Exploring The World of Animal Shelters: An Inside Look At The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue

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An interview with The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue from Colorado, Denver.

Introducing The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue

I am the founder and director. I joke that I didn’t so much “choose” to found a rescue as much as I had this undertaking thrust upon me. Prior to starting TSIR, I was heavily involved in animal-care volunteer work through existing rescue organizations in Denver. I was also volunteering as a transport driver – relocating euthanasia-list animals from high-needs areas of the country to Colorado. After a while, the rural shelters on the “sending” end caught wind of the fact that I had connections to no-kill operations on the Front Range. They began to ask if I could advocate for their animals and place them with these rescue groups in our area. I successfully served as the “middle man” in this capacity until after the pandemic lockdown. The population of dogs and cats exploded during this time, and animal care organizations across the country were (and are) overwhelmed. I felt I couldn’t not find a way to create even a few more placements for animals in need. 

How did The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Start? What Are The Challenges Encountered Along The Way?

After deciding to start the rescue, it took 3 months of ruminating, reflecting, and accepting that I’d lost my mind before I initiated the process. It took another month after that to gather my documents, formalize my plan, and apply for tax-exempt charity status. The IRS took four months to process my application. While I waited, I applied for our Colorado rescue’s license – the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) license. That process took six weeks and some consultation with one of their representatives. I also spent forever teaching myself the logistics and tech skills associated with running a small business. Eight months after I had concluded that I had to develop a rescue organization, we welcomed our first rescue animals.

Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Has Ever Taken.

Unfortunately, as a foster-based rescue, we are limited in the kinds of animals we can rescue. All our fosters have other pets and/or children and are therefore unable to accommodate animals with significant behavioral needs. Many of the animals that arrive have medical needs, but these issues are probably too common the be considered unusual. Honestly, I think the surprising thing about the animals we’ve rescued to date is how amazing they typically are! The fact that such sweet and highly adoptable animals are finding themselves on euthanasia lists speaks to how desperate the overpopulation situation is currently.

Tell Us About The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns That The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Has Done.

We are a purely donation-based organization, so we have tried all sorts of things to maintain our funding. We’ve collected used shoes to recycle for a small sum each, we held a raffle for personalized pet portraits by local artists, we partnered with a car club to hold a pet supply drive, we’ve partnered with local breweries and a real estate agency to hold adoption and fundraising events.

Tell Us About The Most Rewarding Part Of Running The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue.

There really have been too many rewarding moments to count. I’m actually dog-sitting right now for the first alumnus of our program. We “tagged” him for rescue two hours before he was scheduled to be euthanized. He’s a stigmatized breed (a pit) and had some minor medical issues. Now he’s healthy, happy, and oh-so loved by his adopters. The other night, I held his squishy face in my hands, looked him in the eye, and for some reason blurted, “I’m so glad you exist.” I was weirdly overcome by this incredible feeling that even if I do nothing else in my life, at least I did this. And this matters. 

This rescue has also connected me with so many incredible community members I would not have met otherwise. I am blown away by the number of folks – across the political spectrum – who have jumped into action with us. They foster, they event-plan, they transport. We even have a retired volunteer who knits little blankets for our foster furkids! It really is heartwarming at a time when so much feels wrong with the world.

What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge Of Running The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue?

The challenges certainly abound. Every animal intake is a gamble – we don’t meet them before committing to them. We often have a surprise emergency vet bill at a time when our meager funds are all allocated, or a foster will have a family emergency and leave us scrambling. I’ve learned to stay flexible and pivot as needed to keep this little thing afloat. 

As an aside, rescue is actually not my career, it’s a passion project. I’m currently a PhD student in clinical child psychology, and the combined responsibilities often have me running ragged. Every animal requires a significant time input, and the workload feels unpredictable. I feel so lucky to have such passionate volunteers and board members who help me problem-solve when the rescue encounters an obstacle.

Tell Us More About The Volunteers In The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue.

I would love to shout out some particularly dedicated volunteers, but I’m not sure if they would be comfortable having their names published. One of our foster families fostered for us FIVE times in six months, even bringing their foster pups with them for family vacations. Another foster caregiver enhanced our social media presence while caring for a very sick foster kitten. Yet another volunteer, in addition to serving as a foster, has come to our rescue repeatedly when the logistics of animal drop-off and care are too complicated for me alone. We have fosters who have cared for large dogs and litters of puppies in small apartments – at great inconvenience – so they wouldn’t be euthanized. Likewise, one of our fosters lives in the mountains, and she drives great distances for vet visits and adopter introductions. The list goes on and on. Our community is small but wonderful.

Where Do Most Of The Animals In The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Come From, And What Is The Process For Rescuing And Rehabilitating Them?

