When I was 9 years old we discovered I was severely allergic to anything with fur. Years of medication and allergy shots have helped, but unfortunately our household pet situation is limited to our beta, Princess Rip-Jaws.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good dog story, and my friend, Karen Knight, provides me with plenty.
Karen personifies what it means to be a modern stay-at-home parent. I don’t know when she has time to sleep, let alone grocery shop. In addition to a part-time job she also volunteers at her children’s school, co-leads (with me) a Daisy troop and fosters dogs for the not-for-profit Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation.
AARF is located in Seahurst and helps dogs in a variety of ways. They rescue local dogs and place them with new owners, maintain an Angel Fund to keep dogs and their families together when the owners face financial distress, and remove dogs from kill shelters in other states, such as Louisiana.
Several times a year Karen drives to Sea-Tac airport and welcomes a new dog who would otherwise be on death row. Her favorite dogs to foster are Catahoula leopards because of their loyalty and intelligence, but Karen will take on any breed that needs help.
Since November of 2013, Karen has fostered 18 dogs. The entire Knight family takes part, including their “forever” dog, Nutmeg, who was also rescued.
For her part, Nutmeg makes an amazing foster sister and licks the faces of each anxious new arrival. She teaches almost every dog how to fetch with a tennis ball or play tug of war.
Karen’s two human children, Isaac, 8, and Faith, 5, want to grow up and rescue dogs too, just like their mom. They’ve seen firsthand the difference love makes to these animals and their new families. Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to the foster dogs, but there is always the excitement of a new one coming.
The stories behind many of the foster dogs are heartbreaking. Karen brought Holly home, emaciated, riddled with heartworms, and so ill she could not stomach regular dog food. Jersey arrived with a femoral head fracture, a broken tooth, and BB gun pellets in his front leg. Love, care and the donated services of Dr. Carol Earls of Brier Veterinary Hospital helped both dogs recover and become successfully adopted.
It cost AARF over $1,500 to help revive Holly and Jersey and yet their adoption fee was only $350 each.
If you are interested in adopting an AARF rescue dog you can find them on AARF’s Facebook page or Petfinder.com. If your heart is even bigger than that, AARF is always looking for new foster homes. The cost to foster volunteers is really quite little because the non-profit provides a crate, leash, collar, food, treats and veterinary services. Foster moms like Karen contribute time, gas money and love.
For more information about AARF, visit www.myaarf.org.
Jennifer Bardsley is an Edmonds mom of two. Find her on Twitter @jennbardsley and at www.heraldnet.com/ibrakeformoms and teachingmybabytoread.com.
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