of homeless, abandoned, abused, unwanted, and neglected German Shepherd dogs and puppies. They work to rehabilitate each dog physically, medically, and emotionally with the goal of placing them in appropriate homes where they can thrive as loving and loyal companions, typical of this noble breed. Michelle Delaney combined her lifelong passion for dogs and a 28-year career as a firefighter/EMT into a successful dog training business endeavor. With her public servant’s heart and her expertise as a professional dog trainer, Michelle founded Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue in 2015. A devoted advocate for animal welfare, Michelle dedicates her personal time and resources to address behavioral and malnutrition issues while also helping to rehabilitate dogs so they may be adopted into new fur-ever homes. Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue serves as a no-kill shelter for at-risk German Shepherd dogs and puppies. In addition, Michelle and her team of volunteers educate the community regarding the importance of spay and neuter, vaccines, nutrition, and the importance of training. Most dogs enter the rescue through shelter transfers when foster homes are available. Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue has rescued and placed dogs from as far away as Puerto Rico. They are able to do this with the help of organizations like Pilots N Paws using a "multi-leg" system. The trip is sectioned off into "legs" with approved transporters volunteering for each leg. One trip from El Paso, TX to Naples, FL involved 23 legs! Volunteers are the heart and soul of most non-profits, and Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue is no different. The rescue relies on foster families and other volunteers with a variety of skill sets to ensure successful placements of German Shepherds in suitable homes. Pictured: Chloe, the first dog rescued by Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue If you are looking for a way to help homeless dogs, please consider reaching out to Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue. When you save the life of the dog you foster, you are also saving the life of the dog whose spot opened up when you took in your foster. If fostering is not possible, there are many other ways to help including dog transport, adoption events, administrative assistance, dog walkers, and more. Through our monthly spotlight articles, 4Knines strives to shine a light on nonprofits doing incredible work in their communities. We hope you will join us in contributing to the efforts of Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue.
Learn more
November 2021 Charity Spotlight: Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary
November 2021 Charity Spotlight At the end of every month, we donate a percentage of every sale to an animal advocacy group. This month, we chose to donate to Rusty's Angels Sanctuary! This month’s 4Knines spotlight charity, Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary, was recommended by a loyal 4Knines customer. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for senior canines. Through rescue, foster, adoption, education and hospice, volunteers create secure nurturing homes for these worthy seniors to live out their twilight years. The purpose of Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary is to ensure senior canines and dogs with special needs receive the love and respect they deserve until the very end. Most of the sanctuary’s rescues come to them because their owner has passed away or has moved into a nursing home situation. As long as the dog is healthy enough to handle a transition into a new home, the sanctuary does their best to find the perfect forever home. If the dog is not healthy enough, they live out whatever time they have left at the sanctuary. Rusty was Emilee Spear’s first rescue. She adopted him at the age of “ancient,” when he was pulled from the euthanasia list at the local county pound. He was skin and bones, deaf, going blind, had a mouth full of rotten teeth, and was lost and scared. She fostered him for a while before adopting him because she knew no one else would. Rusty taught Emilee that animals don’t deserve to die alone after loving us for all their lives. Rusty is the reason Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary exists. Emilee and her team are dedicated to giving senior dogs the ending they have earned. “I remember what an amazing ‘mess’ Rusty was, and how much he loved me because I saved him when no one else would,” Emilee explains. “And I promised him that I would continue to help those just like him live out their twilight years knowing that same feeling.” The sanctuary also features a farm and a resale boutique. The Farm of Hope was started when two domesticated ducks were dumped in a neighborhood park. The sanctuary rescued the ducks and named them Ross and Rachel. Four ducks, 15 chickens, four goats, two burros and a horse now call the farm home. Rusty’s Resale Boutique helps to raise money for the sanctuary. All revenue from the boutique will go right back into the care of their senior dogs. Located in Anthem, AZ, the boutique is currently accepting new and gently used item donations. 4Knines is proud to support Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary, and we hope you will consider helping Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary fulfill their mission of filling the last days of senior dogs’ lives with love.
Learn more
October 2021 Charity Spotlight: Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue
October 2021 Charity Spotlight At the end of every month, we donate a percentage of every sale to an animal advocacy group. Since October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we had our fans and followers nominate their favorite shelters. The shelter that was chosen is Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue! Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue is a network of foster homes and caring volunteers dedicated to helping rescue Bernese Mountain Dogs and BMD mixes and placing them in permanent homes. They help provide a safe harbor for Bernese Mountain Dogs that might otherwise be destroyed or abandoned. The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Switzerland, in the city of Berne, for which it is named. Originally a farm dog, they were used as a guardian for livestock and as a carting dog. “Berners” are sweet, affectionate, and calm, and have an easygoing nature. They are intelligent, loyal, and devoted to their family. In the words of Barbara McCabe, who adopted from the rescue and nominated this month’s spotlight: “Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue has gone above and beyond to rescue many Bernese Mountain Dogs around the country. They take in strays, puppy mill dogs, re-homes, sick and injured dogs, and even dogs with behavioral issues. Their donations solely come from the community and in times of need, they rally for help. My adoption story began in November of 2020. I was the owner of a beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog named Bailey, who sadly passed away from bone cancer in her leg. My husband and I did everything we could to beat the dreaded disease and went as far as having her leg amputated and getting her chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately all of our efforts failed and she passed away. Our hearts were shattered and while I was not ready to get another right away, I channeled my loss into helping the Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue in any way I could. One day, I noticed they had posted a beautiful petite female puppy mill rescue who, oddly enough, had a rear leg amputation just like my previous girl. What were the odds? It felt like fate had put her in our path. I inquired about her journey to rescue and my heart just sank. I knew right away that we needed to adopt her. It’s been almost a year since we adopted Autumn, and she has been nothing but an amazing beautiful part of our family. Her disability of having three legs does not slow her down one bit. She is happy, thriving and is loved to the moon and back. My husband and I are so grateful to be her Pawrents and do our best to help the rescue when needed.” Pictured: Barbara's Berner, Autumn 4Knines is happy to help nonprofits make a difference. We hope you will consider supporting the mission of Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue by making a donation. A donation in any amount helps keep these dogs in a safe environment until they can be re-homed or adopted.
Learn more