Our animals come primarily from Texas and Oklahoma, which are both states that struggle with dog and cat overpopulation. We also have partnerships with small shelters in rural Colorado. I’m in continuous communication with shelter workers and advocates in these areas. They send me urgent requests, and I will “tag” an animal for rescue whenever I have a foster opening. After that, the process looks a little different, depending on the state/shelter of origin. Per CO state law, animals must submit to a veterinary inspection (to reduce the risk that they will enter carrying a communicable disease). If they pass, then we arrange for transport. Sometimes animals arrive on a van, other times, they’re delivered by plane via volunteer pilots! We place them in foster, provide whatever medical care they need, support fosters with behavior challenges, and begin the process of seeking a forever home.

What Are The Busiest Periods, And How Does The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Cope?

Honestly, we are flooded with requests year-round. Unfortunately, our foster base is small, so we are limited in the number of animals we can accommodate at any given time. Adoptions are slow this time of year in the late winter/early spring, and they pick up slightly in the warmer months and over the holidays.

What Animals Does The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Focus On?

We are open to all breeds of cat and dog. That said, large and medium dogs face euthanasia more often than small breeds, so our dogs are nearly always 35 pounds+. Larger dogs, as you can imagine, are stronger than their toy/companion breed counterparts, so that occasionally warrants extra attention to leash training, gentle play, and greeting manners (i.e., teaching dogs to keep all four paws planted on the ground when visitors arrive).

Working With The Local Community

Yes. Rescues and shelters are not like business. We really don’t compete, because we’re all working tirelessly for the same objective. We have friends and partners in numerous other organizations – Maxfund No-Kill Animal Shelter, Scroungy Dogs and Pretty Pups, and The Humane Society of Boulder Valley (to name a few). I have collaborated with all of these organizations to place animals TSIR was unable to accommodate. In some instances, we have exchanged transport favors with other rescues or participated in multi-rescue adoption events. It takes a village.

Tell Us More About Your Events

We are currently conducting an old/used shoe drive! If you have shoes you would like to donate, please contact [email protected]. We also participate a periodic, multi-rescue adoption and fundraising event in partnership with local breweries! Check out our Facebook page for upcoming events. We would also welcome donations of food (especially puppy and kitten food) and cat litter!

What Is Done Differently at The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue?

I think the lens through which we view rescue sets us apart more than anything. As a psychologist in training, I see the problems facing animals as enmeshed in complex social systems, and I believe we must intervene accordingly. TSIR is really grounded in that philosophy. We are still very small, and we have not yet fully realized our mission, but here are some of the tenets of our approach:

• We aspire to conduct rescue in an environmentally sustainable manner, supplemented with education initiatives, alongside spay and neuter outreach programming (spay and neuter are EVERYTHING), and in coordination with child mental-health and disability services. 
• We have to understand how economic and oppressive factors converge with public policy to result in animal overpopulation. In the same vein, we have to intervene from multiple angles (e.g., spay/neuter, education, breeding restrictions) AND understand the potential of rescue work to sustain or counteract other social issues (e.g., poverty, climate change, family systems).
• Whether in education, psychology, activism, or rescue work, meaningful change is only possible when you “zoom out” to understand the big picture.  
• We have a responsibility to our communities’ (and country’s) domestic animals. Right now, the brunt of this challenging and heartbreaking work falls on animal control and animal welfare workers in parts of the country struggling with overpopulation. We need to change our approach to animal stewardship in order to support these individuals while minimizing the needless death of adoptable animals.
• Animal adoption takes work, commitment, and abundant patience, but it is among the most rewarding undertakings.

To borrow from rescue workers elsewhere: “Adopt. If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, educate.”

How Has The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?

If not for the pandemic, TSIR probably would not exist. The number of animals in need of rescue soared after lockdown restrictions lifted. It was in response to this urgency that the plan for TSIR was hatched.

Share With Us Some Of The Heartwarming Stories Of Animals Rehabilitated And Rehomed By The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue.

One pup, Dennis (now named Shaq) always comes to mind. He was one of the earlier dogs to the rescue. He’s a stigmatized breed, and he was suffering from GI distress and a rectal prolapse when we committed to him. When we issued his tag, he was mere hours from being euthanized in a Texas shelter that struggles with overcrowding. He was so skinny when he arrived, and his fur was patchy thin, He required much veterinary attention and support from a GoFundMe campaign, but now he has the most wonderful parents and doggy brother. 

Another, more recent pup, had a remarkable transformation as well. When we tagged him, he was pictured cowering in the corner of an outdoor kennel, and he wouldn’t let anyone touch him. Now he is SO friendly, social, and affectionate, and he recently found a wonderful family and canine sister. Outcomes like his make the whole ordeal worth it.

What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?

We are urgently seeking fosters – especially large dog fosters. We would welcome any kind of support though – event planning, tech support, transport help, and of course, donations. We would also welcome a special craft or product that someone is willing to donate for a silent auction or raffle fundraiser.

Connect With The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue here:

• Link
• Facebook
• Instagram

Wondrousdrifter.com is thankful to The Snuggle is Real Animal Rescue for the interview. 

Check out this page for the list of animal shelters in Colorado, Denver.

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