CARLYLE - Bright Eyes Dog Rescue’s (BEDR) mission is to rescue stray, abandoned and surrendered dogs, primarily in the province of Saskatchewan, and provide loving and safe care in foster homes until a suitable forever home is found.
BEDR is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers with big hearts.
One of those volunteers is Teresa Valentine out of Carlyle.
Valentine has been involved with this organization for the past six years as a foster and a frontline rescue worker.
Animal rescue organizations across Canada saw a spike in donations recently as the world celebrated what would have been actress Betty White's 100th birthday. White died on Dec. 31.
Many people inspired by White's love of animals took part in the Betty White Challenge through online donations to Bright Eyes Dog Rescue, raising a total of $17,500.
“It was pretty amazing, to have donations sent in, in honour of Betty White. She herself has donated a lot of money over the years to various animal rescues.”
Recently, Valentine had one puppy named Charlie in foster care, which she took in at a week old from a litter of 12.
From bottle feeding the little one every two hours, to providing IV therapy because she was so dehydrated, to now needing water therapy, the pup was relocated to a foster home in Regina. The reason for relocation is to be closer to the facility for water therapy where she runs on a treadmill in order to strengthen her legs. The puppy needed to have access to a facility where she could receive therapy.
“In the past, we've had a mom and a litter of nine,” says Valentine. “We've fostered more than one litter at a time and have been very fortunate to have found homes for all of them.”
“I've had as many as 43 in my garage at one time for a weekend,” explains Valentine. “It was the moms and litters. So it was time consuming taking each one out to 'do its job.'”
Valentine has many stories to tell of the dogs and pups she’s rescued over the years.
“There was a feral dog that had a litter of puppies in a fox den. We crawled into the fox den to retrieve the litter of puppies. This particular dog went out to B.C. where she was fostered. These fosters who worked with this dog eventually adopted the dog. After working with her, she's become their house pet.”
"It's very rare to find a dog that's so feral to end up as a house dog," says Valentine.
“We've caught feral puppies that are six months old and are able to turn them around, but once they are older than that it's very difficult to turn them around.”
Valentine explains that BEDR is fortunate to receive donations throughout the year to help with expenses as their monthly expenses total upwards of $10,000 in vet bills.
BEDR does plan other fundraisers throughout the year including selling plants and t-shirts.
“Carlyle Pharmasave has donated a lot of food and dog toys over the last few years,” says Valentine and adds “It's awesome.”
Other than Valentine there are five other fosters in the Carlyle area. But there are also fosters in Oxbow and other areas as well.
“Sometimes when it's so cold out, and everyone is full, we put out emergency posts for others to help out in becoming a foster,” explains Valentine.
“Some people have stepped up and fostered a litter of puppies to help us out,” says Valentine, “even if it's a one-time opportunity. We've had a couple of people in Carlyle do that for us. They're considered our emergency people now, which is nice.”
"It's very busy this year," explains Valentine. There are more litters this year than ever before.”
Valentine says she gets calls for cats as well but because she is a foster strictly for dogs, she guides them in the right direction for fosters for cats.
The many volunteer hours, loving foster homes, and generously donated items for the hundreds of abandoned, unwanted, or stray dogs (400-plus rescued in 2020 alone) are simply not enough on their own and don’t pay the bills.
It’s the generosity of donors who make Bright Eyes’ dream of rescuing dogs a reality.
Non-monetary donations are welcome.
Do you have some supplies that you would like to donate? Here are just a few examples of the types of items BEDR is always in need of: dog beds, leashes/collars, food, treats, bowls, toys, pee pads, travel kennels and wire crates.
Or perhaps you have an in-kind service you would like to provide for the dogs in care.
Whatever it may be, Bright Eyes Dog Rescue is so thankful.
There are lots of opportunities to help BEDR that are fun, flexible and suited to your passions and skill sets.
You’ll never be alone, and there’s lots of support along the way.
