By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—The North American Rescue Foundation (NARF) is a group of individuals with a shared passion for helping animals. They are currently in the process of helping to relocate 40 dogs and 30 cats from a shelter in Mexico to the Haldimand area, a pilot project they are hoping will garner strong local support and highlight a need for a locally based rescue.
The Press spoke with NARF Board Member Janey Marshall about the group’s ambitious plans, and why Haldimand is an ideal location to set up shop.
“We work with existing rescues to help fund and organize projects. We don’t do adoptions ourselves, we don’t do anything other than set up projects,” explained Marshall.
She continued, “In Haldimand, we don’t have an animal rescue. We have a wildlife refuge, which is fantastic, but they’re overwhelmed, and they don’t really house cats and dogs.”
HALDIMAND—Pictured above are Rocket and King, two dogs available for adoption through the North American Rescue Foundation, an animal rescue group looking to establish roots in Haldimand. Rocket is 8-years-old, has a bit of arthritis, low-to-medium energy, and is great with kids, adults, and other dogs. King is 2-years-old, has high energy, is good with adults, but has not been observed around kids. —Photos courtesy of Janey Marshall.
NARF is currently working on the logistics to make their goals a reality: “For the first while what we would do is create a network of fosters in Haldimand so that there is a base of volunteers, and then build out from there.… If we find we have enough support in Haldimand, then (we can) move to create an actual centre.”
She hopes that by taking on projects like importing the dogs and cats from Mexico, NARF can raise awareness of what the residents of Haldimand can achieve when working together. Doing so requires tapping into a large network of support. “We have kennels in Haldimand, we have excellent trainers in Haldimand, and I know there are a lot of animal-loving people in Haldimand,” said Marshall, who hopes to create a network of rescuers in the area.
She said the slow method being used by NARF is necessary, as “almost everyone who works for rescues also holds a fulltime job. Slower is better than faster when not everyone has their full time to dedicate to the project.”
She added, “Hopefully over the next while, doing this project of adopting out these animals from Mexico, we will create enough funds and awareness where we could then do a stage two where we could consider what’s working, what’s not working, and do we have enough support.”
Marshall said that NARF first heard about the dogs and cats in need of homes from a friend in BC whose mom owns a pet store in Mexico.
“Pets are much more disposable than here. She would end up with people tying off dogs or abandoning cats at her pet store. She ended up in a huge situation where now she doesn’t have time to do anything else but look after these stray animals.”
Marshall is currently working through her network to find local kennels or foster families to take care of the animals until they are adopted. She has also made connections with animal food producers to support feeding the animals.
“We’re optimistic that we’ll be able to find facilities to house these animals,” said Marshall. “We have quite a number of people interested in volunteering their time to get things started.”
She said that while this initial project has an international focus, she envisions future projects being more locally focused. She noted that many rescues are forced to house pets in a boarding facility while awaiting adoption due to the lack of fosters, and that untrained dogs can get returned because of behavourial issues.
“Eventually what I would like to have in Haldimand is a rescue-rehab centre for the animals that need work before they can be responsibly put into homes,” explained Marshall.
In addition to rehabilitation facilities, Marshall expressed a desire to create a refuge for cats, similar to the Hamilton-based ‘Hamilton Street Cats’, that would provide shelter and food to Haldimand’s unwanted feral cats.
“Right now we’re trying to figure out what Haldimand needs and what kind of support there is in this community for a rescue … not just from the community, but from the businesses,” added Marshall.
She added, “We’re cautiously optimistic that this could become a permanent thing in Haldimand.”
Marshall said those interested in helping with NARF’s current project, including fostering or providing kennel space and/or any skillset of service to the group’s efforts, can reach out by phone at 905-906-9393.
“There’s a lot to do here,” concluded Marshall.
