HOW MANY ANIMALS DO YOU TAKE CARE OF?
In a year’s time, we care for about 400 animals. Finding a new home for a foster animal takes an average of three weeks. We have about 35 foster homes, and we have about 15 animals in the program at any given time.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO ANIMAL RESCUE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I purchased a dog, and that dog was absolutely nuts. I was trying to get ahold of his breeder to find out what was going on with him. I found out that he came from a puppy mill.
HOW DOES EPIC ANIMAL RESCUE HELP ANIMALS IN THE AREA?
We take in animals that are from shelters all across North Texas as well as animals found on the streets. From there, we have them seen by a vet and fully vetted. Then, we work to find them their forever home.
WHAT IS LIVING IN A FOSTER HOME LIKE FOR ANIMALS?
Some dogs come in that have actually never been in a house before, so they learn all of the sounds of what it’s like being in a home.
HOW MANY PETS DO YOU HAVE?
I have three dogs and one cat. I have a husky named Callie, a dachshund mix named Zoe, and we just adopted a little Maltese-dachshund-Pomeranian mix named Roxy. Then there’s our cat, Ally — not to mention a carousel of fosters that come and go.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU RESCUED ANIMALS?
About 14 years. I was with another group for a good 11 years before starting Epic Animal Rescue.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES LEADING YOUR NONPROFIT?
Finding and managing volunteers can be a little bit of a struggle. Also, because we are a nonprofit and we are low-budget, it’s really getting our message out there that can be a challenge.
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU HOPE PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT RESCUE ANIMALS?
There’s a lot of really fantastic animals available in rescue. You’re going to find some purebreds. The average age of an animal in rescue is about 1 year old. There are some really great animals out there that I wish people would just give a chance.