Hopes Rescue

Hope’s Rescue is an all-volunteer animal rescue saving the lives of cats and dogs that are at risk of euthanasia in Utah’s shelters and placing them into a loving home. 

This year, Hope’s Rescue has saved the lives of 225 pets, including 22 hospice pets, and found permanent homes for 180. Our foster volunteers opened their hearts and homes to provide these pets with a safe, loving bridge on their journey to finding a new forever home, or welcomed hospice pets permanently into their families. 

No matter what their medical or health challenges are, each animal we take in is special. And our volunteers dig deep and do whatever it takes to ensure each one of our foster animals, like Baxter, a good quality of life and the chance of a permanent home.

When we first saw him in the shelter, Baxter was painfully thin. His ribs protruded, his coat was rough and dirty, and he stank of urine because he had no bladder control. At only 8 years old, Baxter's chances of getting adopted were very slim. He would most likely have been euthanized in the shelter’s gas chamber.

Although they knew Baxter had serious medical issues, Hope's Rescue fosters Tami and Caroline didn't hesitate. They were determined to give him the best possible chance at a healthy new life. And so, on February 23, 2016, Baxter became a Hope’s Rescue dog!

His first stop was a full veterinary checkup, where the news wasn't good.

Baxter's blood sugar levels were six time higher than normal. Worse, his kidneys and bladder were affected, leaving him chronically dehydrated. He also weighed 15 pounds – less than half of what a healthy adult miniature schnauzer should weigh.

It was going to be a long, expensive haul to get Baxter healthy. But first, Tami and Caroline picked Baxter up from the vet's office and took him home for a warm bath, a clean, soft bed to rest his weary little head, and a good meal and some well-deserved attention.

The next several weeks were filled with trips to the vet, 5 a.m. insulin injections, and carefully monitoring Baxter’s diet.

"His condition was so unstable," Tami said, "that we were never sure he would make it through the night. Every morning, we were terrified that we would find out that he had passed in the night."

And then Tami and Caroline realized that Baxter was losing his vision. For many people, the prospect of living with a blind, diabetic, incontinent dog would have made them give up. But not Caroline and Tami! Instead of giving up on Baxter, they got him a generous supply of doggy diapers and arranged their furniture to make it easy for him to move around safely.

Their love has paid off - Baxter is now well on his way towards a fully healthy life. He only has to see his vet for a check-up every six months. His weight is up to a normal, huggable 30 pounds and he has regained control over his bladder. 

But the best part of all of this, his fosters say, has been watching Baxter's personality blossom. 

"He was so sick when he arrived. He slept a lot and didn't want to interact very much", says Caroline. "Now he loves to talk to us, especially if we're telling him something he doesn't want to hear!"

Baxter now enjoys spending lots of quality cuddle time, going for easy walks, and being with his doggy siblings, Sampson, Molly, Carla, and Bella. He also loves his toys and likes to keep track of where they are. He'll often retrieve one of "his" toys from his siblings and return it to where he thinks it should be! 

"Baxter has such a great personality! And he is one lucky little boy," Tami adds. "Without Hope's Rescue, he wouldn't be here!"

Hope’s Rescue is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization. We do not receive any tax dollars or government funding of any kind. We are solely funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals and businesses in our community.

At any given time, up to half the pets in our foster care are hospice pets – dogs or cats that are very old or, like Baxter, with medical conditions that make them unsuitable for adoption. Our program currently has 22 pets in hospice care, many of whom have significant medical issues. 

Hope’s Rescue requires significant resources to provide our services to pets in need – and we can’t do it without you. The only way we can do what we do is because of the support of people like you and we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.

We depend on your generosity and donations to save lives! Please help us save more pets in 2017!

You can find out more about our work by visiting our website or by joining us on Facebook