Exploring The World of Animal Shelters: An Inside Look At Growls and Howls Animal Rescue

/ Cleveland, Interviews, Ohio / By michelle

An interview with Growls and Howls Animal Rescue from Cleveland, Ohio.

Table Of Content

Introducing Growls and Howls Animal Rescue
What Inspired The Founder Of The Shelter To Start The Organization, And What Personal Experiences Led Them To Become An Advocate For Animal Welfare?
Can You Share A Brief Storyline About The Organization’s Founding, Including Any Challenges Or Obstacles That Had To Be Overcome And How The Founder’s Vision For The Shelter Came To Reality?
Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Has Ever Taken.
What Are Some Of The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns Your Shelter Has Done?
What Would You Say Has Been The Most Rewarding Part Of Running An Animal Shelter?
What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge Of Running An Animal Rescue?
Tell Us More About The Volunteers In Growls And Howls Animal Rescue
Tell Us More About The Animals In Growls And Howls Animal Rescue
What Are The Busiest Periods And How Does Growls And Howls Animal Rescue Cope?
What Animals Does Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Focus On?
Working With The Local Community
Tell Us More About Your Events
What Is Done Differently at Growls and Howls Animal Rescue?
How Has Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?
Share With Us Some Of The Heartwarming Stories Of Animals Rehabilitated And Rehomed By Growls And Howls Animal Rescue
What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?
Connect With Growls and Howls Animal Rescue here:

Introducing Growls and Howls Animal Rescue

My name is Lauren Mowles. I am the founder and Executive Director of Growls and Howls Animal Rescue. I founded the nonprofit organization in May 2019 because of my passion for helping animals. I have volunteered at shelters and rescues since I was in elementary school and wanted to create an organization of my own to help rescue, rehome, and rehabilitate animals in need.

Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Inc. is a non-profit, no-kill, all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization serving the greater Cleveland, Ohio region. We encourage the adoption of pets from shelters and rescue groups.

We are dedicated to saving animals that have been left homeless, surrendered by their owners, and that is being neglected or abused. It is our goal to provide them with the medical care they need in order to become healthy again, as well as help them overcome any obstacles they may face.

With the help of well-educated fosters, we place animals into the homes of those who are just as passionate about animals as we are. There, they will continue to be spoiled by their foster parent(s) until they are placed into their permanent, loving home.

All animals in our care are spayed or neutered, receive all appropriate medical care and treatment, and are brought up to date on all vaccinations.

It is our mission to continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home animals.

What Inspired The Founder Of The Shelter To Start The Organization, And What Personal Experiences Led Them To Become An Advocate For Animal Welfare?

My previous experience volunteering with shelters and rescues was part of what inspired me to start Growls and Howls Animal Rescue. The big thing that finally made me decide to take the leap and start my own organization was my dog, Juliet, getting attacked when she was younger. She was attacked by another dog who had been previously abused and constantly left outside. The abuse led this dog to become aggressive towards other animals and humans. Thankfully, Juliet survived the dog attack. From that day, I vowed to do whatever I could to help other animals being neglected or abused and find them loving homes where they could rehabilitate and live long and happy life.

Can You Share A Brief Storyline About The Organization’s Founding, Including Any Challenges Or Obstacles That Had To Be Overcome And How The Founder’s Vision For The Shelter Came To Reality?

Although the company was founded in May 2019, I originally started the business plan for Growls and Howls Animal Rescue in 2017. Two years prior to officially opening, I worked on developing the organization and deciding exactly what I wanted to do with the rescue.

My vision for Growls and Howls Animal Rescue developed over those two years and continues to grow every day. Our animals currently live in foster homes. We do not have a physical location. However, I hope to one day have a physical shelter. Since 2019, we have grown from having 4 board members to having 11 board members and over 20 regular volunteers.

Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Has Ever Taken.

So far, we have only rescued cats and dogs. However, we did have someone who wanted to surrender a horse to us. We, unfortunately, did not have the facility or means to help rescue a horse, so we could not take him.

What Are Some Of The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns Your Shelter Has Done?

A yearly fundraiser that the rescue has done is our Tricks for Treats Virtual Auction. This fundraiser helps us raise money by setting up a silent auction online and allowing people to bid on auction items and baskets. The items and baskets are donated by our amazing volunteers and our community. All of the proceeds from this event go towards the next year’s medical costs and supplies for the animals.

We also have multiple photography fundraisers throughout the year where people can sign up for time slots and come get photos with their pets. For example, we had a Sunsets and Schnauzers fundraiser where families could come and get a sunset picture taken on the beach with their furry best friend. We have an amazing volunteer photographer, Mary, who helps us at each event and donates 100% of her time and services to the event.

What Would You Say Has Been The Most Rewarding Part Of Running An Animal Shelter?

There are two rewarding moments when it comes to running an animal rescue. The first is the moment that an animal finds their furever home. It is such a good feeling to know that the animal finally has a loving and safe place to live. The second rewarding moment is when families send updated photos and videos. I love hearing how well their new family member fits in and just how much they love them. It is great to see the love that the families have for their new furry best friends.

