Deborah Hazard-Charnin runs Green Dog Rescue, which finds foster homes for rescue animals. Photo provided
By Arden Moore
Throughout Palm Beach County, countless people share a common mission: to care for cats and dogs in their personal homes until they can be adopted. They call themselves foster pet parents.
They certainly don’t do it for the money. They receive no pay. They volunteer their time and their homes. They do it because, well, they care. They care about homeless animals who need and deserve to land in permanent homes and become viable members of a family unit.
November is the month focused on giving thanks. That’s why I decided to devote this pet column to three people from three nonprofit foster groups. Let’s start by shining a light of gratitude on Vickie Virzi. She is the founder of Blessed Paws Animal Rescue in Lake Worth Beach.
Step into her 3,000-square-foot house and you will be surprised to discover that the living room has no sofas or recliners. You won’t find a dining room table and chairs, either. Instead, floor space is filled with kennels of all sizes to accommodate the dozen-plus dogs she is fostering.
“I am here for these dogs,” says Vickie. “I will foster dogs in need until my legs give out. Our goal is to take sick, neglected, abused and abandoned dogs and get them healthy, socialized and happy.”
Vickie defines a foster parent’s fate as “we don’t get the one dog we want. We get the one dog no one wants, and we call them our heart dogs. For me that was a black pit bull named Chomper who I had for 14 years.”
Deborah Hazard-Charnin runs the Green Dog Rescue based in Boynton Beach. She and her all-volunteer team have continually honed their foster skills and outreach. Recently, her group responded to a dog hoarding case in Oconee County, South Carolina, involving nearly 100 small dogs.
“We were able to arrange for transport for about nine of these dogs,” says Deborah. “We also took in 17 dogs from a hoarding situation in Parkland, recently. These dogs had never been outside. We shaved them, arranged for medical care and I am happy to report that all are doing great in foster homes.”
Deborah wants to make sure adoptions work for the person and the dog, so her group requires potential adopters to complete a three-page application, be willing to have her group contact the person’s veterinarian and landlord, plus provide three references of people who are not relatives.
“During meet-and-greets, I stay usually for an hour or so and am looking for that connection between the dog and the family members,” she says.
Linda Wassner is a lifelong animal advocate and now heads the RU4Me Pet Rescue group based in Boynton Beach. Her nonprofit helps cats and dogs, but Linda fosters kittens and cats. Some fosters are available every weekend at the PetSmart store located at 335 N. Congress Ave.
“We appreciate this PetSmart partnership as we do not have a physical building — all our available animals are in foster homes,” says Linda.
In her home, Linda has four personal cats and is currently fostering 12 felines, including three litters of kittens under 4 months old.
“I am fortunate to have space in my home to isolate the fosters,” she says. “We must wait to vaccinate the kittens until they are at least 6 weeks old. So, as you can guess, my home is never boring. I love to watch these foster kittens grow and then go into good homes. I am happy to say goodbye because I know that means I can then rescue more.”
All three women point out that there are many ways you can support foster groups beyond having cats or dogs in your home. You can help organizations with their social media promotions, agree to take these animals on walks or to veterinary appointments, and help with accepting donations of money and pet products.
“I am thankful for all the people who care,” says Linda. “We have kids in school getting community service hours for fostering as well as seniors in their 70s and 80s who foster. For me, fostering gives me a purpose.”
Looking to volunteer?
If you wish to volunteer your time to be a foster pet parent, provide needed pet supplies or make a monetary donation, here are details about the three nonprofits highlighted in this column:
• Blessed Paws Animal Rescue: Founded in 2017 by Vickie Virzi, this nonprofit is based in Lake Worth Beach. Learn more at www.blessedpawsanimalrescue.com or email blessedpawsanimalrescue@gmail.com.
• Green Dog Rescue: This foster home-based nonprofit was founded 17 years ago and is based in Boynton Beach. Serving as president is Deborah Hazard-Charnin. Learn more at www.greendogrescuefl.org or email adopt@greendogrescuefl.org.
• RU4Me Pet Rescue: This all-volunteer nonprofit pet rescue/foster group is based in Boynton Beach. Heading this group is Linda Wassner of Boynton Beach. Learn more at www.ru4mepetrescue.org or email ru4mepetrescue@yahoo.com.
Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.
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