For more than a dozen years, Northumberland’s K9Crusaders’ volunteer-based rescue has been helping to rehome and rehabilitate furry friends with complex needs.
Oftentimes, these dogs otherwise may have nowhere else to go – and many are transferred from high-kill shelters in the Quebec area or are seniors with costly medical needs, says spokesperson Helen Firing.
“We do tend to focus a lot on seniors and medical needs dogs, usually because they have the highest rate of surrender – just because at a certain point in their lifetimes they have mounting medical needs, (which) often outstrip what people can afford to pay in this challenging economy,” explains Firing. “Those are the ones that we tend to gravitate towards, even though it’s challenging for us to fundraise enough money to help take care of their medical needs.”
And this in recent years has become an area of growing concern as affordability pressures intensify – and there was also fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the not-for-profit all-breed rescue is 100 per cent volunteer run.
“We rely solely on donations and volunteers to do the work that we do,” notes Firing.
While several furry friends get their happy ever after in new homes, some of the animals the non-profit takes in end up staying on as compassionate care fosters to live out their days surrounded by love while being supported medically.
But K9Crusaders can’t do it alone.
The organization always needs help – whether through volunteering, fostering, adopting, or donations. Residents can learn more by tuning into the podcast below or visiting the K9Crusaders’ website or Facebook page.
Below, you can also hear more about a couple of special pups in need of new homes and about two upcoming fundraisers May 31 and June 20 in support of the organization.
