Bill Foundation Dog Rescue

Bill Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Dog Rescue that works as one with local shelters, rescuers, veterinarians and trainers to rescue dogs in dire situations and place them in forever homes. Bill Foundation relies solely on donations to continue and expand its work. Every dollar contributed brings us closer to the day when no dog is left behind. 100% of all contributions directly support the rescue, care & placement of our dogs. TAX ID# 95 - 4776266

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Saving Janie, The Tire Track Terrier

Saving Janie, The Tire Track Terrier

“How many rescuers does it take to save a dog?” You might think this is the beginning of bad rescue joke, but it’s actually the start to a beautiful story.

Janie was brought to the shelter as a stray on April 14th. She had been run over by a car and was seriously injured.  We know this because of the tire track that ran across her back. She was scared out of her mind, in agonizing pain and, understandably, wouldn’t let anyone near her. Shelter volunteers and workers jumped into action networking Janie, trying to get her out of the shelter and into a rescue where she could get more than basic medical care.

However, there were two major problems standing in the way of Saving Janie…

She had a registered microchip, which means by law, the owner has 10 days to “claim”  Janie before she could legally be rescued or adopted. The shelter went the extra mile not just trying to contact the owner by phone several times but also by sending their staff to the address registered to the chip. Nothing but dead ends, leaving Janie in limbo til the10 days were up.

Even pain medication did little to ease Janie's pain, which worsened without the private medical care she required. She became aggressive with anyone who tried to touch her or come near her. Again, understandable given the severity of her injuries, but making it all the more difficult to find someone willing to take a badly injured dog that has also been labeled as aggressive.

Jennifer Krause found out about Janie on April 16th  when she received an email plea through her rescue network. Jennifer decided to make it her mission to find a way to save Janie. Jennifer reached out, far and wide, to all of her rescue friends to see if by combining their efforts, they could get Janie out.

By the time I got the call on April 19th, Jennifer had a decent amount of money pledged in case Janie needed surgery, but she didn’t have a foster equipped to care for Janie. Knowing Janie would need cage rest and someone with the right experience dealing with scared dogs, and even aggressive dogs, this presented a big hurdle. Thirty minutes and 5 phone calls later, I had an amazing paid foster ready and willing to take care of Janie.

Eldad from Hope For Paws caught wind of what Jennifer was trying to do and he immediately offered to chip in towards any medical Janie might need.

I called Holly from United Hope For Animals to see if she had any insight on how to get Janie out right away and she too jumped into action. She agreed that United Hope For Animals would pull Janie under the Good Samaritan Law while continuing to look for her owner.

Early on the morning of April 20th, Holly and Jennifer met, for the first time, at the shelter and successfully rescued a terrified and broken Janie.

Janie was immediately brought to ASEC in West Los Angeles, where Dr. Balfour and his team took on the daunting task of assessing Janie’s injuries. Janie was so fearful of the world that she couldn’t see loving, healing hands in her doctors and nurses, and would not allow her medical team close to her. With a little luck and a lot of patience, the medical team was finally able to sedate Janie and run all the tests they needed.

Dr. Balfour discovered that Janie has a broken back. All her pain, and her fear, explained. Luckily for Janie, the fracture is of the 7th lumbar vertebrae, which can be fixed with surgery. Had it been much higher, she would have been paralyzed for life.

Janie was also having difficulty controlling her bowels, and while we were hopeful it’s not permanent, It was too early to tell if she has nerve damage and/or if they will get stronger once her back has properly healed.

So what do you do when you discover you rescued a dog with a broken back, who’s surgery would cost thousands more than have, and may require extensive rehab? You keep your promise. You say “yes” and proceed with surgery immediately. Then you look around at the incredible community you created and smile, knowing just how many people (most of whom have never met) already have come together in the name of Saving Janie. And then you say a prayer and hope that the beautiful spirit of community will continue to blossom as you ask others to join you…by donating towards the cost of Janie’s surgery and rehab.

So how many rescuers does it take to save a dog?

Zero. It takes a village.

Please watch the below video of Janie learning to trust a loving hand. This video, and the progress she made was possible because of the incredible community that stood together and did everything possible to heal her broken back and wounded spirit.

