We are a small, but mighty, Not-For-Profit - 501c3 - No-Kill dog and cat rescue organization in South Florida, comprised solely of volunteers who love animals. We rescue stray, neglected, abandoned, and surrendered dogs and cats and work very hard to place them in new loving homes.
This group is comprised ENTIRELY of volunteers who work full-time doing something that pays the mortgage. We do the rescue stuff (which is our true passion) after work and on the weekends. So if your phone calls or emails are not answered by a live person right away ~~~ it’s probably because we are at work and will call you when we can.
BY CHOICE…
We do not have a shelter...
We are of the belief that a home environment is far more desirable than a shelter or kennel, so we rely exclusively on homes like yours in which to place our pets.
We work exclusively with a foster-care program where our pet lives with you, and we pay for or provide everything. A home environment is always the most desirable ~ and with the endless supply of animals needing homes, we just never have enough lined up. Sometimes the foster lasts a week, sometimes several months. A dog or cat will do far better adjusting when they are sitting by your chair or next to you while you are on the computer than stashed in a noisy kennel somewhere surrounded by sick and barking dogs.
WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR SURRENDERED PET INTO OUR CARE ...
Because we don’t have a shelter, we can only take a new animal IF we have a vacant foster home where the pet can live while we seek a new forever home for him. Sadly, we are not able to assist every animal that crosses our path. There are just too many dogs & cats out there who need help. But.. we DO have an extensive list of people looking for specific dogs and cats - so if you can hang onto your pet for a little longer, we might be able to assist you in placing them. No promises, but we will try.
OUR FOSTER PARENTS PAY NOTHING - WE PROVIDE IT ALL.
We absolutely do not believe it is a good thing to house an animal in a kennel for any length of time. And doing so, absolutely hinders our ability to adopt him or her into a new home. Cages easily make a once friendly dog cage or dog aggressive which is difficult & costly to un-do. In a kennel, we do not know whether they are housebroken, destructive when left alone in a home, whether they like kids, cats, people in general or other dogs, and when in a home, we know.
WE DEPEND ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU
Our foster parents pay for nothing, (unless they want to). We are a Not for profit, 501c3 organization so everything you provide on behalf of our pet can be a taxable deduction on your income taxes, plus...time spent helping our pets counts toward COMMUNITY SERVICE or SCHOOL HOURS!
We provide or pay for the: crate, baby-gate, food, HeartGuard and Frontline, and any necessary vet visits that may be required. And our pets are thoroughly vetted before they come to you, so your own pet will not be subjected to anything harmful. As a foster parent, all we ask of you is a kind hand, a little patience and a loving home while we search for a forever home for this one.
WE NEED YOU...
Our ability to help that next animal-in-need depends on whether we have a temporary home for the animal while we are looking for a new forever home
ADOPTING A FRIEND...
When you adopt from us, you can be sure that your pet will be coming to you from a home environment vs. a kennel or shelter. Not having a shelter is a two-edged sword. Sadly, it prevents us from helping ALL the animals that come our way, but it does restrict us to take on only the pets we can care for, and care for "well". Our pets are healthy and live in private foster homes until their forever home can be found. They are thoroughly vetted, current on with shots, tested, spayed or neutered and the dogs are micro-chipped or tattooed.
Most of the dogs & cats in our care are owner-surrenders or strays who never found their way back home. And many of the pets we rescue are pedigreed who were bought from a breeder or a pet store, and for a variety of reasons, end up in our care. We take them to our vet for a thorough exam and vaccinations. We spay and neuter every pet in our care, and we micro-chip all dogs. If there is anything heath-wise that needs treating, we fix it.
WE PAY FOR OUR VET SERVICES...
We do not get our vet services for free... and we are not funded by anyone! We rely entirely on DONATIONS from people like you. And just so you know… none of us get paid for our time – we do all this stuff for FREE!
We work with some wonderful Veterinarians in the area who ensure that our animals are thoroughly examined, brought current on shots, spay or neutered, micro-chipped and treated for whatever might ail them. They help out a little when they can – but they are trying to make a living too! (Hollywood Animal Hospital, Animal Clinic on Griffin Road, Friendship Animal Wellness Center in Pompano, Farley Animal Clinic in Hollywood, the Humane Society, Cats Exclusive, and the MASH Unit.
MAKE A DONATION...
WE LOVE DONATIONS! In fact, we exist solely on donations from folks like you. If you want to help out with a specific dog or make a donation for the cause, please tap on the PAY PAL Button
--OR--
Mail a check to: Grateful Paws Dog & Cat Rescue, Inc.
1881 SW 21 Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
~ 954-462-8840 ~
email: gratefulpaws@bellsouth.net
COME VISIT US!
We do not have a physical building - but we do participate in week-end adoption events on a regular basis. Please call to see where we will be.... Call after 7pm - 954-462-8840.
Weather permitting, we always try to participate in the Bizarre Bazaar Flea Market on the 1st Saturday of each month. 1717 N. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
It is always best to give us a call to find out where we are going to be.
Week nights 954-462-8840 eves after 7pm or on the week-ends: 954-579-3753.
GRATEFUL PAWS DOG & CAT RESCUE INC. Phone: 954-462-8840
My name is Charlie, I am still here. I am told that I am a pretty good looking fella with hazel eyes and a hairy chest. I am lean, trim and quite athletic. I am charming, affectionate, love to give kisses, love to exercise and if you like to bike or jog, I would keep you company and run along side.
I am about 1 1/2 years old and weigh about 60 pounds. I am neutered, up to date on shots, micro-chipped, crate trained and housebroken. Tim Mullally of “A Dogs Best Friend” was my private trainer and I am really pretty good with commands. When I am alone, I behave myself and don’t chew stuff. They say I am a real sweetie pie with a charming personality. I love to go in the car and give belly. They also say I am cute and funny, especially when I lay “frog-dog” with my legs behind me. I love people and I love being petted.
I am not sure who my parents were, but everyone is saying that I am an American Bulldog mix. I am in the bully breed family ~~ along with beagles, Rottweilers, bulldogs and a host of other strong minded dogs.
I do best when I have rules & boundaries and lots of exercise. Quite honestly, I don’t want to have to share my owner with another pet. You see, I had a bad experience with a dog that beat me up, so I really don’t care for dog parks or places where there are lots of other dogs. They make me nervous cause I never know if they want to beat me up or play with me and it is just too stressful.
Don't get me wrong, I love my foster mom; she cooks special for me and sings to me and spends as much time as she can with me, but she has cats (smelly things that are always running away from me) and her own personal dogs are always wanting to be with her when she is with me. We are living in a “gated & crated” environment. I am living with her, not her dogs or cats.
I love it where I am, but I want my own family. I would be quite happy with you in the confines of your yard or keeping you company in the car or when you are jogging or biking. I would lay by your feet while you are watching TV or working on the computer. And while I am keeping you company, you could be scratching my head or tickling my fanny.
If you have room in your home and would like to meet me, please contact my foster mom Bobbi 954-961-7020 or 954-295-7709, email: stony12345@aol.com ~~ or Jan 954-462-8840 eves or jmilbyer@bellsouth.net.
GRATEFUL PAWS DOG & CAT RESCUE INC.
