toni refused to pay for any of the basic needs of my foster ( fosters provide a home and commit their time while rescues commit the funds to provide for the needs of the dogs) and told me if I didn't pay after she promised to do so that my foster dog would starve. she lied to me and threatened me and took advantage of me.
Toni is in great need of a psych evaluation and a mood stabilizer and a memory check. I fostered for Toni for years, I always paid for all the basic needs for every foster. I organized fundraisers to benefit her rescue and transported dogs for her to save funds in a professional transport.
She and I collaborated in a case this summer. She publicized the vet info and strangers pretended to be part of the rescue and requested my vet file. Goodlettsville animal hospital gave it out without verifying who was calling. Because of tonis system these people got my address and phone number and my family was subjected to harassment for two months. No apology from Toni.
She never offered to pay for the fosters food ( that is her job) and she refused to let the vet send u home with urgent needed meds so that she could mail order them to save $17. My foster went without his meds that were urgent for three weeks and went blind in one eye.
The eye doctor said that this was painful for him and he needed a removal. She refused for cost. She also refused to do any paperwork, the retired woman taking boat rides doesn’t have time for forms but the one doing all his care while in med school must be less busy right Toni?
She refused the eye surgery that he needed because of her in the first place due to cost and demanded ( not asked) that we get more quotes. We did. Some were less than half the first quote and she still refused and let him sit in pain for months.
The vet refused to have my foster back because they were not willing to work with Toni anymore after she refused all recommendations.
Toni gave up on her commitment to my foster ( a dog she was the legal owner of) and said “ he’s your problem I’m done” three times in the four months I had him.
She told us we could never contact her in the weekend or outside of business hours, yet she didn’t feel she should be held to the same standard.
I watched my foster dog suffer and was threatened if I took over his care that she would not find a forever home for him, that was why I wanted her help in the first place, to screen applicants so he could have the best home.
After he was adopted ( which only happened because of my husband ability to take over all contact as she always wanted to gossip for hours and as a med student I don’t have the time for that she does as a retired older lady), his adopters told me that they too were unable to work with Toni and instead of dealing with her to get his surgery paid for they preferred to go out of pocket themselves to avoid dealing with her.
Toni, imagine if we behaved as you did and gave up on him and told you to find a new foster for him, can you even imagine that headache? So even though you weren’t intelligent enough to say it, you’re welcome.
A RESCUE’S “UNEXPECTED” JOURNEY….
And how it Inspired me!
The index card at the shelter may not read "BUDDY" but, as I looked at the picture over the Internet I saw Buddy. Oh, this dog wasn't JUST like him, but the stature, the beautiful tail, the face and, most of all, the LOOK of fear on the face was exactly what I saw when I selected Buddy to rescue! And, there's no heart on the forehead like my sweet boy, but there's the same beautiful Buddy Look that I see day in and day out- the look that melts my heart each and every time I see it!
After learning about high kill shelters in the south that were flooded with unwanted animals, and upon retiring from a real estate career, I started a nonprofit dog rescue organization. I did not plan to rescue Buddy. I was rescuing a dog in the kennel across from him. But, when the shelter volunteer mentioned Buddy I read her comments. She said he was just a "plain" dog, but so sad. She said he sat patiently looking while she loved on the dog being rescued and gave him treat after treat. He was looking with longing eyes, just begging for attention but not daring to bark and carry on. And when she shared a treat with him, she posted that he took it ever so gently and seemed so grateful. HOW COULD I RESIST ALSO RESCUING HIM WHEN I HEARD ABOUT HIM JUST LOOKING AT THE VOLUNTEER WITH EYES THAT BEGGED TO BE NOTICED? Of course I said, "GET HIM TO"!
I remember when Buddy was transported to New Jersey from North Carolina and I picked him up. He was pitiful. So skinny and with a lampshade on his head from recent surgery. He hugged the side of the van that had transported him, with his shoulders slumped and he squeezed as close to the door as he could to feel safe, trying to hide among the crates of dogs being transported with him.
If he had only known how much I believed in the value of discarded and unwanted dogs I am certain he would have just run to my outstretched arms as soon as he met me. But, I knew not to push him and I waited to earn his trust. He had been through enough. As we traveled home, he occassionally tossed a glance at me as if willing for me to care. It was as if he wanted the courage to let me embrace him. His tail (just the tip of it) wagged, tapping the seat steadily. It took a while for him to trust me. But then, he inched towards me and nudged his nose at my hand welcoming me to stroke his sweet face and soothe him with loving words. He captured my heart in an instant.
Buddy was not originally meant to be mine. I rescued him and then transported him to New Jersey when I found an adopter who said they wanted him and whose application was approved. He was heartworm positive and arrangements had been made for me to pay for his treatment when he got to his home and settled, rather than to go through treatment in a kennel at the vets office in North Carolina. But God works in strange ways, and, because his adopter backed out AFTER I brought him to New Jersey, I decided to keep him through his heartworm treatment and when he was well enough I'd then look for a home.
Little did I know God's real plan for Buddy and for me! You see, Buddy had touched my soul in a way that I can barely find words to describe. He is my inspiration! I fell completely in love with Buddy and could never have adopted him out. He is my hero! He is an incredibly sensitive, soulful, dog. Each and every time I see Buddy looking around to make sure that I'm not far from him or that I see him sleeping next to me as I work, my heart swells with so much love for him.
I can never look at Buddy without that stab of fear in my heart over the thought that he would have been euthanized had he not been "unexpectedly" rescued. I can never look at Buddy without thanking God that he "unexpectedly" claimed me. I cannot imagine my life without Buddy and I know that I will watch over Buddy, as he will watch over me, all the days of our lives!
And, so I know this next dog that I am rescuing is not Buddy, but the dog that looks like him is another abandoned dog LIKE Buddy. So, he is my inspiration for making a difference in the lives of shelter dogs...just ONE DOG AT A TIME!
