In The News: Bringback Season
Ashvegas: ‘Bring-back season’ difficult for dogs
Asheville Citizen Times
April 5, 2011
Author: Jason Sandford
Welcome to “bring-back season.” It coincides with hopeful spring, but it’s actually a dark time in the pet rescue and shelter world.
Bring-back season arrives a few months after Christmas, according to Robbie Ivey, when the newness of the cute-as-a-button puppy has worn off and responsibility begins to weigh.
In short, “It’s that time of year when people realize they made a mistake” and the dog owners look to unload their pet, said Ivey, the founder of the nonprofit WNC Boxer Rescue group. “It’s a terrible time for every rescue and shelter.”
This time of year, Ivey gets about 30 emails a day from people asking for help. His organization, which is going on 2 years old, has rescued 34 dogs over the last four months and placed 31 in new homes.
It can be overwhelming, and overwhelmingly heart-rending. With about 10 active volunteers and five foster homes, the group brings the dogs into their homes, provides them food and medicine, and sees them off.
“We do this because it’s about our passion, but it’s not easy,” said Ivey, who lives in Arden and works as an emergency medical technician for Medical Emergency Transport Service. “You put so much into it, and you’re with them every day, making sure their needs are met, and then you put them in someone else’s hands. I cry almost every time I leave a dog.”
Ivey had one of those bittersweet moments at my house last week when he brought me my pup. She’s an 8-week-old boxer and German shepherd mix who arrived in a litter of seven. Her mother, Gracie, was abused and forced to breed, then ended up in an animal shelter in Anderson, S.C.
Gracie was going to be euthanized — while pregnant — until a worker called Ivey in a last-ditch effort to save her life.
“Nobody wanted to take a chance on the puppies because they weren’t sure what they were going to be,” he said.
Ivey took action just in time. Gracie had three pups before a WNC Boxer Rescue volunteer arrived, swept her up and brought her to Asheville, where she birthed four more. I couldn’t be more thankful. My girl, Sammie, is a wrinkly-faced tulip-thrasher who is all about chewing, napping, playing and pooping. I know I’m in for an adventure, to say the least.
Ivey wants people to know WNC Boxer Rescue is there to assist. The group recently helped a local family pay a $2,000 vet bill for a boxer named Mimi. You can find the group and Ivey’s contact information on Facebook or at wncboxerrescue.org.
It’s all worth it in the end, according to Ivey.
“The most rewarding thing for me is taking a dog in,” he said, “watching it accept the love you give it, and then watching other people appreciate what you do and carrying that on.”
This is the opinion of Jason Sandford. Contact him at 232-5851 or jsandford@citizen-times.com. Find Ashvegas updates online at CITIZEN-TIMES.com/ashvegas and the full blog at www.ashvegas.com.
