Poke Rescued After A Year On The Run!

Poke had been living behind an east Bradenton shopping center for over a year, and dozens of attempts to trap her were unsuccessful. Over time, she outgrew her small collar and it was painfully embedded in her neck. With the help of Tim Eason, of the Sheriff's office, Poke was 'darted' and captured on June 25, 2009. Click here to read the Bradenton Herald article in PDF format.

This was a true community effort that was achieved with the sole concern of helping Poke obtain a better life. She is now being treated at the vet for her injuries, surgical removal of the collar, heartworms, and other medical needs. If this story touched your heart as much as Poke has touched the hearts of all the people involved in her rescue, you, too, can be her hero by donating to her care. Poke's surgery and treatments will cost at least $400.

Donations of ANY amount will be appreciated! Click the PayPal button or send check/money order to: UnderDog Rescue, 1827 2nd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208.

UPDATE: Poke needs a foster home. If you have time and love to give a very special dog please contact UnderDog. We will supply everything you need.

Welcome!

In 2008, we found loving homes for over 400 dogs!

Phone: 941-776-7370

ssamuel3@tampabay.rr.com

We Need Your Help

In the last few weeks UnderDog Rescue has committed to saving a record number of dogs, including 15 that came from our local Animal Services. Many have had to be treated for heartworms, which is always expensive. Currently we have over 90 dogs in our care. We are desperate for donations, of ANY amount, to pay existing vet bills and to continue treatments that are vital to the well-being and futures of these wonderful dogs.

Malcolm's Sad Story

Malcolm lost his daddy to a fire, but he escaped through the doggy door, thinking his dad was right behind. His owner was disabled and died three feet from the back door. Click here to read the Bradenton Herald article in PDF format.

Malcolm went to Animal Services where he spent the next two weeks in hopes that family members, neighbors or a kind person would adopt him. Animal Services called UnderDog Rescue, knowing that he would be placed in a loving foster home until a forever home was found. Malcolm is 4 yrs old and 45 happy lbs. He is laid back, house-trained, and likes to go for walks. Please consider opening your home and heart to this wonderful little guy.

Pictured below are a few of our adoptable UnderDogs. Click here to view our complete Petfinder listing.

Large Dogs

The Economy Affects Dogs, too

Due to the recent economy crisis, UnderDog has rescued many dogs from abandoned and foreclosed homes. We have also experienced an increase of surrendered dogs due to owners moving, losing their homes, or losing their jobs. In cases where owners are struggling to keep their pets, UnderDog often donates food to assist them during these temporary, but difficult, times. When possible, we also try to help truly needy pet owners by offering low-cost vet care.

About UnderDog

The majority of our dogs were scheduled for euthanasia at kill shelters throughout Florida. We are an 'all volunteer' organization. We do not have a shelter or a paid staff. We collect adoption fees to pay our vet bills. This includes shelter fees, medications, spay/neuter, all shots, heartworm testing and treatment, monthly flea/tick/heartworm preventatives, microchips, dentals, surgeries, skin treatments, setting broken bones, or any other health care deemed necessary by our vets. Our vets offer reduced charges so that we can keep our adoption fees reasonable, but their services are not free. We often rely on extra donations to pay expenses when the cost of care exceeds a realistic adoption fee.

How Rescue Funds Are Utilized

We received our 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit status from the IRS in 2008. We have 30+ active volunteers who each donate over 15 hours per week: transporting to vet/grooming appointments, bathing, fostering, returning calls, home visiting, supervising meetings of UnderDogs with potential adopters, and documenting medical records. It totals a minimum of 450 hours per week, over 23,400 hours per year. Multiply those unpaid hours by minimum wage and you will see that our volunteers truly are priceless!

We have no payroll, bonuses or salaries. In 2008 Underdog rescued 413 dogs, placed 438 in loving, approved homes (as we had some from the prior year), sterilized 396 dogs (some had been previously sterilized). Additionally, we rescued/transferred 75 dogs to breed-specific rescue groups. We also spayed/neutered an average of 8 dogs per month at a reduced cost (or sometimes free of charge) for needy owners.

We recently purchased a laptop and QuickBooks software necessary for our recordkeeping. A local CPA volunteered her time and helped us set up our accounts.

Most people are unaware that shelters charge rescue groups a fee, usually $18 - $65, to rescue each dog.

In 2008, we averaged 1-2 organized transports per week from kill shelters as far south as Miami, and as far north as the Florida panhandle. These large transports each carried as many as 24 dogs. Since gas was at a premium in 2008, we reimbursed several organized transport drivers for their fuel expenses.

It becomes necessary, at times, to board dogs temporarily until a foster home becomes available. UnderDogs are often treated to a day of beauty at Dog-gone Beautiful Pet Grooming in Bradenton, where the staff donates their grooming talents.