by Debbie Crisp

Labrador Retriever Rescue of Fresno shares with us every other month about their rescue dogs.

First, we at the Labrador Retriever Rescue of Fresno wish to give a great big thank you to all of our wonderful supporters! November 3, 2024, was our 14th anniversary as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since we began, we have rescued close to 3,000 dogs from neglect, abuse, and abandonment! This would not be possible without our dedicated donors, fosters, adopters, and volunteers. To date in 2024, we took in 187 dogs, and we finalized 192 adoptions!

Currently, we have approximately 30 dogs in rescue. We have everything from puppies to seniors, purebred Labs (black, yellow and chocolate) and Lab mixes, from healthy to special needs to hospice. We have dogs that love everybody and everything, and some that take a while to warm up to new people, do not do well with cats, or maybe just prefer to be an only dog. They are all deserving of their forever families, and we do our best to make sure that is what happens.

Savannah

Today, we’d like to tell you about Savannah, a 1½-year-old yellow Lab mix, weighing about 60 pounds. Savannah came to us in early September with a severely broken right front leg. The leg had developed a life-threatening infection due to delay in her receiving the treatment needed for the break. She had been a stray, possibly hit by a car, and Animal Control could not pick her up until after the Labor Day weekend. We immediately got her to a veterinarian who was able to save her life, but the leg had to be amputated. She also had a prolapsed gland on her eyelid (cherry eye) which was corrected while she was being spayed.

Savannah is well behaved in the house, though believe it or not, counter-surfing is a habit that needs to be addressed. She is crate trained where she sleeps contently through the night. Of course, a spot on your bed would suit her just as well. She walks well on a leash, all things considered. Her balance is improving as she develops muscles to travel in a straighter line. Playing fetch and chilling with her people makes her a happy dog! As with any young lab, she will need continued training and regular exercise. She is treat-motivated and very trainable.

Savannah is a healthy, active girl despite being a tripod. She is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready to find her forever family. If you are looking for that perfect addition to your family, one that will be by your side any time, day or night, and is up for sharing your adventures, please complete an application online at labrescuefresno.org.

While we are anxious to find homes for every dog in rescue, we do not believe it is in any animal’s best interest to be given as a Christmas gift. In order to make the forever adoption matches, we thoroughly review every application (which is quite in-depth) and even do a home check to make sure that our dogs find the very best home possible to suit their individual needs. Please, if you feel someone special in your life would enjoy adding a dog to their family, don’t gift a dog to them––instead, give a gift in their name to an animal rescue. For example: dog supplies, a gift card to a pet supplier, or even better, make a donation in their name to their favorite animal rescue non-profit, like LRRF!

People often ask why we charge adoption fees for our fosters, thinking that “rescue dogs” are free. Our adoption fees do not even cover the basic veterinary expenses incurred by our dogs. Our expenses through October 2024 were $116,000 for basic veterinary expenses (spay, neuter, microchips, vaccinations, etc.), plus an additional $19,000 for emergency veterinary expenses. That is why we charge adoption fees but must still rely heavily on donations from our wonderful community of supporters. Our donors have also been very generous by donating much needed dog food and supplies.

If you are interested in joining the great group of volunteers at the Labrador Retriever Rescue of Fresno, check out our website at labrescuefresno.org for more information. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit, 100% foster-based, and run completely by volunteers. We urgently need more fosters at this critical time when shelters are overflowing leading to many dogs and cats being euthanized.

If you are not in a position where you can adopt or foster, but you would still like to help, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal at our website, or by mail to Labrador Retriever Rescue of Fresno, P. O Box 1484, Clovis, CA 93613. Of course, the rescue also provides all food and other supplies needed by our dogs in foster care. We have an Amazon Wishlist if you would like to place an order there and it will be delivered directly to us. We greatly appreciate and need your support to continue saving these great dogs.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section and we would love to have you join our KRL Pets Facebook group. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to the rescue of your choice.