K9 Freekz Dog Rescue is Kearney’s only not-for-profit, foster-based rescue organization, according to its owners. Its stories are heartbreaking and gratifying.
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“The family said, ‘He’s staying with us,’” Fitzpatrick stated. “He’s the best story we’ve ever had.”
A puppy- sized start K9 Freekz Dog Rescue was formed in March 2014. It saves homeless and undesirable dogs, consisting of old dogs, amputees, dogs with heartworm and damaged hips– anything. It offers treatment, foster houses and irreversible houses. No dog is ever euthanized.
Because that day in the Dome Lounge, Fitzpatrick and Bennett have actually ended up being buddies. “I don’t know Joni, but I had seen her, and I knew she loved dogs. She had helped with rescues in the past, so I went up to her and asked, ‘Do you want to start a rescue?’” Bennett stated.
Fitzpatrick didn’t understand Heather, however she had a suspicion this was the ideal relocation. They talked. They struck it off. They started. “Someone jokingly called us ‘canine freaks,’ and it stuck,” Fitzpatrick stated.
K9 Freekz wobbled a bit in its early months. “We didn’t have a clue what we were doing,” Bennett stated. The set searched the site, looked into, improved social networks efforts and got the not-for-profit on its feet.
Animals pertain to K9 Freekz through social networks, word of mouth and telephone call. This volunteer work isn’t constantly hassle-free; both ladies likewise handle households, kids at home and full-time tasks, however they do it excitedly. Last Tuesday alone, Fitzpatrick had 6 calls. “That’s normal,” she shrugged.
Recently, somebody called about a little terrier mix discovered in the middle of a rural roadway outside Kearney. “Nobody claimed him. We took him. He was just 10 weeks old. He slept with me last night,” she stated. By Wednesday, thanks to social networks, she had actually discovered him a brand-new home.
Every dog that comes in very first goes to a vet for a check-up. Each is immunized, microchipped and, if it hasn’t been done, made sterile or sterilized.
Individuals pay $125 to embrace a dog. Prior to an adoption, Fitzpatrick and Bennett need 3 recommendations on the adopter from buddies, companies or family members. If potential adopters are tenants, the 2 ladies talk to the proprietor to be sure dogs are allowed. “We’re sticklers on that,” Bennett stated.
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They at first checked out all potential adopters’ houses, now they need interior home images rather.
K9 Freekz takes all sort of dogs, consisting of puppies, senior dogs, bully types, those with medical specials needs and whole litters ofdogs If puppies are still being nursed, the mom dog comes, too.
“People call and say, ‘my dog had an accidental litter.’ We never leave the mamma dog behind,” Fitzpatrick stated. In 2022, the not-for-profit managed 4 such litters.
While K9 Freekz locations dogs in adoptive houses– typically, merely publishing a photo on social networks leads to an adoption in simply a day or 2- it likewise has foster houses for “harder to adopt” dogs who require to suppress disobedience, perpetual barking and other routines. Foster households deal with such dogs up until they are all set for irreversible houses.
“These dogs need to learn the ropes, but a lot of them have never been taught. Some have been stuck in a back yard for years and don’t know any better,” Fitzpatrick stated.
K9 Freekz likewise has a group of 10 to 20 transporters who take dogs to their brand-new houses and get dogs that require to be rescued. Long journeys are typically gotten into sections, with a driver passing a dog along like a runner passing a baton in a relay race.
“Nobody is paid. It’s a lot of work, but so much fun and we meet a lot of cool people,” Fitzpatrick stated. “That’s our goal: tT have fun along the way.”
K9 Freekz has a four-member executive committee: Fitzpatrick, Bennett, Shena Jensen and Ami Slater. A social networks group deals with the site and Facebook. A promos group looks for sponsorships and products for quiet auctions.
It’s funded totally by contributions of approximately $100,000 a year. Contributions originate from its site. It raised almost $33,000 in December’s Provide Where You Live charity event.
On March 11, the not-for-profit will hold a cornhole competition at the American Legion Hall on Central Ave. It has dart competitions. It does 2 online auctions a year on Facebook. Its most significant charity event this year will be Rocking for Rescue, a combined poker run and band performance set for May 20.
It’s pricey, both in dollars and time. “This is like a second job,” stated Fitzpatrick, who is the workplace supervisor at Sandhill Plastics at 119 W. 19th St. “We pay for everything. If the dog is at the end of its life but is still OK, rescue pays for everything so the foster family can give the dog the best life it can have until it passes.”
Considering That 2014, K9 Freekz has actually grown beyond expectations. It has actually served animals throughout Nebraska, west to Colorado, east to Iowa, north to South Dakota and south to Texas. It has actually included 2 directors from Omaha to its board, too. “We’re had to ask for help,” Fitzpatrick stated. “There are so many dogs that need a home.”
K9 Freekz likewise counsels animal owners, such as those discussing whether to keep the dogs they embraced throughout the COVID-19 shutdown. Some individuals likewise are handling dogs that established separation stress and anxiety after their caretakers returned to work. “I am happy that they reach out to us instead of just dumping the dog,” she stated.
As a kid, Fitzpatrick had great deals of dogs, and her grandparents, who resided on a farm close by, had “sheep, horses, cattle, everything. I love animals. I’ll rescue a pigeon and keep it in my back yard if I have to,” she stated.
Today, she’s keeping a rottweiler that is at completion of its life. “It’s a tough case, but he’s mine until he goes,” she stated.
She thinks this is her calling. After 9 years with K9 Freekz, she still likes seeing the happiness in kids’s eyes when they satisfy their brand-new animal. “This work is exhausting. Rewarding. Sad. Happy. It pulls out lots of emotions,” Fitzpatrick stated.
“I can’t describe the feeling I get when the family meets the dog. We have rescued 1,200 dogs in the past nine years and many of those who got dogs still keep in touch,” she included. “You see the worst in humanity when you see what some people have done to animals, but you see the best in humanity when you see how many step up to help.”
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