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Newest Rescues! May 2013

Newest Rescues! May 2013

The other afternoon, we received a plea with the photo on the left to rescue this poor matted mess of a pup someone found lost in their backyard. As soon as I saw the photo I wrote back, but unfortunately the dog had already been taken to the shelter and they didn't know the impound number. I forwarded the photo to our rescue network and it landed in the right hands early this am! So JaShin (who is part of the amazing Bill Foundation team) and I headed to the shelter right away. Carly, the name we have given this sweetie, welcomed us with kisses, tail wags and tons of snuggles.

I visited Carly today and she has a massive eye infection, skin infection and ear infection and will require a few weeks in the hospital. We still have some other tests pending, but she is getting the care she needs and will be back to her beautiful self in no time.

Below are photos showing Carly's transformation in just the past week and I can't wait to share what she looks like in just another week.

As we were leaving the shelter, yesterday, a volunteer grabbed me and showed me a tiny 10 month old chihuahua that was on her way to the euthanasia room... She's perfect, sweet and the only reason she was at risk is because of overcrowding and no money at the shelter. Such is the story of thousands of shelter dogs...

While we were only planning on rescuing one today... Well, I thought about what Jo would do (our founder) and knew she too wouldn't be able to say no to this little girl. I had them make a uturn away from euthanasia and instead headed towards spay/neuter.

This 2.8 lb baby girl is pint sized perfection has some serious skin issues and were are still awaiting lab results. Beyond that, she is wonderful and we're thrilled she was our bonus rescue for the day. We are still deciding on a name for her, but thus far we think Cosette or Arianna would be fitting for her. Right now, I'm just calling her "Little Nugget" :-)

Thanks for everyone's continued support and donations. It's because of you we can make one rescue turn into two!

xo

Annie

www.billfoundation.org

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Seven Years of Bill Foundation As My Family - Bonnie Raskin (Volunteer Coordinator)

Seven Years of Bill Foundation As Family -Bonnie Raskin (Volunteer Coordinator)

I found out about the Bill Foundation seven years ago. Their incredible people and dogs have kept me around ever since. 

My family wanted a friend for our street rescue dog, Jub-Jub. I had heard about the Bill Foundation through word of mouth, at our vet’s office and by the proprietor of a local pet food store—all glowing comments. One Sunday my husband and I went to a Bill Foundation adoption event and fell instantly in love with a pitt bull mix puppy named Milo. We completed the application, passed the home visit and Milo came to live with us. We worked with a trainer and did all the suggested steps we  to integrate Milo into our household, but after six months it became clear that Jub-Jub was not going to mix well with Milo, so with much sadness, tears and heartache we returned Milo to the Bill Foundation. Instead of a lecture on what horrible dog owners we were and reprimands tinged with guilt, Bill Foundation co-founder Jo Forman took Milo back with a hug—to both me and Milo- and told us that Milo would be fine and to please let her help us find a better doggy fit for our family. 

The happy ending is that Milo did find his forever home, as did I— at the Bill Foundation. I was so impressed with the handling of my “failure” and the great people who so eagerly and enthusiastically  gave up every other Sunday to volunteer at the Bill Foundation adoption events that I signed on as a volunteer  and have never left. My Bill Foundation dog, Lester, has been with us for five years.

The energy, integrity and delight our volunteers put into every adoption event and the other activities we do as the Bill Foundation contribute to make us an organization that succeeds. Of course we have wonderful dogs, but we have INCREDIBLE humans, too. Our volunteers, fosters and administrators are united in our mission to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home ALL of the dogs who become our charges. And this is for life.

Our dogs look forward to every other Sunday as a playdate when they can hang out with their canine pals. The atmosphere  at every adoption is positive, happy and, well,  tail wagging. People who visit us see firsthand that every Bill dog won the doggy lottery: they are out of the shelter system and will remain in loving foster care until we find their forever homes. As the volunteer coordinator, I love meeting people-- our volunteers and visitors-- as diverse as the dogs we rescue.

The Bill Foundation corps are united in our shared desire to help facilitate happy endings and new beginnings.  It is so much fun to be doggy matchmakers, because every adoption event is different, and so often people come to see one dog and fall madly, passionately in love with a completely different dog—who rescues who indeed!! These are matches made not in heaven but through the love, care and focus on the part of a team of people who are dedicated to each and every one of our Bill Foundation dogs and adopters.

As a full disclosure organization, we pride ourselves on being informed volunteers and work constantly to be educated and up to date on all matters concerning the care and wellbeing of our dogs. We also work with a vast network of specialists—veterinarians, trainers and shelter care professionals.

