Most of you assume that dogs that get seized by law enforcement due to animal cruelty charges have a soft place to land and a brighter future. Unfortunately that isn't the case for most of these victims. Once the dogs are seized they go to a holding facility where they receive veterinary care, food and water. It's typically a better situation than where they were seized from but far from being a loved and cherished family dog.
The dogs stay at the facility as long as the court case is active because they're considered evidence in the trial. This can take months if not years and to say that it's a hard stay for these survivors is an understatement.
Once the trial is wrapped up and the dogs get released they have a very limited time to find placement with a rescue. Many of these facilities aren't open to the public and don't have a staff member dedicated to coordinating placement so the dogs have a zero chance of finding their happily ever after.
Where BTFI comes in is two-fold: First we provide the dogs waiting in the facilities with enrichment items to make their stay more enjoyable. Enrichment toys, such as Kongs, not only give the pups a way to pass the time but also reduces kennel stress. Second, once the dogs have been released a certified canine behavioral consultant evaluates each one and determines if they're adoptable. The dogs that are deemed adoptable are then networked to responsible shelters and rescues all over the US and then transported. The rescues then work on finding forever homes for these deserving survivors.
A big portion of our funds goes towards temporary boarding if rescue placements aren't found before a dog's time is up. Our second biggest expense is the cost associated with transporting dogs all over the US. We celebrate any and all donations and of course can always use more volunteers to help!
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