Causes: Animal Protection & Welfare, Animals

Mission: N.B.S. Animal Rescue’s Mission Statement is to foster, love & adopt homeless dogs one by one until there are none.

Results: In 2012: • 86 dogs have found new and forever loving homes • 93 dogs have been spayed/neutered • 19 Pet Oxygen Mask kits were distributed across metro Detroit Firehouses

Target demographics: Animal lovers in Michigan

Direct beneficiaries per year: Homeless and displaced dogs

Geographic areas served: State of Michigan

Programs: The Philosophy of NBS Animal Rescue NBS Animal Rescue was founded on October 12, 2011 by Aaron Fortin, Rebecca Akins, and Jaime Wolfe. We are a 100% foster based canine rescue that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of healthy, well-balanced, dogs and puppies into loving families. Our primary goals include the rescue and rehabilitation of homeless animals in need, educating our community regarding proper pet care, and to participate in community youth outreach programs. Some key components to our rescue mission are as follows: *We spay/neuter every rescue dog in order to help end the cycle of unwanted litters. *We treat each and every dog as if it we our own in order to give it back the respect, love and dignity it deserves. *We maintain the highest standards of care for every dog we come in contact with, including the highest quality veterinary care, housing, love, training and compassion. Rescue NBS Animal Rescue has a strong working relationship with several in state animal shelters and animal rescue groups that work together to network homeless dogs facing euthanasia with rescue groups that have open foster homes. In addition, we also take in owner surrender dogs and puppies from situations that are beyond the owners control and in the instances in which the current owner is acting in the best interest of the animal. We are a non-breed specific dog rescue; however, we do tend to specialize in small breed dogs. We network with other groups for help when we are approached about cats and other species of animals. Our rescue operation is 100% volunteer based with 100% of our available funds going to support our primary goals as listed above. Medical Care NBS Animal Rescue has a structured and comprehensive medical care procedure that all of our rescued animals go through to ensure that they are healthy and up to date on all age appropriate veterinary care. It is our organizations belief that no animal in our rescue be placed in an adoptive home until it has undergone, and passed, a thorough and comprehensive wellness exam by a licensed veterinarian and received all age appropriate vaccines and health care screenings. NBS Animal Rescue has a strong working relationship with the Animal Clinic of Sterling Heights, All About Animals Rescue, and Wilson Veterinary Hospital. Detailed veterinary records, receipts, and copies of all veterinary testing reports are kept both digitally and in hard copy and a compiled history of veterinary routines are given to each adoptive family. All animals adopted through NBS Animal Rescue have received all of the following veterinary care procedures: Spay or Neuter Surgery Microchip Insertion Bath, nail trim, and ear cleaning De-worming for internal parasites DHPP Vaccine Rabies Vaccine (age appropriate) Heartworm Test (age appropriate) Heartworm preventative Flea/Tick preventative After completing extensive research, met with several licensed veterinarians, and collaborated with local well established animal rescue groups, NBS Animal Rescue adopted a mandatory spay/neuter policy in which all of our dogs and puppies are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. We feel that this is the most responsible stance our rescue can take in the fight against over population of dogs and cats in our nation. In addition, after researching the statistics on lost pets and the number of pets who are reunited with their families, NBS Animal Rescue also adopted the policy that all adopted pets will be microchipped prior to adoption. We feel that together, these two policies not only greatly help to control the number of animals who end up in animal shelters across our nation, but that they also offer our adoptive families the peace of mind of a healthy and safe pet. While all animals in our rescue are provided with the above mentioned veterinary care, some of our rescued animals require special veterinary care, surgical procedures, or additional care by a veterinary specialist. NBS Animal Rescue believes that each individual animal’s pre-existing or developing health concerns be evaluated by veterinary professionals and a prognosis for a healthy, pain free, and happy future in an adoptive home be the primary concern. Our rescue has fundraised money to support bladder stone surgery, double luxating patella surgery and extensive dental work on a number of other dogs. We believe that an animal’s quality of life and prognosis for a pain free future should be the guiding factor in decisions that involve surgical procedures, extensive specialist care, or the necessity of humane euthanasia. Education NBS Animal Rescue prides itself on sharing our collective experience, knowledge, and passion for animals with each and every one of our supporters, adopters, and foster families. As a responsible rescue organization we ensure that all of our dogs are seen by a licensed veterinarian for a general health wellness exam, are current on all age appropriate vaccines, heartworm preventative, flea/tick preventative, are Heartworm tested, have been properly de-wormed, spayed/neutered, and microchipped prior to being placed up for adoption. Not only do we feel that it is imperative for us to make certain that all of these health protocols are done with each and every animal that comes into our rescue, but we also ensure that this information, as well as future veterinary care expectations, are clear to all of our adopters. NBS Animal Rescue provides each adoptive family with a comprehensive veterinary history as well as a schedule of upcoming veterinary care needs. In addition, we strive to educate all of our adopters of the necessity of annually vaccinating your pet, providing monthly, year round, heartworm and internal/external parasite preventatives, and ensuring that a pet receives yearly veterinary exams. Dental care, knee and patella concerns, eyesight, hearing, and mobility issues are also discussed in detail with adopters who are adopting a senior pet, with special information given regarding these issues in the form of literature and online resources. Proper socialization, training methods, potty training, introducing a puppy to new members of the family, and puppy health concerns are discussed in detail with adopters who are adopting a dog as well. In addition to educating our adoptive families, we have also made it a priority to educate our supporters and those who send in e-mail inquiries regarding our dogs about proper care for their pets. Many times when processing an application or an inquiry we will be told that the applicants current pets are not up to date on veterinary care because they “live in the country,” “never take their pets out of their home,” or for various other reasons. Our volunteers make a conscious effort to share information, educational resources, and veterinary links on the Internet to help educate our supporters regarding the dangers of not providing your pets with proper routine veterinary care. Our supporters are grateful for the information, personal experiences with dogs who were not properly cared for, and the resources and contacts we are able to provide them with in order to get their pet proper veterinary care. While educating our supporters and adopters regarding proper veterinary care is an important goal of ours, NBS Animal Rescue also prides itself on sharing information about proper canine nutrition programs, dog food analysis and grading websites, exercise, and training information as well. Our goal is to help our adoptive families offer a well-rounded care and wellness routine for their adoptive canine and ensure that we are able to educate our supporters on the importance of proper nutrition and exercise as well. A comprehensive list of local veterinarians, trainers, dog food analysis information, and proper nutrition pamphlets and Internet resources are shared with each of our adoptive families. Collaboration with other rescues and rescue efforts One of our founding principles at NBS Animal Rescue is to collaborate with local animal rescues, shelters, and animal businesses in order to form a cohesive network of resources that provide animal aid to homeless animals in need. NBS Animal Rescue prides itself on having an open line of communication, a strong sense of teamwork, and an honest and respectful relationship with many of our local area’s animal rescue organizations and supporting businesses. We are always willing to work together with other like-minded organizations, who put the best interest of the individual animal at the forefront of their organization, operate with integrity and honesty, and share a deep rooted love and passion for rescuing and rehabilitating homeless animals. To date, we have formed an extensive network of like-minded organizations including other animal rescue groups, veterinary offices, county animal shelters, groomers, and animal trainers. Together we have shared experience, contacts, informational resources, and have supported one another during our individual efforts to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals in our nation. NBS Animal Rescue is committed to fostering a strong relationship between our current rescue colleagues and building additional relationships in the future to help rescue, rehabilitate, and adopt homeless animals. Foster, Love & Adopt Homeless Dogs One By One Until There Are None.