RUFF Rescue is not yet a 501 c3 non-profit organization but that is their goal. Along this path, they are also looking for someone to donate time and talent to create a logo and web presence. Logo submissions can either be emailed to rescuer2003@gmail.com or mailed to Treasure Hunters, 7731 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85710.

Treasure Hunters is an art, antique, consignment boutique that has a special area called “The Dog House.”  Anything sold out of The Dog House has been donated and 100% of the proceeds go to the RUFF Rescue medical fund.

The following was written by founder Donna Dunham:

RUFF Rescue (Rehoming Unwanted Furry Friends) is a small, independent, grassroots rescue organization that started rescuing almost two decades ago.  It all started with a puppy-mill rescue out of Cochise County, Arizona facilitated by a very compassionate veterinarian friend (who is now retired).  I enjoyed going to her clinic to help with shot and spay/neuter clinics.  My heart went out to the many dogs we would see that came from the backyard breeders in the area.  We knew we could not save every dog, but decided to help where we could by encouraging placement of some of the older dogs from these breeders.

The first rescue was two little dogs that had to be chased down before we could take them to safety.  One had been blinded in one eye and had a very serious uterine infection and was so tiny that at 2 years of age she only weighed 5 pounds.  This was not a dog that anyone should have ever considered breeding.

The other one had been so over bred, she had few teeth left and what she did have were rotten.  She was only 5 years old.  This little girl had hardly any hair and she should have had a long beautiful mane.  These two little girls were the first rescues of over 1,000 placements throughout the years.  Both dogs had long, wonderful lives in the loving arms of their new families.

I have always paid for veterinary care out of my own pocket and with the help of friends and benefactors generous enough to know the love of a previously abused or neglected animal.  There have been times when I could not take a dog into rescue because of the lack of funds.  It is not an easy decision to say no, but sometimes there is no other choice.  I have been fortunate enough to have a handful of wonderful foster families to care for and heal these amazing creatures while we look for permanent, loving homes.

Each new prospective family fills out an application, has a phone interview and a home visit.  Most adoptions are done right here in Tucson, though we have done a few out of state adoptions with good personal and vet references.  We will also take any dog back into rescue, at any time, if circumstances change for the adoptive family.

Our adoption donation ranges from $150-$200.  As long as there are no extraordinary vet fees for a dog being sick, the adoption fees will cover the costs.  My wonderful foster families have always very generously covered the cost of food and grooming for the pups in their care.  Of course, it would be wonderful to be able to offer them free food, etc.

We currently have one dog in foster care (he is a Treeing Walker Coonhound named Buddy) that was a rescue from the Three Points area and his vet care (and medicine) so far has cost about $400.  He had a very high Valley Fever titer, so he will need care for a minimum of a year.  He’s doing well in his foster home and deserves the chance at a great life.  Buddy’s adoption fee is $150, so it will take a lot of small adoption fee overages to cover his care.  He would not have survived if he had gone to a county shelter, so I am thankful we have been able to give him the life he should have.

We have another little dog still looking for a home that came to us pregnant with a litter of six dead puppies (her name is Gemma and she is an adorable Dachshund/Chihuahua X).  After being spayed, she developed two inguinal hernias and had surgery to repair them.  She is now doing well.  Her vet care was over $1,500.  I thank God that the wonderful vets that have cared for her have allowed me to make payments to them.  Her adoption fee is only $150.

These are only two of the stories from pups that are currently in rescue.  Every RUFF Rescue dog has their own story.  It’s never the same.  The one thing they can all depend on is the kindness of all of those involved in getting these little souls from rescue to their forever home.

“A voice for those who cannot speak.”

You can find RUFF dogs on Petfinder.

Donna Dunham, RUFF Rescue (Rehoming Unwanted Furry Friends)

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 13th, 2012 at 4:55 pm and is filed under Adopt Me! Adopt Me! Adopt Me!, Animal News, Dogs, Canines, Fun with Fido, Barking Encouraged. Tags for this post: puppy mill dog rescue Cochise, RUFF Rescue, Treasure Hunters, Tucson dog rescue, Tucson dogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.