Community

Rescue organization gives dog lovers something to CHEW on

A group of women came together some 15 years ago to advocate for creation of a new dog park. Their efforts paid off in 2012, with Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District’s Rotary Bark Park.

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They decided they weren’t done with making good things happen for their best friends. So they created Canine Health, Education and Welfare that same year, and the dog rescue organization now helps find homes for about 100 puppies annually.

Some struggle to find their place.

Take Archie, for instance. He came to the rescue with a sibling, who was soon adopted. But Archie’s foster soon realized something was amiss. After a vet visit, they learned that Archie is blind. He can see dark shapes out of one eye, but needs a special forever home.

Archie came to CHEW Dog Rescue with a sibling who was soon adopted. But Archie is blind and still waiting for the perfect forever home. Photo by Gloria Stewart

And Marnie came in pregnant. She needed a foster who could not only care for her, but give her puppies a chance as well.

Fostering friendships

Mostly retired, the women of CHEW rescue and foster dogs in need of new owners. Volunteer fosters focus on the specific needs of each dog, whether it is a stray, dumped or surrendered; in good health with good house manners; or ill and in need of training. The goal is to get them adopted into the best home for the dog.

CHEW President Gloria Stewart started out as a foster in 2013, shortly after she retired.

“I happened to meet the current founding member of CHEW and she asked what I was doing,” Stewart said. “When I said I was retired, she said ‘Great, we’ll get you a dog on Friday.”

Marnie was pregnant when she arrived at her CHEW volunteer foster’s home. She is waiting for adoption, as is one of her puppies, Mariah. Photo by Gloria Stewart

For a while, CHEW often rescued dogs from kill shelters in California, Stewart  said. Now they take in many from Yakima.

“It’s a dumping ground for backyard breeders,” she said. “We have rescue partners over there, and if they see a dog for a week, they set out to capture it. If we can get them on this side of the mountain, we can get them adopted.”

Unfortunately, large dogs are not in demand, so CHEW has stopped taking in larger breeds, she said. They focus on dogs that are 30 pounds and under.

“One of our rescue partners will text us with pictures of the dog, and we set out to find a foster available to take it,” Stewart said.

It’s all about the dogs

Veterinary visits are CHEW’s largest expense, she said, at about $80,000 annually. Donations from community members help with the food, equipment and toys.

Once a foster learns a dog’s personality and needs, they begin getting it ready to adopt. Each dog is matched with the best home. That doesn’t always mean a person or family will get a particular dog they requested. CHEW’s motto is: It’s about the dogs.

That means that an individual may not be the right fit for one dog, but could be perfect for another one, Stewart said.

Mariah was lucky. She was born after her CHEW rescued her mom, Marnie. She’s still waiting for the perfect home. Photo by Gloria Stewart

In fact, volunteer Barbara Azinger, who fosters dogs while they prepare for adoption, has had to deliver that tough news to a potential adopter. She said it is always difficult for people who have their hearts set on a certain dog. But volunteers at CHEW work hard to ensure that the dogs will have a forever home, she said. And there are plenty of dogs coming in all the time.

“We look for somebody who is for the dog,” Azinger said. “We see their personality, and right now I have a blind dog and we are looking for someone who will do agility and take him and work with him as a blind dog. He’s very smart, and he’s only 1 1/2 years old. He loves to play with his toys, but I have to bang his rope on the floor, and then he’ll come to it. He can’t see it. So there’s more to helping him do things.”

CHEW needs more fosters

CHEW always needs more fosters. Mary Beth Hines said the more fosters they get, the more dogs CHEW can rescue.  She has been fostering for seven years and helps transport the dogs from rescue to foster care.

“I tell people all the time, ‘I know you would love this dog, but this dog needs something that you can’t provide,’ so we are always thinking of the dog. We are really picky, but it’s really rewarding because we have great stories of great dogs going to great homes.”

CHEW will host a meet and greet on from noon to 2 p.m. March 28 at Wilco, 3408 Hunt St., and another from noon to 2 p.m. April 14 at Mud Bay, 4816 Point Fosdick Dr.

To sign up to become a foster, or to apply to adopt a dog, visit chewdogrescue.org