Our Mission
NW Shibas4Life Rescue (NWSR) is an all volunteer organization dedicated to saving abandoned, neglected and abused Shiba Inus in the Northwest. Our dogs come from a variety of sources. We pull dogs from Humane Societies and shelters who need our assistance. We work with owner surrenders that do not research the breed well enough and are attracted to the looks, but do not match the breed, or have a life change that prevents them from keeping their dog. We also partner with law enforcement agencies in Oregon to shut down backyard breeders and commercial puppy millers. The difference between us and a shelter environment is once we evaluate each dog for temperament, social skills, and a full Veterinarian work up, each dog is in a foster home with other dogs, possibly cats, and older children. We treat each foster as one of our very own loved Shiba Inus.
Our first priority is to seek out critical care Shibas that are at risk to be euthanized due to senior age or have an illness that may take their life if left untreated.
Our motto is, “Our Shibas, Our Passion”. Our passion is to educate the public on our breed and reduce pet population. There are many Shibas in rescue across the United States and the majority of them come from backyard breeders and commercial puppy mills. These unwanted dogs are products to many un-reputable breeders that breed for profit. If one female dog (bitch) starts breeding at age two years old, has an average of two puppies in a litter, twice a year until she is eight years old, then she will produce at least 32 puppies in her life time. Sadly, we’ve seen breeding begin at nine months old and end at ten years old. What happens to those puppies? They go on to breed too!
When interviewing a backyard breeder after surrendering her dogs to us, we were amazed that she really didn’t think she was doing anything wrong. She loved the breed and wanted puppies because she thought her dog had the greatest temperament. Her ignorance bred 21 puppies in less then five years. Her bitch had glaucoma and luxating patellas, which both are hereditary. There were no health guarantees and no follow-up on her litters.
Commercial puppy millers or puppy farms breed as young as they can and as often as they can under worse conditions. Dogs that do not produce are destroyed, or worse neglected, until they slowly die from pain and suffering. The ones who survive do not have a long life because they are bred so young and so often that the bitch’s reproductive system can not keep up and cysts, cancer, and enlarged organs develop as a result. Most of these puppies are sold on the internet with no option to meet, to pet stores, and through puppy agents who sell on their own to anyone who will buy them.
Who Are We?
NWSR was founded in 1999 by Anthony and Denise Roelke. In 2009, the Roelkes filed for non-profit status and became a recognized 501(c)(3) organization in the state of Oregon. This allowed them to formalize a solid network with a selection of Officers, Board Members, Advisory members, and volunteers. It was needed to survive and keep rescue active. We are not a shelter and we only euthanize to eliminate pain and suffering of the animal. Each volunteer juggles an active life with work, family, and rescue, and we are always looking for volunteers who can actively participate with fostering, transporting, fund raising, and administrative tasks. We passionately save one life at a time!
Thirty minutes of your time reading will help rescue!
We guarantee you that if you read thoroughly through our website; you will have enough information and resources to make the right decision that could prevent a Shiba from losing a loving home. Help us reduce pet population and save a Shiba’s life!
Thank you Pet Meds for your generous donations!
When the Man waked up he said,
"What is Wild Dog doing here?"
And the Woman said,
"His name is not Wild Dog anymore,
but the First Friend,
because he will be our friend
for always and always and always."
~ Rudyard Kipling |
