Griswold dog rescue is "All Paws On Deck" for mother dogs: What celebrity gave them a grant

Curiosity about pet adoption and a desire for a more meaningful job lead a local woman to improving the lives of many dogs who might have otherwise been put down.

Susan Burgess was looking for a puppy in 2020, and wondered what happened to mother dogs in shelters. While puppies were in high demand at that time, it turned out that many mother dogs at kill shelters get euthanized, she said.

“Those dogs are much harder to get adopted, so I made it my mission to save the mothers with the puppies,” Burgess, the director and president, said.

All Paws On Deck, a dog rescue in Griswold focused on foster care, was born.

All Paws received a pair of large grant awards this summer. In June, the organization was granted $10,000 from Wireless Zone which enabled the rescue organization get a van. While the van has been used for supplies, a $5,000 grant from the MuttNation Foundation on Aug. 1 means it will have air conditioning so it can transport dogs.

Over four years, All Paws has gotten 1,500 dogs adopted. While Burgess keeps a few dogs at her Griswold home, the majority of dogs are fostered by volunteers.

A prospective foster can tell Burgess what kind of dog they’d like to look after, whether it’s a senior dog, a specific breed, or a mother with her puppies. The dogs themselves come from shelters in southern states. Once the dogs come to All Paws, they’re given a veterinary check-up, a spaying or neutering, and other medical help. The dogs are also given a temperament evaluation, as All Paws will not take aggressive dogs.

Once a dog is with a foster, the dogs will be promoted on social media and brought to adoption events by their fosters until the dog is adopted, Burgess said.

What’s it like to be a foster?

To be a volunteer foster, a prospective foster will file an application, tell the organization about themselves, and submit to a background check. Once they’re cleared, All Paws will find a suitable dog. The foster is given a photo and information on the dog, and they will decide whether to foster it.

Killingly resident Maria Martell adopted a dog from All Paws two years ago but she got into fostering after her older dog passed away. She started a year ago and has fostered 53 puppies to date. It’s been great to have these dogs, even though she’ll have to give them to someone else.

“No matter your mood or what kind of day you’re having, a puppy always makes things better,” Martell said.

Seeing the dog playing with its new owners is how Martell knows she’s “made the right choice.”

What is a "foster fail"?

The fosters are instructed to take care of the dog as their own, but All Paws will pay for food, supplies and medical care during the fostering. However, some end up adopted by their fosters, humorously called a “foster fail,” Burgess said.

“Once you have them in your homes for a week, two weeks, sometimes a month, most people develop that emotional connection,” she said.

Martell has a “foster fail” herself, but still fosters dogs, as it gives her two dogs a playmate. Her grandchildren also love seeing the puppies, and are disappointed when Martell is too busy to have a foster dog around the house, she said.

Most foster fails don’t continue fostering. All Paws is always searching for new fosters, though the organization only accepts foster volunteers from within a half-hour radius of Griswold for logistical reasons, Burgess said.

If someone wants to foster for the organization, they need to understand it’s a commitment, Martell said.

“You’re not just going to leave a puppy in a cage,” she said. “You’re going to pretend its your pet until they find their forever home.”

MuttNation

All Paws started small, collecting used coats and shoes to raise $800 for insurance to start the rescue. Now, they’re getting the attention of national organizations, including MuttNation.

Getting national recognition is an honor and encouraging for All Paws, Burgess said.

MuttNation was started in 2009 by country music artist Miranda Lambert and her mother to encourage shelter adoptions, spaying and neutering, and supporting pets during natural disasters. The nonprofit also has its own line of pet toys sold at Tractor Supply Co., the website states.

Since 2018, MuttNation has given $5,000 Mutts Across America grants annually to shelters in each state. MuttNation does not take applications for the grant. Rather, the Board of Directors research, vet, and select each recipient and surprises them with the award, the website states .

What’s next for All Paws?

All Paws is always thinking about growth. Long term, it would establish its own shelter with a veterinary clinic, to give more access and care to the dogs.

In the meantime, All Paws is preparing for a large adoption event on Sept. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. at Toyota of Colchester. There will be at least 25 adoptable dogs at the event. There will also be food, facepainting and music from Bomba Radio.

A larger event is a risk for All Paws because any dog that isn’t adopted has to be sent back, but Burgess hopes to host more of these larger adoption events if successful, she said.

Anyone who wants to support All Paws can share social media posts, donate money or supplies, and volunteer to help events. The best ways to reach the organization are donations@allpawsondeck.org or messaging the Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold dog rescue is "All Paws On Deck" for mother dogs: What celebrity gave them a grant