by Lee Juslin

As a child, Erica Cerny and her father began an informal pet rescue. When Erica would find a lost dog or cat, she would bring it home and her father would work to reunite the pet with its owners. With that beginning, it’s no wonder that as an adult, Erica turned to volunteering in pet shelters.

From an early age, Erica loved dogs and even cats, but her love and dedication to Scottish terriers came from an accidental happening at work when her manager asked her to adopt a Scottie needing to be rehomed. Originally, she took the Scottie with the idea of finding a good home for it, but, although Erica had never even seen a Scottie before, it didn’t take long for Erica to become a foster failure.

Erica then took in a second Scottie to keep the first one company. When her first Scottie became ill and, Erica could no longer help him, she decided to broaden her efforts to Scottie rescue. Already a member of Scottish Terrier Club of Greater NY and a member of the board, she took over the club’s rescue arm from the previous head who had health problems and could no longer run the rescue.

From the start, Erica wanted to strengthen and expand the rescue. She intended to design the rescue to concentrate on the needs of the dogs she rescued in terms of vet care and grooming. She wanted it to be more than simply adopting out the rescued dogs.

Erica first reached out to area shelters to introduce herself, and encouraged them to reach out to her when they took in Scotties or related breeds like Westies and Cairns. She also contacted related rescues like Westie and Cairn rescues and asked them to call her in regard to Scotties needing rescues. In turn, when she heard of a Westie or Cairn needing rescue, she would contact them. She also bolstered the club’s Facebook page and postings in Petfinder. She created Ye Olde STGNY rescue shop on line to sell donated rescue items. In short, she established a cooperative rescue network and more fundraising efforts.

Erica established the rescue as a 501 (c)(3) charity, which she felt was important. It meant that donations were tax deductible. Fundraising is extremely important for rescues. Erica estimates they spend 60,000 dollars a year. Since STCGNY rescue is all volunteer, like most 501(c)(3) breed rescues, all the money raised goes to helping the rescued dogs and now, given the tax deduction, it is easier to donate.
Erica had to have a strong group of helpers across the country for the rescue’s expanded activities.

Currently, she has a team that does fostering and a team for fundraising. She also has help in transport and pulling Scotties from shelters. Most of her helpers are people who have adopted Scotties through the rescue. However, Erica oversees every part of the rescue.

Like most other charitable rescues, it is a huge personal commitment and a 24/7 job. From early morning until late at night, Erica is on the phone answering questions from potential adopters to shelters to folks from her team. Some days, she is on the road to place or pick up a dog. The rescue covers New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Many potential adopters don’t understand the amount of work rescue requires. People often complain when their calls are not immediately answered or their attempts to adopt don’t happen right away. However, for rescue it is all about the dog and finding the right forever home.

Erica says that rescuing dogs in need and seeing them through the process of finding a forever home is very rewarding. However, she says there is a dark side that outsiders don’t see. That is when everything possible is done for a dog that comes in with health issues, yet the dog dies. Sometimes this is because the owner ignored their dog’s situation and simply didn’t seek help in time. Whatever the cause, this is heartbreaking for the volunteers in rescue and not something they ever become inured to. Rescue never stops trying to help these dogs and, if the illness is incurable, they are kept in rescue to live out their final years in comfort and love.

If you love dogs, you couldn’t find a better way of helping dogs in need than supporting a breed rescue. These all volunteer groups need volunteers and fosters and, of course, financial donations are always welcome.

You can learn more about Scottie rescue, volunteer, apply to adopt a rescue, or make a tax-deductible financial donation by clicking one of the links below. If you want to volunteer, you can become a foster parent or help with transporting.

REMEMBER: PUPPY MILLS ARE NOT THE PLACE TO GET A SCOTTIE OR ANY PET.

Visit the Greater NY/NJ Scottie Rescue on their Facebook page or their website:
Website: stcgny.com/rescue
FB: NY/NJ Scottie Rescue

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories. You can also keep up with our pet articles by joining our KRL Facebook group.

Want to know how to see your ad like this at the end of an article? Email KRL at kingsriverlife@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] for more info. 10% of all ad sales goes to animal rescue.

Lee Juslin is a freelance copywriter living In North Carolina with her husband Scott and four rescued cats. She has an embroidery business, I B Dog Gone, and sells on Ebay under the I.D. Collectorfrosty. She supports several national, regional, and international breed rescues.