The Nonprofit Legal Blog

Barks of Love is a 501(c)3 non profit that has rescued almost 400 dogs and made over 1,000 people happy new pet owners, since it's creation in 2008. The organization was founded to work with local animal shelters to rescue dogs off of "doggie death row."  These dogs often need a great deal of treatment medically and behaviorally.  While the Barks of Love promotes the adoption of their rescued dogs, they also educate the public and encourage a more humane treatment of our dog allies.

Our client sent us this wonderful account from a lucky family and an even luckier pit bull named Candie:

"I first met Candie when Barks of Love sent out a newsletter urgently pleading for a foster for Candie. I was just finishing up school and had the room in my house so I sent in my application. When Candie arrived at my house and I saw how little she was, I figured she would be a piece of cake... boy was I in for it. Three hours later, this maniac of a pit bull was still doing laps through my house and around my back yard at about 100 miles per hour. I began to think this might be a very temporary foster. When she finally settled down (the next day) I noticed scabs all over her little body and I noticed her
incessant itching. Candie had been rescued from the Orange County shelter three months earlier with horrendous mange. Her previous foster told me that the day she picked Candie up, Candie's hair was falling out in clumps on her floor. Candie was hairless from her head to where her back legs began. To make matters worse, she had what appeared to be two extremely deep open cigarette burns on her front legs. Her previous foster told me that Candie was completely shut down or a month after picking her up from the shelter but eventually came around. Now Candie was removed from the first loving home she had ever had and was thrown into yet another unfamiliar home. She was crazy and did not seem to have any attachment to me for the first two months but hen began to come around. Right when it seemed like she was getting comfortable, the vet confirmed that she had overcome the mange, things were looking good for Candie until the vet came back in the room and diagnosed her with elbow dysplasia. Her little legs would tremble uncontrollably, and she would limp after playing with her foster brother and friends. It was so sad to see because she is such a happy little dog that has no idea what she has overcome and had no idea that she now had an even longer path to recovery.

Fast forward a couple more months. Candie went back for more x-rays now that her growth plates were done developing and she showed mild elbow dysplasia in only one elbow and the vet said as long as her weight is managed and she is trained not to jump (which will take a small miracle) she will not need surgery -- at least not yet. After about a two month break from adoption events Candie and I went back to the normal weekend routine, only this time, the usually happy and energetic Candie began hiding from me every Saturday morning after I loaded her bed and crate in the car. Once at the events she began trembling and drooling and barking at dogs that came by her crate, which was very strange for Candie because she usually gets along with all dogs and even cats. She made it pretty apparent she thought she had found her forever home and did not appreciate my bringing her to
adoption events. I guess sometimes people pick their pets and sometimes pets pick their people. A week ago Candie became a permanent member of my family. She loves playing in the yard with her big brother and then fighting with him for the closest snuggling position on the couch and bed. Not to mention, she demands weekly massages as we watch tv. I love having a little hell raiser running around the house and Keyser, my other dog, loves having a constant companion (although I think sometimes he could do without some of her puppy energy). Candie, Keyser, and I look forward to a very long adventurous life together."

Founder Ashley Greenspan says that if she could give advice to anyone starting a nonprofit she'd encourage you all to be organized, make sure that all the proper paperwork is in place and know who to trust and who not to trust.  

They are always looking for more foster homes, volunteers and any monetary donations so give if you can.  

And finally, a big thank you to all the people who make this great work possible, particularly staff members Phil Baily, Vero Najera, Heather Strand and Crystal Christensen, all the foster homes, volunteers and four legged friends!

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