What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge Of Running An Animal Rescue?

The greatest challenge is finding foster homes. There are always more animals than there are in foster homes. Since we do not have a physical shelter, we rely on loving foster homes to continue to rescue animals. A majority of our fosters end up adopting the animals they foster. This is great, however, it means one less foster home we can use when we have animals in need.

Tell Us More About The Volunteers In Growls And Howls Animal Rescue

I have an incredible rescue board that volunteers their time to help make sure the rescue is running smoothly. I would not be able to have the rescue without them. I am also incredibly grateful for our fosters and for the volunteers we have. Everyone who is involved with the rescue supports the mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need. Their shared passion for animal welfare helps Growls and Howls Animal Rescue successfully make a difference in the community.

We also have been incredibly lucky to have the support of our 2022 Top Dog, Commodore Denig, American Legion Post 83. They have donated a total of $4,000 to us over the past two years. This helped us go from rescuing 1-2 animals a year to rescuing 10 animals in 2022.

Tell Us More About The Animals In Growls And Howls Animal Rescue

Animals that come into the rescue come from strays, owner surrenders, or pulling them from shelters. Once an animal comes into the rescue, they immediately go into a foster home. They stay in the home until we find their furever home. While with us, they will receive the medical care they need and lots of love. We find their new home by posting them on our social media and our website and posting them on our adoption partners’ websites.

What Are The Busiest Periods And How Does Growls And Howls Animal Rescue Cope?

We are busy at all times of the year. However, the time that requires more volunteer help is the end of the year. This is because the end of the year is when our funds are running low, and we are doing fundraising events. My volunteers are amazing and are always willing to help however they can.

What Animals Does Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Focus On?

Our rescue takes all breeds, shapes, and sizes of domestic animals. Recently, we have been pulling quite a few German Shepherds from the shelters. It is incredible to work with this breed because of how smart they are and how willing they are to learn new tricks. They are also great protectors and guard dogs.

Working With The Local Community

We have a partnership with City Dogs Cleveland, a shelter in Cleveland, OH, that we pull dogs from to help when they are overfull. We also have partnerships with Petco Love, Chewy Gives Back, Bissell Pet Foundation, Adopt a Pet, Great Nonprofits, Marvelous Occasions, and the Juliet’s Journey children’s book series. These partnerships are great because it has put our name out into the community. With being a newer rescue, it is important to continue to spread awareness so we can help even more animals in need. We are always looking to get involved with the community more and partner with other rescues and shelters when we can.

Tell Us More About Your Events

We currently have two campaigns going on to raise money for the rescue. The first one is for our Furever Friends Program to raise money to help senior dogs in need, even after they have been adopted. The second campaign is called Donations for Darla. Darla is a boxer that came to the rescue this year with bilateral cherry eyes. We are fundraising the money so that Darla can have the surgery to correct both eyes and live a normal life again. The surgery costs about $1,000 to fix both eyes and for aftercare medication.

What Is Done Differently at Growls and Howls Animal Rescue?

Our rescue offers a program called the Furever Friends Program. This program creates a fund specifically for older animals, animals with serious health issues, or other severe cases that come to the rescue and still need our help after being adopted. This program will allow the families who adopt these very special animals to continue to get help when the vet bills become extremely high. When you donate specifically to this fund, the money will allow animals to get the vet care they need without breaking the banks of the families who adore them.

How Has Growls and Howls Animal Rescue Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?

The pandemic made it challenging to do fundraising events in person. It also made it a little more difficult to fundraise money because not a lot of people have extra money to donate.

Share With Us Some Of The Heartwarming Stories Of Animals Rehabilitated And Rehomed By Growls And Howls Animal Rescue

Sarge, an 11-year-old boxer mix, came to our rescue in October 2020 after his owner passed away. While Sarge was in the rescue, we noticed a lump on his lip. The lump turned out to be aggressive cancer that needed to be removed pretty quickly. We removed the lump and did all the necessary aftercare for him. After recovery and his final check, the vet confirmed he was cancer free and would live a normal life. Then after 316 days in the rescue, Sarge FINALLY found his furever home. He lives now with his dad Jon and goes on daily walks and car rides to the beach. He also loves playing with his toys and eating as much chicken as his dad will give him.

Aly, a 5-year-old pitbull, came to our rescue in August 2019 after her owners surrendered her to us. She came into the rescue three months after the rescue was founded, and we had only raised a total of $500 at that point. After noticing Aly limping a lot, we took her to our vet to discover she had a luxating patella. This would require expensive knee surgery and a six-week recovery. Thankfully, through the support of the community, my family, and my friends, we were able to raise the $3,000 needed for Aly’s procedure. Then after her six-week recovery was finished, she was fully healed to run and play like a normal pup again. Her foster mom, Nicole, did an amazing job of helping rehabilitate Aly during her recovery. She fell in love with her during those six weeks and decided to adopt her. Almost four years later and Aly continues to run, play and jump like a normal dog with full mobility of all four legs.