Animal rescue groups in Manatee County are the bright light in the aftermath of the sheriff’s raid that took 300 animals out of deplorable conditions at Napier’s Log Cabin and Sanctuary about a year ago.
Because the rescues picked up the pieces at Napier’s, that light is shining even brighter on the heels of a Feb. 4 guilty verdict on charges Alan and Sheree Napier of Bradenton committed animal cruelty and fraud.
Day in and day out, rescue organizers network, foster and find homes for even the most malnourished, injured and sick animals.
In the Napier case, of the 309 animals the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office tracked from the raid, rescue groups and shelters took all but 12 dogs.
Rescue groups can be breed-specific — there are rescues for poodles, Labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels, to name a few. If a young pup or kitten, or even a whole litter, has been left without a mother, there’s a rescue geared toward helping them too.
Especially valued are medical rescue groups that foster the worst-case dogs, Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue and Forget-Me-Not, according to Manatee County Animal Services director Bill Hutchison, who oversees the county shelter.
In 2014, the MCAS shelter, 305 25th St. W., Palmetto, took in 4,976 animals, including 2,775 dogs, 1,788 cats, 137 kittens and 102 puppies, according to county records. Of these, 3,836 were impounded as strays, 606 from law enforcement for biting, cruelty or eviction issues, and 352 were owner surrenders.
The county also recorded the outcome of 4,935 shelter animals.
Transfer to rescue groups and other shelters accounted for 2,346 animals. There were 1,090 adoptions. According to county records, 41 died, 65 disposed, 13 fostered, 13 missing and 488 animals were killed.
Adoption, however, is the ultimate goal.
Hutchison identified four key agencies — Manatee County Humane Society, Lakewood Ranch Humane Society and Bishop Animal Shelter and Honor Sanctuary Animal Shelters, all having working with MCAS toward its goal, and helping alleviate crowding and frequent doubling up of dogs in its kennels.
MCAS also works with some 40 nonprofit rescue groups for placement, Hutchison said.
Typically, rescue groups are operated out of homes. Organizers take animals from the MCAS shelter and others and network to find forever homes and fosters by publishing profiles of the animals and their needs on various websites and Facebook.
Here are a few examples of the rescues and what they do:
Royal Pet Rescue Inc.
Royal Pet Rescue has rescued more than 400 cats and dogs, according to owner Julie Royal, who also owns Suncoast Real Estate, 5402 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
Royal’s rescue, incorporated in 2009, rescues pets from area shelters.
In 2014, Royal took in 45 cats and 120 dogs from MCAS.
With about 10 volunteers, the group specializes in pregnant cats and dogs, and puppies and kittens.
According to Royal, she typically places them in foster care until ready for shots, spay/neuter and microchips.
The group also rescues cats and dogs with mange and under-socialized older dogs.
Fundraising is sporadic, typically less than $1,000 each year, she said.
For more information, go online to www.royalpetrescue.com.
Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue Inc.
Lisa Williams, office manager of The Islander in Holmes Beach, is the founder of the all-volunteer Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue. She incorporated the nonprofit and became its president in 2011. Other directors are David Mariotti of Bradenton, Courtney Strong of Naples and Toni Lyon of Holmes Beach.
In 2014, Moonracer rescued 60 dogs and 20 cats — all cared for in foster homes.
Moonracer rescues dogs with a special need or problem, such as those with demodectic mange, injuries from car accidents or dog fights — one was gored by a hog — and with positive heartworm diagnoses. Some have had behavior problems and tumors, while others have been blind, deaf or elderly.
With a volunteer/foster list of 45, Moonracer features its rescues Sundays at the Bridge Street Market in Bradenton Beach, and fundraises at various events, including a waffle breakfast in October. Moonracer also fundraises online.
According to Williams, 2014 was its first year of “fairly large donations,” with $14,500 coming into the coffers. Expenses, however, “were more like $27,000,” and mostly for veterinary care, she said.
For more information, go online at www.moonraceranimal rescue.com.
Forget-Me-Not Inc.
Formed in 2013, Forget-Me-Not is run by a board of directors, including Stephanie Kelly, Debbie Miller-Woosley, Christine Whaley and Katie Howard. It helps Manatee County Animal Services by taking the hard-to-place pets due to behavior issues, heartworms or other medical issues. FMN has an average of 40 pets under its umbrella. FMN placed 225 pets in the past 18 months, according to Woosley, who administers a Support No Kill Manatee County Facebook page.
Animal Network Inc.
Animal Network, formerly known as Manatee Citizens for Off Leash Areas, was incorporated as a Florida nonprofit in 1999. Its current directors are Laurie Crawford, Wendy Crawford, Sue Kolze, Rita Boyer and Joanne Sampson. Debra Starr is its marketing director.
Animal Network began as a lobbying force for a dog park in Manatee County. After a dog park was completed at G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive, W., Bradenton, it evolved as a support group for MCAS, rescue organizations and the community. Through fundraising and special events, it seeks to raise awareness and funds for heartworm treatments and spay/neuter programs.
Animal Network averages $8,000-$10,000 and secures adoptions for 40-50 homeless pets at its main fundraiser of the year, Canine Christmas. Other fundraisers bring $2,000-3,000 each, according to Kolze.
With grants and donations, annual fundraising brings in $20,000-plus each year, she said. The funds have been used to pay for MCAS dog exercise yards, medical expenses for shelter dogs and cats and medical care payments for rescues.
In addition, Animal Network fundraises separately for dog heartworm treatments. This fundraising brought in $936 in 2011, $7,884 in 2012, $28,817 in 2013 and $32,011 in 2014, according to Kolze. She estimates the heartworm treatments have saved more than 400 dogs since 2011.
Animal Network also spearheaded Manatee United 4 Pets in March 2014, an organization striving to bring rescue groups under one umbrella to partner with businesses and the community.
Part IV of The Islander’s Manatee County Animal Services series will report on the Humane Society of Manatee County.
Running to the Rescue … this is the third in a series examining Manatee County Animal Services, which treats, shelters, adopts or kills lost and abandoned dogs and cats at 305 25th St. W., Palmetto. The department operates under the county’s no-kill resolution, adopted Oct. 11, 2011. The resolution states, “No-kill requires a combination of efforts by Animal Services, animal welfare organizations, the media and the public.”