To The Rescue!
Continued from page 35
that the pet can be identified and traced back to its owner should it run away or
get lost inadvertently.
A.A. volunteers also, like larger animal welfare organizations, save animals
from out of state when they can, rescuing dogs from rural shelters in Ohio or
the Carolinas that are slated to be euthanized for reasons of space or time. In
addition, they have been known to place animals outside of their home base of
southwestern Pennsylvania in extreme cases where the need benefits the animal
most.
“We do try to place animals in the Greater Pittsburgh area, but we’ve been
known to go out of our way on occasion,” Murphy said. “We’ve also pulled dogs
from Maryland and Virginia, which is rare. But if it needs to be done, we’ll do it.”
Animal Advocates also doesn’t discriminate against animals based on breed,
age or health. It has rescued senior pets and found them homes where they can
live out their golden years, and they have rescued pets who are cancer survivors
whose owners abandoned them.
One thing that hasn’t happened to Animal Advocates in its 30-year existence is
the need for services to decrease. The number of homeless and displaced animals
is almost overwhelming, no matter how many beneficial organizations are in play,
and Animal Advocates needs volunteers to get the job done.
“We always need more volunteers, whether it’s taking some animals out to
Moochie & Company in the Mall at Robinson, where we bring them one Sunday
a month, or visits to Petco in Robinson, or volunteering to be a foster home or
caregiver,” Murphy said. “We can find a way for you to help.”
If you are interested in helping Animal Advocates, go to the website:
animaladvocates.net, where the current pets up for adoption can be found, or
call at 412.928.9777 to leave a message. Phone calls will be returned when a
volunteer is available. You can also call the resale shop at 412.928.9837, Monday
through Friday from noon to 3 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturdays. It is a
501c3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible as far as the law allows.
In this special 30th anniversary year, the volunteers are looking to raise $30,000
to help even more animals in the future. n
Carlynton-Montour | Summer 2014 | icmags.com 37