For over 20 years North York resident Grace Hall has been rescuing dogs from shelters from across Ontario. It all started when her daughter found a "stray" dog lost and bewildered near their home. As Grace desperately tried to find his owner she called shelters and veterinary clinics only to find that no one was looking for this handsome and wonderful creature. The more she called, the more she learned and to her amazement most of the shelters she spoke with reported being "full" of dogs that no one was looking for!
So began Adopt a Dog/ Save a Life in 1980 which is run solely by volunteers who spend countless number of hours picking up dogs from shelters, placing advertisement, responding to telephone inquiries and boarding dogs until suitable placements can be found.
Puppy mills, where dogs are mass-produced for profit, are the source of Graces' greatest concern and outrage. "People can't resist that puppy in the pet shop window" explains Grace "but, do they have any idea where these puppies come from?" "Do they realize that the mothers of these puppies are constantly bred, are often kept confined in small unsanitary conditions, and do not receive the medical attention they need?"
Grace can tell you from first hand experience that over 35% of shelter dogs are "purebreds".
Constant telephone calls to her Adopt a Dog/Save a Life line from people who "have no time for their dog" or "are having a baby" and even "too much trouble to train" become frustrating as Grace explains with some impatience. She also receives calls from people who want to give up the family dog because "the kids are not living up to the responsibly of a dog". She can not stress enough that a dog is not a toy to be disposed of or replaced when the novelty wears off. She worries that children are receiving the wrong message, and a powerful one at that, from parents who discard pets like disposable items. She feels if more people planned appropriately BEFORE they committed to a dog there would be far less "rescues" needed.
Before placing a dog in a new home, Hall interviews prospective adopters to determine lifestyle and other variables. She will often conduct home visits prior to placement, as she believes proper "matchmaking" is the key to successful adoptions. All dogs are fully vaccinated, de-wormed and spayed or neutered prior to going to their new homes. There is no set fee for adoption, a donation is required however, which depends on the costs incurred to rescue and have the dog vetted. To date over 8,000 dogs have been placed through Adopt a Dog/Save a Life but sadly, there are always dogs in need. Will it ever end? Hall is passionate when states that "spaying and neutering, humane education and public awareness" are all paramount in ending the tragedy of abandoned and abused dogs".
Hall relies on donations and her annual "yard sale" to generate funds to finance her endeavor to help as many dogs as she possibly can.
In 1990 Grace was awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship in recognition of her work. She hopes this award is a sign the government is becoming more aware of animal issues and was grateful and appreciative for the commendation however, she notes "Medals don't save lives".
If you would like to help in anyway, please call Adopt a Dog/Save a Life at 416-787-3862.