For our Executive Director, Annie Hart, and her outreach team, this is a 24/7 commitment. They set the standards for all of us. When you’re thinking about or are ready to adopt a new family member of the four-footed canine variety, please check out our awesome website and visit our adoption events. I promise you that the time spent with us will touch your heart and make you smile all over.  And like me, you may never leave.

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Bill Foundation's Annie Hart "Rescuing Dogs Rescued Me"

After an illness sabotaged my corporate career, I found my calling in rescuing dogs.

In the fall of 2010, I was working at a top advertising agency and had recently been appointed a director. I spent my days with true creative geniuses, and I was living the American dream. Only, I was miserable. I didn’t like the job, and I never saw my husband, James. No amount of money or recognition was making that better.

Then I started to get sick. It started with severe jaw and ear pain and a constant migraine, followed by insomnia, stomach issues, and full-body pain. I had some bizarre weight gain. My personality shifted and suddenly I was constantly angry and confused; I could not even remember what day it was.

I went on medical leave and endured six months of exhaustive diagnostics and 20 specialists before I got my diagnosis: I have fibromyalgia and a severe sleep disorder that causes me to wake up 27 times an HOUR. While there is no cure, both can be treated. 

I vividly recall sitting in my therapist's office, crying, “Why me?” In the middle of my pity party, my therapist stopped me and said, “You are not owed a perfect, healthy life. So stop thinking you’re special just because life has handed you some hurdles."

He went on to say that even though I had no energy, I needed to find something to do. He asked what I would do if money wasn’t an object, I was healthy, and I could just do what I loved. No one had ever asked me that before.

My husband and I talked a lot about this, and the single thing we kept coming back to was my love of dogs. Maybe I could help a rescue? Stephanie, a friend and vet tech, introduced me to Jo Forman, the founder of Bill Foundation, which resuces dogs and places them in adoptive families.

When I first met Jo, I felt like I had known her forever. She needed a lot of help at the shelter. I began by meeting with her twice a week for two hours at a time, but that was all I could handle. Going to a shelter was just too much for me.

This is when I met a dog named Ralph. Eldad Hagar (of Hope for Paws), an animal rescuer who is well known for his rescue videos and his gentle way of capturing dogs, rescued the very scared and aggressive street dog.

I watched the video of Ralph’s rescue probably 20 times that first night. I wanted to help and be a part of Ralph’s story.

I spent time with Ralph where he was boarding and he behaved like a complete gentleman, but when I turned my back to leave, he panicked. He bit my calf, latched hard on, and would not let go.

For about 10 seconds, I was frozen while someone tried to get him off me. I was left with a deep wound, but what surprised me was that I was not mad. I felt sad for Ralph and what he must have been through to be so scared about people leaving him. Even though he fought like crazy against being saved, he was blessed to have some wonderful people around him now.

I felt a deep connection to Ralph and knew that I was also blessed to have people in my life who didn't give up on me at my sickest point and truly saved me. Instantly I knew that this was what I was meant to do with my life: To help dogs like Ralph get the second chance they so richly deserved.

I suddenly found myself begging to go to the shelter with Jo, and though it was hard, the satisfaction of saving an innocent soul made the hardship worth it.

In July, I received a plea to rescue a Shih Tzu and her four-day-old puppies from the shelter. She was severely matted and struggled to nurse her babies. I called Eldad and asked for his help making a video of the rescue in an attempt to raise money for Bill Foundation. His advice was to grab my camera and just start shooting. So I did, and the video went viral and has been viewed more than two million times worldwide.

In September I gladly accepted the full-time position of executive director for Bill Foundation. It has been quite a ride, and I know the journey is just beginning. I still have fibromyalgia and a severe sleep disorder and must tread carefully with how much I work. I have some bad days when getting out of bed is not an option, but I also have really good days -- and knowing that I have countless dogs depending on me means I am forced to take care of myself.

In my heart of hearts, I know that getting sick was a blessing. It guided me in my search for happiness and, ultimately, my calling. When money (in rescue there is none) and recognition (in life, I prefer none) is not a motivation, you get the chance to seek out your mission in life. Not all are moved to do so, but with the support of my amazing husband, I went searching.

Bill Foundation has given me a second chance at life, and rescuing dogs has filled the void in my heart. I am forever changed. While many people say I am a rescuer of dogs, the truth is that dogs rescued me.