Article by Gwyneth J. Saunders
Reposted from The Bluffton Sun
Dianne All has always taken care of animals, so it seemed natural that she founded the Bluffton nonprofit Rogue Rescue Sanctuary. Like the other shelters, her goal is to care for and find homes for abandoned animals – in her case, dogs.
Running a rescue of any size is not an easy task because so much depends on the generosity of others. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns, her shelter was severely affected like several of the other area rescues.
“It impacted tremendously due to the lack of donations coming in,” said All. “I couldn’t take any more animals in. That means there are fewer adoptions.”
The few dogs she has available for adoption at the moment are in addition to those she calls her “sanctuary dogs.”
“They’re the ones that I take care of their medical needs, and I have some dogs out as fosters, too,” All said. “I’m having to turn away a lot of people with dogs that need help.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, All said she was able to keep going with the dogs she had because several animals were taken in by foster families who worked with the animals, and then she was able to find those dogs homes.
“Now I’m afraid to get more dogs, and I can’t get fosters. I don’t have any place to hold them and I won’t leave them outside,” said All. “Right now (the problems are) lack of money and lack of fosters. I have to take care of the ones that I have.”
She’s unable to accept animals that others want to drop off, unless they are one of her dogs.
“In that case, I try to help keep them with the family but if they can’t keep them, I will take the dog and try to get another rescue take it in,” she said. “We’re relying on each other to get through this. In the end it’s the dogs that are suffering.”
The challenge now is finding the money she would have raised by holding her annual golf tournament as well as other fundraisers.
“What we really need right now is money for the food, and medicines – flea and heartworm prevention. I have a dog who needs vet care for her leg,” said All.
Rogue Rescue does have a few dogs ready to adopt.
“We have a three-legged, very energetic English Pointer named Angel that has been with me for two years and has been in foster care,” she said. “She’s shy and timid but she’d love to go into a home.”
Check out the dogs and the urgent needs at roguerescue.org. Call 843-816-0097 for more information.
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.