Written by Nicole Forsyth, RedRover President and CEO
This Spring, I visited a preschool and used the RedRover Readers curriculum for the book Ginger Finds a Home, adapting it for children ages two to five. Typically the target age for our program is eight- and nine-year-olds, but children as young as two or even younger can begin to practice empathy.
Denise adopted Cash, her 3-year old cat, when he was just 10 weeks old and they have been inseparable ever since. Unfortunately, Cash has battled urinary tract issues most of his life. Denise had always been able to find a way to pay for his care, but when Cash re-blocked earlier this week – threatening his life for the third time in three months – she literally emptied out her bank account.
Do you believe in miracles? We do. Louie's story shows the power of a miracle in action.
Melani and her family opened their home and their hearts to their dog Louie after he was rescued from the streets. Melani told RedRover, “He makes us all laugh. He is such a character. We got super lucky to be able to love and care for our Louie!”
In 4 days, RedRover Responders volunteers assisted in moving 138 wild animals from Hardee County to their new home at the Forest Animal Rescue by Peace River Refuge & Ranch outside Silver Springs. RedRover Responders deployed 5 volunteers to join the crew of 48 people, which included highly trained animal disaster responders, seasoned volunteers, and medical and veterinary personnel from 7 different animal welfare organizations.
Something wonderful is happening! Educators across the country are attending the RedRover Readers online training, learning how to implement the RedRover Readers curriculum then encouraging other educators to bring this innovative program to their own classrooms. Many educators are even offering to host trainings for educators in their communities.
“There are so many victims in abusive relationships who don’t leave home because they have nowhere for their pets to go,” said Diedra Davis of the Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc. in Texas. “To know that their pets are in a safe place is such a relief.
Over the weekend, five RedRover Responders volunteers helped to prepare an 80-acre property for the arrival of animals at the Forest Animal Rescue (formerly the Peace River Refuge) in Silver Springs, Florida. Volunteers helped to build fencing and animal habitat for the refuge.
Sarah Kesty is a special education resource specialist at an elementary school in Sacramento, California and is trained to implement the RedRover Readers curriculum. She gives up her lunches on Fridays to visit multiple classrooms on her campus and implement the curriculum.
The RedRover Responders volunteer team continues to provide daily care and enrichment to 165 cats, kittens, dogs and puppies displaced by Superstorm Sandy and currently housed in a temporary emergency animal shelter in Brooklyn, New York.
Nearly two months after Superstorm Sandy devastated areas of New York, New Jersey and beyond, RedRover Responders volunteers are at it again to help animals in need. This week, 13 RedRover Responders volunteers will travel to care for displaced animals at a temporary Brooklyn, New York, shelter operated by the ASPCA.